Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 208 Entries. Tuesday, March 27 View Page Time to get this season going. Got my soils report back today. PH was at 5.6 in october. I have it up to 7.0 now. Mite add a little dolomite to bring up a hair higher and boost magnesium as well. Tuesday, March 27 View Page Cover crop on my main patch. I reconfigured to try and maximize my limited space. I added that leg to run a couple of secondary vines down and added two feet of width to the whole thing encroaching a little more onto the driveway. Tuesday, March 27 View Page This will be my secondary site. I'm going to start one early for the Puyallup fair in this location. Thursday, March 29 View Page My 2012 lineup. The 935 Bosworth will be my Puyallup Fair Seed. It was a nice wheel shaped pumpkin that was fairly orange. The pollinator was the former world record holder 1725 Harp. I am hoping that this combination will get me something large and well shaped with good color. For my main plant I wanted to get a seed which was a cross between the 1421.5 Stelts and the 1161 Rodonis. Seeds from these two Pumpkins have a great history for growing big ones. between them they have grown 19 pumpkins over 1500# and 6 of the 8 Pumpkins that have been grown over 1700# have these seeds in their lineage. I have three possibilities for my main plant that are a cross between these two legends. I am leaning towards the 1176 Lombardi because it was a great looking pumpkin and was 21% heavy compared to the measurement chart. The 1219 Glassier averaged more pounds per day of growth but it was not an attractive gourd. The 909.8 Jaser was a nice looking Pumpkin but it didn't quite pack on the weight like the Lombardi did. For my third plant I have a bunch of different options and I havn;t really decided what I want to do yet. The three on the right are my top possibilities. I am leaning toward the 1027 Lombardi which is the reverse cross of the 1176. I think it could be interesting to cross those two back together. Thursday, March 29 View Page This is the 935 Bosworth. I will be growing a seed from this Pumpkin for the Puyallup Fair. Thanks to Brooks Bosworth for sending me the seed! Thursday, March 29 View Page This is the 1176 Lombardi. I think My seed from this will probably be my main plant this year. Thanks to Mark Lombardi for the seed! Thursday, March 29 View Page This is the 1027 Lombardi. it is the reverse cross of the 1176 lombardi. Its a little knobby but man look at that color! I am leaning towards this being my third plant. Saturday, March 31 View Page Cut the cover crop with the mower and then tried to till it in. This tiller is pretty micky mouse so it didn't get more than a couple of inches deep and had a hard time penetrating the roots of the winter rye. Saturday, March 31 View Page So I hand turned everything with a shovel down to about 16" deep. The patch is absolutely teaming with worms. Saturday, March 31 View Page Then I hit it again with the tiller and got a much better result. Saturday, March 31 View Page Put up the hoop house on the Puyallup Fair planting site. I built a little mini greenhouse out of plywood and an old window to give me double thermal protection for the first couple of weeks. This seemed to work well last year so I am doing it again. Saturday, March 31 View Page Hoop house done for My first plant. Wednesday, April 4 View Page I filed down the edges of the seeds. This helps the plant to break free from the extremely thick seed shell and also helps the seed to absorb water a little better to help germination. Wednesday, April 4 View Page The three seeds I am planting in this first batch. The 935 Bosworth is the one I want to grow. the others are insurance incase something goes wrong. I have another Bosworth and I will start that one in a couple of days as a secondary backup plan. Wednesday, April 4 View Page I Wrapped the seeds in paper towels and let them soak in water over night. Wednesday, April 4 View Page This is my seed starting mix. I used half miracle grow starter soil and half soil out of my patch. Then I added three scoops of Mykos Mychorizae which is a symbiotic organism which attaches itself to the roots and increases the plants ability to absorb nutrients. Wednesday, April 4 View Page After letting the seeds soak overnight I planted them this morning. They go in pointed end down about 1/2" below the surface. Wednesday, April 4 View Page I jerryriged a incubation chamber out of a cake pan and a cake tray lid and stuck them in the oven with the light on for a heat source. now I wait for them to germinate. I have been told to leave 150-160 days from germination to harvest so I am right in the window. I won't be starting my main plant for 3 more weeks. Friday, April 6 View Page I thought it was wetter than normal