Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 21 Entries. Sunday, April 4 View Page Seeds sown today. Two of each in individual pots which were placed in plastic bags in the airing cupboard. King of Mammoth and Marina di Chioggia had bursted out of the soil and had reached two inches in height after 4 days. Futsu and White Scallop took longer � Sunday, April 4 View Page Seeds sown today and pots placed inside plastic sandwhich bags in the airing cupboard. King of Mammoth and Marina di Chioggia had germinated by day 4 and were bursting out of the plastic bag. � Friday, April 9 View Page Each variety gerninated successfully. Will use this method in the future � Wednesday, May 5 View Page After 4 weeks on the bathroom windowsill (the only place my wife will let me put my pots of mud) and a few repots, the plants have been moved to the allotment greenhouse. Have had lots of frost up until now. � Tuesday, May 18 View Page Plants too big for the shelf and now moved to the floor. In typical allotment trading fashion I gave away a few pumpkins to others that had put theirs out too early and were killed off by the frost. Problem is, is that I have left myself one of each plant (+1 which I can not name as I lost the label) and the stem of my Blackk Futsu has split open (vertically). Not being a large type of pumpkin, maybe I will still get some pumpkins from the plant. Lets wait and see. � Sunday, May 23 View Page Pumpkins planted out. Weeded the ground and threw down some compost and pelleted chicken manure. Being my second year of growing pumpkins I am realy growing for variety but will plan to grow some big ones next year. Will section of a large area and get the soil well prepared. In my first year I grew from a 10L pot which I shall not be doing again. Grew an AG which I am guessing was only 40lb. � Sunday, June 13 View Page King of Mammoth in the foreground followed by Japanese Black Futsu, White Scallop and Marina di Chioggia in the background. Not sure what the plant on the left is, either Mammoth or Chioggia. Growing for fun and variety this year but the big one next year! � Sunday, June 20 View Page After having some more cabbages attacked by the pigeons I decided to built a walk in cage to house all of next years brassicas. Still need to put a door on and a few finishing touches. The pumpkins are stuck in there on the right hand side � Monday, June 21 View Page King of Mammoth. This one is growing slow-steady and has put out its second female flower which I set today. Probably too soon but I am not going for a biggie this year. � Monday, June 21 View Page Marina di Chioggia. This one is growing really quickly and is pushing out vigorous vines. Not a female flower in sight. Is this ususal? � Monday, June 21 View Page The pumpkin/squash patch. From left to right: King of Mammoth, Black Futsu (bush type), White Scallop (bush type) and Marina di Chioggia. Pumpkin in the middle = ? � Tuesday, June 22 View Page No photograph but the Marina de chioggia has a female flower on the main vine. One of many I hope. Pinched out the main vine at about 8 feet. Female should open in a day or two. � Sunday, July 4 View Page Should have given these plants more space as the Marrina di Chioggia on the right has extremely vigourous vines and lots of them. King of mammoth on trhe left is catching up as well. Black Futsu, just left of centre is doing better than expected and is putting a few vines out and White Scallop, the bush just righht of center is doing very well (can't wait to see its fruit!). � Sunday, July 4 View Page First pumpkin on the Marina di Chioggia and a little unusual in appearance. Lots more on the many vines. Can't wait to see this one mature. Will have to consider cutting a few vines as there just isn't room for them all to grow. School boy error with planting location. � Monday, July 5 View Page First pumpkin on the Black Futsu. Didn't think this plant would survive its split vine. � Monday, July 5 View Page Pumpkins on the King of Mammoth. Two have dropped off despite hand polination. Should I hvve done it in the morning and not the evening? Have left the rest for the insects to do and will cull to the best 2 or 3 once they get going. These have been recorded at 250lb and commonlhy grow to 40-100lb. � Friday, July 30 View Page Atlantic Giant growing from a pot as nowhere to plant � Thursday, September 9 View Page A work in progress being concealed by some beautiful sunflowers. � Thursday, September 16 View Page Well I harvested early this year as I am not very patient and that raps up my growing year. I have already eaten the sole Black Futsu pumpkin (delicious!) and have made a start on the young marina di chioggia (medium sized green one) which tasted good but will probably improve on storage. The photo shows three king of mammoths and three marina di chioggia. Pumpkin for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will follow this post with preparation work on next years patch. CornishGiant has kindly offered me some of his seed stock from some biggies. � Thursday, November 4 View Page Well, here is nect years line up as kindly supplied by CornishGiant. Squash: 555 Thomas 09 (824 Brunst x 1055 Pitura) 707 Thomas 10 (555 Thomas x 592 Thomas) Pumpkin: 798 Thomas 10 (1611 Daho x 1457 Paton) 962 Thomas 10 (1343 Lyons x 1611 Daho) Marrow: 70.1 Thomas (which grew 111 Thomas 10) 1 seed of each has been sent to my cousin, a farmer in Ardeley, UK who is going to compete with me next year. � Friday, November 5 View Page A view of one half of the allotment and soon to become 2011's pumpkin patch. This part of the plot has not been worked or grown on for approximately 3 years requires meticulous digging to remove all the mares tail, bindweed and thistle �