Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 68 Entries. Friday, May 29 View Page Here's my first post- I've been reading many of your posts trying to broaden my knowledge base. I a new grower to large pumkins but on our farm I've grown field pumpkins, not big crops. I'm now an urban grower and tore up a good chunk of my front yard for my patch and some store bought seeds. In the chat room one evening several members said"no,no,no you must get good seeds; go out and tear out your store bought seed plants and we'll send you some! I now have two Huff 1027 plants and one store bought plant I couldn't bear to tear out because it was doing so well. You'll see in the images my original plot was small it will be enlarged tomorrow as my plant has outgrwn my 5 x 5 enclosure. Friday, May 29 View Page Here's the enclosure. I'll shoot some images of the plants tomorrow and post them. Many thanks to E. Huff for her seeds and the very kind people who have imparted their pumpkin wisdom on to me - it's much appreciated. Friday, May 29 View Page Here's my daughter several years ago at Central Market in Shoreline, Washington in between two healthy entrants. The one on the right was marked with a felt pen "Kerri Perras 960". Friday, May 29 View Page Here's the aforementioned planting box/ initial patch which is being enlarged today. I know it's small- it was layed out before we learned of the potential enormity of these plants. The plant on the left is from a store bought Dill's seed. Friday, May 29 View Page You folks know more than I - it appears to be a healthy plant. I need to know more about the vine construction and what to look for in a troubled vine as I'm sure it's going to happen someday. So far so good. Sunday, May 31 View Page I finally moved the two 1027 Huff plants to their permanent beds today; I'm a little behind so they'd better get to crackin'. They appear to be a stouter plant than the plant from Dill's seed.All plants got a dash of kelp today, temp is warm today upper 70's, but 90 in the enclosure. The whole urban grower predicament is a bummer because I know it's going to get cramped thus diminishing size potential. It's all still a MYSTery to me. Sunday, May 31 View Page It looks like this Dill's plant wants to lay down. It's thrusting towards the camera just above the white cup. An early morning image - I'm noticing the humidity meter is now working it's been reading 30% in the middle of the day as my glasses fog up when I stick my head in the enclosure, indicating to me the humdity is much higher. I tweaked the spring on it yesterday prompting a more accurate reading. Note to self: invest in more accurate data gathering equipment. Sunday, May 31 View Page 1027 Huff in the ground. Grew nicely yesterday in establishing itself. Sunday, May 31 View Page #2 1027 Huff smaller but looking OK for now. "Small but Mighty" may be it's mantra. Good weather forecast for the next week so we'll see how it goes. My 12 year old daughter thinks I should talk to the plants and tell them to grow-up.Next thing you know we'll be hanging pictures of lighthouses in the greenhouse to make the feel peaceful.:) Tuesday, June 2 View Page One of the 1027 Huff seems be a little slow after going into the bed. So I built a hut for it today and moved my large hut over to the other 1027 Huff. This left the Dill's plant standing alone so I put in a wind fence on two sides. Tuesday, June 2 View Page The Dill's plant was breaking out of it's enclosure and the vine was down so I buried it (after scoring a great source on well composted dirt)and now it looks almost cozy. When I started these plants my eyes were a little larger than space available. I'm finding it entertaining how much the plants change from one day to the next. I'm leery of the day when entertainment and the reality of space intersect. Tuesday, June 2 View Page Found ants chewing on the 1027 Huff leaves today. Treated them to Safer insect soap with Seaweed. Buggers put a 1/2" long gash in one leaf. I'd better set up a perimeter, the gloves are off now and were shootin' from the hip. Warm today low 80's. Almost like wisconsin only without the humidity. Thursday, June 4 View Page The Dill's plant is presenting a female flower about 5ft. out on the main vine. Two secondaries have begun to grow but are still pointing up in the air. The two 1027 Huff's are slowly coming along still very small. Maybe the Dill's plant will be "All hat and no cattle" meaning big plant small fruit. Who knows? Ah-h-h the mystery of growing AG's!It's going to be 90 today so we'll be drinking water along with the plants. Although a nice home made Sangria could be nice too. Sunday, June 7 View Page One of the secondaries broke off the Dill's plant in a wind storm 2 nights ago. It appears healthy though and the main vine is out about 7 feet, the other two secondaries out about 5 feet. We've had 3 days of cool weather and the Huff 1027 have slowed considerably- not sure what's