around here and It looks like I was right. Seattle is nearly 5" above normal for YTD rainfall. We haven't had this much rain since 1996. I am in the rain shaddow of the olympic Mountains so we typically get about half the rainfall of Seattle but we are still getting enough that my back lawn is a solid carpet of moss. Friday, April 6 View Page 48 hours since I planted my first 3 seeds and nothing growing yet. Started my other Bosworth as well as a 1248 Lombardi and My own 441 Radach this morning. Friday, April 6 View Page I pulled up the 1053 Jaser just to see what was going on with the seeds. No sign of germination. I pulled off the seed coat and the inside was still firm with a little bit of green tone showing. i am not sure what exactly that means. but at least there wasno sign of rot. Tuesday, April 10 View Page 6 days in the dirt and nothing yet. I am getting worried. I planted a second set of seeds and they have been in for 4 days. I got 6 out of 7 to germinate last year but I can't remember how long it took. not sure what the problem is. Monday, April 16 View Page After a hair raising 11.5 days I finally have Pumpkins emerging. The 1053 Is the farthest along and the 1219, 1248, and 441 are just now poking through. I think I was a little two cuatious with the moisture level. I added water 3 days ago and voilla. Monday, April 16 View Page The 1053 Jaser Monday, April 16 View Page The 1219 Glasier just starting to emerge. Monday, April 16 View Page The 1053 under my new grow light. Wednesday, April 18 View Page All the plants under the grow light. The 1219 Glasier has leaf damage and the 1053 Jaser has some curled cots. The 1248 Lombardi on the right looks really good. My 441 is on the left. Wednesday, April 18 View Page The 1248 Lombardi is the most healthy looking of my first batch of plants. I am not crazy about growing this one because it was a very white pumpkin but it looks like this may have to be my 3rd plant. Wednesday, April 18 View Page The 1027 Came up after just 4 days and is a very aggressive grower. This is going to be my new selection for the Puyallup Fair since the 935s didn't germinate. Wednesday, April 18 View Page The 1027 had three roots aleready growing through the 4" peat pot so I transplanted it into a 1 gallon pot. I got this pot at the the hydroponics store. Its made of coconut and is supposed to work like a peat pot. this should allow me to keep the plant inside longer and transplant directly to the patch without disturbing the roots. Saturday, April 21 View Page Installed my heating Cable. This is the first time I have used one of these. Left it on overnight as a test. In the morning the soil in the cable area was at 53 degrees. The surrounding soil was at 41 degrees. It was pretty cold last night. Hopefully the soil will get a little warmer when I get the green house in position. Saturday, April 21 View Page Got the green house in place on the main site with the Soil Warming cable under neath it. Soil Temperature looks to be holding steady right around 70 degrees. Not bad considering the adjacent soil is at about 48 degrees Saturday, April 21 View Page Now I just need a Pumkin to go in there. Both of My 1176 Lombardis are in the oven waiting for germination. one has been in 3 days and the other went in last night Saturday, April 21 View Page "The Pumpkin Coffin" This will be where my 3rd plant will go made this shelter out of plywood and the door off my old shower. Soil temp is at about 60 degrees. Monday, April 23 View Page The 1027 Lombardi is growing great Monday, April 23 View Page This is the 1248 Lombardi Monday, April 23 View Page The 1072 Jaser is on the right and my second 1219 Glasier which just sprouted is on the bottom left. The one in the big pot is the 1027 Lombardi. I let my brother give away the rest of my seedlings to his co workers Saturday, April 28 View Page The 1027 Lombardi on its last night inside. Sunday, April 29 View Page The 1248 Lombardi on its last night inside. Sunday, April 29 View Page The 1176 Lombardi is finally going. This is supposed to be my main plant but I am not too happy with its lack of vigor. The Cot leaf on the left has some slight damage and the one on the right is curling under. The other 1176 didn't germinate. I am keeping the 1219 Glasier going in another pot incase I need to switch it out. Sunday, April 29 View Page Planting day for the 1027! Turns out I have an all Lombardi Lineup. Didn't plan it that way but My 935 Bosworths didn't germinate and The 1248 Lombardi got slipped into the lineup because it had more vigor than the others. Sunday, April 29 View Page Mykos 30 gets mixed into the planting hole. Its a combination of Mychorizae innoculant and organic fertilizer. Sunday, April 29 View Page The 1027 Lombardi is in the ground and hit with a dose of Alaska 5-1-1 