Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 66 Entries. Monday, April 22 View Page Tilled the patch and added amendments today & covered mound planting areas. I wasn't real happy with all the rain we've had the last week or so but went ahead and tilled after 3 days of no rain. There is an 80% chance of more rain tomorrow so I took advantage of the sunshine and nice weather. I started seeds tonight with hopes of getting them into the ground in around 10 days after germination which would be 5/6. The seed line up will be the 1478.5 Clementz (A.K.A Dr. Melon Head), 1775 Starr, 1236 Vincent McGill. Tuesday, April 23 View Page The patch after it was tilled. Tuesday, April 23 View Page Another view. Tuesday, April 23 View Page The line up. Last year I had trouble with germinating. I've run several tests starting with soaking the seeds, sanding the sides and using the wet paper towel. Every test proved 100% success. Tuesday, April 23 View Page The line up. Last year I had trouble with germinating. I've run several tests starting with soaking the seeds, sanding the sides and using the wet paper towel. Every test proved 100% success. Tuesday, April 23 View Page Soil getting warmed up and ready for the seeds. Tuesday, April 23 View Page Germination container. A consistent temperature of 85 degrees. Thursday, May 16 View Page One view of the patch. The last of the compost was added yesterday. Lots of sun and temps near 80. Thursday, May 16 View Page Another view. Thursday, May 16 View Page The line up has changed due to three duds. This was planted on 5/14 and is the 866 Vandrey. It took the place of the 1775 Starr. I'm hoping for orange and I think this one will deliver. Thursday, May 16 View Page This is the 1479 Sweet and took the place of the 1475.5 Clementz. This plant took off and outgrew Jackson Reed and was double the size. The Jackson Reed won't be a tossed out, it will be going to my father in law. I do believe that this plant is just waiting to hit the dirt. I'll probably regret not planting it as I think this plant is holding back and is going to explode with growth. Thursday, May 16 View Page I tried two squash seeds and both were duds. I got impatient and decided I'd go with 3 pumpkins. The 3rd pumpkin to the line up will be the 1248 Platte. It will see dirt sometime next week. Thursday, May 16 View Page One view of the patch Thursday, May 16 View Page One of the many back yard guests. These Oriole have been coming around for the last 3 summers. Each summer the numbers continue to grow and by the time they leave they bring their little ones around. They've been here for about 2 weeks now. I also seen the first Hummingbird tonight. Life is good!! Thursday, May 23 View Page Pumpkins tucked in for the night. Weather man calling for mid to upper 30's. I'm not taking any chances and putting a little heat on the buggers. If you look close and just above the furthest hoop house, you'll see a couple of eyes looking back at me. The deer have become regulars again this year showing little fear. I hope these little gals don't cause problems this year. Friday, May 24 View Page Cold night predicted, so out came the lights. Looking out and above the furthest hoop house you can see eyes glowing. The deer are back this year and showing no fear. Sunday, May 26 View Page Well this is my first catch of the year. I had inspected the trap yesterday and noticed that something had been digging under the trap to get to the jelly on bread. So I repositioned the trap to make the smart little bugger come up with a new plan. I woke up this morning to see this darn thing. When I opened the trap door this thing didn't want to stick around for a bowl of milk. I'll bet I don't see his mug around for awhile now LOL. Wednesday, May 29 View Page Tonight I stuck my head out the back door with the spot light and seen the rascal that has been smart enough to evade the trap. I repositioned the trap again today because this raccoon is still able to dig under the trap to get at the bait. If I don't post a new picture tomorrow with the masked bandit behind bars, I'll switch to plan B and get the body count started. Thursday, May 30 View Page And were off and running here. I moved the trap off the mulch and onto the grass to make it harder for the critters to get to the bait. Thursday, May 30 View Page This is the 1479 Sweet. It's moving along slow but coming along. Thursday, May 30 View Page This is the 1248 Platte. This plant is the youngest of the three. This one was lazy all last week and didn't want to stand up on it's own. I helped it along and this morning it looks as if it is getting with the program. Thursday, May 30 View Page This here is my pride and joy. It's 866 Vandrey and the best and most aggressive of the bunch. All three plants went into the ground as soon as the first true leaf showed it's direction. Well as I've seen in other diary's, this may not have been the smartest move. All 3 twisted and I shouted. I'm starting the training and hope to get things worked out without any issues. Friday, June 7 View Page Here is the 866 Vandrey. The tendrils are on the move and this plant is ready for some warmer weather. Friday, June 7 View Page Here is the 1479 Sweet. The main vine is starting to get thicker and more leaf growth. This plant kind of looks like it would rather be a bush. Friday, June 7 View Page This is the 1248 Platte. This was the lazy plant but seems to be growing in length but the girth just doesn't seem to be on its side yet. Thursday, June 13 View Page This is the 866 Vandrey gaining steam. Good looking plant so far and best of the three. Thursday, June 13 View Page Here is the 1248 Platte. This was the lazy plant but is pushing along. Will see what this brings. Thursday, June 13 View Page This is the 1479 