Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 105 Entries. Tuesday, April 16 View Page testes.....one two Tuesday, April 16 View Page thanks yardman......diary to follow Thursday, April 25 View Page ok..here we go , diary 2013 mater seeds started the ninth april..test seed trials positive......wha-melon started ninth april ....also(first ever)...this is a pic from the garden last year ...our freshman year... Thursday, April 25 View Page this, a photo from cooperstown before the pumpkin regatta....what a day! Thursday, April 25 View Page oops..that last photo was from the wieghoff in cooperstown last year....may have lost the other pic...oh well..this photo is from the 10th of april...some test brocolli plants and the mater seeds under led grow light Thursday, April 25 View Page the maters are up on the 13th april...thanks again to scott marley from MA. for the seeds.. Thursday, April 25 View Page watermelon also up.. Thursday, April 25 View Page these are the tomatoes today...i built a new home for them in the way of a grow cabinet that will also be used as an indoor garden this year..the ol goat is havin hip surgury this may and says she wont be able to get around outdoors...i think shes just trying to get out of weeding.. Thursday, April 25 View Page heres me , the ol goat,..and our dog lily...i think i have gas in this photo...in the backround is our outdoor kitchen garden...this year we will build the wood fired pizza oven... Thursday, April 25 View Page hmmm....gas must be gone..601 pounds...not bad for a first try....this year i wont let the plant get 3 ft long before i plant it... Thursday, April 25 View Page some thick stems on these plants already..that 4.46 might be a winner...i think the spectrum on this light makes them do the opposite of stretch....these babies are gonna be nice... Tuesday, April 30 View Page wayyyy to many leaves added last fall...so yes...15 inches of chopped leavces tilled into the patch is not a good idea..in hindsight i should have added manure also to help break down the leaves...ill be adding topsoil..tomrrw....cutting it close with only a few days for the cables to heat up...also some new stepping blocks....56 lyvers are pooping up.. Tuesday, April 30 View Page lol....pooping up...pOpping up!...heres the lineup under the led lights...so far so good...little mudd plant looking ok i think....so one for me....the only seed that germinated...all plants treated with great white mightgocrazies...thanks again for that mark Tuesday, April 30 View Page close up of the mudd... Tuesday, April 30 View Page heres the maters....transplanted them today..they have a terriffic root system.....i will grow the best six...my goal is a new world record.....i will settle for 6 pounds Tuesday, April 30 View Page break time today...ahhh....spring is here....right on time... Wednesday, June 26 View Page ugh...this gardening stuff is hard work...the patch prep took longer than expected and we are playing catch up with our journal...it sure would be nice if this could be done from iphone or pad.. the tomatoes dampened off, crap cheap potting mix - saved one by transplanting it early, marley 4.46..lost the mudd plant..broke a cardinal rule of not having a place ready for it..guess ill try a watermelon next year..the cantalopes are looking ok..they stayed in their pots a bit long..growing both lyvers and my own...the pumpkin is lookin much better than last year..the ghaye 1553 won out over the others and is looking much more promising...it turns out that growing them to 4 feet in a pot isnt so hot an idea (last years attempt)...lots of rain/wind/hail...oh yea..cold temps too...pretty sucky spring...heres the patch mid may..the fence is courtesty of one the storms... Wednesday, June 26 View Page The wife really likes my idea for stepping boards, 1/2 inch rebar set like table legs, near zero compaction.. Wednesday, June 26 View Page June 5th.. SBV spotted, out went the trap. Keeping good track of program Wednesday, June 26 View Page June 18-19th..here's the plant, much more aggresive comparted to last years..noticeable growth spurts with compost tea, drench and foliar. So far so good..The stepping boards are working out well, I'm getting exercize hopping from one to the other. Potatoes are up in the background, giant sun flowers arestarting to pop..should have planted those earlier.. Wednesday, June 26 View Page The moon. Wednesday, June 26 View Page It's me, 'the wife' :) spending some time with the plant..keeping an eye out for bugs..it has been a MUGGY and stormy summer so far 2 1/2 inches of rain in the last 2 days. lady flower at 12 feet on the main. Looking real nice around here! Wednesday, June 26 View Page this is my entry in the 3 square inch patch contest.. I'm pretty sure I'm winning.. Wednesday, June 26 View Page here's the lone survivor, marley 4.46. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Here's the patch today, another 2 1/2 inches of rain yesterday. There's females on just about every vine tip, big improvement over last year. We'll need to weed soon and may have under-estimated the size of the plant a tad..the potatoes and broccoli may be in the way. I hate broccoli anyway so I may pull it. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Right side up Wednesday, June 26 View Page right side up Friday, June 28 View Page 6 inches of rain in 2 days - 4 of them last night.. I'm glad I made the raised bed this year, there was epic flooding in the area. Sunday, June 30 View Page lol Sunday, June 30 View Page Our color coded pumpkin chore chart...it's working out pretty good! Sunday, June 30 View Page I kept her dry last night but she wouldn't open this morning. sprayed bug b gone last night and boy oh boy, bug b gone! Every Sunday we put a bouquet of fake flowers in to mark the weeks growth... Caught 2 more SVBs in the trap today - bringing the total to 4. Sunday, June 30 View Page A friend stopped over for a pumpkin pow wow.. I'm placing this weeks bouquet of flowers. Sunday, June 30 View Page get some rest my small, yet mighty friend...you will need it.. Sunday, June 30 View Page Woohooooo! Pumpkin sex party!~ Monday, July 1 View Page She didn't open this morning...Our pumpkin sex party may have been a little rowdy, I'm thinking tomorrow for sure if we can keep things dry...Notice the snail in the background, we will call him contestant #18, more about him later... Monday, July 1 View Page Another 4 inches in 3 hours...the patch puddled up but drained in 30ish minutes.. Monday, July 1 View Page Just getting some weeding done and gathering more contestants...there was a post about unknown leaf damage, which I thought could be snails or slugs...I read somewhere that they won't cross copper pipe, and with no watering to do, we'll try an experiment.. Monday, July 1 View Page These are our contestants. The rules are simple...escape and you will earn your freedom...remain and you will perish...(or possibly the other way around..) Monday, July 1 View Page me getting exercise... Tuesday, July 2 View Page what a difference a year makes...this was last july 2nd...my giant maters were almost 6 feet tall...the sunflower was blooming for cryin out loud!!! Tuesday, July 2 View Page today...more rain, more rain, more rain. everything just looks slow. as I was looking at these pictures I realized we need a bunch more of the blue stuff and I don't mean miracle grow... Tuesday, July 2 View Page I almost forgot...the results of our experiment are in...we watched for a good half hour and witnessed snails attempting to cross over...they would turn around at about half way...I checked an hour later and one escaped (not far). I also caught a slug and added him to the mix. This morning, this is what remained of 19 original snails and 1 added slug. I would say that at the least, copper pipe is a good snail deterent. Too bad it's so expensive. Just squish em. Tuesday, July 2 View Page Soooo, anyway... we did get a chance between the rain drops to pollinate this morning...things were pretty damp. I didn't close the flower off, thought it might get too damp in there. Fingers are crossed but I don't have a great feeling about this one. I feel like the plant is lacking. Tuesday, July 2 View Page Here's the plant today...I feel like the outer leaves should be bigger than they are. I'm thinking it's because of all the rain, leaching the soil. The grass around the patch is super green...I could use some ideas or thoughts, my soil is good, organic matter at least 13%...lots of amendments, good pH... Or does it just need more blue stuff?? At least the weedings almost finished...WotWot! *No additional SVBs in trap... Friday, July 5 View Page Here's the pic of the gooey female..not sure if this is normal... Friday, July 5 View Page Here's the pumpkin 3 DAP, it looks like the goo is gone and seems to be growing..pollinated the next female on the main this morning..was HOT today (90 and humid), put a bag of ice with it to keep things cool.. Friday, July 5 View Page Proof that the sun does shine! The gardens have picked up with the sunshine we've had the last couple of days, hopefully we can keep it going.. Friday, July 5 View Page The patch..foliar fed and drenched seaweed yesterday..green starting to come back. I decided to check to see how the potatoes were doing with all this rain.. Friday, July 5 View Page Deeee-lish!!! A little fresh brocolli and some cheddar cheese...mmm, mmmm...Also, one shovel full under the potato plant yielded 30 or more spastic worms (my guess is from all the leaf compost).. Tuesday, July 9 View Page Day 10 .. 31" CC.. spraying something every day.. This may be the keeper. Sunday, July 14 View Page Sunday .. This is day 12 for the first set .. 34 inches.. temps in the 90s, no flagging.. Nice night. Wednesday, July 17 View Page Holy f'in hot! Temps in the low 90s..the patch is doing well and the funkin punkin is on the grow..Here's a pic of the 56 Lyvers and the 31 porkchop, showing good growth surge this past week.. Wednesday, July 17 View Page So far the first set is out pacing the 2nd...it is 50"CC today, 15 DAP. Set #2 is 29"CC, 12 DAP (will get culled soon) if all goes as planned. Wednesday, July 17 View Page Patch pic..have had to start watering..ugh! Boy, all that rain sure was nice.. Sticking to our patch chore chart - works real good.. Friday, July 19 View Page Heat index near 100..no flagging with the 1553 ghaye :) 17 DAP, 56.5"CC..getting ready to cull the 2nd set.. Friday, July 19 View Page This is likely gonna be our keeper..just to double check, does this blossom end look normal? is this the