fish fertilizer. The stuff smells but it works wonders. Sunday, April 29 View Page The 1248 Lombardi is laid to rest in the pumpkin Coffin. Wednesday, May 2 View Page I took the outdoor temperature sensor for my digital clock and stuck it in the green house next to the 1027. It still gets pretty cool at night. It was down to 52 this morning versus about 40 outside the green house. I have to keep the house vented if the sun is out otherwise it will go way over 90 degrees and the plants will start to wilt. Wednesday, May 2 View Page The 1027 Lombardi is growing pretty well. Wednesday, May 2 View Page The 1248 Lombardi in the pumpkin coffin Wednesday, May 2 View Page The 1176 Lombardi inside under the grow light. Wednesday, May 2 View Page The 1219 Glasier under the grow light. Saturday, May 5 View Page The 1027 is thriving. Everytime I open the box its grown more than I expected Saturday, May 5 View Page The 1248 is not doing as well. This one doesn't have the double protection so it gets a bit cooler at night. The third leaf is yellow around the edges and the first leaf looks like it has some bug damage on the edges. Sprinkled with Sevin dust. We'll see how that works. Monday, May 14 View Page The 1248 is not doing well at all. The soil is pretty much native here so I am not too surprised. Monday, May 14 View Page the 1176 Lombardi got off to a slow start but seems to have picked up steam in the last couple of days. Monday, May 14 View Page The 1027 Lombardi is growing well but I am afraid it might have a double vine. The first two leaf nodes developed fine but the third had two flowers. The 4th had 1 flower and then the 5th had 2 flowers again. The 6th looks normal and its too soon to tell on the next leaf. Monday, May 14 View Page The 5th leaf node. 2 flowers. Double vined? Sunday, May 20 View Page The 1176 Lombardi has really kicked it into high gear. The weather has been really great the last 2 weeks. I am off to a much better start than I got last year. Sunday, May 20 View Page The 1027 Lombardi has outgrown the box so now its just got 1 layer of protection at night. The vine is on the ground and running. Saturday, May 26 View Page The 1027, Started burying the main vine today. This will help the plant to put down roots at each leaf node. Saturday, May 26 View Page The 1027 is almost at the end of the green house. Its been growing well but its going to have to kick it into another gear if I want to pollinate by June 23rd which was my goal. Saturday, May 26 View Page The 1176 is very robust. Saturday, May 26 View Page I am not sure if its the improved soil or the heating cables under the ground, but I have never had leaves this size on such a young plant before. Saturday, June 2 View Page The 1248 died. I replaced it with the 1219 Glasier. It had been growing inside for too long and was pretty leggy. I am not too optomistic about this one making it. I will probably pull it anyway because I will need the growing space for the 1027. Saturday, June 2 View Page I started burying side vines on the 1027. It was a pretty gray week this week so not as much growth as I would have liked.— in Camano Island, Washington. Saturday, June 2 View Page The 1027 Lombardi from the other end Saturday, June 2 View Page The Main vine on the 1027 is 7 feet long. Saturday, June 2 View Page The 1176 Lombardi is jut putting out some massive leaves. I think it might be getting a bit too much nitrogen because the vine tips are really reaching skyward. Saturday, June 2 View Page This is the 6th true leaf on the 1176 and it is at 24" wide! Saturday, June 2 View Page The main vine on the 1176 is at 5 feet long. Its about 10 days younger than the 1027 and catching up fast. Monday, June 4 View Page Put a pretty severe kink in the first secondary vine onthe 1176 today while redirecting it. This plant is giving me all kinds of problems because of over aggressive growth. I didn't really plan for it to grow so fast or so big. I have limited space and I am trying to do some serious redirecting of the vines to maximize my space. The plant is growing so fast that it has way more space between the leaf nodes than I was expecting. The vines are reaching skyward. I have one side vine that is three feet long and the entire thing is up in the air. I am trying to redirect them all to where they need to go and get them to the ground as well. Friday, June 8 View Page After Monster Grower had his vine tips eaten the other day, I threw some chicken wire over my tips to protect seeing as how my neighborhood is teaming with deer. As you can see by the fresh deer tracks near the 1027 its probabbly a good thing I did. Friday, June 8 View Page The deer also got pretty close to the 1176. Friday, June 8 View Page The Side vines on the 1027 are just about to the edge of the green house. I will