Sweet. This is the one that wanted to become a bush. I've been reading about flat vines and ribbon vines. I think this is what there referring to? I'm not sure what to do with this one at this point. I'm looking for some input from other growers as to what they think I should do please. I'll post another picture that is a little closer. Thursday, June 13 View Page Here is a close up of the 1479 Sweet. I think this one is in trouble. Any thoughts Please let me know. Thank you. Saturday, June 15 View Page Sometimes you catch things you would rather not talk or think about. This little guy seems to be a little upset yet, so he will get a nice long time out and will be released later. Saturday, June 15 View Page I placed a tarp over the trap with the entrance door exposed. Saturday, June 15 View Page Within minutes he was leaving the trap and moved right on to underneath the deck. Seems all these critters like to take shelter under the deck. He will move on just like the rest after dark and I'll be back to catching less smelly yard game. Sunday, June 23 View Page I pulled the plug on the 1479 Sweet yesterday. It started out as a flat vine and progressed to a ribbon vine. I performed a little surgery on it trying to promote a push and it worked into a split vine. I had thought about trying to make a go of it but the stump area was so cluttered up that I just felt it wasn't worth the headache. Sunday, June 23 View Page This is the 1248 Platte. It's starting to gain steam. I have high hopes for this one to produce a large one. Just trying to beat what I grew last year. Sunday, June 23 View Page This is the 866 Vandrey at around 8 foot. I've read a few post of over loving a plant to death. I can relate to that with this one. I just need a good restraining order telling me to keep my distance from this plant. Seems that anytime I get close to it I become a danger to it and do something stupid. I think I'm trying to squeeze to much into my 24 hour days. Good thing I don't drink or it would have been lights out for this one. I'm sure of it!! Sunday, June 23 View Page This is the first female on the 866 Vandrey. She showed up 2 days ago at around 7 foot on the main and this threw me for a loop. Last year was my first year of growing giants and I had so many male flowers I was beginning to think that I was going a pumpkin from boys town. This time around no males to be seen. I pinched it off hoping anyways hoping for more plant and something further out. I just hope this plant can survive my mistakes and show me what she's made of. Sunday, June 23 View Page Both plants were treated with Tree & Shrub last night. I'm trying to follow others leads and use their simple suggestions to promote a healthy plant for better success. Tuesday, June 25 View Page I checked on the plants this morning before work @ around 4 a.m. with the spot light LOL and see where there are a couple of male flowers on the 866 Vandrey. The main is growing about 8 inches a day and side vines starting to take off and fill in. Looking at the radar, were in for rain and wind with temps around 85 degrees. Sunday, June 30 View Page The 1248 Platte is moving along slow. It showed it's first female yesterday and was promptly removed. I'd say it was about 7 foot out. I sure hope this plant gains some momentum soon. Sunday, June 30 View Page And here is my pride and joy. I've somehow managed to keep from damaging this thing over the course of the week. Must be the rain has kept me at bay. I've been popping females off left and right. I do have a female that I plant to set that is at 11 or 12 foot at this time. Both plants with get a little extra lovin today. Sunday, June 30 View Page I forgot to mention that the last picture was of the 866 Vandrey. I must be in to big a hurry to run back out there and make up for lost time by damaging the poor girl. LOL Sunday, June 30 View Page Just a few pictures of what consumes most of my time and money. I started building this 1923 T Bucket almost 2 years ago. This is a scratch built hot rod and something that I've always wanted and wanted to do. Sunday, June 30 View Page Front view Sunday, June 30 View Page 1967 Ford 302. This is the same block that was used in the 68 & 69 Boss Mustang. I think it will push this little thing around just fine. Sunday, June 30 View Page Some of the custom work that I've had done or did myself Sunday, June 30 View Page Anyways, I hope to fire it up for the first time before fall. Then I'll take it back down do body work & paint over the winter. I hope to have it on the road next summer and get serious about these pumpkins. Saturday, July 6 View Page Pollinated the first female today. I woke up at 330 am before work to check and see if she was ready and she was not in the mood. My wife called me while I was at work and said she was waiting. Sooooo I rushed home and took care of business and then went back to work. She is 13 foot out with another a foot or two ahead of her. Saturday, July 6 View Page Here is the 866 Vandrey. Looks good from a distance or at high speeds. I hope she makes it to the end. This plant has been like a freight train since the heat kicked in without the rain. Saturday, July 6 View Page A view of the 866 Vandrey from the rear. I was playing with the hot rod in the garage this afternoon when my wife wanted me to look at the baby pheasant in the patch. I walked out to discover that it was a quail. I was in awe because quail aren't common in this area. Heck there not even common in the areas that their known to be in. I'm thinking that someone grew it and released it or it's an escapee. Neat none the less. Saturday, July 6 View Page Then there is the 1248 Platte. I'm not even going to show a picture of that plant. I've heard a few times "that we're not growing salad" this plant will verify that. Maybe she will kick into gear this week. She is improving and showing some growth but is way behind. She had a pumpkin @ 13 foot just waiting for it to open. I'll pollinate it just to see what happens. Wednesday, July 10 View Page I spent a little time to build a cover to house and protect the pumpkin today. It was a steamer to say the least. 