Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 86 Entries. Saturday, April 25 View Page Starting my 2009 Diary with a picture of my family. My fiancee Stephanie, our lab Dixie, my own 1027 Naylor `08, and myself. Good Luck to everyone this year! Saturday, April 25 View Page My 1027 had over 800 seeds inside. Last fall, I decided to expand my patch for 4 plants. This years lineup is: 1st - 1119 McMullen(this seed produced my 1027 last year and 2 years ago had a 416 Ott for Gene McMullen - this seed has a lot of potential) 2nd - 1119 McMullen (not a misprint) 3rd - 1147 Shenoha (Shazzy's 1041.5 McKie x self - she will be called "Shazzness" - Thanks Shazzy!) 4th - my own 1027 Naylor (1119 McMullen x self) Planned crosses: 1119 x 1119 sib, 1119 x 1147, 1147 x 1119, 1027 x 1147 Saturday, April 25 View Page Started seeds(4) last Sunday the 19th. 100% germination, all 4 are now above ground and look very healthy. Pictures soon to follow. I am 1 month ahead of last year, since last year was my first year I did not get my seeds from Gene until the middle of May. I started this hobby as a bet and now I am hooked. I thought I would throw in this picture(taken 7-2-08) to show how far I was behind last year. The female on the end was polinated on the 8th and ended up being my 1027. Monday, April 27 View Page 1119 McMullen - 2 Monday, April 27 View Page 1147 Shenoha, 1027 Naylor Friday, May 1 View Page With all the rain we have been having my patch is saturated. 2.5 inches since Monday and 10 day forecast is not looking good. As area manager for Evergreen FS (agricultural retail) in southern Macon County, the field conditions for our farmers is not much better. Needless to say our farmers are not very happy with less than 5% of their corn planted and we are usually done by now and planting soybeans. Friday, May 1 View Page Since my plants are not in the ground do to conditions, I had to repot them last night. The bags make this very easy to do, and when it comes time to plant in the patch they just lift right out. Until then this will be their home. Second leaf is starting to show. Friday, May 1 View Page 1147 "Shazzness" and 1027 "Sunshine" Friday, May 1 View Page 1119 "Gena" and 1119 ? Wednesday, May 6 View Page Finally got plants in the ground. Here is 1119 McMullen "Hope" Wednesday, May 6 View Page 1027 Naylor "Sunshine" Wednesday, May 6 View Page 1147 Shenoha "Shazzness" Wednesday, May 6 View Page 1119 McMullen "Gena" Monday, May 18 View Page With the weather being less than ideal (3.5 inches of rain last week, and cold nights and no sun during the day) needless to say plants haven't been growing rapidly. The ten day forcast looks great with 80 degree temperatures on the way. With all the rain creeks really started coming up, so we decided to through out some lines for catfish. Three days and 23 catfish ranging 5 lbs. to 11 lbs. Monday, May 18 View Page Our best day on Saturday, had 5 on one line. Last Tuesday the 12th put a new formulation of MicroEssentials fertilizer I am trying this year made by Mosiac: MES-Z 12-40-0 with 10% sulfur and 1% zinc around the plants along with 0-0-60, that night received 1.5 inches of rain for perfect incorporation. Also sprayed inside of protection and around plants with Warrior T, yes I still have the old version in my warehouse and I believe it is better than the new version Warrior II. Up to this point, plants have only had endoRoots granular mycorrhizal rooting stimulant 3-3-4. Pictures of plants soon to follow. Tuesday, May 26 View Page Picture of the patch. 1 inch of rain on 5-24-09. I will be taking houses down in a couple of days. Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1027 Naylor "Sunshine" in front, 1119 McMullen "Hope" in back. Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1119 McMullen "Gena" and 1147 Shenoha "Shazzness" They share a home. Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1027 Naylor "Sunshine" Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1119 McMullen "Hope" Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1147 Shenoha "Shazzness" Very impressive grower! Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1119 McMullen "Gena" Friday, May 29 View Page Another 1.3 inches of rain yesterday. That makes 2.5 inches this week. Things are wet! Took down houses and put up wind fence 5-27-09, I prefer wind fence to silt fence because it allow air movement to the plants. All 4 plants on the ground and running and look good! I saw my first adult squash bug on the garage door yesterday - dead now. Warrior T has been applied around plant 2 times and will be applied next Wed. There has been no munching on plants and I prefer not to spray on young plants until this happens -leaf tissue is way to valuable to harm - as Dr. Brown always says "no foliar, roots are for feeding not leaves" he has been doing agronomy work in corn and beans for over 30 years so I guess I will believe him. Wednesday, June 3 View Page Spread Urea 46-0-0, Map 11-52-0, and Potash 0-0-60 around plants and at leaf nodes "sidedress" last night and tilled patch ahead of rain we are getting this morning. Tonight I will spray Warrior T on and around plants (older leaves only and main vine). 90 degrees last two days and plants are looking great. I will start burying leaf nodes in a couple of days - needed to get insecticide on vine first. Wednesday, June 3 View Page 1027 Naylor "Sunshine" Wednesday, June 3 View Page 1119 McMullen "Hope" Wednesday, June 3 View Page 1147 Shenoha "Shazzness" Wednesday, June 3 View Page 1119 McMullen "Gena" Wednesday, June 17 View Page Sprayed Warrior T last night on all 4 plants. We have received a little over 3 inches of rain since last Thursday. With highs in the 80's and 90's, I will be busy keeping up in the patch. All 4 plants have females between 8 and 10 feet. They will get cut tonight, as I am waiting for more growth. Here is 1027 Naylor "Sunshine" Wednesday, June 17 View Page 1119 McMullen "Hope" Wednesday, June 17 View Page 1147 Shenoha "Shazzness" Wednesday, June 17 View Page 1119 McMullen "Gena" Wednesday, June 24 View Page Pollinated 4 lobe 13 feet on 1119 with 1147 Pollinated 4 lobe 14 feet on 1027 with 1147 Note to self: prune and bury vines at 5 am rather than 7 pm when it is in the 90's with heat index in 100's. HOT! Saturday, June 27 View Page 1119 X 1147, 4 lobe, 16 feet out (second pollination). I have 2 females on the 1147 and the first one is at 13 feet perfect set up and should have opened before the 1119 I pollinated this morning. This is a first for me on a female not opening, so I guess I will force a pollination attempt tomorrow morning as the flower on top is yellowing very slowly. If this doesn't take the second is at 16 feet and should open in about three days. If anyone has had this happen before shoot me an email on what I should do. I ran 250 gallons of water on patch last night and this morning through sprinkler system. I will do this every other day until it rains to try and keep ground moisture at a constant level of base saturation. Monday, June 29 View Page 1119 X 1147, 4 lobe, 18 feet (3rd pollination) 1027 X 1147, 4 lobe, 17 feet (2nd pollination) Will spray Warrior T tonight, and Quadris tomorrow night now that it is cooling down. First female on 1147 aborted way to hot, 2nd hopefully will open tomorrow at around 16 feet - fingers crossed. Rained 8 tenths Sat. night. Tuesday, June 30 View Page 1147 X 1119, 4 lobe, 16 feet (A Lot of Power behind this one) Thursday, July 2 View Page 1119 x 1119 sib, 2nd plant "Gena", 5 lobe 18 feet. 1119 1st plant "Hope" aborted first two pollinations because of heat. Could use a little luck on my side right now. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1119 X 1147, 4 lobe, 21 feet July 3rd (4th pollination) 1147 X 1119, 5 lobe, 19 feet July 5th (2nd pollination) Mains termed on 1119, 1119, 1027 at last set. Going for broke this year two sets on each plant main only, will cull down to one in the next 7 to 10 days. 6 tenths of rain yesterday and roots are showing up everywhere. Tuesday, July 7 View Page 1119 X 1119 sib, 5 lobe, 21 feet. All mains are termed at last set fruit. Patch has filled in nicely with 80% of secondaries termed. This is a view of front side of patch with the 1027 Naylor front right, and 1119 McMullen front left. Tuesday, July 7 View Page View of back part of patch with 1147 Shenoha front right and 1119 McMullen front left. Tuesday, July 14 View Page Here is Sunshine on my 1027 