probably have to take the plastic off in about a week. I am doing a flag pattern on this one which means I am only growing out the vines on one side of the plant. Friday, June 8 View Page The main vine on the 1027 is at 8'4" long Friday, June 8 View Page You can barely make it out in this picture but there is a small femalegrowing in the vine tip of the 1027. I am thinking it will prabablly end up beign right about at the 10 foot mark on the main by the time everything grows out. Friday, June 8 View Page The 1176 Has pretty much filled up the green house. The Main vine is out the other end and is at about 6'-8" in length Friday, June 8 View Page This storebought green house is a little more complicated to get the vines through. this is the first Secondary vine on the 1176 peeking its way out of the green house. I had to dig a trench and prop the plastic up with a stick to give it enough room to make it under. Monday, June 11 View Page Diagnosis Please! Monday, June 11 View Page The Leaf in the last picture looked like this one 24 hours ago. Looks like Phytophtora to me. It could be Excessive Nitrogen. Plant has grown like its on roids. Its only 7.5 feet long and it has several 25" leaves on it. I mixed in a whole bunch of Manure last fall but my Nitrogen levels didn't look out of the ordinary when I tested this spring. Monday, June 11 View Page Another Leaf starting to show the same signs. What does everyone think? Saturday, June 16 View Page This Female is at 10' on the main vine on the 1027 Lombardi. Hoping to Polinate in 3-4 Days. Saturday, June 16 View Page This Female on the 1176 Lombardi is at 8'-6" I will go ahead and pollinate it but I am hoping there will be a keeper farther on down the vine. Saturday, June 16 View Page The 1176 is bursting out at the seams. The Main Vine is at 9'-2" and There are 4 side vines coming out the sides. I think the store bought Greenhouse is more effort than its worth. It doesn't stay as warm as plastic. Its not as long as a hoophouse. And its a pain to put up and take down. If I do this again next year I won't be using this again Saturday, June 16 View Page Got the Green house taken down on the 1176 and weeded and tilled the whole patch. Now the plant could really use a week of mid 70's temps. You can see some of the leaf burn on the plant from the other day. I removed the worst leaf but left the other three leafs with edge damage on. Its a shame because this plant got off to such a good start. Saturday, June 16 View Page Pulled off the hoophouse on the 1027 earlier this week. This plant is really doing great. The main is at 11' and the side vines are running fast. Notice the new deer fencing all around the whole planting site. Saturday, June 16 View Page Got My Timelapse Camera mounted and in place to catch all the action on the 1027. I am planning on making a movie of the fruit as it grows from polination to harvest. Thursday, June 21 View Page pollination day for the 1027! Thursday, June 21 View Page Nice Symetrical 4 lobe female. Or is that a fifth lobe on the lower left? Thursday, June 21 View Page I pollinated it with two males from the 1176 There wasn't much pollin on them though. I hope it takes. Saturday, June 23 View Page The 1176 is at 10'-2" long I am pretty disappointed with this plant I really set it back when I let it get heat burn. Hopefully we can get some good weather so it can catch back up. Saturday, June 23 View Page This is the Female on the 1176. I am thinking 6-7 days before it will be ready to pollinate. I was hoping for another to keep further down the line but so far the next 4 flowers have all been males. Saturday, June 23 View Page The 1027 is at 13'-3" long. I started turning the vine at the end to allow room for the fruit to grow. Saturday, June 23 View Page I am having a hard time getting the 1027 vine to lay down straight. A couple of leaves got caught up underneath it and it twisted around. The blossom is still pretty straight up in the air. I am considering cutting off the main at the fruit if it sets and then growing tertiaries off of the last secondaries. This will make it much easier to manage the fruit. Saturday, June 23 View Page 1027 Pollinated fruit on the 3rd day. Looks like its definitely growing but too soon to tell if the pollination took. Some times they will abort. Friday, June 29 View Page Pollinated the first on the 1176 Lombardi with 5 males from the 1027 Lombardi. It has 5 nicely formed lobes on the blossom Friday, June 29 View Page This pumpkin has a fairly decent sized stem and a slightly elongated shape which I like. Its going to be a tough decision to make weather to call this one or not. I finally have another Female out on the tip of the plant that will probably be in the 14-15 range. This one is at 8'-6" which is a little closer than I would like. Unfortunately the new one probably wont be ready to pollinate for a couple weeks which will put it pretty late in the season. Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the 2nd on the 1027 probably about a week from pollination Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the first pumpkin on the 1027. It is at 9.75" circumference on day 10. That may seem small but Its .75" bigger than where my Pumpkin was last year on day 10. Sunday, July 1 View Page The 1027 Lombardi Sunday, July 1 View Page The 1176 Lombardi Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the first on the 1176. Pollinated yesterday Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the second female on the 1176 probably still a couple weeks out from pollination Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the second on the 1027. Pollinated yesterday about 15 feet out on the vine. This is the backup incase the first one aborts Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the first on the 1027. This sunny weather has finally kicked it into gear. It grew 2.25" last night for a total cisrcumference of 18.75" on day 17. Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the 1027 Lombardi Its kind of hard to get a full picture of it because its nestled under the apple tree and between the fern. Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the first on the 1176. it is at 9.5 inches on day 9. The plan is to cull this one if the next one down takes Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the second on the 1176. Probabbly looking at another 5-6 days before its ready to pollinate Sunday, July 8 View Page The 1176 Lombardi. Thursday, July 12 View Page Pollinated the third on the 1027 today. Thursday, July 12 View Page Polinated the 2nd on the 1176 today. This may have to be it because the first polination appears to have aborted. No growth in the last 2 days. I am a little concered about the weird white growth around the lobes on this one. Thursday, July 12 View Page Hermaphrodite Flower? It started out as a normal looking male with just a little yellow at the base but no bulb shape at the base like you would expect on a female. Monday, July 16 View Page The Hermaphrodite flower after blooming. Monday, July 16 View Page Hermaphrodite from side Monday, July 16 View Page upclose of hermaphrodite Saturday, July 21 View Page Culled the 2nd pumpkin off of the 1027. Its a shame because it had a nice shape and was growing well. Couldn't afford to make it the keeper because it wouldn't be ready intime for the Puyallup Fair. Saturday, July 21 View Page The 1176 has been putting out some funky females. This one is all deformed with a whole buch of seeds in it. I pollinated it anyway but i doubt it will take. Saturday, July 21 View Page I had pretty much left the 1219 Glassier to itself but I got some female blooms on it so i decided to clean it up and bury some vines. Maybe I can pull a 100 pounder out of it. Saturday, July 21 View Page Two Females on the 1219 Glassier Saturday, July 21 View Page I terminated the main vine on the 1027 at the pumpkin. The plan is to let the tertiaries grow forward of the last secondary but they don't seem to be growing. I also built a sun shelter to protect the skin of the fruit. Saturday, July 21 View Page The Keeper on the 1027 Lombardi. It was 50.75" in circumference last night which was day 30 since polination. According to the chart that puts it right about 50 pounds. This is small by others standards but it is 6.75 inches bigger than my Pumpkin was last year on day 30 and it is 19.25 inches bigger than my pumpkin was on July 20th last year. Saturday, July 21 View Page The 1176 Lombardi plant. Saturday, July 21 View Page I have two vines running down the new leg I added onto the patch. I also have a vine on the neighbors lot running towards the camera. Every square foot helps. Saturday, July 21 View Page This is the second on the 1176 and it needs to be the Keeper. It is at 10.5 inches circumference on day 9. I was worried about the seeds in the blossum but it looks like it is developing normally so far. The first polination aborted at day 12 so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Saturday, July 21 View Page Another Blossum on the 1176 probably blooming tomorrow. Monday, July 23 View Page Pollinated two more flowers on the 1176 today. Both were deformed with Seeds in the blossom. I have only had one normal flower on this plant so far. It looks like the one I have set right now is going to be my only shot. Saturday, July 28 View Page The 1176 is getting to be a very good sized plant. Saturday, July 28 View Page the 1176. Hopefully all this green will be able to supply the juice to start packing on the pounds to the fruit. Saturday, July 28 View Page The keeper on the 1176 circumference