Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 184 Entries. Saturday, January 1 View Page Happy New Year! My four month old "Monster" got up with me to get this new year started. We wanted to put Karma at our back and wish everyone a happy and successfull new year! Friday, January 7 View Page I decided to check on my seeds from my little kins we grew last year, but the mice saved me from planting any! Thanks to those who sent me some seeds, I do like having to choose!!! Maybe I'll be able to start my own line! Saturday, January 15 View Page Saturday morning, abit warmer than we've had in a month or so. Wishing I was deep in the middle of my patch of giant pumpkins. Maybe I'll get a nice one.. or two, my second year with much better preparation plan in the works and a real nice selection of seeds! Yeah bring on the spring weather!! Tuesday, February 1 View Page Still no pumpkin pic! Sorry, wish I had some. Hope to do some test germinating next week. Getting my heating mat from Tom next weekend. Getting ready for dog show at Atlanta Fri- Sunday. Taking RockStarr(Ozzy) one of our 10 mo.old boys. My 20 mo. old will be there from Gulf Shores, too. Wife will do Indy five day show next weekend. Thing are starting to get busy! Go Big or Go Home! Saturday, February 12 View Page Having a prob loading a pic, so here goes without one. Had a great time at KGPG seminar today. Great presentations by all! Where else can a rookie be surrounded so much greatness! Thanks Tim and the KGPG gang. Wednesday, February 16 View Page Thanks to Dwight Slone a wrench has been thrown into my seed selection plan. I will only grow four(I keep telling myself)pumpkins, that's all. I thought I had my plan laid out, but it has changed. I have a couple weeks to make a final decision. Just finished transfering notes from seminar, to my patch notebook. Hope it translates to grower knowledge this year. Sunday, February 20 View Page Tilled up the melon patch. First till maden patch. Will add some seasoned horse poo, and compost this week and till it in next chance. Trial run for pumpkin gremination today. Wednesday, March 2 View Page Ran a test run on germination, not pleased with the setup. Burned up the root cot but a couple servived. Have to squeese out some more budget and get some items to automate the heat process. Picture of a female we sent to Andover, MN. three years ago. She has done ads for Alpo Chophouse can food, and now this one! Growtime is almost here!!! Wednesday, March 23 View Page Melon patch nears the ready stage. 125 Ciesielski '10 (213 Kent X open). This is a first attempt and am better prepared than last year with AGs! Wednesday, March 23 View Page The punpkin patch is coming along nicely. Still have a couple small stumps to bust up. Maple leaves and horse manure added last fall( a bit spotty ) working in nicely. Gympsin(sp)added today. Will add humic manure and whatever else I can scrounge up before last till. Wednesday, March 23 View Page Got some early tomatoes about ready ( next week I hope), and my test germinations are working out fairly well. Wednesday, March 23 View Page Nice crate used to ship a portable x-ray machine in, is working into a nice germination cabinet. I'll line the inside with insulation board to see if I can regulate the temps a bit better. I mounted the dimmer switch externally with the thermometer. Inside is the lamp, heat mat and grow light. There will be room for two shelves that will allow for several large pots. We'll see how it progresses! Tuesday, April 19 View Page I'm gong to try to getsome pics up here. This should be the results of a test run with 2-759 Jensen, and a 740 Washer. Approx date Mar. 23. One Jensen and the Washer still could end up as my early plant. Hoping for a kin to take to the SOKY fair. Tuesday, April 19 View Page This is my melon for the '11 season. 259 Kent 09. One day old. Tuesday, April 19 View Page Another shot of the 259 Kent 09. Filed, soaked and put in dirt Friday, Apr. 13, 2011 Tuesday, April 19 View Page This is 10'X20', but I used eminate domain to secure another foot or two on the right side! Home for my 259 Kent Tuesday, April 19 View Page Just to boar you a tad bit more, this is the pnmpkin patch two weeks ago. Still have two stumps to work around. I've busted up three and I've run out of bustin up gas! I'll just work around them for now! Monday, April 25 View Page I believe this none chalot little sprout may be my golden boy. Thanks, Dwight for the 1036 Slone 10 (1725 Harp X 1622 Young 11.1% heavy) Coming up stronger than other so far. Wednesday, April 27 View Page Completed to this state of completion! 8'x3'x3'Approx. Will have to plan an access on the next one!!!! I'll have to tilt the entire hut to tend to any plant needs while it's needed!! I still need to build another on so I'll have that lesson to plan around. Wednesday, April 27 View Page Lid/vent is the same size (8x3) as the hut, but it is only three to four pounds. But, I didn't build another entrance!!! Thanks for the tip Cecil! I bought two for now, as I will need two huts for four plants. I hope to start on hut number two next week! It may not be done in time to need it!!!! Wednesday, April 27 View Page Five days out from soak and plant, one day out of germination box. I left it on the heat pad one day too long (I plead ingnorance). Read some of the posts on the subject while at the work computor, called home and had my wonderfull wife to unplug the heat pad! Still have some cot damage, but I think it will be OK. Any thoughts or alternative plans as I think I'd like to grow this one! Wednesday, April 27 View Page Not sure if this one will make it to the patch, but it lost a cot due to operator error! But I think I caught it in time to save the first leaf. I'll keep it going a while as it does have a great stem and we'll see how it developes for a little while! Wednesday, April 27 View Page Another shot of the single cot leaf 715 Ciesielski '08. Wednesday, April 27 View Page Here's a look at the 259.2 kent 09, fourteen days from soak and plant. Wednesday, April 27 View Page Second shot of 259 Kent. Saturday, April 30 View Page Hurried home from dog show at Franklin, Tenn. Put the squash to soak this morning, put in dirt this evening. 