Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 163 Entries. Friday, April 12 View Page Started some early to see how they grow. 1293Barenie going out Sunday. Germinated in less than 24hrs & came up wide open in less than 72hrs. Seed leafs are over 4" in diameter. Having a little trouble with growth but should straighten up. Sunday, April 21 View Page Planted 976Horde (895* Hester x self) Giant Squash in hoop house. Slow growing but coming around. Wednesday, April 24 View Page Line up for 2013 sent to germination chamber. 1478.5 & 1293 are already growing. Squash Line up: 514.5 Kemp* (1132 Vincent-McGill X Self), 976* Horde (895* Hester x self), 450 Price (1486.6 Jarvis x self). Monday, April 29 View Page All AG's germinated still stressed till I see cots. open and green:) Wednesday, May 1 View Page AG's for home looking ok day3 for most. Wednesday, May 1 View Page 450price(1486.6Jarvis x self)3Days. Wednesday, May 1 View Page Melons & L. Gourds planted. Wednesday, May 1 View Page melons & L. Gourds for 2013. Wednesday, May 1 View Page Patch soil temp. 70 @ 5inches Saturday, May 4 View Page 1293 looking better 14 days after planting. Monday, May 6 View Page Just planted all AG's and 2 squash, only 3squash left, when ready in a few days. Bombardment of pictures coming soon:) Monday, May 6 View Page The sun came out just as I finished, must be a sign. Monday, May 6 View Page 170Barenie12 (1385Jutras x sibbed) Monday, May 6 View Page 274J.E.Barenie12 (1385Jutras x 1303Sweet) Monday, May 6 View Page 385 J. Barenie12 (1566Rodonis x 1725Harp) Monday, May 6 View Page 726.5Whitacre12 (1789Wallace x 1266.1Van Hook) Monday, May 6 View Page 772 Zappa10 (696 Holder x 763Young) Monday, May 6 View Page 829.4 Whitacre12 (1460Rose x 580Whitacre) Monday, May 6 View Page 1233 Barenie12 (962Barenie x 1789Wallace) Monday, May 6 View Page 1254 Est. Barenie12 (1789Wallace x 1385Jutras) Monday, May 6 View Page 220.3 Debacco13 (2009 Wallace �12 x M: 1725 Harp �09 [2009 Wallace] clone) Monday, May 6 View Page 450 Price (1486.6 Jarvis x self) Monday, May 6 View Page 514.5 Kemp* (1132 Vincent-McGill X Self) Been babying this 1. Tough time after germinating. Didn't want to photosynthesize when seed leafs came out or root very well. Used rooting hormone and seemed to help. We will see how it goes, just as long as I get pollen at very least. Thursday, May 9 View Page 1293 growing well, 4-6inches a day. Thursday, May 9 View Page 1293 Thursday, May 9 View Page Tomatoes: most plants about 4weeks old 3.63 Clementz (4.3Shymanski x open) 2.5 Clementz (7.33Hunt x open) Saturday, May 11 View Page All AG's & GS's looking better than expect with cooler temps. All long gourds and melons are up except for the 260.5Clementz (planted another). Very happy thus far, just 2 more cold days left. I�m going to give all warm drink of liquid kelp, mmmm. Kelp does the plant good. Hoop house plants are anchored in and on the move:) Monday, May 13 View Page 3x4ft plastic got the soil temp. up to 80 today, as air temp was 57 and windy. It's now 70 @ 1am. All plants are covered with hot water jugs. Should be last time they are needed this yr. Monday, May 13 View Page Soil temp 60 this morning & 54 under clothe and totes. Good temps. predicted throughout 10day forecast. It's grow time:) Wednesday, May 15 View Page 100.63 May LG. Best looking seedling of all plants this yr. Planted 3 May LG, planted 5 of 6 melons, as 1st the 260.5 didn't germinate, but 2nd is on its way up. Also, I started giant corn & cantaloupes today. I will start field pumpkins & IL plants this weekend (patch is super wet there). All plants are doing well, only 5 months to go. Friday, May 17 View Page Planted field pumpkins today, only sunflowers & miscellaneous gourds left to plant. 