is at 19.25 inches on day 17. I have started culling the others on the plant Saturday, July 28 View Page Here is another on a side vine on the 1176. It is at 11.75" on day 9 but it has a really messed up blossom end. Saturday, July 28 View Page Here is the last on the Main on the 1176. This one has a messed up blossom as well. Saturday, July 28 View Page Day 38 for the 1027 Lombardi. Its sitting at 66.25" in circumference which makes it right about 92 pounds on the chart. The growth has fallen off in the the last few days. It is now only 3.75 inches bigger than My Pumpkin was last year on day 38. This is about the point where my pumpkin took off last year. It put on 101 pounds between day 40 and day 50. Saturday, July 28 View Page This is the first on the 1219 Glasier. 11.25 Inches on day 12. A bird pecked a hole in the side of it when it was young. I put some sulfur on it and it looks like its healing up. Its going to be one big ugly scar when the Pumpkin is bigger. Monday, July 30 View Page Took my first OTT measurement on the 1027 and came up with 184.5 Which puts it at 148 pounds. That's considerably larger than the 111 ponds on the old circumference chart. Still its way off where I expected to be with fixed soil. Something is still not right in my patch. Could be the cold growing conditions I don't know. Its frustrating to put so much effort into this and then see everyone elses pumpkins doubling my growth rate. Monday, July 30 View Page Today was day 40 on the 1027 still a little bit ahead of last years day 40 mark and I will have an extra week of growing time compared to where I was for the Puyallup Fair weigh-off last year. 500# is looking like about what I can expect. Friday, August 3 View Page Another dismal day with the Measuring tape. 3/4" on the Big pumpkin and 1/2" on the small pumpkin. Never had a day that bad last year. Relief is in sight though. Forcasted high of 75 tomorrow and then Saturday is supposed to be our first day over 80 for the year. Sunday, August 5 View Page Disaster on the 1176. The Keeper has aborted. No growth in 3 days. You can see by the odd shape that things weren't developing normally. Sunday, August 5 View Page I have one more on the Main vine it is 10 days old which means that it could be at about 80 days old at weigh off. Frankly I don't think this one will make it either judging by the messed up blossom end. and its already deformed shape. Sunday, August 5 View Page There is also this one on a side vine that is 15 days old and 16 inches. Its blossom end is even more messed up and you can see that it too is deformed. Sunday, August 5 View Page Here is the 1176 with all that foliage and no good pumpkins. Too much inbreeding I guess. Pretty much every female came out with some sort of deformation. Wish I would have gone with my gut way back in April and planted the 1219 on the good dirt instead of this one. Sunday, August 5 View Page Here is the first on the 1219 Glasier. Other than the bird damage on the side it is developing beautifully. 22.5" on day 19. Unfortunately it only has about 100 sf of plant behind it at this point. Sunday, August 5 View Page Everything to the right of the wire fence is the 1219 Glasier. Really bad soil here and not much room but I am going to Fertilize the heck out of it and see if I can get it to weighoff Sunday, August 5 View Page The 1027 day 45. It is still packing on the pounds getting ready to do the Puyallup. 81.5 inches in circumference, 205" OTT 200 pounds even on the new 2012 chart! Last years Pumpkin was at 171 pounds on day 45. Sunday, August 5 View Page The weather is finally cooperating. First day over 80 on Camano Island this year! Sunday, August 5 View Page Put up a whiteboard to keep the neighbors up to date. My Pumpkins are like the neighborhood mascot. Going to have to swap out Pumpklin B for Pumpkin C soon. Monday, August 6 View Page Came home tonight and found this hole on the blossom end of the 1027. I can't tell if it goes all the way to the cavity. If it does my season is toast. I am hoping It can be salvaged but it doesn't look good. Monday, August 6 View Page The hole is about 3/4" long and 1/8" wide looks like it is about a half inch deep at this point. I probed it a little bit with a piece of straw and it didn't seem like it was going in any deeper than about 3/4" I wasn't pushing very hard though. What does everybody think is my season done? What should be done. to try and save it? Wednesday, August 8 View Page Yikes, this Hobby is frustrating! Wednesday, August 8 View Page seems like its about 1.5" deep but not in the cavity yet. Not much I can do but wait it out and hope it doesn't get too bad. Wednesday, August 8 View Page And just like that My growing season comes to an end. The split is through to the cavity. :( I have a couple of small ones going on other plants but won't get anything over a couple a hundred pounds. Thursday, August 16 View Page The 1027 on day 56 93" circumference. 