Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 151 Entries. Wednesday, February 2 View Page I guess it's about time to start a new diary. Might as well start with what I hope to beat this year. Wednesday, February 2 View Page Most of the winter has been spent creating a "How-to" for my friends that want to try and grow one of these giants. It is a compilation of things that I read and did last year and what I plan to do this year. By going through my notes and putting it all down on paper in a format that I hope helps them, I hope I have helped myself as well. http://www.how2growAGs.blogspot.com GOOD LUCK! Wednesday, February 2 View Page My new toy. Less than 1/2 the cost of a Stihl. Works great. Sprays about 35 feet in a fine mist. Holds an incredible 7 gallons of product. Will convert to granular or dust as well as spray. http://www.misterduster.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Mister%20Duster%20FWZ Wednesday, February 2 View Page another angle Wednesday, February 2 View Page Throttle is on side, but still easy to use (and it will shut it all the way off). Wednesday, February 2 View Page Enough hose to set it up so that it will touch the ground and point up at a slight angle without stooping over. I had to use electrical tape to hold some of the pieces together because they were really all designed to be assembled in this fashion. But I didn't have to modify any of them. The only thing I had to get was a longer 3/8 inch plastic tubing from local hardware store because I made the hose longer than the manufacturer intended. Wednesday, February 2 View Page I set up the germination chamber to test my new thermostat. I will also be testing a theory I read about whether getting the stem before the cots to be longer through light deprivation, if it will grow more roots. Updates in a couple of weeks. Wednesday, February 2 View Page Inside the germinations chamber. Light bulb is controlled by a dimmer switch and thermostat with probe inserted into the dirt. Waiting on everything to settle to a constant temp after the initial warm up. It looks like the thermostat will have about a 3 degree swing between off and on cycle. By placing the probe closer to the heat source, the entire chamber has less of a swing. Wednesday, February 2 View Page After a lot of research, changing my mind a dozen times, and finally making a decision. Here is my line up for 2011. Crosses will be: 1073 Speakman 2010 x 1180 Weston 2010 1180 Weston 2010 x 998.5 Liggett 2010 998.5 Liggett 2010 x 1622 Liggett 2010 1622 Liggett 2010 x 992 Young 2010 922 Young 2010 x 998.5 Liggett 2010 Wednesday, February 2 View Page A few posts back should have said -- weren't -- instead of -- were. It SHOULD have read: I had to use electrical tape to hold some of the pieces together because they (weren't) really all designed to be assembled in this fashion. Monday, February 28 View Page Finished cold frame. Built out of 2x4s 20 inches on center. All pieces covered individually so it can be disassembled and stored. All angles are cut at 10 degrees. Overall footprint 5ft x 5ft with a sloped top. Side is 39 inches x 18 inches high. Top made out of 2x2s. 3ft x 5ft is fixed, 2 x 5 at peak opens with an automatic solar greenhouse vent opener. Opening temperature can be set from 59-77. Fully opened after 20 degrees higher than beginning temperature is reached. Fully extended opening is 13 inches (I lost 3 inches because of using 2x2s instead of aluminium frame that they are erally designed for). Will be installing in the patch this week to shed some of the expected rainfall (forecast for rain for 7 days starting Thursday) start warming the ground and testing maximum temperatures on sunny days. Monday, February 28 View Page another angle Monday, February 28 View Page different view Monday, February 28 View Page and another Monday, February 28 View Page last one Monday, February 28 View Page This is the opener partially extended Tuesday, March 1 View Page whoops typo -- I proofread it 3 times too -- lol highest point of side is 29 inches not 39 inches Saturday, April 9 View Page I ran 3 trials of test plants. Each trial ran for 10 