435.4 Ciesielski 10. Oh yah, took winners dog, best of opposite sex with my 8 month old "Monster", Best of bred went to a female we produced two years ago! Keepen it in the family! Going BIG in Southern Kentucky! BSD, David Saturday, April 30 View Page Also, set out the 1036 Slone 10 tonight, Eight days from file and soak! Monday, May 2 View Page Thanks, Kelly! This 980 Klinker 09 is looking good. Filled, soaked and planted on 4-27. Monday, May 2 View Page One day under the light! The 980 Klinker 09 went 14% heavy, grown from the 1161 Rodonis, polinated by 904 Stelts '06! This could be a real sleeper. My early plant is the 1036 Slone'10(1725 Harp X 1622 Young). Trying not to get too excited with any thing that the future holds, but that is some awesome good looking cross for beginners stock! I'll be attempting to germinate a 1278 Slone'09 soon. I'm trying to space them out, so if I screw the germination up I don't go down in flames!!!!! I've got two others under the lights, but they may not see patch dirt. I have a young boy who I'm going to set one for him to watch grow! He won't have much of a patch as his folks are possibly looking to move. Tuesday, May 3 View Page There's something awesome watching these beauties come to life! This 980 Klinker is looking better ever time I look at it. I do beleive it is going in a front row spot in the patch! Monday, May 9 View Page Busy mother's day weekend spent with mom in Ohio. My son and I along with my two brothers and one brother in law went to the cellar basement to dispurse of our fathers tools. I found his soil test kit and pleaded to take it! My dad didn't mess around with cheap stuff when it came to the farm, so I suspect it to be a nice tool to help trouble shoot problem areas in the patch! Set out the 980 Klinker'09 this evening and put the new hut over it. Three more spots to fill. I will attempt to start the 1278 Slone'09 #174, 1019 Ciesielski est. dmg '10, 1184 Krause'10 and a 740 Washer'10 will be started for backup, tomorrow. Tuesday, May 10 View Page Lost my 259 Kent melon. Got in a hurry Friday night to do some thing with my plants that would need attention while I was away at Mom's. My melon was the most delicate with a fairly long stem, I should have repotted and hoped for the best, but I put it out in the not quite ready patch. It looked fine last night, then I gave it a drink, maybe a big drink! It was wasted when I got home from work. I'll start a 213 Kent, and back it up with a239 Zuerner. I put the afore mentioned pumpkin seeds to soak, when I got home this evening (4:30), in rain barrell water with hydrogen peroxide solution and Rootone rooting hormone with fungicide. Soil is Jiffy soiless sterile starting mix with humus, blood meal and pumkin pro mycros. Pre mixed and moistened in 5 inch peat pots ( moistened also). Seeds will go in as soon as I get off here and call it a night! Sunday, May 15 View Page Beginners luck seems to be running out! Along with mother nature adding her twist too, with this cold air blast! None of my seeds I soaked last week have come up. Having peeked a time or two I'm holding out some glimmer of hope that I might get a couple. On the bright side, I've got a nice 740 Washer(thanks, Tammy) that was an early test germ, that I've held onto. It's a bit tied up, but much better than what's in the germination station at this time. I'll do some pictures of the 1036 Slone and the 980 Klinker next week when the weather perks up. At lest they are still alive and doing fairly well. Started my second atempt at compost tea yesterday. Drained the barrel down to half (approx 15 gallon) of week old rain water. Added one cup of water soluble kelp, one cup of Mr. wiggles worm castings, half a cup of blood meal, half a cup of bone meal and a spoon full of mycros. My plants were a little thirsty today so I went ahead and gave them a gallon each. I know it's not ready yet, but there will be plenty to go around on Tuesday. Put some screws to three pallets I have to work compost in. I lined it with plastic from last years attempt hoop houses. My compost has just been a small pile at the corner of the patch with blue tarp covering it. I must say it looks great, just wish I had four times that much!!! We'll improve our skills and patch little by little and in a few years we'll have a 'Professional Patsh"!!!! Sunday, May 15 View Page Oh,yea, that beginner's luck stuff running out I was talking about, applies to my hopes of having a greenie as well. I have one 435 Ciesielski barely alive. Don't think I'll have patience enough for this one, but we'll see. It's in the grow light box at the barn and will have controlled enviroment for the next few chilly days. Tuesday, May 17 View Page Pic yesterday of my early test germination 740 Washer. Held on to it and glad I did. Put it in the patch after the pictures. Tuesday, May 17 View Page Here it is in the patch. I don't have any heat cables or light for it, but it's hung with me since early April! Tuesday, May 17 View Page 1036 Slone 09 strut'n in the hut! Got a touch of sun burn last week, but otherwise looking good! Tuesday, May 17 View Page 980 Klinker lookig a bit abused. Color is fair, but it got a bit cold last night. I did get a heat lamp it that hut also. Gave all a big drink of my compost "COLD" brew! Smelled good but I daubt there was much activity to it! Tuesday, May 17 View Page Hey, Luke, meet Red