241 OTT 320 Pounds on the estimation chart. Thursday, August 16 View Page The Split on the 1027. There is a whole lot of Silicon in there. Its been 10 days since it split and its packed on 120 pounds in those 10 days. Thursday, August 16 View Page The 1027 is right out by the road. Everyone wants to stop and talk about it. Thursday, August 16 View Page The first Pumpkin on the 1219 that had the bird damage aborted. This one however is still going. Its at 39" Circumference on day 27 probably at about 28 pounds. Thursday, August 16 View Page I have 9 Pumpkins all under 10 days old going on the 1176. This is the only one that didn't have deformities or seeds in the blossom. The last weigh off is on October 17th. That means If I could get one to take it would be about 70 days old Hopefully i can still get something decent sized. There is certainly enough plant to support a big pumpkin. Monday, August 20 View Page Here is the 1219. I love the shape of this pumpkin. its almost like a cube. Circumference = 46.25" on day 31 estimated weight about 40 pounds. Monday, August 20 View Page The 1027 has slowed down considerably in growth. Its now at 97.25" Circumference, 249.5" OTT for an estimated weight of 353.5 pounds. 60 days old Monday, August 20 View Page A few Culls from the seriously genetically flawed 1176. The one on the upper left is a double pumpkin with two blossoms fused into one. I have about 7 good prospects going right now. Two of them had normal Blossoms so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get one to take. Monday, August 20 View Page Here is a deformed cull off of the 1176. The blossom looks a Camel with one of those fancy saddles on its back. Sunday, August 26 View Page A view of the 1176 Lombardi Plant from the roof. The tip is now about 4 feet from the road. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1027 Lombardi Crammed in under the apple tree and running into the shrubs. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1027 Still Growing, Barely. 98.5" Circumference 255" OTT for an estimated weight of 376 Pounds on day 66. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1219 Glassier is at 56" Circumference on day 37 for an estimated weight of 64 Pounds. Its got a slimy brown spot on the underside of the stem not sure what that's all about. I coated it with Sulfur. Hopefully that will stop whatever it is. Sunday, August 26 View Page These are the best three prospects on the 1027. They are all on side vines but they are all growing a little bit faster than the 1027 was at the same age. The one in the middle is the best grower but it has a bulge on the blossom end so I am expecting it to abort any day now. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1027 from the stem side. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1219 from the blossom end. Sunday, August 26 View Page The 1027 Lombardi. I chose this seed because of the color of its mother. It hasn't disappointed. Its starting to turn a nice shade of orange. Sunday, August 26 View Page In the Patch with the 1027 Lombardi. Saturday, September 8 View Page This is the 1219 Glasier on day 51. Its only growing about 3/4" per day. Its at 71.5 " circumference right now which estimates out at about 113 pounds. Might make 150 or so by weigh off day. Saturday, September 8 View Page This is one that I have going on the 1176 Lombardi. Its at 40" Circ but it has a split in it and hasn't grown for two days. Going to Cull it. Saturday, September 8 View Page Same pumpkin as previous shot with the split. Saturday, September 8 View Page Another on the 1176. This one is at 47 " but also has a split. Its still growing so I will give it a few more days. Saturday, September 8 View Page Split on the previous pumpkin. Saturday, September 8 View Page I finally had to cut the tip of the main vine so it wouldn't get in the way of the Mail Man. Saturday, September 8 View Page The last hope on the 1176. This one is intact and is at 41.5" on day 22 Best grower so far this year for a pumpkin of this age but its really late in the year. Saturday, September 8 View Page The 1219 and 1027 from the roof. Saturday, September 8 View Page The 1176 from the roof. Saturday, September 8 View Page Last Photo of the 1027 Lombardi before I harvest it. Saturday, September 8 View Page It is starting to rot around the hole on the blossom end. Saturday, September 8 View Page Home Made Pumpkin Scale. One leg on each scale. Saturday, September 8 View Page We maneuvered the 1027 out of the patch and up onto my makeshift scale. We had to tip it on the blossom end and as soon as we did a bunch of putrid smelling liquid came running