days. The results were that light deprivation makes LESS roots and longer weaker plants than the control plants. No additional roots were formed on the stem by burying it. Leaf growth was smaller and slower on light deprived plants than ontrols. A parallel trial was also run with mycorrhizae. Even in this short trial, the plants with the mycorrhizae had visibly more roots than the control plants. Saturday, April 9 View Page Cold Frames have been in the patch for a couple of weeks. Ground is 5 degrees warmer 6 inches down than ground outside of the cold frame. The inside is also a little drier (shedding the huge amount of rain we get every spring). The vent openers are working well. Temps inside are staying below 85 even during sunny days. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80s, so will see how they do then. Saturday, April 9 View Page Putting up fence and electric today. Took out a couple of trees that were too lose to the patch last week. Will be working on stump removal for next years patch expansion too. Saturday, April 9 View Page previous post should say "too close to patch" Sunday, April 24 View Page Started these 2 today. Soaked 30 minutes in 3% peroxide, then 6 hours in 1 tsp seaweed to 1 cup water at 88 degrees in germ chamber, then planted in moistened potting soil (squeeze as hard as you can and only get one drop out) that has been held at 88 degrees for 3 days. Speakman was already expanding and cracking the seed after the soak. Let the season begin. Wednesday, April 27 View Page 922 Young 2010 Broke ground during the night. Put it under the light before work. About 58 hours from filing to above ground. Wednesday, April 27 View Page 1073 Speakman 08 Broke ground during the day today. Put it under the light after work. About 68 hours from filing to above ground. Wednesday, April 27 View Page 922 Young 10 after 10 hours of light. Thursday, April 28 View Page 1073 Speakman 08 100 hours after starting. Thursday, April 28 View Page 922 Young 10 100 hours after starting. Saturday, April 30 View Page Spent the last 2 days getting the first two spots ready to plant. When I went to bury the heat cables in the first cold frame I struck water 6 inches down. This is the lowest part of the patch and I was kind of expecting it as my water table is really high and some of the lowest part of my property has been standing in water for weeks. I dug out 10 inches of muck and joined the hole over to a drainage ditch that I had dug 2 weeks ago to try and direct water away from the patch. I had to make it deeper, but was able to drain all of the water out of the hole under my planting site. I layed the heat cable out about 7 inches apart in an S pattern over the entire cold frame area (5ft x 5ft). I then covered it with an inch of compost, an inch of pea gravel, and a layer of larger (about 1 inch) stones. I wanted the cable to be in complete contact with soil but not directly touching rocks and am hoping the gravel will help drain excess water from this spot. I then covered that with 2 inches of compost. That left me with about 5 inches to fill with dirt. I had moved 4 wheelbarrow loads into the shop last week and have had a fan blowing on it for a week. I mixed my amendments in the wheel barrow and added to the hole. It took all 4 wheelbarrows of dirt. This filled the hole and made about a 4 inch mound about 3 ft in diameter at the actual plant site for the first cold frame. The second site was not as wet. The top 4 inches was dry enough to use, dug that out (about 3 wheelbarow loads). Set it aside and took out 2 more inches, then pushed heat cable down into the wet soil about 2 inches in the same S pattern. I put down an inch of compost and mixed the same amount of everything else to fill in the top 5 inches of the planting site. The heat cables are on and the target planting date is still the 7th. Saturday, April 30 View Page The last 2 days of sun and wind dried out the top couple of inches of the patch enough that I got 6 more wheelbarrow loads inside and started the fan blowing on it. It will be ready to add to the last 3 cold frames when it stops raining sometime between now and the 