Bull! 13 months 150lbs. He goes to Jackson, Tenn for Dog Show later this week! Tuesday, May 17 View Page L-R, Monster(from new years day pic), Rock Star and Red Bull! Grow 'Em Big Tuesday, May 17 View Page Sorry, Dwight, that is a 2010 model 1036 Slone! Sunday, May 22 View Page This may be a repete picture of the 759 Jensen and 740 Washer I practice germination with back on March 9. Last two attempts(four seeds each) failed misserably! I put the 740 in the patch a couple days ago, broke down and set out the 759 today. It hasn't been given the best of treatment and ruffed it up a bit on transplant, but it's better than nothin'. Red Bull took winner's dog Friday for a three point major, followed it today with a four point major! Four more points till his Championship! Sunday, May 22 View Page 759 Jensen went in the pach on Saturday, in lew of anything else not germinating. I peeked today an I may have some activity, but untill I see nice outstreached cot leaves soaking up daylight, I'll just leave that pee-uni neglected abused test germination 759 right where it's at! Red Bull's weekend adventure--- Jackson, TN.: Friday 12-18 month Puppy Dog class- 1st. Winner's Dog class- 1st. 3 point major, Saturday 12-18 mo.Puppy Dog class- 1st. Winner's Dog class- 1st. 4 point major, Sunday Puppy Dog class- 1st. Winner's Dog class-1st. 3 point major and Best of Opposite Sex(that's the number two spot for the bred)!!!! Swept the weekend! OH YEA!!! Total points for the weekend-10! Total toward AKC Championship-14!! One more point THAT's ALL!!! Congradulations to my wife for an outstanding job handling my Red Bull!! Strong storm is over and I see a hoop blown over and the auto opener broken on the big hut. Four plants in patch; 1036 Slone10, 980 Klinker09, 740 Washer10 and 759 Jensen10. Friday, June 3 View Page What? Still no pictures??? I'm struggling with time constaints, and the four plant I have out show it! I ended up putting both early test germination plants out in the patch. The 740 Washer is about 4.5 foot and looking very well. 759 Jensen is still adjusting to root space but doing fine. Holding on to a shaky third is the 1036 Slone. The 980 Klinker has had the deformed look, got some new growth that may work into something. Got a couple 1009 Jensen sets coming along hope to set out early next week. Some squash in peat pots, will be a few more days before they will show themselves. I may try another melon next week if I have time. It is also dog show season, and I'll be out again this weekend and next. The plus is Red Bull finished his Championship on Friday, but didn't have the maturity to go breed over number one and two Saints in the country!! We'll give him some much deserved time off and let him grow up a bit. Little Monster will be taking his two points to Corydon, Indiana in hopes of piking up a major! Happy growing to all, and I'll get some pictures soon!!!! Sunday, June 5 View Page Got home in time to grab a few update shots! This is from the back of the patch looking toward my house. Sunday, June 5 View Page Best in patch is the 740 Washer, started as a test germination march 09. Recovered from being root bound, nicely, and now sets at six feet. Sunday, June 5 View Page 740 Washer has several male buds. I'll remove them till I see some female developement. Advice accepted! Sunday, June 5 View Page The last to be put out in the patch to date was also test germ from march 9th. 759 Jensen was a bit more neglected than the 740, and very root bound. It was hard not damaging alot of roots, as this was in a pot not prepared to make for safe transplanting!!! Sunday, June 5 View Page Tap roots coming out on the topside of the 759 Jensen. Just added some dirt up around the main, but won't bury it till the sides develope. Sunday, June 5 View Page 980 Klinker started out with nice cot leaves and went deformed from there. I'll hold out to see if we can develope a main vine. Sunday, June 5 View Page Very confusing vine pattern here. Sunday, June 5 View Page 1036 Slone has been abit sluggish but is streaching out alittle now. It also grew a multiple maine vine. Sunday, June 5 View Page I cut one that was growing upward, now I see another vine coming out from under the one I left???!!!! Sunday, June 5 View Page Still trying to get two more monster growing beasts in the patch. Here is a 1110 Krause coming along nicely. The fist leaf is starting to reach out. I'll give it a few more days to sell it's self to me! Sunday, June 5 View Page Here's my hope for a greenie. Shirley one of these will pop up and say "look at me"! I peeked and it looks promising! Saturday, June 18 View Page 980 Klinker now has a main vine and is due to be headed in the right direction by mid-week! 740 Washer is at 10 plus feet, first female at 6.5 ft was deformed, another is developing and hoping for a viable pollination. 759 Jensen is at 6 ft and doing nicely! 1036 Slone has three main vines! There is one that I selected early on and two others that are very strong vines. I'll train them as mains till I see what developes. Since I'm short on plants I have room to be a bit more selective! Late set added to the patch is the 1110 Krause. It's at three leaves and looking good! Dog show season tacks a pause for a few weeks and pumpkins can receive a little more attention for this critical time! Happy Pollinating! Sunday, June 26 View Page No need for crappy pictures!!! 740 Washer very healthy, not much for females. 759 Jensen looking healthy (most AM to mid-day sunshine) has a female at 11ft. Will be a few more days before she's ready. 