1. (3)91.5 Zappa12 (81Wolf x self) 2. 101, 87, 83 (From Fred) 3. (6)63 Klinkler12 (150Razo x self) Friday, May 17 View Page Giant corn germinating & almost up. Tuesday, May 21 View Page Melons are doing good. Here is the best looking plant so far. 108 Whitacre12 (274Kent x self) Tuesday, May 21 View Page 228 Clementz (239Leonard x 157Bright) close 2nd. Giant corn in the ground yesterday & field kins and cantaloupes going in today. busy busy Friday, May 24 View Page 37 last night. Cold and windy = wind burnt leaves. Add to list 1000ft of wind break. 1293 growth slowed from 8in. /day, 6in. /day to 3in. /day. Squash still grew 5in. Warm up is slowly coming 45 tonight. I�m still hoping to pollinate AG this coming week and the 976 next week. Over all plants are ok with exception of wind damage to leaves. Friday, May 24 View Page Hopefully this worked. Plants are from left to right: Top row is LG 100 5/8 in May12, 108Whitacre12, 260.5Clementz. Bottom row is 170Barnenie12, 220.3Dabacco13, 274Barenie12 Friday, May 24 View Page Top row: 1233Barenie12, 1254Barenie12, 976Horde (10ft+) Bottom row: 1293Barenie12 (almost 13ft) and 1478.5Clementz12 (8ft) Friday, May 24 View Page Top row: 514.5Kemp12 & 450Price12, 2nd 450, 2nd 976Horde. Bottom row: 726.5Whitacre12,772Zappa10, 829.4Whitacre12. Friday, May 24 View Page Going to try to till IL patch tomorrow and plant Field pumpkins and AG's. Saturday, May 25 View Page Getting ready: Planted AG'S are 906 Watkinson10(1288Wallace x 1596Wallace) 210 Whitacre07 (1004Holland06 x self) 361 Parks12 (1351Bailey x 1266.1Vanhook) 1308 Barenie11 (1174.5Barenie x 970.5Barnie) 645Zappa10 (270Young x 763Young) 557Whitacre12 (580Whitacre x 1351 Bailey) 454Whitacre (1266.1Van Hook x 1789Wallace) 625.6Rondeau09 (1385.5Jutras07 x 1288Wallace08) Planted field pumpkins are 91.5 Zappa(81Wolf x self)Still waiting on 63Klinkler12 (150Razo x self) to come up. It's been 1week on those. Saturday, May 25 View Page Here is the 976 IL plant doing ok considering it was transplanted at 4ft. Saturday, May 25 View Page This plant has impressed me. It's really sturdy and has dark green tough vine Transplanted at about 4ft too. 732.5Whitacre09 (1689Jutras07 x 1568.5 Connolly08)@ IL Sunday, May 26 View Page Cold weather brought what I was afraid of, Maggots! 108 flagging so pulled it up and washed maggots off and now it's in the ER. Had systemic granules in hole, but not sure if it is for root maggots. I'll spray another systemic tomorrow, it's raining now or I'd do it. All other plants looking good. 80's are back tomorrow. 1293 is getting closer to 15ft. and 976 hasn't slowed growth (6in./day). Hope to pollinate both this week if pollinator available. Tuesday, May 28 View Page Well, 170Barenie couldn't hold on in 30mph winds. So, I directly sowed 1068Nesbella10(1161rodonis07 x 855.4Duchezeau09 seed. Popsicle sticks & tape didn't work, lol. Wednesday, May 29 View Page 1293 @ 15.5ft. Picture doesn't show size well. Hoop house was 10 x 9 ft. pollination soon:) Wednesday, May 29 View Page 1478.5 looking better @ 9ft. pollination soon also. Wednesday, May 29 View Page 976 hopefully pollinated this week. Only 1 male for cross. Don't want to self this 1. Saturday, June 1 View Page All plants still alive at the IL patch. 