13th when I plan on planting the other 3 plants. What a beginning! Monday, May 2 View Page 922 Young 10 5 days after breaking ground Monday, May 2 View Page 1073 Speakman 08 5 days after sprouting Monday, May 2 View Page The rain continues. Current forecast seems that Wed is only day this week that might not rain. The work I did this weekend looks like it was time well spent. The heat cables have heated the ground up to 78 at 5 inches down. I dug a hole 8 inches deep and didn't hit a spring. The top 6 inches has not gotten wetter with the last two days of rain. Tomorrow night is expected to dip down to 39 degrees. I think that will be the last cold spell. Right now it looks like I will be able to plant on Sat. (knock on wood) Friday, May 6 View Page Yeah! A day and a half in a row without rain! I planted my plants today and got the other 3 spots ready. I will start my last 3 tomorrow. This is my 922 Young 10 at 9 days after they sprouted. can see the 4th leaf starting. The roots were just barely poking through the edges of the 2 gallon pots when I planted them this afternoon. Friday, May 6 View Page This is the picture that should have been with the last post Friday, May 6 View Page 1073 Speakman 08 9 days after sprouting Friday, May 6 View Page 1073 Speakman at 9 days after sprouting. Saturday, May 7 View Page Soaked these this morning and just put them in the dirt. See you in about 3 days! Monday, May 9 View Page FINALLY!! 2 days in a row without rain! Not dry enough to till properly, but dry enough to do a light till. Chopped up the top 3 inches or so to break the crust that has formed from the persistant daily rains for the last two months. Possible rain tomorrow made me realize this might be the only chance I get for another week or two. I took my chances, hopefully this will make it easier to dry out. Monday, May 9 View Page Out of the 3 seeds I started Sat, the 1622 Liggett 10 and 1180 Weston 10 pushed dirt today, in less than 48 hours Waiting for them to get completely above ground so I can help them off with their coats. Still waiting on 998.5 Liggett 10. Wednesday, May 11 View Page 922 still going strong. 14 days. Wednesday, May 11 View Page 1073 at 14 days. Saturday, May 14 View Page This is only the 3rd 5 leaf clover I've ever found. Hoping it is luckier than 4 leaf clover...lol Saturday, May 14 View Page Set out my last 3 plants. This one (998.5) took 5 days to sprout so it is 3 days old today, but it looks good and healthy. Saturday, May 14 View Page This is the roots of the 3 day old 998.5. This is in a 6 inch pot. Soaking started on the morning of the 7th and it came above ground on the 11th. Saturday, May 14 View Page 1180 Weston in the patch, 5 days from coming above ground. Only took 2 days from soaking to above ground. Saturday, May 14 View Page This is a picture of the roots of the 1180 at transplant time. It was in a 6 inch pot for 7 days all total, 5 days aftre plant was above ground. Compare this the 998.5 which took two days longer to start, this is why people say, get these in the ground as quick as you can. Saturday, May 14 View Page another pic of the 1180 roots. Really should have been set out a couple of days ago. Hope it didn't slow it down. Saturday, May 14 View Page 1622 Liggett 5 days after it came above ground. The roots looked very similar to the 1180. Glad they are in the patch. Crazy weather this spring. Too much rain, then a hot spell, then a cold spell, repeat. Hopefully it will "normal up" soon. Saturday, May 14 View Page 922 Young 17days. Saturday, May 14 View Page 3rd leaf (largest right now) on the 922 Young Saturday, May 14 View Page Vine tip on the 922 Young Saturday, May 14 View Page 1073 at 17 days. Saturday, May 14 View Page 3rd leaf on 1073 Speakman Saturday, May 14 View Page Vine tip of the 1073 Speakman Tuesday, May 24 View Page Last week when the 1073 laid down it kinked a little. 