out. The Pumpkin was rotting from the inside out. Saturday, September 8 View Page A hair over 85 pounds on the first leg. Saturday, September 8 View Page A hair under 160 pounds on the second leg. Saturday, September 8 View Page Right on 160 pounds on the third leg. 85 + 160 +160 = 405 pounds. Saturday, September 8 View Page Pulled the silicone out of the blossom end. Its pretty nasty in there. Saturday, September 8 View Page The rotting inside of the Pumpkin. Saturday, September 8 View Page The final measurements were 101" Circumference 73.5" blossom to stem and 87" side to side for a total OTT Measurement of 261.5" Amazingly, the new 2012 estimation chart was spot on with an estimated weight of 405 and an actual weight of 405. Saturday, September 8 View Page One last Photo of me with the 405 Radach 2012 (damaged) It put on 205 Pounds after developing a hole in it and it wasn't growing in the good dirt so all in all not to shabby. Saturday, September 15 View Page Had some visitors come to look at my pumpkins. Its always A good Idea to have little kids take pictures with your Pumpkin to make it look bigger. Saturday, September 15 View Page The 1219 is at 73.25" Circumference and is somewhere around 140 Pounds. Its looking like the 1176 will probably outgrow this one for the central Market Weigh off so I may take this one to the Christianson's Nursery weighoff. Sunday, September 16 View Page The 1176 is at 53.25" Circumference. Approximately 55 pounds. Growing about 1.5" per day. Hopefully this weather keeps up for a couple of more weeks and I am optimistic that I could get somewhere around 200#. By Central Market on OCT 13th. Saturday, September 22 View Page The 1219 Glassier77.75" circ. 188.75 OTT for an estimated weight of 155 at day 65. Not too bad for a 100 square foot plant on non amended native soil. Its not growing too fast but it picked up the pace a little bit this last week with the good weather. It will be 86 days old on the 13th for the Central Market weigh off. It will look pretty puny next to all of the heavy hitters but I think I will take it anyway. I have to get at least one official weigh off in this year. Saturday, September 22 View Page The 1176 Lombardi. 60.25" circ for an estimate of 77 pounds on day 36. I was expecting this one to ramp up growth because it was coming into the folden zone for growth age and the weather was getting better. Unfortunately the growth actually slowed down this week. I don't think it has time to catch up to the 1219 in time for central Market. The Christiansons weigh off is one week from today. I guess I will just play it by ear and see if it seems worth it to take it there. Tuesday, October 2 View Page The 1219 Glasier all loaded up and ready to go its estimating 158 pounds based on the measurements. Last place here I come! Tuesday, October 2 View Page My brother spends all his workday loading bales of hay and bags of feed into peoples vehicles so I used him in place of a fork lift for loading the Pumpkin. Tuesday, October 2 View Page My pumpkin got a prize spot right next to the scale. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Dean Biss exhibition pumpkin 680.5 pounds. It was disqualified because it had a split on the blossom end. Tuesday, October 2 View Page 169 pound pumpkin 5th place. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Geneva Emmons 662 pound exhibition pumpkin. It had a hole in the stem. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Joel Hollands Pumpkin. Look at the size of the vine. The thing was 2.5 inches in Diameter. Mine by contrast was about 3/8 of an inch. Tuesday, October 2 View Page The Judges probing Jim Sherwood's pumpkin to see if the hole in the stem went to the center. He passed the test Tuesday, October 2 View Page Mary Jo Sanders aka (MOJO) 156.5 pound 6th place Pumpkin. Tuesday, October 2 View Page All the Pumpkins Lined up ready for weigh off. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Lee Roof's 609 pound 3rd place pumpkin. This thing was gorgeous with great color good symmetry and a nice full shape. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Dean Biss with his 42 pound Cabage. A new state record! Tuesday, October 2 View Page My pumpkin came in at 177.5 which was 11% above the estimated weight from the chart. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Me with my 4th place pumpkin. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Jim Sherwood's 1100.5 pound Pumpkin good enough for 2nd place. Tuesday, October 2 View Page The Crew wrangling Joel Hollands giant into position. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Joel holland wins first prize with a 1281.5 pound Pumpkin. Mine is sitting there next to it to give you an idea of how far I have to go to be competitive. I think mines prettier though. :)