Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 30 Entries. Monday, April 19 View Page Hello everyone, I'm a new grower to giant pumpkins this year and am very excited about it. I've grown a ordinary vegetable garden before but nothing like this. So I'd like to introduce myself and say hello and good luck to everyone this year. My names Dustin, and I'm interested in these giants because 20 years ago my dad grew one that was only 300 or so #'s and got his best friend hooked. "DOC" as we call him has been growing them ever since. He recently got his personal best 1191, which he kindly gave me some seeds from, as well as he won the Howard Dill award at the OVGPG Weighoff in 2009. WAY TO GO DOC!! So, I'm a newbie and am looking for any advice that anyone may have to offer. I've done some reading in the past few years and figured what the heck, I'll give it a shot. I have a small patch and want to CRAM in 2 plants, even though I know its not enough room. Ok on to pictures and patch specs. Bare with me, I'M NEW TO ALL OF THIS lol. Once again, good luck in the 2010 season. Monday, April 19 View Page Pacth is my normal vegetable garden. Measures 20x40 so I'll half it and get 2 20x20 plots for my 2 pumpkins. Last fall I added the following amendments...2 pickup loads of cow manure, 2 pickup full of mushroom compost, one pickup full of mulched n bagged leaves, 5#'s epsom salt, 25#'s lime for PH and several wheel barrows full of home made compost. I tilled it all in and left sit over winter. I sent a soil sample to Penn State, I know yinz all use Western Labs I think. Well it came back saying that I only need to add N to my soil. I exceed the major nutrients by a boat load...I know this can be bad!! I'll post a picture ot the soil results and maybe someone can steer me in the right direction. Monday, April 19 View Page Soil sample results. I just did the basic test. Monday, April 19 View Page Not really sure what all this means. I plan on swinging by Parks Garden Center today maybe and ask Tim if he's around. Monday, April 19 View Page This is a 764 N. Harp that the Harps kindly sent me. I plan on taking this to Canfield fair IF we make it that far. I know the work it takes with these monsters so we will see. There's a few spots on the leaves and on the vine, I'll post pics of those as well. Any info, advice, suggestions etc are more than welcome. Monday, April 19 View Page Notice the edge of the leaf, its yellow/browning....is this potassium def or maybe a nitrogen def?? Monday, April 19 View Page Notice the yellowing near the veins of the leaf. Alot of my leaves are like this. Nitrogen Def or lockout? Or is it the leaf growing so rapidly that it takes time to green up? Monday, April 19 View Page This is my 1191 Jones that DOC kindly gave me. Started it later than the 764 N. Harp and plan on taking this one to the OVGPG Weighoff in October. I have 3 backups of the 1191 that just popped the soil. Monday, April 19 View Page Well thats all for today. I want to add that I sprayed the patch with liquid Gypsum and I'm using Pumpkin Pro when I bury my vine ( secondary vines just starting) I've fertilized with Neptunes 2-3-1 and molasses as well as alternating my sprays weekly for fungicide, insects and disease. Thanks to any and all whom may give advice, info, tips, etc to help me along on this wild ride. Good luck once again and thank you Tuesday, April 27 View Page 1st Male flower Tuesday, April 27 View Page Secondary vine. its not the very first one fron the stump though, does that matter? Tuesday, April 27 View Page Stump...any thought on the looks so far? First timer here... Tuesday, April 27 View Page More Male flowers Tuesday, April 27 View Page First pumpkin...only at about 5-6 foot main vine TOTAL length so can I pinch em off as they show up until I'm ready to pollenate? Friday, April 30 View Page Can anyone help me out with what this might be? I'm assuming a nutrient lockout because my soil is insanely high... Friday, April 30 View Page And this also...I'm gonna say potassium lockout?? I have soil test results posted if anyone can gimme a clue it's be great. Friday, April 30 View Page Pretty flower :-) Any certain characteristics I should be looking for when selecting blossoms to use as pollenators? Thursday, May 6 View Page 764 N. Harp that I was kindly given by The Harps for my FIRST ever try!! THANKS AGAIN!! I'm a new BEEEE but I think for the most part she looks great. Main vine broke a few days ago but going to use a secondary and not give up so easy :-) Stump is back right area where the brown edged leaf is at. Thursday, May 13 View Page 764 N. Harp Thursday, May 13 View Page Bella my yellow lab getting some reading done Thursday, May 13 View Page Sorry this is the 764 N. Harp...not my dog lol Thursday, May 13 View Page Test pollenation....first time doing this, figured I'd practice for a week of 2 until I'm ready for my actual pollenation. Tuesday, May 18 View Page Main vine is almost under the white temp sensor hanging. The main broke but has healed where I cut it off and has started a secondary as the new main. Tuesday, May 18 View Page Punky shot from the upstairs bedroom. Tuesday, May 18 View Page Measured this morning and its 9 1/2" around the whole punkin....was pollenated 5 days ago...is this good? Cut roots on vines to allow them to move as punky grows :-) Tuesday, June 29 View Page Not breakin any records here but I'ma first timer and I can see how this becomes a hobby. Unreal how these things grow. Have 2 more 1191 Jones plants for the OVGPG weighoff. I'm hoping to take this one to Canfield for the fair in Sept. I'm not sure if I'm taping it right but I'm getting 250" OTT so in the ballpark of 340#'s Tuesday, June 29 View Page Blossom end looks ok I'd say. No cracks/splits or rotting so I'm happy Tuesday, June 29 View Page Not sure if the first post went through, computer bein funny today. Anyways....thought this was a pretty neat picture of the stem with a nice blue sky and some passing clouds. GROW EM BIG!!! Wednesday, July 28 View Page Not a record breaker but sure a nice seat for our 6 month old Jacob to get a picture on :-) Hoping the 1191's come out better than 764 Harp. I'm happy with how she turned out though. We might put on more wieght in the next month until the fair, who knows. Fun either way though. GROW EM BIG!!! Thursday, October 7 View Page 1191 Jones (1537 Stelts x 1462 Gibson) taping around 820. Taking it to get weighed this weekend hopefully. The blossom end has a small crack and seems to be thin so lifting it may cause it to split more. Not bad for first year growing these and a late aug 10th pollenation date along with growing on a secondary vine. So all in all I'm happy with this year. Next year I'll work on PREVENTATIVE steps for diease and insect control. These seeds will be up for grabs for FREE or TRADE if anyone is interested. Shoot me an email. Nice orange color to this one.