60+ MPH winds last night rolled it over despite having it staked down and cracked the vine at the kink. I had already started a backup because of the kink. I hadn't totally decided to replace it because it was still powering ahead. Mother Nature decided for me. Backup went in tonight. Wednesday, May 25 View Page Once again these plants amaze me. The 1073 was bent in half and twisted almost 90 degrees in the wind night before last. When I got home tonight it has righted itself, grew about 4 inches, sent down a couple of tap roots at leaf nodes and shows no sign of wilt or stress at all. I inspected the crack really closely and it looks like it might actually be scarring over. I decided to get a second opinion and asked Doc Liggett to look at it. He thinks it will be fine. The back up is already in, so it gets a few more days to show me it really means it. Thursday, May 26 View Page 922 Young 29 days old. Almost 4 feet. Since we got some sun the leaves are starting to get alot bigger and greener. Thursday, May 26 View Page 998.5 Liggett 17days. They are a little behind. I think the combination of no sun, too wet, and being a little root bound really slowed them down. I have a backup that is 8 days old that is bigger than this one. It will get planted tomorrow (chance of bad storms tonight). if it doesn't go into transplant shock I think it will get this spot. Thursday, May 26 View Page 1073 Speakman 29 days. Thursday, May 26 View Page 1073 Speakman in a 5 ft cold frame, almost out of room. will take this end off tomorrow. Weather is supposed to be better after tonight. Thursday, May 26 View Page 1180 Weston 17 days, 1st 3 leaves got burnt really bad. Plant is somewhat starting to come out of it. Have a 5 day old backup ready to go in this weekend. Thursday, May 26 View Page 1622 Liggett 17 days. Hail screen is in place. We had hail warnings for the last two days. Both of them missed us, still forcast for some storms overnight. Tuesday, May 31 View Page Heat and sunshine has stepped up the growth on the 922 and 1073. Started burying sidevines on 1073 Speakman tonight. Main is 6.5 ft long and has first female at 6 ft. Other 3 transplanted on the 14th haven't kicked it in yet. Backups for the 998.5 and 1180 are looking pretty good. Hopefully something happens on those soon. Got patch tilled finally. Saturday, June 4 View Page 1073 Speakman 41 days since I started them. This is the same time period that I measured the vines last year. Vine on Speakman is 8.5 ft long with 3.5 ft sidevines. Almost exactly the same as my best plant on the same day last year. Saturday, June 4 View Page 922 Young 41 days since I started. Main vine 8 ft and 3 ft sides. Right on track with where was last year. Saturday, June 4 View Page This is the original 998.5. It was started 27 days ago. stalled for a long time, and might be coming out of it. Saturday, June 4 View Page This is the 998.5 backup plant. It was started 17 days ago and is almost as big as the other one. I hope one of them takes off soon. Saturday, June 4 View Page This is the original 1180 Weston. 27 days since I started it. last few days has shown some growth. Saturday, June 4 View Page Backup 1180 Weston. 17 days old. Almost as big as the other one. Does it want the chance or not? Saturday, June 4 View Page 1622 Liggett 27 days since it was started. There is no backup for this plant. I hope it picks it up soon. Saturday, June 4 View Page Had another whopper of a storm tonight. 1.5 inches of rain in 30 minutes, some small hail mixed in and 50 mph winds. Just caught the edge of 2 cells an hour apart, missed the bad stuff by less than 2 miles. Just came in from checking the plants, everything made it ok. No noticable damage. More storms rolling through all night. Will see what daylight reveals. Sunday, June 5 View Page Well daylight revealed some hail damage. The worst was on the 922 (shown here). Sunday, June 5 View Page Worst damage Sunday, June 5 View Page oops, forgot to add the picture. Wednesday, June 8 View Page Main on 1073 Speakman is now 10 ft, 1st sides are 4 ft and growing at about 8-10 inches a day. There is a female on the tip and one junction back (a little over 9 ft out). The 922 has kicked it up a notch since the hail damage and has almost 10 ft main with 5 ft sides. A couple of females on tips of sides, but none showing on the tip yet. Sunday, June 12 View Page 1st pollination of 2011! Pollinated yesterday Jun 11th with the 1180 Weston 10 that Dr. Bob is growing. 