361parks is a beauty of a little plant. Will pollinate 732.5Whitacre09 (1689Jutras07 x 1568.5 Connolly08)on Sunday & self sib. the 976 next week. 1293Barenie12 (1385.5Jutras x 1789Wallace)will be crossed with 1478.5Clementz12 (1161Rodonis x 1723Marshal)in the morning. Hopping to cross 976Horde (which is a 895* Hester x self) with 514.5 Kemp* (1132 Vincent-McGill X Self. Only 1 male flower on 514.5. All plants at home are looking great. 220.3 starting to pick up steam. Sunday, June 2 View Page 1293 @ 18ft or so. Pollinated 6-01-13. Sunday, June 2 View Page Different angle:) Sunday, June 2 View Page 976 @over 15ft and ready to pollinate tomorrow:)Also 1478.5 is @ 11ft and pollinated today. All other AG's are at 3-6ft. Pollinated 732.5Whitacre09 (1689Jutras07 x 1568.5 Connolly08)@ IL patch at about 7ft. Wednesday, June 5 View Page From L. to R: 100LG @ over 4ft., 2nd LG @2ft, 450 @ 3ft, 2nd 450, 63 FP, 83FP. pics. from 6-4 Wednesday, June 5 View Page L to R: 220.3AG, 274AG, 229melon, 726.5AG, 772AG,& 976Squash. pics. 6-4. Wednesday, June 5 View Page 1233AG, Wednesday, June 5 View Page R to L.: 1233AG, 385AG, 829.2AG, 1254AG. Wednesday, June 5 View Page All plants are doing good and look healthy. 1254, which is the opposite cross of 1293 is growing the fastest. It has a thick vine with large leaves and is over 8ft. Overall pleased with plants ant hope to have all AG's and Squash pollinated before July :) Thursday, June 6 View Page All tomatoes are about 2ft and look pretty much the same. 3.63 Clementz (4.3Shymanski x open)& 2.5 Clementz (7.33Hunt x open) Thursday, June 6 View Page Picture of my garden. Thursday, June 6 View Page 1068 didn't germinate so I germinated a 1022Kuhn08 (998Pukos x 1566Rodonis. Planted today. Planted to replace 170. Also, planted sunflowers yesterday evening. Friday, June 7 View Page 361 Parks12 (1351Bailey x 1266.1Vanhook) Friday, June 7 View Page 906 Watkinson10(1288Wallace x 1596Wallace)Best looking plant in IL patch. Friday, June 7 View Page 91.5Zappa12(81Wolf x self)looking good. Even though they were started a few days after mine at home they almost the same size. Must be all the past yrs. of fertilizers with failure to grow much. Wednesday, June 12 View Page Day 11 25in. Plant @ 700sqft. 3 other kins. pollinated (2 on side vines and 1 on main). All plants have grown 8 to 11 inches over the last 3days, with 220 growing the fastest followed by the 976 @ 10in/day. Only lost a few leaves from heat today with highs in the 90's. Wednesday, June 12 View Page 976 @ 19in day 9. Pollinated 1 more on main 4ft in front of 1st. Thursday, June 13 View Page Pollinated the 385 with 829.4 today. Plants small, but is growing well. 90's yesterday & 70's today, is it fall already? Storms and rain missed our area. Thursday, June 13 View Page 1293 Friday, June 14 View Page 906 Watkinson10(1288Wallace x 1596Wallace) IL patch Friday, June 14 View Page 454Whitacre (1266.1Van Hook x 1789Wallace)IL patch Friday, June 14 View Page 361 Parks12 (1351Bailey x 1266.1Vanhook) IL patch Friday, June 14 View Page 1308 Barenie11 (1174.5Barenie x 970.5Barnie) Il patch Friday, June 14 View Page 645Zappa10 (270Young x 763Young) IL patch Saturday, June 15 View Page Pollinated 2 on 829.4 x 385 & 1 on 1254 x 829.4 (6-15) Tuesday, June 18 View Page 1293 main @ 35ft & all in with 1kin.Most secondary's terminated. Plant close to 800sqft. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 976 plant & squash growing steadily and looking good. Need bigger cover, squash will be lifting chair within 2days. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 220.3 looking good Kin @ 10-11ft & will pollinate, but will pollinate 13ft and keep for sure. Need a little more green behind it. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 1233 doing well & will pollinate tomorrow @ 12ft. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 1254 really nice plant and pollinated @ about 12ft. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 274 pollinating tomorrow. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 772 doing well this will be my sons kin and pollination this week. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 726.5 & 829.4 doing good pollinating 726.5 tomorrow and going to pollinate further out on 829.4. 726.5 is my daughters kin. Tuesday, June 18 View Page watermelons growing slow. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 52 Holloway doing the best. Tuesday, June 18 View Page Giant corn coming along. Tuesday, June 18 View Page 172 Plant for my youngest daughter from my kin last yr. Super nice looking plant. Tuesday, June 18 View Page Field pumpkins. I had a couple snap in the wind, but they are looking good. Wednesday, June 19 View Page Pollinated 274, 829.4 and 1233 today. Thursday, June 20 View Page Only 1/2in. of rain for June & heat is here for at least a week and no definite chances of rain insight:( getting to be deja vu. Friday, June 21 View Page Pollinated 220.3 & 772 this morning(6-21). Mostly frozen milk jugs placed by all of this past weeks pollinations & all plants are shaded. Also, have been spraying down when needed. All young kins appear to have took, just have to take care of them for another week. I may have to keep the 1st pollination on the 220.3 as the heat may have gotten to the 2nd one at the end. Today is the 1293's 20DAP & I will take measurements this evening, seems to be doing +/- 20lbs/day. 976 is doing well (5in. cir. yesterday), although it has an odd shape. 1478.5 was slow to start, but has picked up a little (3.25in. cir.). Friday, June 21 View Page 1293 Barenie12 @ 20DAP = 73-51-50 for an OTT of 174. I think it could have been better but had no rain for over a week. It's a good looking pumpkin. Friday, June 21 View Page Got a good thunderstorm (finally) today. I hope the larger fruits don't split. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Pollinated 220 @ about 15-16ft.(6-25) Friday, June 28 View Page Pic of the 976 @ day 25. should be 200+ott today. Friday, June 28 View Page 514.5kemp finally coming around Friday, June 28 View Page 1293 plant Friday, June 28 View Page Pic of the 1293 @ day 27. day 26ott was 233 Friday, June 28 View Page Sweet corn. Sunday, June 30 View Page pollinated 726.5, 274, & 976 today (6-30) Will pollinate 514.5 tomorrow. Cool weather all fruit gains went down. Monday, July 1 View Page pollinated the 514.5Kemp x 450price this morning. plant starting to vine well on the secondary's. Monday, July 1 View Page 1293 Barenie12 (1385.5Jutras x 1789Wallace)@ 262OTT. Doing around 26lbs/day over last 10days. Monday, July 1 View Page Top view of 1293. Monday, July 1 View Page 976Horde (895* Hester x self) @ 215.5OTT. Note 1293pic is day 30. Monday, July 1 View Page This training vine thing is hard, but I think they are getting the hang of it. Now if I can get them to terminate tertiary vines. Tuesday, July 2 View Page Pollinated 772 and first field kin on 63 Klinkler12 (150Razo x self) x 91.5Zappa12(81Wolf x self)(7-2) Wednesday, July 3 View Page Picture of the 220 plant going away. Wednesday, July 3 View Page Nice stem length and I really like the location. Saturday, July 6 View Page pollinated the 450(1486.6 Jarvis x self)x 976horde(895* Hester x self)(7-5)and pollinated my own 172x220(7-6) Saturday, July 6 View Page 1293 steadily moving along @ 288.5OTT @ day 35. Averaging about 25lbs/day over last 5days. Saturday, July 6 View Page Another shot of 1293. Saturday, July 6 View Page 829.4 @ 17DAP around 54in cir. Wednesday, July 10 View Page pollinated 2 LG (7-8). 