Naylor at 17 feet the 2nd pollination measuring 46 inches circumference today on day 15. Culled the first at 13 feet on July 9th which may have cost me some inches early on the keeper but is doing nicely at 5 inches per day for the last 5 days. Wednesday, July 15 View Page Here is "Shazzness Hoss" on 1147 Shenoha at 16 feet first pollination measuring 54 inches circumference today on day 15. I had to rename her Shazzness Hoss because the plant is a hoss, the leaves are a hoss, the stump is a hoss, and the kin is a hoss - doing you proud Shazzy! Monday, July 20 View Page Here is Gena on 1119 McMullen first pollination at 15 days measuring 44 inches on 7-17. Monday, July 20 View Page Here is Hope on my other 1119 McMullen last pollination on day 16 measuring 55 inches cc on 7-19. Monday, July 20 View Page Here is Sunshine on my 1027 Naylor measuring 71 inches cc on day 20 averaging 5 inches per day. Monday, July 20 View Page The leader of the patch Shazzness Hoss on the 1147 Shenoha today at day 20 cc 79 inches averaging 5 inches per day last 5 days. Wednesday, July 29 View Page Good News Sunshine on my 1027 Naylor 30 Day Measurement 111-73-72 for 256 OTT 361 lbs. Wednesday, July 29 View Page Bad News Sunshine's stem split top view and the bottom is a lot worse. This is a result of Friday nights storm that brought rain, 50 mph wind, and hail, so my nice looking plants do not look so nice any more. Words from my mentor Gene McMullen "It is what it is" Thursday, July 30 View Page Shazzness Hoss on the 1147 Shenoha Day 30 114-70-70 for 254 OTT 353 lbs. Monday, August 3 View Page Gena on the 1119 McMullen 30 day 97-64-66 227 OTT 256 LBS. Monday, August 3 View Page Hope on the other 1119 McMullen 30 day 96-69-66 231 OTT 269 lbs. Monday, August 10 View Page Sunshine on my 1027. Day 40, 311 OTT, 635 lbs. Stem split keeps getting deeper on sidewall as she grows - does not go into cavity yet. She has had a fan on her since the split showed up on day 29. I hope I can keep her together. Monday, August 10 View Page Side view of Sunshine. My best grower at 27-28 lbs. per day for the last 10 days. Monday, August 10 View Page Shazzness Hoss on 1147. Day 41, 289 OTT, 512 lbs. Low and wide at 132 cc. Stem splits not very deep but oozing a lot and has had fan on her since day 30. Monday, August 10 View Page Side view of Shazzness Hoss. I have been fighting disease issues with main on this one and think they are under control but it has hurt the growth doing 16 lb. average for last 10 days - looks heavy to me. Wednesday, August 12 View Page Hope on the 1119, 40 days, 276 OTT, 448 lbs. ave 18 lbs last 10 days Wednesday, August 12 View Page I guess this is not bad considering there is only 1/3 of the plant left after Aug 5th. Stump was very healthy, but 4 foot down on main rot set in from one bad leaf, and 4 different types of fungicide and drying could not save it. This was my healthiest plant and one more knife in the back to a frustrating year. I guess that is why I tell people this hobby is 50% skill and 50% luck. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Sunshine on my 1027. Day 50: 154-98-93, 345 OTT, 862 lbs. 23 lbs./day ave. for last 10 days. Wednesday, August 19 View Page Shazzness Hoss 50 days: 142-84-80 306 OTT 606 lbs. 9 lb. ave over last 10 days. At this point, I am just glad she is still growing with only 10 secondaries supporting a main vine that has had so many cut out areas from rot and sulfur powder and looks like a ghost. The main on this plant has definately kept me on my toes and I blaim the rot from the cow manure added last fall in that area of the patch. Won't be adding that again! Wednesday, August 19 View Page Miscalculation 10.4 lbs. per day for the last 9 days. PM has started showing up but very little. Hit every leaf on plants with Quilt last night (Systemic and Curative). Wednesday, August 19 View Page Last entry data is for Shazzness Hoss on the 1147. Wednesday, August 19 View Page 3rd time is the charm. 