going on here- it looks like they're ready to take off but it seems like they just want to hang out and linger a while at their present size and station. It's a Pumpkin's Life. Sunday, June 7 View Page Yellow vines mean bright orange pumpkins? "All the leaves are green and the sky is gray" Monday, June 8 View Page Note to self: Don't "score" any more cheap soil. Make your own! Thursday, June 11 View Page Dill's Main vine is out about 9.5 ft. with a female on the end-could this be the one. Also have a female on a secondary vine 5 ft. out. The two Huff 1027 plants should be showing more growth (Hm-m-m-m?)Didn't water for 2 days then foliar fed kelp and later in the day a good soil drench. I'm just unsure what's going on w/ the Huff's - they did experience a small amount of leaf burn from the hot weather inside the temporary greenhouse but they're now getting good food, good weather and live in great soil. Tuesday, June 16 View Page The Dill's plant continues to rock along - the main vine is out 10.5 ft with three females one at 9.5 ft the others just appeared at the end. One of the laterals has a female on it at about 5 ft. I need to learn about selecting a female flower to pollinate and trimming the laterals which are now buried. The two Huff 1027's perked up and decided they wanted to grow again I look for them to take off here this week they've been getting fish & kelp and warm water. Steady as she goes. I'm still surprised how well the plants respond to foliar kelp and fish feeding. Thursday, June 18 View Page I trimmed 2 leafs off the #1 Huff 1027 they were burned a couple of weeks ago and never really recovered. The Dill's #1 is now out 10ft from the stump with two ffemales near the end of the vine. The Dill's #2 looks like a strong plant it just got a later start than the others. All got a shot of fish today. Vines were trimmed and buried on the Dill's #1,it also got a shot of Superthrive around the laterals. This plant looks huge on my small plot. I've been busy trimming and relandscaping around my house-so two pick-up loads to the dump later the grounds look much different. No water tomorrow plants get a day off. Monday, June 22 View Page My daughter took one of my spare plants and planted it into a 20 gallon washtub in late May. Skinny vine but she got a female flower and polinated two days ago. Monday, June 22 View Page Fed with all seaweed today and trimmed & buried some vines on the west side of the Dill's #1. I was gone Jeepin for two days and it was nice to come home. Maybe the girls will bloom tomorrow-I covered them today with a baggie w/ holes in it. There are two about 11 Ft. out and 1.5 feet apart. Tomorrow I'll get some higher p & k fertilizer.I'm running out of room. Monday, June 22 View Page I put the #2 Huff 1027 back under a hoop this afternoon. Along with the seaweed this should give it a boost. Friday, June 26 View Page Up early to pollinate Dill's #1 plant, used 3 males to do the deed. I'd covered it yesterday with a plastic baggie with many small holes punctured in it. I wasn't sure when it would open but when I went out this AM at 5:30 it was open and HUGE inside the baggie. It's out about 13 feet and I have another female downstem 1.5 feet away which shold open tomorrow. It's been cool and cloudy for a week or more but the two Huff 1027's are now beginning to run their mains out-FINALLY! And my other DIll's plant remains under the hot house but it's coming around. The 3rd Dill's plant pollinated 4 days ago is growing which shocks me as this is the one planted in a 20 gallon wash tub and only out about 4 ft. Small but mighty. Need to change fertilizer program for a higher p & K number with less N. My growing area is very small so watering is fairly easy. I'm still watering with warm H20 and will give every plant a shot of foliar Kelp spray today. Friday, June 26 View Page BTW- no bug issues yet this year. Sunday, June 28 View Page Cool today 57 at 10:30am. An east wind blew over the #2 1027 Huff but it looks alright. It looks as though the pollination took on the Dill's #1 now it'll be a decision which fruit to keep...father time will tell. Fed all Plants with foliar tea and a good soil drench. The two 1027 Huff plants are getting there; one has a female at 4ft. which we'll have to terminate. Tuesday, June 30 View Page Need to get busy burying vines. I hit them hard with H20 & Molassess and a weak tea yesterday. So I think they may need a rest today. So it's a day of weeding and weedeating the edges. of the patch. It's going to be a stretch to get the two 1027 Huff's pollinated by 7/10-but hey what are ya gonna do? Great weather the last few days 75 and a very slight breeze. Wednesday, July 1 View Page Looking at the #1 1027 Huff it's developed a really thick stump, maybe it's just building it's shoulder's to support a big top end-it better get going we're running out of calendar time. The things you learn along the way - growing these things is a luck based