1036 Slone doing very well, with multiple mains!!! The vine I've deemed the main is at 14ft. shooting nice tap roots and developing a nice canopy, still no females here, yet. 980 Klinker is still struggling! It has a main, barely! It has wilted several times, but hanging in there. Knew I got too excited when this one germinated!!!!! Thanks anyway Kelly, I do my best to get a late pumpkin from it! Hope I can try it again! Last pumpkin setout is the 1110 Krause. Seems stout and strong at five leaf stage. Hopefully it will go to running late this week! I direct sowed four squash seeds, all 717* Lovelace 10. They all germinated very nicely, too bad there is only room for maybe two. I'll transplant them in a couple more days(whe I can see the direction they'll run in). Also, direct sowed some melons, too bad they'll have to fend for themselves, mostly, but glad I got them! Hopefully the direct sowing has enlightened me on my problems germinating. I'll try to start earlier testing that most important step!!!! Sunday, June 26 View Page Too wet to do much outside, but did get an overview of my "offical" first year(we don't count lst year as a true attempt)!!! 1036 Slone'10, 16 ft. Stumbled a bit early on, but developing a nice canopy. Sunday, June 26 View Page Here it is, just what I've been waiting for! First female on the 1036! Finally! Sunday, June 26 View Page 759 Jensen'10 about 13 ft. now! Also a nice canopy developing. Sunday, June 26 View Page First female on the 759 Jensen. Doesn't look just right, still small so I'll keep an eye on it. I think it got stressed from wind or something bummped it maybe. Sunday, June 26 View Page Best overall plant I have is this 740 Washer'10. It was just a test germination that I couldn't throw away! Root bound, oh yea, it also suffered a bent stem at a week or so old! This is one tuff momma! It stepped off at 18 ft.( I got little feet) today! Sunday, June 26 View Page I assume this comes from being root bound. 740 Washer stump-stem end. Poor first, second and third secondaries. Kind of a jumble, but it has romped from there! Sunday, June 26 View Page This is the second female on the 740 Washer. The first was fused to the secondary vine. I removed it and the secondary vine also. Sunday, June 26 View Page The sad side...... 980 Klinker holds on because I a softy!! Sunday, June 26 View Page Confession time....I planted it backwords.... tried to replant it in the right direction.... and must have damaged the roots..... There... I admit it...forgive me! Sunday, June 26 View Page Plant #5 is a 1110 Krause. Better late than never! Sunday, June 26 View Page Just transplanted two 717* Lovelace'10 Squash!!!! I'll post these as much as I can, in hopes of getting lessons, opinions as to which to keep. There is only 600 sq. ft. to this little spot, so one will have to go!!! Sunday, June 26 View Page 717* Lovelace plant #3 will be transplanted to the main patch, cause I suck at germinating! There's room for it! Sunday, June 26 View Page Pictures ended :( I have a fourth 717* Lovelace'10 squash. Anyone wanting to come to Bowling Green, Kentucky is welcome, and welcome to have it! [email protected] Watch for Red Bull's Chanpionship win photo coming soon! Sunday, June 26 View Page My father in law didn't understand feeding a dog that did not hunt! But he like to here we were winning!!! Ch. Red Bull will rest a few months while he matures. Just 13 months old at the time of this photo. Those of you with big dogs know they grow for upto two and a half years. We'll campain him for National bred points starting this fall. Thanks for letting me share my other BIG hobby!! Saturday, July 2 View Page I certainly thought I'd have a pollination by now, but being a rookie you've got to expect stupid to happen!! Haven't really had any stupid mistakes, but lack of experiance, and preparation are costing a lot of growing time. Hopefully we wreck-tify that, soon!! &40 Washer should be ready tomorrow or Monday! 759 Jensen maybe by Monday. 1036 Slone has one nearing pollination also. I'll get pictures of the squash and the pumpkins later today! Saturday, July 2 View Page 740 Washer!! Monday, July 4 View Page Halaluyah!!!!!!!! Finally a female suitable for pollination! 740 Washer'10 Six(not quit perfect) lober- beautifull!! Hit it with three male off the 1036 Slone'10 this morning! Monday, July 4 View Page I'll have to get up about five AM to get this 1036 Slone pollinated. Early morning sex is good, Right???!!! I mean for the pumpkins, silly! Monday, July 4 View Page 759 Jensen also got the fever! Will be pollinating this one in the morning, too!!! Yeah, I have more energy in the morning!!! Monday, July 4 View Page 717 Lovelace #1 got that funky leaf thing going on, but has good color. Monday, July 4 View Page 717 #2 got the worst of the leaf funk!! I think it is sunburn, it got a bit scalding hot afew days ago and they didn't have any protection. I fixed that with a high tech device Luke told me about!! I'll have to get a few shots of them to submit for Luke Tech approval! Monday, July 4 View Page 717 Lovelace#3 transplanted a week ago, looks better than #1 and #2. Monday, July 4 View Page I think I got these in the right order cause I think I miss labled them in my folder!!! It's late and my A.D.D. is is a pain! 717 Lovelace#4 was not transplanted, it is where I sowed the seed, and leads all it's sibblins in health and color. Happy Independance Day! Wednesday, July 6 View Page 740 Washer day 2, the Patch Friendly Pooch (PFP) says "that Washer is a Machine!" Wednesday, July 6 View Page 759 Jensen day 1. Crossed with the 1036 Slone. Wednesday, July 6 View Page 1036 Slone day 1. Crossed with the 740 Washer. Thursday, July 7 View Page 759 Jensen did not take. It may have needed a few more hours before I pryed it open! Another one coming on the main and a couple on the seconds. Sunday, July 10 View Page 740 Washer @ 6 days. I hope this one makes it! Sunday, July 10 View Page 1036 Slone(1725 Harp X 1622 Young) @ 5 days. Pollinator 740 Washer(1238 Pennington X Self). The 740 is a reverse