5 perfect lobes. Nearly doubled in size over night. 9ft out on 1073 Speakman 08, which currently has a 14 ft main and 9 ft sides. Sunday, June 12 View Page The next one to pollinate on 1073. 10.5 ft out. I think it will pollinate on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm hoping this will be "the one". "S" curve is almost complete to get vine out of the way and 'kin perpendicular to the vine. Sunday, June 12 View Page 1073 is now 49 days old and 14 ft long main, with 9ft sides. There are 15 sides (8 on one side and 7 on the other) before the first set and 2 more before the one that I hope is the keeper. This one is in a long narrow space so I am turning the sides back, thats why is looks long and narrow. Sunday, June 12 View Page another pic of the 1073 Sunday, June 12 View Page 922 Young at 49 days old. 13 ft long with 9 ft sides. Pulling out of the hail damage really well. Sunday, June 12 View Page 922 Young lost 2 sides to the hail. Otherwise plant is looking really good. I'm letting a couple of tertiaries grow on adjacent sides to fill in the space, plan on running one of them back along the main to help replace some of the worst beat up leaves. Sunday, June 12 View Page tip on 922 is growing a foot a day. I marked where the tip was yesterday and today I measured how far it had grown. Sunday, June 12 View Page First female on the main of the 922. In the tip. I noticed it 3 days ago, so it should pollinate Sat or Sunday. Sunday, June 12 View Page 1180 Weston has finally decided it wants to grow. It's n ow 35 days old and has a 5 ft main with 1 ft sides. Tip is growing about 7 inches a day. Cut backup plant off today. Sunday, June 12 View Page 25 day old 998.5 backup is now passing the 35 day old original 998.5. 4.5 ft main and 9 inch side vines. Just kicked it in gear this weekend. Will let the original stay for a couple of more days before I make the decision. Sunday, June 12 View Page 1622 Liggett has also decided to grow, but still slower than the rest. It is still in the wettest part of the patch. Still flagging in the heat of the day. Almost laid down, 3 ft main. Tip grew about 5 inches in last 24 hours. It probably didn't grow 5 inches in 3 days prior to that. Hopefully that is a good sign as I dont have a backup for this one. Tuesday, June 14 View Page Pollinated one on the 1073 Speakman with the 1622 Liggett that Dr Bob is growing this morning. 10.5 ft out. If it takes it might be "the one". Next one on this plant will be at around 14 feet, expect to pollinate on Sun or Mon. Sunday, June 19 View Page Well a lot has changed with my season. I am headed overseas for work. My wife Teresa, and son Johnathon are going to try and get the pumpkins to the scale. I went ahead and cut the 1622 Liggett. I was still poking along. When I dug it up I saw no rot or anything that looked/smelled bad, but the roots hadn't grown very much at all. The backup 998.5 was growing better so it won the spot on the 17th. Pollinated another one at 14 ft on the 1073 Speakman with 1622 Liggett this morning. The one at 10.5 still looks good. Decided to go ahead and cull the first one and put the sand and mill cloth under the one at 10.5 ft before it got too big, and the permanent shade tarp over it. If for some reason it aborts, then the one we pollinated this morning can be turned to sit in the same spot with a little adjusting. Will pollinate the 922 Young with 998.5 Liggett in the morning. Tuesday, June 21 View Page pollinated the 922 Young with 998.5 Liggett yesterday morning. Nice 4 lobe kin. Haven't measured, but near 15 ft out. Saturday, June 25 View Page 922 Young -- 62 days old Saturday, June 25 View Page other side of the 922 Saturday, June 25 View Page 922 4 days old Saturday, June 25 View Page 1073 Speakman (62 Days old) in back and 998.5 in front, the 998.5 will most likely get the axe if it don't hurry up. Saturday, June 25 View Page 1073 Speakman (62 Days old) in back and 998.5 in front, the 998.5 will most likely get the axe if it don't hurry up. Saturday, June 25 View Page 1073 Speakman back main Saturday, June 25 View Page 1073 