science. Wednesday, July 1 View Page Looking at some of the other diaries I see a few folks have plants behind the curve due to cool and rainy weather in the eastern half of the country. Maybe mine won't be the only ones late for dinner. Thursday, July 2 View Page Hot for Seattle today; 80 at my house now. Sprinkling thru out afternoon. The two 1027 Huff plants are running their vines out - now at 4 ft each. Go-baby-GO! Saturday, July 4 View Page Happy Fourth of July to all growers, vine burier's, weeder's and AG fans ! Saturday, July 4 View Page Fed with some seaweed,K & P this morning.Deadheaded the main vine of the Dill's #1 it had reached the sidewalk out 18ft from the stump. This vine has 3 pollinated females-hard decisions await.The dill's #2 has a female 4 ft out. The two 1027 Huff's are running their vine's out to about 4.5 ft.-they're comming. Hot today 80+ lots of water coming this evening. Saturday, July 4 View Page Day 9 of my Dill's #1 - the vine has spilled out of the patch on to the lawn. I took the sun shade away to capture the image. Saturday, July 4 View Page Which one would you cull? I was a little excited and pollinated these too close to one another. I would suppose the question to ask also is when to cull. 4ft further out I have another perfect 5 lobe that's doing very well.Do I cull two of these now? Or should I wait for a couple of weeks to see how they develop? Feel free to weigh in. Monday, July 6 View Page Weather forecast show a week of cool temps in the high 60's. We've had a good run of weather in the 70's & 80's since the last cool spell 2 weeks ago. Leaving shade cover off the Dill's #1 fruit today.Dill's #2 is out about 6ft with a female now appearing but small - I might be able to keep this one until it reaches 10 ft;time will tell. The two 1027 Huff plant are out about 6ft also one with a female-they just need more time to grow.I don't believe any of the smaller 3 plants will pollinate before 7/13/09.It's a crap shoot, it's never over 'till it's over and it'll be warmer tomorrow... Monday, July 6 View Page Culled #2 fruit off of Dill's #1 plant... Tough choice but it had to go.This plant is now pushing just one fruit at about 14 ft out. Also culled/chopped/outed a strange growing lateral on same plant.Removed second competing vine off 1027 Huff;now it has just one main vine. Monday, July 13 View Page Was gone for two days and left the patch upkeep to my kids-they did a fine job. Dill's #1 fruit gained 12 inches in circum and 13 inches OTT. Rain today and cool. Buried vines on the 1027 Huffs - no females yet and time is running short.Two females on the #2 Dill's plant. Saturday, July 18 View Page Lack of females on 1027 Huff plants, but I've got one polinated. Time is getting thin but it's a marathon. I just noticed a little tiny vine split on my Dill's #1 stem maybe it's nothing but one never knows.Weather has been great mid 80's for 5 days-lot's of H2O x3/day. many of the smaller plants are now coming into their own, smaller fruits but kids like them-Growing pumpkins something for everyone. Saturday, July 18 View Page A little more girth here-this one has a pear body shape but it's growing well our largest fruit by far. There are others behind it however they better hurry up. Monday, July 20 View Page Ok. I'm going to weed tomorrow. Wednesday, July 22 View Page Looks like we got another pumpkin in the patch today-I'm sure the Juicy T-shirt variety isn't an Atlantic Giant. Howrever, the yellow one is at approx. 69 lbs today. Hot here the last couple of days lots of H20, burying vines and moving the shading around. Friday, July 24 View Page Dill's #1 circum. at 65in. starting to color up. Dig the Slinky perched on top. Cooler today but it warmed up in the afternoon.Buried vines and did some weeding, fed all plants phosphorus, potash along with a little Morebloom. Friday, July 24 View Page 1027 Huff has one set but it sure seems sluggish; the other 1027 Huff two set and it's the same story just slow to get going even with good food, warm days and warm water. Time will tell it always does. Friday, July 24 View Page Repositioned Dill's #1 pumpkin to add more vine clearance.Note to self buy a larger tape measure pumpkin has out grown the 5 footer.Cool morning warm this pm-80. Monday, July 27 View Page The circ. is now at 74in. I had to reposition it a little bit-more of a nudge than anything. Should've planned ahead a little more when training the vine early on. Pumpkins in our neighborhood are quite a novel thing, our neighbor's who'd been away on vacation came back today and first thing came to check on the plants progress. People stop by who are walking, the trash man checks it out each week when he stops by to collect, the new people who moved in down the street love the patch and everyone asks "How big do you think it'll get? My standard answer is this one is dinky compared to others people are growing around the world right now and it could all end tomorrow but