pollination. Sunday, July 10 View Page 715 Lovelace #1, fair. Sunday, July 10 View Page 717 #2, poor. I'll pull it in a week or so. When #1 starts running. Sunday, July 10 View Page 717 #3 Is the third one that I transplanted. It is in good health. Sunday, July 10 View Page 717 #4 was not transplanted. It is in excellant health, but not much room. Sunday, July 10 View Page 980 Klinker is in dyre straits. It's a dwarf! Sunday, July 10 View Page 759 Jensen also is having difficulties. I've seen this with others on here, and maybe related to what I got going on with the Klinker plant. Notice the short leaf stalks. Sunday, July 10 View Page Here's PFP tring to hide in the huge canopy of the 1036 Slone. No problems here with short stalks! Sunday, July 10 View Page 1110 Krause is back to back with the 980 Klinker. It looks great, starting to run, very healthy. Wednesday, July 13 View Page 740 Washer day 9. PFP wants some of whatever that thing is getting so he can grow BIG! Wednesday, July 13 View Page Back up 740 Washer. Same cross, 1036 Slone, pollinated on Friday 7-8-11. Wednesday, July 13 View Page The 1036 Slone is strougling in this heat to set a fruit. A big healthy looking plant. Aborted the 7-4-11 pollination. There is one under the chair in this pic. It is an open as I found it a bit late. Only possible pollinators are self and 740 Washer. Either way It will have great genes! Three days old. We'll keep an eye on it! Sunday, July 17 View Page 740 Washer day 13. I did my very first measurement ever. Sandbagging is only ignorance taking over!!! Total OTT 112, equalling a new PB of 38lbs!! This rounder is very symetrical by the numbers. stem to blossom = 33inches, side to side = 33 1/2 inches. I dropped the half for simplicity sake! Sunday, July 17 View Page There is a second kin on this plant, on a back secondary. I have terminated about 85% of the plant. I still don't have a set on the 1036 Slone although it's a beast of a plant. Closing on 700 sq. ft.! There are some prospects for this week. The 759 Jensen isn't up to snuff! I'll still try to get something on it, but it won't grow much as it has serious illness. Don't expect 980 Klinker to be around much longer. I've got other plants that can use that space. 1110 Krause is growing great! I expect to get a kin off it. It was planted nearly a month later than the others, so I'll just be patient with it! 717 Lovelace squash are looking great as well. Happy growing all! Monday, July 18 View Page Another view from yesterdays pics of my 740 Washer. Couldn't help myself from measuring again today. WOW!!! 17lbs. on day 14!!! The plant looks very healthy, maybe a few bugs, not bad for this cheap rookie! Made another attempt to pollinate on the 1036 Slone this morning. Got our fingers crossed and shaded the little fetus! Wednesday, July 20 View Page 740 Washer day sixteen 65cc 43sts 45ott= 153= 86lbs. All is well!!! Plant health lokks to be good. Leave look like the proper photo in Matt's piece. Stump is dry and clear. When will that lack of organic mater, very low numbers from that soil test, no ammendments and rookie ignorance catch up to my beautifull LOLA???? Got the ice bottles out about the 1036 Slone. Gotta get a set on that beast. Terminated 60% of the vines and can only hold out a few more square feet! Late plant 1110 Krause will be comming along with females real soon. 717*lovelace squash #4 has a premmie on the vine already. Will wait for one down the vine a tad. Sunday, July 24 View Page This is Lola (740 Washer X 1036 Slone) 20 DAP. Cir.82, STS 53, STB 54 = 189. Half way to my first (real) years goal! Sunday, July 24 View Page Lola's stem. Posted for critque'ers. If there's an issue please email ASAP!!! Sunday, July 24 View Page 1110 Krause has stump rot :( Using the high tech model stump protector Model LTP #13. A pair of Sterilite lids zip tied together. I zip tied a sting of them for a wind break , also! I have to pick up the tubs regularly for the hospital, but they don't want the lids! I knew Smallmouth Luke could inspire me with the high tech hoop houses he designed! Sunday, July 24 View Page Ops, There it is! The previous is the over all 1110 Krause, and wind break behind. Stump has serious rot issue and may not make it to production. Standard treatment procedure followed, just lack setting up the fan. Sunday, July 24 View Page Several sets on the 1036 Slone that are three days or less. This one is day 2, and refered to as 1036 #2. Sunday, July 24 View Page 1036 #3 day one Sunday, July 24 View Page 1036 #4. I apologize, I'm working my pictures a different way and I don't really know what it is till I've submitted! My camera eats batteries and it died on me, so my wife was kind to help, and my apple cart is upset!!! In time I'll straighten (lable) them correctly!!! Sunday, July 24 View Page This was 740 #2 but it is Near to aborting. Blossom end has turned white and is soft. If it has a chance, please email, ASAP! Sunday, July 24 View Page 717 Lovelace #4 squeesed into a corner next to the 1036 Slone. Sunday, July 24 View Page 717 #3 coming along nicely. Got room to turn this main around and give it the space the 759 Jensen was. Monday, July 25 View Page Day 21, 740 Washer X 1036 Slone, yesterdays est. 153lbs. Monday, July 25 View Page 1036 Slone #1 X 740 Washer Monday, July 25 View Page 1036 Slone#2 X Open ( Self or 740 Washer) Monday, July 25 View Page 1036 Slone #3 X Open. Both #2 & #3 are 2 DAP. Wednesday, July 27 View Page Did a spot check on Lola's numbers today. Cir. 89, STB 58 and STS 57 total= 204 inches. 