Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 24 Entries. Sunday, April 19 View Page My 2015 giant pumpkin season is off to the races. I will be growing two pumpkins and one squash. Also giant tomatoes, sun flowers, cabbage and long gourds. I would like to think that each year I am better prepared and more knowledgeable than the last. My personal best is 1335 lbs. I can easily list a dozen things I have done wrong in the past that I certainly won't be repeating this year. Best of luck to everyone in having a fun filled and rewarding growing season. Saturday, April 25 View Page The cold weather continues with freezing temps at night and a bit above freezing during the daylight hours. I'm resorting to heating cables and insulation to speed up the thaw. I've had good luck with germinations and have about six plants to choose from when I can get them in the patch. My most vigorous plant is a squash. lol Never grown a squash before. Also have over 100 African marigolds inoculated and growing well inside. Monday, July 6 View Page For all my efforts this year is starting off a little slow. My first female aborted on my 1090 Crews but the 2nd female was pollinated on July 6th and is steadily getting bigger and bigger. My other plants are even slower but I'm still hopeful to have a few that go over 1,000 lbs. Thursday, July 16 View Page DAP 10 for my 1090 Crews. I won't measure until DAP 20 but it is still fun to see the change every morning when I visit my patch. I'm doing a good job staying ahead of bugs and mildew. Love my blower!!! Tuesday, July 21 View Page DAP 11 Tuesday, July 21 View Page DAP 12 Tuesday, July 21 View Page DAP 13 Tuesday, July 21 View Page DAP 13 Tuesday, July 21 View Page This is a picture of the raised "soft spot" on the top side of my 1090 Crews. I treated it with powdered sulphur and thught it was clearing up. This morning it looks like a split. I'm treating it again with more sulphur. Tuesday, July 21 View Page DAP 15 Tuesday, July 21 View Page Another pic of my 1090 Crews at DAP 15. This is the fastest growing kin I have had in my few years of growing. I'm growing this plant on a gentle hill facing south. I flood the plain at the top of the hill with as much as 500 gallons of water per day. Much of the water evaporates but enough finds its way through the patch, keeping the plant very healthy. I also have a drip line to the stump area. I haven't applied any nutrients, wanting to wait to DAP 20 before turning on the juice. Hoping to beat my personal best of 1,335 lbs. The weather has been great and the outlook great to DAP 30. Wednesday, July 22 View Page An early morning pic at DAP 16 with my favourite non-alcoholic beverage for reference. Wednesday, July 22 View Page Same pumpkin from a side angle. Applied .9 EC of Monty's Bloom and Fulvic to the root zone last night. Will alternate every second day with a combination of Fulvic, Cal Mag +, Silica, Liquid Karma, Hydroplex and Botanicare Pro Bloom. Saturday, July 25 View Page One more day to go before the 1070 Crews reaches day 20 and I take my first measurements. The shape is being impacted by the soft spot split on top and a rough skin is developing where I treated it with sulphur. We had a downpour this morning which combined with today's sunshine should up the growth rate. I hope. Monday, July 27 View Page My 1070 Crews at DAP 21. The weather is good so it's time to see if I can encourage some large weight gains. The pumpkin weighs around 100 lbs. Tuesday, July 28 View Page I think this is going to be one ugly looking pumpkin but hopefully will be very heavy. Tuesday, July 28 View Page 1070 Crews at DAP22. Weight gain rate is increasing by about 3 lbs a day and we are nearing 20lbs per day of weight increase. Thursday, July 30 View Page DAP 24. had one slow growth day due to heat wave but yesterday it bounced back nicely. Friday, July 31 View Page Finally got a nice weight gain of 35 lbs last night on dap 24. She is taping around 175 lbs and the leaves look really healthy. The weather looks to be stellar for the next few days and I'm anticipating some nice growth. Friday, August 7 View Page 1070 Crews chugging along but I am afraid that the soft spot caused internal structural damage, limiting the growth it can achieve Saturday, August 15 View Page DAP 40 taping in at 500 lbs. Hot sunny days ahead so who knows what Sept 1 will bring. Saturday, August 15 View Page Dap 12 on late pollination. This pumpkin has developed light brown spots on the top area and stem. Very similar to the soft spot I had on my 1070 Crews. Nothing has rubbed the pumpkin so I think it must be bacterial? Comments appreciated. Saturday, August 15 View Page A closeup of stem with light brown stain. Wondering if I should sprinkle with sulphur or spay with fungicide? Sunday, August 16 View Page This is Piedamus, named through a Facebook contest I offered to my friends. Piedamus is the Greek God of Giant Vegetable Growing. Great growth yesterday with warm temperatures and lots of sun. Piedamus really sucks up the water and a few special treats I have been feeding him.