Speakman 11 days old, at 10.5 ft, just smaller than a basketball. It is growing, that is what is important. Last year mine were a little bigger on day 11, but it wasn't crazy wet and was a lot warmer. At least will have one going before I leave. Saturday, June 25 View Page 1073 Speakman 62 days old. Saturday, June 25 View Page 1180 Weston 48 days old Saturday, June 25 View Page 1180 Weston, will land around 12 ft. Estimated pollination date Sun or Mon, I leave Sat. Will be all Teresa. She has successfully pollinated 2 with assistance and one flying solo, so no reason to worry, she'll get 'r done. I think I will go ahead and erect the permanent shade, lay out the sand, styrofoam and mill cloth and turn the vine like it is "the one". If it doesn't take, she will have to move the vine to position the next on to hit the target, that will work for about 3, then she will have to move everything or scrap the plant. Monday, June 27 View Page 1073 13 days old. Longer than it is round. Thursday, June 30 View Page 1073 Speakman 16 days old Thursday, June 30 View Page 922 Young 9 days old. Thursday, June 30 View Page my 1180 will have first one open tomorrow. IF it takes, I will have 3 going for Teresa and Johnathon to take care of while I'm gone. Friday, July 1 View Page Pollinated 1180 with 1073 Speakman at 14 ft this morning. Turned vine and set base under the pumpkin and shade tarp over it. It was 93 degrees, deployed fan, an ice jug and upside down styrofoam cooler. Hopefully it takes. Next one is 3 more ft and will pollinate near thursday or friday next week. Teresa will be able to position the vine so that it lands on the side of the platform I made today if this one dont take and the next one does. After that it will be all her. Sunday, July 3 View Page 1073 17 days old Sunday, July 3 View Page 922 Young 12 days Wednesday, July 6 View Page 1073 Speakman 20 days 49 STS 46 ETE 65 C 160 OTT est 97 lbs Wednesday, July 6 View Page 922 Young day 13 37 inch circumference Wednesday, July 6 View Page 1180 Weston day 5 hope it took Teresa pollinated second one today Wednesday, July 6 View Page update from Teresa on the patch. She decided that it has finally dried out enough to start watering. I had the watering system in place, leak tested and the timer set up before I left. Tomorrow it will kick on for the first time this year. Lowest part of patch has valves turned off, probably for 3 or 4 more days. She removed the 998.5 because I dont need pollen for the young any longer and the plant just wasnt happy in the wettest part of the patch. I had let the young and speakman invade some of its space too. I will have to add some more dirt to raise this area if I grow in it again, and maybe put a drain tile in. The dirt stionks like swamp it's been so wet for so long (since Feb). She is keeping up with burying, has about 1/2 of 922 terminated,and starting to remove the 4 backup pumpkins that are between 2 and 10 days old (one a day) Speakman has basically self terminated, most vines only growing an inch or so every couple of days, all backups removed. Vines are within 10 inches of edge of patch anyway. Main still moving ahead. Weston has just about filled 2/3 of its alloted space, since the 1622 Liggett didnt make the cut, it will be given a little extra room this year. No vines terminated on it yet. Wednesday, July 6 View Page oops young is 15 days old today not 13 Sunday, July 10 View Page 1073 Speakman 24 days Sunday, July 10 View Page Young 922 20 days Sunday, July 10 View Page 1180 Weston 9 days. I think it took. Still have 2 more on the line for a few more days Friday, July 15 View Page 922 young 25 days old Sunday, July 17 View Page 1073 Speakman 29 days old Sunday, July 17 View Page 1180 Weston 14 days old Monday, July 18 View Page 922 young is done. BES day 28. Teresa is taking it pretty hard. sts 71 cc 103 ete 68 ott 242 est 307 28 lbs a day Tuesday, July 26 View Page Speakman day 38. Plant is smaller than it should be and has suffered from being in the wettest spot in the patch. but still growing, slow and steady. Tuesday, July 26 View Page 1180 Weston 23 days old. Growing really well. Not liking the dent