Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 31 Entries. Sunday, April 7 View Page We're starting the seeds! Using the napkin-and-paper-plate method to start them this year. I am starting two of the 1108 Dill seeds and two 972 Northrup seeds. Will seems more enthusiastic about pumpkin growing this year. Thursday, April 18 View Page Ten days later and this is what my seedlings look like. Took 5 days to emerge, but then grew really fast. Kept them between 75 and 85 with a heat lamp. Sunday, April 21 View Page We planted a small family garden in front of the pumpkin patch this year. Trying to grow some veggies and sunflowers. I put another yard of compost on the patch a few weeks ago. Sunday, April 21 View Page The pumpkins went in the ground yesterday. One of the 1108 Dills went in one end of the patch, and one of the 972 Northrups went to the other end. We'll see if they both make it; I don't have a lot of room so I may have to cull one. As for the other two plants, one went to a neighbor to go into his garden, and the last plant was a spare in case things went wrong... so I put it on our hillside where it might make it, or not. Sunday, April 28 View Page Like my pumpkin mug? A father's day present last year from the family. Great pics of big kins and my kids to remember these days by. Saturday, May 11 View Page My custom windscreen. I love re-purposing stuff when I can. Plus money and time are at a premium these days with the two little ones. I know the pumpkins will soon (hopefully) outgrow these screens. I'm hoping to have some shade cloth up soon and maybe I'll add a misting system this year if I can find the time to install it... Thursday, May 16 View Page The weather had kind of sucked this year so far. It's either been cold and rainy, very unusual for May in San Diego, or it's been blazing hot. Few days in the sweet spot of 80 degrees and sunny. I started to notice some spots on the leaves of both plants today. Powdery mildew breaking out already?! I treated with a fungicide. Otherwise, things are growing, though I have the feeling that things aren't growing as fast as last year. But this could just be my impatience at wanting pumpkins to appear. I am getting flowers starting, so that's a good sign. Sunday, May 19 View Page After some great tips from the message board (thanks everyone!) I decided to put up some shade cloth. This is the first bit that I could get done... will be installing something similar over the other pumpkin next weekend. Thursday, May 23 View Page The Dill is starting to take off... Thursday, June 27 View Page I haven't made any diary entries in a while... too busy. The plants have been growing! This is the Dill in late June, one day after I pollinated the second pumpkin which is 15 feet out on the main vine. I culled the other pumpkins on this plant so hopefully this one will be my winner... Thursday, June 27 View Page Here is the Dill on the day after pollination. Thursday, June 27 View Page On the other end of the garden from the Dill is the Northrup which has been growing more slowly, but now is producing side vines and pumpkins. The best bet for this plant is a female flower that should open within 48 h that is about 13 feet out on the main vine. I have a pumpkin that is about 8 days old on the main vine (see next entry) that I have let grow but will cull if the second one takes off. Thursday, June 27 View Page This is the Northrup's first pumpkin. Thursday, June 27 View Page I planted one seedling (Northrup) at the bottom of my steep hill. It's in poor soil with no shade and gets nothing but water. I planted this as a backup and decided to just let it grow to see what happens. Lo and behold, it's taken off and producing good fruit. Picture tomorrow. Now I am tempted to take better care of this plant... Friday, June 28 View Page Here is the pumpkin I planted on my hill that I am leaving alone. So far it has done well, but now that the temps have reached 100 degrees, the leaves are seriously wilted. I expected this and still am going to just leave this one alone to see what happens. Friday, June 28 View Page Compare the above picture to this pumpkin, which is getting shade and misting... Friday, June 28 View Page Day three of the Dill. Friday, June 28 View Page Here's what we're facing for the next several days in SoCal. Friday, June 28 View Page Hey Team Faith and SoCal Grower, don't forget about us for your contest... we hope to give you both a run for your money! This is close to our best pumpkin, from last year... if we can beat this I'll be happy. Saturday, June 29 View Page This is the Dill on day 3. I have high hopes for this as it is perfectly positioned out on the main vine and seems to be growing fast despite near 100 degree heat. Saturday, June 29 View Page On the other end of the patch is the Northrup which keeps defying my expectations by growing pretty fast despite being only about 10 feet out on the main vine. This is day 10. I pollinated a female flower about 4 feet beyond this one yesterday morning. I figured this would be my real pumpkin for the season, but, so far it has not shown signs of taking off. So the one pictured could be the one I stay with. Wednesday, July 3 View Page The Northrup on day 12, growing pretty well, though this is a little closer to the root than I would like. But this is the pumpkin I'm going for on this plant. Wednesday, July 3 View Page This is the Dill on day 6. Growing very well! This is my last entry for about 8 - 10 days as we'll be away on vacation. I hope to come back and see both of my pumpkins a whole lot bigger!! Saturday, July 13 View Page Well, I'm back from vacation and had a chance today to get into the patch and tend to the pumpkins. This is the Dill on day 17, OTT = 113 and estimated weight = about 36 lbs. I cut back a lot of vines and leaves that were hindering my access to the pumpkins (the Dill and Northrup are only about 6 feet apart in the patch). Access to the vines and pumpkins is my chief problem in my small patch... in addition to not having enough room to really let the plants expand where they want to. Sunday, July 14 View Page Here's the Northrup on July 13 = day 23. OTT = 124.5, = 47 lbs estimated. Tuesday, July 16 View Page Sprayed leaves with fungicide today. So far, I'm doing better on powdery mildew prevention this year. I'm really trying to keep my leaves healthier, I think that is especially key with a small patch. Last year my pumpkin's growth tapered off so quickly and I think the poor health of the leaves had a lot to do with it. Saturday, July 20 View Page Did some measurements today. The Dill is at day 24 and OTT = 160.5. Not what I was hoping for at day 24 but pretty much on par with what I grew last year which wound up at 550 lbs by the end of the season. The Dill is looking REALLY nice (pics soon). The Northrup OTT = 142, about what I was expecting from this small plant in the corner. Sprayed some Nutri-Cal on my leaves today, hoping to keep leaves healthy longer than last year... Sunday, July 21 View Page What's with the weather? This is the second weekend in a row with rain and it's been overcast for days. In southern California! This is going to slow things down... Thursday, July 25 View Page Here's the Dill, my best pumpkin, on day 28. OTT = 180. It's a nice looking pumpkin! But still not growing as fast as I would like. We did have several days of cloudy and cooler weather lately, I'm hoping that's all that's going on. Tuesday, August 6 View Page Here's the Dill on day 41; OTT = 230 inches and estimated weight = 279 lbs. It is still only putting on 10 lbs per day. I just can't seem to crack that weight gain barrier this year. Friday, August 9 View Page Finally got a circumference over 100 inches today and estimated weight has broken the 300 lb mark... not what I was hoping for but better than total failure.