189lbs. Only averaging 12lbs a day. This heat is hard, just hope it matures without rotting! Vine is starting to pick up a brown spot here and there. Tring to stay proactive, but this heat may be to much. Keeping our cool in Kentucky! Friday, July 29 View Page Pollinated 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause this AM. Saturday, July 30 View Page Word is an allien PA pumpkin grower was in town and I missed them! Hope the Southern Kentucky hospitality was top shelf! I live in the sleepy little berg of Rocfield, just 10 minutes off I-65, and haven't met the Colemans, yrt!!! Yeah, I'm a bit of a hermit every chance I get!!! Lola is moving along very slowly, taping 207inches, and scaling to chart 197lbs. Just barely over 10lbs a day. Got a nice shower tosay, and looks like another is heading this way. Pesticide, fungicide and some nature's harvest will go on tomorrow. Got some P-Pro and vine burying in today before the rain, hope that sets up for a great week of POUNDAGE! Still waiting on females to show up on the 1110 Krause, and 717* Lovelace #1, #3 and #4. #2 was pulled today as it was the loooooser for patch space with #1! Dog show next weekend, going to be doing "Da Monster Mash". Taking two boys, Monster and Rockstar to Marion, Il. by way of Wabash, Indiana so we can drop off a female for breeding. Shhew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Monday, August 1 View Page I was really hoping for some noticable gains today, but it looks to be near shutdown. Only taped out to 209 inches. Just two inches from Saturday:(. Bummer. Several rot spots here and there popping up. Had to cut off a back secondary in hopes of getting a porch pumpkin off it. !036 Slone is still having a hard time setting a pollination. There's about six on it right now, the oldest being about four days. A couple of nice opens of course! I'm still very proud of my first year efforts, knowing how ruff a season this has been for all. I've topped 200 (a PB for me) and I've got time to learn a bunch more, and maybe I sneak up on a nice keeper before it's over! Sunday, August 7 View Page Lola is offically finished. Hasn't budged in three days. Saw serious rot taking form around the blossom end, and some white spots on the skin. Main vine had spots of rot off and on all down it. The final OTT is 213inches, estimating at 214lbs! Of course I'd like get an actual weight, but I'm very pleased with our preformance. We have lots growing, with a hopefull set on the 1036 Slone crossed with the 1110 Krause. I'll have to look back over my diary to see what day I pollinated it on. Also have some females showing up on the 1110 Kruse. One attempt, but I missed tying it up so it would have to go down as an open. One on the main should be ready in the morning. 717* lovelace squash #1 and #4 will have females in a few days. Removed the #2 plant last week and #1 has taken off. Picked up two Best Of Bred wins at Marion, Ill. one for Rockstar, and one for Monster! Tuesday, August 9 View Page All is not lost! 216*Boyd 2011 (740 Washer X 1036 Slone)will adorn the front lawn for a spell, before I collect the seeds. Pollinated a 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone, and vice versa this morning. Friday, August 12 View Page Still trying to get a set on the 1036 Slone. A monster of a plant at about 1000 sq. ft., solid stump and not major rot spots???? Pollinated two 717 Lovelace squash #4 with sib #1, one 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone and a 740 Washer X 1110 Krause. Friday, August 12 View Page Correction: reverse 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone. Should be 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause. Monday, August 15 View Page Attempted some evening pollinations last night. 717 lovelace X sib, and 1110 Krause X 740 Washer. A couple of open pollinations on the 740 are coming along, and holding out hope for the 1036 August 9th pollination. One on a side vine of the 1110 looks promissing. Thursday, August 18 View Page Some late season sets are picking up. Here's the 717* Lovelace squash #1 at 8 days old. Thursday, August 18 View Page This one is 5 days old. Thursday, August 18 View Page Here's #3 3 days old. All three are 717 Lovelace#4 X sib#1. Thursday, August 18 View Page Holding out hope for this 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause on the main vine about thirty feet out! 9 days old. Thursday, August 18 View Page Found this hidding out on the 740 Washer. I'd guess it's 10 days old. I've kept a close eye on these plants and this one snuck by me! Thursday, August 18 View Page There are a couple of these 740 X 1036's. this one is just 3 days old. The 740 has no stump and so there are several secondaries that are there own plant with there own baby pumpkin or two!!! The 1110 Krause lost the stump awhile back but didn't lose much main vine, so it is all intacked. 1036 Slone still has the stump, but it's starting to give out. Cut out some rot spots, cut off a bunch of tret growth. Two of the 717 squash plants are intacked, #1 plant has space and is just now getting females. I try to get three sets on it and deadhead it. The #3 plant had space but got a disease and I polled it all but two secondaries. One of them has a female that may have got an open pollination. The #4 plant has the three sets on it, one cull and not much space!! I'll see ya at Bear Wallow, but I won't be bringing any big ones!!!! Saturday, August 20 View Page I must admit I was grinning when I saw this!!! Does that mean I've arrived??? Pushing Them Hard In The Bluegrass! Saturday, August 20 View Page Another view of the 740 Washer pumping the K-Bluewee out of these last few weeks!! It was a nice one, WAS!!! Saturday, August 20 View Page Found PFP drowling over this 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause. Saturday, August 20 View Page Here's a 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone. Monday, August 22 View Page I sent PFP out to the patch to sniff out which one gets to go to BWF. With his keen sence of smell I knew he could sense a dud