1st 514.5 didn't take a 2nd I didn't see, but might keep, as it is the biggest AG or Squash I've had at that age. 220 picking up after slow start on first 11 days of fruit growth now hitting 6in Cir./day. This is 3-4 days sooner than my 1293 did and sustained for several days. Hoping for 200lbs by day 20 as it's in best place. Lost a couple plants in the IL patch, but all in all doing great. Field kins have past up mine at home and have more sets with larger fruit. Will pollinate AGs Thursday & Friday. 976 has stopped growing at about 300lbd had stem start running and going (sulfured and appears dry but no growth. Good news is plant is still in great shape and has 4 sides I will set a fruit on 1 off them. Happy growing:) Wednesday, July 10 View Page Storm today. 1 gust of wind blew down sweet corn, tomatoes, and half patch leaves over. Giant corn is now bowing to field kins. No other wind to speak of. Thursday, July 11 View Page 1293 @ day 40. 308OTT last 5 days averaging about 22lbs/day Thursday, July 11 View Page Top view of 1293. day 40 Saturday, July 13 View Page 220 @ 16days 62in Cir. Doing well, but grow has slowed a little due to nights in the 50's to low 60's. Main vine length is 35+ft and first few sides are at 25-28ft. Saturday, July 13 View Page 220's stump is the biggest I've had @about 9in Cir. Saturday, July 13 View Page 1254 picture @ day 28, but 26DAP = 224OTT Saturday, July 13 View Page 1233 picture @ 24DAP and 22DAP = 204OTT. Saturday, July 13 View Page 829.4 picture @ 24DAP and 22DAP = 191 Saturday, July 13 View Page 100May @ 5DAP = 18inches. Thursday, July 18 View Page Found some of these guys one the ground. I guess they don't like systemic insecticides. Thursday, July 18 View Page Found this nice 6lobed on the 514.5Kemp this morning. Pollinated with the 450Price and covered with cooler and ice. I hope I get one to take as plant is old as hell lol. Friday, July 19 View Page 100 5/8May LG @ 48inches 11DAP Friday, July 19 View Page 2 more LGs @ 33.5 & 29 inches Friday, July 19 View Page Giant corn; not so Giant, but tall Friday, July 19 View Page 1478.5 keeping up with its long-term average of 12-14lbs/day @ day 45. OTT=254 Now if it can keep this up for another 70days I'll be good.lol Friday, July 19 View Page 1233 Barenie12 (962Barenie x 1789Wallace)30DAP=270 OTT 121-76-73 Friday, July 19 View Page 829.4 Whitacre12 (1460Rose x 580Whitacre)30DAP=252.5 109.5-73-70 Saturday, July 20 View Page Finally, a little relief from heat, as temperatures go back into 80's for a week. Had a nice rain shower this midmorning and collected 1000gal of H2O. Sunday, July 28 View Page my 1st 2lb tomato. Sunday, July 28 View Page 1293 cut up and hauled off. Monday, July 29 View Page 829.4 @ day 40= 295.5OTT Monday, July 29 View Page another view of 829.4whitacre Monday, July 29 View Page 1233 @ day 40=315OTT Monday, July 29 View Page Another shot of 1233Barenie Thursday, August 1 View Page not the best picture, but the 1233 is no more. not looking good. have a couple still going and new set on late replacement plant 1022Kuhn08 (998Pukos x 1566Rodonis) x 220(7-28), gives me about 70days. looks like I'll have plenty of decorative pumpkins yr. Going to start pulling vines and getting ready for next yr. Sunday, August 4 View Page 1233 still going @ about 22lbs/day since split (just a matter of time) 325ott. 829.4 did about 20lbs last 2days with good weather 308ott. Running out of time hoping for good weather throughout September