50 plus mph straight line wind tornados and hail. 3 times this season and I am sure my leaves or what is left of them from the first two are loving it. Friday, August 21 View Page Hope on 1119. Day 49 126-85-85 296 OTT 550 lbs. 11.3 ave/day over last 9 days. Not to bad considering no stump and only growing on maybe 9 secondaries. I plan on taking this one to our first county weigh off on Oct. 17. Tuesday, September 1 View Page After a week in the Ozarks, Steph and I are happily married and at home. It was a great time with over 60 family members and friends there supporting us. Unfortunately while we were gone, I lost the whole plant on sunshine my biggest before we left taping over 900 lbs. As Gene McMullen my mentor would say "It is what it is" Gene has been and continues to be a big part in my success. With Gene's permission here is his 395 OTT on Aug. 19th off of his 1119 McMullen. Monday, September 14 View Page A special day for me. Stopped in at Gene McMullen's patch to see the big one (actually there were 4 really nices ones). It was nice to sit and visit for a while instead of on the phone. I was able to get Gene's picture with his big one off of his 1119 McMullen. All I can say is the picture does not do it justice. Monday, September 14 View Page And yes it is well over 1500, but like Gene says it is nothing until it hits the scale and the scale never lies. Thank you again Gene for all your help and encouragement. You and Sandy are very special, and I hope you can get this thing to the scales because you deserve it! Friday, September 18 View Page 15 yards of compost delivered to start fall patch prep. Friday, September 18 View Page Checking the bottom of Sunshine. Sound as a rock. I must say Sunshine on my 1027 Naylor is in great shape for being without a plant for 2 1/2 weeks. Vine was still nice and moist when I cut it off of the bag of liquid goodies. Friday, September 18 View Page Setting her on the pallet. Friday, September 18 View Page Loaded and ready for the 420 mile trip to Bear Wallow in Nancy, Kentucky. Monday, September 21 View Page Bear Wallow Farm. Great Weigh Off! Great People! Monday, September 21 View Page 901.5 Naylor Friday, October 2 View Page Picking up Shazzness Hoss on the 1147 Shenoha. Bottom was very flat and cantalouped. Friday, October 2 View Page Fills out the pallet nicely at 152 cc. Friday, October 2 View Page Loaded and ready for Didier Farms. Monday, October 5 View Page Didier Farms, great weigh off! Monday, October 5 View Page There was some big pumpkins there. It was great visiting with everyone. Monday, October 5 View Page Setting Shazzness Hoss on the scale. Monday, October 5 View Page 873 Naylor 24% heavy (1147 Shenoha X 1119 McMullen) I don't know who was more excited Shazzy or me when Greg said the weight. We must have done 10 high fives! Thank you again for the seed Shazzy, and I am glad to have made you proud growing your seed! She looked a lot like her momma, white and not much cavity. I would hate to know what the 1147 would do under normal growing conditions, so I might have to put it to the test next year:) Monday, October 19 View Page Hope off of the 1119 McMullen on the scale at our first county weigh off. She was taping at 606 lbs. Her name helped me never to give up on her as she lost half her plant early and was grown on maybe 9 secondaries. Hope was definately popular with all the kids, as I have never been more proud as she brought smiles to every ones faces. Monday, October 19 View Page 24% Heavy! Now the 752 Naylor (1119 McMullen X 1147 Shenoha) The 1147 grew my 873 and was also 24% Heavy and was pollinated with the 1119 McMullen. (24% Heavy X 24% Heavy both ways) For both of these going heavy with the problems I have had I could not be more proud. If you would like seeds from the 873 Naylor or the 752 Naylor you can send a bubble to my address: Tyson Naylor 1683 N. 1800 E. Rd Taylorville, IL 62568 Friday, October 30 View Page 752 Naylor, over 300 seeds. Friday, October 30 View Page 752 walls, now I know why she went 24% heavy! Friday, October 30 View Page 752 carved and ready for Halloween. Wednesday, November 4 View Page 873 inside view. Ice cream bucket for wall thickness reference. Inside walls were all smooth no cracks average 9 inches = 24% heavy. Heavy just like her momma the 1147 Shenoha. Wednesday, November 4 View Page 873 seeds. A little over 200 seeds. 1/2 were completely brown and 1/2 had some white on the ends which should not affect anything as they seem solid.