long before me. He remembered that smell from the last 740 X 1036, but seemed to like tkis little sister quite well! Monday, August 22 View Page I told him in a very nice voice.... no, it just won't have enough size to it before BWF. He thought if it was anything like Lola, and how fast she grew, there wouldn't be any problem! Well, I said, We've got no stump any more and the Washer ain't what it used to be! Monday, August 22 View Page Yes, that's a nice one and should make a very nice porch pumpkin, but, it's way out on a tert vine and we can't expect lot from it. It does have the Krause 1110 as the pollinator and should produce some great genes to work from, but, let's look some more.... Monday, August 22 View Page I like the shape, from what I read on BP it has the oval football shape. Those big heavy hitters like that shape to go BIG,....but it to is on a tert vine and it's on the same secondary vine as the last one. One will have to go if either one is going to BWF. Monday, August 22 View Page PFP drooled over it some more, thinking he may have found the BWF pumpkin! I said it's late in the season and wedon't have much here, but let's look some more.... Monday, August 22 View Page I know this one is right on the secondary on the 1110 Krause, and pollinated with the 1036 Slone, but I think it's just not going to be presentable by BWF. Monday, August 22 View Page You got me there PFP, but that's not a pumpkin!! Yes it is bigger than those others, and hopefully it will grow like Lola did! Good work PFP! I'll promise to do my best to grow this one, and we have more days than Lola was old!!! Monday, August 22 View Page What is that PFP? Yes it is funny looking.... but it measures out 45, 30, and 28... that's about 32 lbs. already! If it keeps that up, funny looking or not It may well be our BWF pumpkin! Monday, August 22 View Page Stop drooling PFP, just remember if you think you got it figured out... yeah... You saw that one the other day, it was a nice one... K- BOOM! Stuff happens, especially when you get cocky, now stop drooling!!! Friday, August 26 View Page 717 Lovelavce* plant #4 X plant #1. DAP 18, OTT 112, 38.2 lbs. Friday, August 26 View Page 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause, DAP 17, OTT 145, 74.7 lbs. Friday, August 26 View Page 1036 X 1110 view from over the top! Pear shaped. I'll tape again on Monday, for day 20 measurement. Thursday, September 8 View Page Watching this 1110 Krause X 740 Washer. OTT 201 with a nice bunch of leaves feeding it. Thursday, September 8 View Page Same pumkin without the cat! This one is growing well right now. I'll leave it to grow all it can. The 1036 Slone has slowed way down and has just a couple handfull of leaves feeding it. Another on the 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone is doing well, but on a secondary. Still have three growing on whats left of the 740 Washer, one of which looks very nice. I tried to get a pic of the 717*Lovelace squash but ran out of time. I'll try to get a measurement and photo soon, for those greenies out there! Thursday, September 8 View Page Oh, yeah, that other hobby (dog shows), Red Bull pulled down his first Best Of Breed and several points toward his Grand Championship! See ya at Bear Wallow! Friday, September 9 View Page Here's my little greenie, 717 Lovelace* X sib. I taped it earlier this evening but I forgot the numbers!! Darn ADD! It's around 100 lbs. and growing steady. Faster Tim I'm not sure if I'll have one to bring to Bear Wallow. I just hate to bring a cull to a weigh off! Really , if there still growing I'll not cut any. I've got one that barely has any leaves pushing it, but it isn't even 200 lbs. Things could change, but if they're growing at all, I'll not cut them. I'll see ya there... BWF! Saturday, September 17 View Page Bear Wallow 2011. Someone should warn that man in the middle, that's Mafia folk he's dealin' with there!!! I hope that's not a signal Frank is giving there???? Saturday, September 17 View Page Some handy preliminations. Nice work folks! Saturday, September 17 View Page Congradulations Fast Fred, 580lbs. Sandbaggin' right up to weigh off time ???? I just don't know what to make of it!!! You really didn't need mine too dodge that skunk cap!! Saturday, September 17 View Page Can you believe someone bothered to bring such a pee-unny little thing to a giant pumpkin weigh off??? I'll bet that joker gets the skunk cap this year....HA-HA-HA !!!! Saturday, September 17 View Page Hey, Wayne, is that my name your putting in the number one slot on the board??? Saturday, September 17 View Page There it is right at the top!! Thanks, Wayne. You're doing a great job! Saturday, September 17 View Page Now, what are you looking at Frank? Sandbaggin can't do you any good at this point! Saturday, September 17 View Page Hey, Wayne, where'd my name go??? It's not even on the board? Saturday, September 17 View Page Say it's awards time!! Great, what's first? The Skunk award! David? David Who? Me??? Saturday, September 17 View Page I've been set up! I been framed! I'll be back next year with a MONSTER! Tuesday, September 20 View Page I'd post some new pictures, but, after PaulF's shot of me and my new cap from the backside, I just didn't think anyone would be impressed! Thanks Paul!!!! Tuesday, September 20 View Page I do have a few little ones in the patch several larger than my award winning entry at BWF!! 1110 Krause X 740 Washer, OTT=236, est. 286 lbs. 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone, OTT=217, est. 225 lbs. 740 Washer X 1110 Krause, OTT=167, est. 109 lbs. Two other 740 Washer kins at OTT=141, est. 69.3 lbs. 717 Lovelace* squash OTT=179, est. 132 lbs. Starting to get the hang of this Fast Freddie!!!! Watch out!! Thursday, September 22 View Page Still short of my 300 lbs. goal for my first year. This is officially done. Blossom end rot/split in that order. I tried to patch it up and push it to 300, but I missed by seven little pounds:( !!! Thursday, September 22 View Page A shot from the stem side. Nice color. By the Numbers: 103X67X68= 238~293lbs. Stem 10 1/2 inches, 21 foot on main vine. No stump prior to pollination. 