now. LG's growing ok 94inch may make it to 100, but younger ones will definitely make it over 100inches, as they are already 90+ inches. pollinated 2 on (7-28)I think, that are looking good. I have some great looking FP coming on along with melons and cantaloupes. Wednesday, August 14 View Page FP from 91.5 Zappa12 (81Wolf x self). open pollination Wednesday, August 14 View Page 1 of the Whitacres. Selfed Wednesday, August 14 View Page 1 of the clementz. open pollination Wednesday, August 14 View Page 1 of the Holloway lopes. open pollination. Wednesday, August 14 View Page day 56 hanging in there. Wednesday, August 14 View Page Here's the 320lb Peanut:) Wednesday, August 21 View Page Lost this one to rot on blossom end. Sunday, August 25 View Page one of my nicest sunflowers ever at about 12ft and 15inch head. Sunday, August 25 View Page Biggest fp to date 51.8lbs No rain all month so, wont have anything much bigger. Sunday, August 25 View Page 829.4 last chance still moving along gained about 10inches OTT this week. Getting some new growth, hopefully it helps with weight. Need 36inott more by Oct.5th. Peanut slowly moving too at about 400lbs and finally may have another squash or 2 (will be happy with seeds). Good crosses. last but not least may have a visitor from up north to give pointers on getting some extra inches out of 829.4 ;) Tuesday, September 3 View Page Put on a little growth in last few days since the split. It just may make it. Tuesday, September 3 View Page sunflower head @ about 17inches. PB from volunteer plant. had to cut it off as birds were getting seeds. Friday, September 6 View Page 829.4 x 220.3 still growing @ almost 80DAP. Only 29days to go. Friday, September 6 View Page 726.5 x 220.3 @ 68DAP & about 415lbs there is 1more on the plant @ 200lbs and growing well, should have no problem making 400lbs+. Friday, September 6 View Page Another shot of 726.5 Friday, September 6 View Page My biggest field pumpkin ever @ 162OTT and still filling out believe it or not. Friday, September 6 View Page Better late than never. 450price(1486 x self) x I'll have to wait and see. Closing in on 200lbs. Hoping for 400lbs. Thursday, September 19 View Page Slow, but hanging in there. Friday, October 18 View Page Well, I had better expectations for my 1st yr. but at least I made it to the scales. So much learned and so much to do for next yr. Made it to the INGPG weigh offs and it was nice to meet everyone. Here is my 5th best growing pumpkin and the only good size one to make the scales. It weighed 845lbs. Went light as it was super concaved on bottom. Friday, October 18 View Page Here is my 86lb FP good enough for 3rd. Also, my AG placed 4th. Friday, October 18 View Page This is my 2nd place LG @ 101.75" and also received 2nd with my 15+" sunflower. Friday, October 18 View Page My little pumpkins. Friday, October 18 View Page Harvested super late squash never quite turned colors. 210lbs. Friday, October 18 View Page Sent in soil sample today. Let 2014 season begin. Also, if anyone liked any of the crosses I made just e-mail me. Friday, October 25 View Page This is my state fair pumpkins offspring the [1293 Barenie12 (1385.5Jutras x 1789Wallace)* x 1478.5 Clementz12 (1161Rodonis x 1723Marshal)] crossed with 1022Kuhn08 (998Pukos x 1566Rodonis). It's still growing and probably has mature seeds but just in case I'll let it go a little longer. the Kuhn was a fast growing kin so had to cross it with something. Friday, November 1 View Page Time to call it quits. The wind tore up the hoop house. Friday, November 1 View Page I hope the seeds are mature enough.