85 degrees and muggy. I sure do appreciate my wife's support with this hobby. We'll see if that's still the case when she see's that I used some bed sheets to construct this. I then covered them with tarps. As of now both ends are open but I have plans to grab a couple more tarps to do my best to keep this one dry this year. Wednesday, July 10 View Page This is the 866 Vandrey and the star of my yard @ 4 DAP. Looks like she took and I'm happy as a clam. Set another a few feet further then this one this morning. So we will see what happens in the near future. I'm pretty sure this one will be the chosen one as I like the position & shape. Wednesday, July 10 View Page This is the 866 Vandrey. This plant is still gaining strength and taking up more real estate. The 4 day growth can be seen from the picture I took Saturday and today. Tomorrow I plan on doing a little more weeding and burying vines that have made the 10 foot mark or reached the side of the patch. Tuesday, July 16 View Page This is the 1248 Platte. I had pretty much given up on this plant and for whatever reason it had decided to kick in. The pumpkin was pollinated on 7/11 with a flower from the 866 Vandrey. This plant has yet to produce a male flower. I see where there are a couple coming on. I've got a funny feeling about this plant and think it's going to surprise me. Tuesday, July 16 View Page 1248 Platte 5 DAP with ribs showing. Tuesday, July 16 View Page One view of the 866 Vandrey filling in fast. Tuesday, July 16 View Page Another View of the 866 Vandrey. Tuesday, July 16 View Page The 866 Vandrey and the star of the show. Today marks 10 DAP. I haven't put the tape to it and not sure when I will. Last year (my first year) I learned that it really doesn't matter at this point what the measurements are. Last year I was on my way to a worlds record pumpkin at this point LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL !!!!!!!!! Tuesday, July 16 View Page I've been terminating side vines & burying them. The territory vines are kicking in and I'll be taking care of them today or tomorrow. I've been picking and pinching any and all new female and male flowers as I see them. To bad the small pumpkins aren't edible because I could save some money on the grocery bill. This thing (866) kicks out females like crazy. I've also been foliar feeding in an attempt to beat last years weight. I never tried feeding the plant this way so I'm hoping this will help to add some weight along with terminating the side vines. With this heat wave I've started using a little more water and yesterday the whole patch got a nice watering. Tuesday, July 16 View Page I've been reading about other growers using molasses on their plants as I have been using. I read yesterday that some feel that to much molasses is like a herbicide. I've got to tell you all that my weeds have never looked better LOL. I started using it as a soil drench in the spring and have switched to using it as one of my foliar foods. I've also been using Fish emulsions, ferti-rain & liquid calcium. I'm like a kid a Christmas and counting the days to the growth spurt to see if any of this stuff helps me beat last years weight. Time will tell. Tuesday, July 16 View Page Tonight I had a conversation with a fellow grower and he recommend that I take measurements. His point was if their were to be a problem and I was measuring often I could spot a problem if the weight were to drop or stall. If I were not taking measurements often or once a week and the above two things were to happen, I would be a week behind and would not be able to make up that lost time or weight. I didn't have to think about his reasoning for very long as he had a very great point and it made for a tough argument. Soooooo I ran out to the patch and took a measurement to satisfy my curiosity. The 866 Vandrey @ 10 DAP had a CC measurement of 28.5. Wednesday, July 17 View Page Just thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the 866 Vandrey. This plant has been fun to watch grow. These next two pictures were taken between 6-7 pm tonight with the heat still turned up. I forgot to look at the temperature but am guessing it was above 85 degrees. This plant didn't get any water today until after I was done with the photo session. This plant doesn't flag in this heat. Wednesday, July 17 View Page Another view Wednesday, July 17 View Page Another view Monday, July 22 View Page I pulled the plug on the 1248 Platte pumpkin that I set. It had aborted a few days after the pollination. This plant has been nothing but trouble from the get go. I'm going to try and set one more on this in the next couple of days and see what happens. Wednesday, July 24 View Page Today I cut the 866 Vandrey from the vine. Looks like last weeks heat was just to much for this pumpkin to handle. The pumpkin made it to 25 lbs and then stalled. I tried a few things to see if I could get it moving in the right direction but the plant had other ideas. I pollinated the 1248 Platte this morning and crossing my fingers. I'll try to pollinate the Vandrey again next week and shoot for a couple of Halloween pumpkins. I'm really hoping I can get some seeds from the Vandrey for next year. Both these plants aborting was a huge disappointment. I'm thankful for the experience and will ad this to my list of things learned. I also wouldn't want to change a thing because the ride to this point has been great.