in the top, hope it isn't a bad sign. Fingers crossed. Tuesday, July 26 View Page Teresa is going to try and get one started on the 922 Young in the morning. I told her to pull the plant after it BES, that 2 was enough to take care of and it was getting too late to start one anyway, ain't no quit in her. What a woman! She will be pollinating with the 1180 Weston. Sunday, August 14 View Page Here is the 1073 Speakman at 57 days, it isn't growing fast and it's ugly as hell, but it's still growing. Sunday, August 14 View Page Here is he 1180 Weston at 42 days. I think the dill ring I was worried about it ok, as it is growing well. Sunday, August 14 View Page Here is the 922 Young pollinated with the 1180 Weston on 27 Jul. 17 days old. Let's see what she has left in the tank. Tuesday, September 20 View Page Been a while since I posted. Here is the 1180 on the 10th. Still growing. Tuesday, September 20 View Page And her is the 1073 Speakman, also taken on the 10th. Tuesday, September 20 View Page Patch is still looking good Tuesday, September 20 View Page Teresa is doing a great job keeping up with the spray program. Tuesday, October 11 View Page Weigh off isn't till next week and next year's patch amendments (except for maple leaves) have been put down and tilled in. Easiest patch prep I've ever had. Made a list of what needed to happen and Voila, it's done -- like magic. I guess I did find the Genie in the bottle that washed up over here -- she's a gem I'll tell you. Enough space for 3. Last virgin dirt available without bringing in 3 or 4 dump truck loads of dirt to raise some low wet spots. 2013 will rotate to first years patch, unless I change my mind and till up the front yard...be alot closer to the house and easier to sit and stare at...lol Tuesday, October 18 View Page Pumpkin loaded and ready to go to Circleville Pumpkin Show weigh off tomorrow. Grew right up to the last day, slow but steady. Final measurements: 1180 Weston 10 cc -- 162 sts -- 105 ete -- 100 ott -- 367 est 1035 needs to be 14.2% or higher heavy to beat last years. Tuesday, October 18 View Page 1073 Speakman 2008 final measurements cc -- 125 sts -- 82 ete -- 79 ott -- 286 est 497 Wednesday, October 19 View Page official weights 1150 Weston 2011 (1180 Weston 2010 x 1073 Speakman 2008) 11% heavy (4th place Circleville) 525.5 Weston 2011 (1073 Speakman 2008 x 1622 Liggett 2010) 6% heavy Sunday, October 23 View Page Another Pumpkin Show ha ended. Teresa is picking up the pumpkins in a couple of hours. I can't wait to see the pics of the insides. The 525 Weston will be cut open today or tomorrow and seeds will be cleaned and dried. The 1150 will be on display until after Halloween sometime, then the seeds will be harvested from it. I will post pics when I get them. Monday, October 24 View Page 1150 Weston on scale Monday, October 24 View Page 525 Weston on scale Monday, October 24 View Page Another angle of 1150 Weston Monday, October 24 View Page 4th place ribbon Monday, October 24 View Page Side view of 1150 on trailer Monday, October 24 View Page Other side of 1150 (in line at weigh off) Monday, October 24 View Page 525 Weston on Scale Monday, October 24 View Page Pumpkin show is over time to harvest seeds Monday, October 24 View Page 525 insides look pretty solid, 7 inches thick 391 seeds, some with white tips, only about 10 that were totally immature. Monday, October 24 View Page 525 blossum end was 4 inches Monday, October 24 View Page 1150 Weston will not be cut until next week Sunday, November 6 View Page Cross secton of the 1150 Weston Sunday, November 6 View Page Insides of 1150 Weston Sunday, November 6 View Page Closeup of the stems crosssection 1150 Weston Sunday, November 6 View Page Comparison for size of blossum end 1150 Weston Sunday, November 6 View Page There were alot of these little nodules in last years pumpkin too. kind of weird looking Sunday, November 6 View Page this is what 1150 lbs of pumpkin looks like in managable chunks Sunday, December 25 View Page The cheap sprayer worked very well all year right up until the last week, then it died. I guess you get what you pay for. Santa brought us a replacement.