1110 Krause X 740 Washer. Demolition in thirty minutes! Thursday, September 22 View Page This is the other pumpkin on the same plant with no stump! Thursday, September 22 View Page The second pumpkin is crossed with the 1036 Slone. It has a leaky stem!!! No other issues yet! OTT is 220" ~ 234 lbs. Maybe this one will make it to 300 lbs???? Never Give Up!!! Sunday, October 2 View Page 1110Krause10 X 1036Slone10 OTT 230"~265lbs. Sunday, October 2 View Page 740 Washer10 X 1110 Krause10 OTT 177" ~ 128lbs. Monday, October 10 View Page Late season update..... Still growing...... 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone..... slowly but surely.... 300 lbs. is in reach! One late melon, from Hoosier seed, sitting at about 60lbs. Still on the vine is a 740 Washer X 1110 Krause, barely growing, but a nice porch piece at about 160lbs. The 717* Lovelace squash have been very fun to grow. After a late start, they are thriving, but time has just about run out......one is idle at 150lbs.(Ihope), and several small ones I hope will plump up a bit before a frost hits! Looking at new Manufactured Homes, hoping to get to bulldoze this one!!!! May you compost piles be of......... Monday, October 10 View Page May Your Compost piles be full of great s......tuff! Sunday, October 23 View Page New additions to the kennel, two males, both parents AKC Champions! Stoked! Sunday, October 23 View Page Yard pretties! Got this 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone to tape to 239 OTT ~ 296lbs. I'm confident it stands good for my 300lbs. first year goal. Exactly what it weighs will forever be a mystery! Sunday, October 23 View Page Here are the 740 Washer late pollinations. A nice Hoosier melon weighing in at 67lbs! A little frost the past two nights is shutting down the feeding follage, but I still have a 100+ lb. squash and a few smaller ones on the vine. Set up the hot house over some melons to see how long they'll servive! I just can't give it up! I know I need to be getting that fall soil sample and test, but stuff is still growing! Sunday, November 6 View Page 67 Boyd 2011. Hoosier stock. When I didn't think I'd have any melons! Cut yesterday, too bad it wasn't ripe! Sunday, November 6 View Page The three 717* Lovelace were a very rewarding plant even with the late start. One nice squash from each plant! Thanks! Sunday, November 6 View Page Thanks Mitch Krause for this great seed. It produced three over 200lbs. and two were right at 300lbs. I know that's not impressive but for my first year and no measurable amemdments, it still produced!!! I'll send you another SASBE this year!!! Sunday, November 6 View Page Thanks again Tammy Washer! I couldn't quite pull off a BIG one, but I feel I hit my target. The 740 produced four over 100 lbs. and my very first Atlantic Giant over 200 lbs. !!! Sunday, November 6 View Page Thanks to Dwight Slone for the 1036, it managed to produce something for BFW..... a skunk cap!!! I was proud to have grown a Slone AG, sorry I didn't do a better job. Thanks again for the lessons learned.... don't bring a little one to BFW!!! See you at Richmond ! Thanks, also , to Kelly Klinker for sending me some very nice seeds which I managed to elliminated from the cycle of reproduction! Thanks to my great new friends of KGPG Mafia fame. Chief of the instigators,,, Wayne Peace Moore, thanks for your encouragement and enlightenment. The ride was better with you aboard!!! See you at Richmond! Thanks Ken, You Da Man. Monday, November 14 View Page Here's my low down as we close in on Bear Wallow. Largest pumpkin still growing is a 1110 Krause X 740 Washer, BUT It has a hole at the blossom end :(. It has surpassed Lola's 216 lbs est. Taping at OTT 222, est 240lbs. Holding out for that 300 lbs goal I set first of the year. Next pumpkin is a 1110 Krause X 1036 Slone, taping at OTT 202, est. 184 lbs. This one is solid at this time! The 1036 Slone X 1110 Krause hasn't budged in a week. Not much plant to push it any more. Holding at about 170 lbs. I will take it to BWF Saturday if I can get it out of the patch! Still have three smaller ones on tough old secondaries of the 740 Washer, largest at about 150 lbs., smallest being about 70 lbs. A nice 717 Lovelace* X sib squash setting at about 180 lbs. See ya at BWF! Wednesday, November 30 View Page Red Bull takes Best Of Breed all three days at Montgomery, AL. Didn't fair so well in the Groups competition! Wednesday, November 30 View Page Put on a good show for a puppy! Sunday, December 4 View Page Finally watched Bill's video. Wow what a motivator! Thanks Bill! I'd like to share our kennel facebook: Empty Keg Saint Bernards My wife says the two new additions will not be going anywhere. Any one interested must wait till Miss Ky. is breed. Hopefully next week we'll have an announcement for a due date! Thanks BP for letting me share my other BIG hobby. Sunday, December 4 View Page Oh yeah....I must apologize for my dislexia (ADD). Bear Wallow Farms at Nancy, Kentucky who hosts the Kentucky Giant Pumpkin Growers' GPC weight offs, I'm truly sorry for my miss spelling a simple abrieviation (BWF) not only here on my diaries but also in a message board post or two. Thanks Hawkie Peace Wayne for that close attention. Glad ya watchen me grammer... I needs lossa help!! Saturday, December 24 View Page Happened upon Santa at Fedders Pet Supplies at Sheppardsville, KY. this past Sunday! The babies tried to bride Santa.... I think it worked! Merry Christmas