today it looks like it still wants to grow more. Tuesday, July 28 View Page Pulled one of two 1027 Huff plants-failure to thrive. It had one small fruit but just couldn't get to the next level. That leaves me w/ 3 plants with set and growing pumpkins + 3 smaller plants in our backyard garden.Buried vines on Dill's #1 plant, drenched with Morbloom 0-10-10.It's hot here 95 today will spray plants to keep 'em cool. The pumpkins seem to like the warm weather as their growth rates are up. Tuesday, July 28 View Page Better scratch last entry to 2 plants in the back yard patch. Last night a critter squirrel, coon or rat chewed into the fruit on one of the three. What the heck better get out the musket and blast 'em to smithereenies. Wednesday, July 29 View Page Hot today 97 + or -. Put up improved shading over Dill's plant, watered well tonight with warm water. Better feed tomorrow. Wednesday, July 29 View Page Dill's #1 circum, is 79 today. Hot already at 10:15am - 85+ looks like a watering day.I need to modify my new sun shade Wednesday, August 5 View Page Oh my goodness the Huff 1027 plant took off with the only set fruit growing 20% today. The plant is small which is my fault but the fruit has a nice shape and I'm really hoping it continues as I've almost pulled this plant twice before only to talked out of doing so by my children. Wednesday, August 5 View Page Dills plant continues to add girth. My sun shade is doing the trick for 3/4 of the day HA! Thursday, August 6 View Page Weeded today, cooler may get to 75, fruits are growing but a tad slower. I found another female on the Dills plant which I cut off. Beans are coming around and my herbs are in full swing. The smaller pumpkins in my patch continue to grow but I doubt they'll take on GIGANTIC stature; one is near(2 inches) from the driveway so I'm hoping the warmth of the asphalt keeps it warm at night. Friday, August 7 View Page I added a guardian to the patch today;I needed the company while I weed. Sunday, August 9 View Page Cool today and the past 3 days. Fruit is inching forward on all three plants.I have a pruning question: Do you prune the vine down the line after the fruit. I have one pnkn that'a at the end of the vine and it's doing fine but won't be gigantic. My largest pnkn has 13 feet of vine past it but I worry about if I'm supporting a vine that's robbing my pnkn of energy. Anybody want to ring in with an opinion I'd welcome your input. Sunday, August 9 View Page I pruned downstream from both fruits about 1.5 feet. I've noticed some powdery mildew will fungicide tomorrow. Tuesday, August 11 View Page Rain last night- maybe 1/2 inch. Warm this afternoon into the mid 70's perfect for warming-up the patch.Weeded a little bit but in my small patch it looks like a lot. Planted some late table squash yesterday - we'll see if we get a crop out of them or not. Friday, August 14 View Page OK the sun can come out any time now...It seems like the cloudy weather from the midwest has moved here in late summer. Monday, August 17 View Page Was gone for a couple of days in Walla Walla- oh I could grow huge pumpkins there. Watering was done in my patch and all looks fine upon my return. The 1027 Huff is coming along - this poor plant if only I had more plant behind it to push it along. Next year. Thursday, August 20 View Page Growth has slowed, fruit still has a sheen on it, it was cool here until 3 days ago so maybe it's going to take off! Always the optimist! The 1027 Huff has continued to grow and I keep forgetting it's 3 weeks behind my other plants so it's still in the go fast part of it's life. Tuesday, October 6 View Page I'd be shocked if they grow anymore. Fun for the first year! Wednesday, October 14 View Page I have a few images of the Weigh-Off at Central Market, in Shoreline, Washington: Here's a line up of the heavy hitters Wednesday, October 14 View Page Well...mine was 235 lbs 25th out of 25 entries-which gave me a good view of all those in front of me. Still, I was the largest entry from the city of Seattle....Ok I admit I was the only entrant from Seattle but hey let's not sweat the details. Wednesday, October 14 View Page My family, mom & dad came out to see the results and take in the action. Wednesday, October 14 View Page Hoping some of Erin's magic rubs off on me :) Wednesday, October 14 View Page Dave Kilburn, 1st place winner at 1350 lbs or was it 1355? Dave I hope I spelled your name correctly. Wednesday, October 14 View Page Group shot. Wednesday, October 14 View Page The guys on the stage were busy. Wednesday, October 14 View Page I bought a roto tiller today, picked up some well aged manure and a couple yards of compost. So time to get busy. Friday, October 30 View Page Patch is amended, enlarged and planted w/ Rye-which has begun to sprout and it's up about 3/4 in. So this closes out my diary for the year -oops I guess I'll have 1 more post as we're carving up our largest pumpkin tomorrow. I'll post some pics.