beginning of a blossom end split? Choice #2 looks great, just not growing at as fast a pace, but still decent..Im hoping its normal and we're paranoid. Sunday, July 21 View Page Here's the wife doing some presses with our final cull..I think she's training to be an American Ninja Gardener.. we made this cull with advice from the forums.. *note to self, if blossom end splits, add "find Andy W" to bucket list.. Sunday, July 21 View Page Witches brew in the making.. Sunday, July 21 View Page Chore chart...not even half way there..what a mind warp.. Sunday, July 21 View Page Lily catching some shade by the sunflowers.. Sunday, July 21 View Page the gardens are starting to pick up the last 2 weeks..turns out the plants grow much better with sunshine and blue skies.. Sunday, July 21 View Page the cantaloupes are on the run..56.7 Lyvers is looking good, no females yet Sunday, July 21 View Page the 31 Porkchop looks really good... Sunday, July 21 View Page has lots of these.. Sunday, July 21 View Page might have something happening on the 4.46 Marley.. Sunday, July 21 View Page ...now, what's that crap Marv was talkin about again?? Sunday, July 21 View Page DAP 19 64"...GROW!! Wednesday, July 24 View Page flutter-by Wednesday, July 24 View Page lots of females on the porkchop plant..a few have set. I see a couple females on the Lyvers plant, nothing set yet that I can see. Wednesday, July 24 View Page 1st mega on the 4.46 Marley is on the grow.. Wednesday, July 24 View Page Feedin time..seaweed foliar and some fish tonight..growth has slowed a tad with this hot, then hot to cold weather. We have started what we believe to be a ground breaking new program to feed these beasts..time will tell. Wednesday, July 24 View Page Fresh and cheap! Wednesday, July 24 View Page Here's the 1553 Ghaye DAP 22, 71" circumference, very round, slow and steady. Friday, August 16 View Page shot of the lower garden today..it's been too cold to be outside, so we've decided to catch up on our journal. Friday, August 16 View Page Despite the unusually cold weather, highs in the low to mid 70's...lows in the mid to upper 40's..the gardens seem to be chugging along. Sun feels real nice today.. Friday, August 16 View Page This plant is doing well..there's a big ugly green thing under cover.. Friday, August 16 View Page Here's a pick of 'Annie' about 5 days ago..definitely not breaking any land speed records..averaging about 12 lbs a day. She sure is pretty .. Friday, August 16 View Page Here's Annie today..tonight is the last cold night for the forseeable forcast..she's not slowing down but she's not speeding up. It's day 47ish and with the warmer temperatures coming this week, we're really gonna start putting the screws to her. It's an all out assualt for a personal best! Fingers remain crossed.. Monday, August 19 View Page It's finally warm enough to be outside again...what a glorious day to be working in the garden. fall crop of green beans going in.. Monday, August 19 View Page Our hard working pup Lily...patiently waiting for her next frisbee toss.. Monday, August 19 View Page Okay, here's the 2013 All Star Line-up!! The 31 Porkchop.. with a mean, ugly lookin green monster cookin! Monday, August 19 View Page Not to be outdone by his neighbor, the 56.7 Lyvers may have something going after all.........another all star. Pollinations were open, I believe both seeds were off the 64 Robb. Monday, August 19 View Page Scott, I'm all in... Monday, August 19 View Page 4.46 Marley (Big Zac) Monday, August 19 View Page Here's "Annie"!! To say the growth is slow and steady would be a stretch..it's pretty much just slow..the next few nights will be warm, 60+ and we're hoping to get on some good numbers.. gave her a pretty stiff drink today and we had a few.. it worked for us..Soooooooooo... Our sun flowers are finally starting to open! Monday, August 19 View Page Day 50..nice day.. Wednesday, August 21 View Page for reference.. Wednesday, August 21 View Page how did we not see this one???? 2.7 pounds...insert joke here... Wednesday, August 21 View Page Notice the small indent in the blossom end..hoping it's nothing, but packed it with sulfer powder anyway.. Last night was our first 60+ temps, along with the blue moon and we are back some decent(er) numbers..She's getting WIDE.. Wednesday, August 21 View Page It seems like Annie is liking these warm evenings...another beautiful night! Friday, August 23 View Page Joy.. Friday, August 23 View Page another gorgeous day..the gardens are looking beautiful..it truly does make all the hard work worth it! Friday, August 23 View Page Our dinnerplate dahlias ... Friday, August 23 View Page Annie loves her new shade house.. made from 4 by 4 rough cut cedar posts..this will be the top of the long gourd trellis I will build for next season..if anyone has any good seeds, let us know. The long gourds will be a first for us.. Friday, August 23 View Page Patch visit..can't imagine what it'd be like to have a (real) big one growing..still going slow and steady, between 8 and 14 lbs a day. Oldest growth showing a bit of wear and tear, but newer growth looks great (to us). Saturday, August 24 View Page Sunflowers are thumpin! Almost 13 feet tall... Saturday, August 24 View Page The missus is in there somewhere tying up sunflowers... Saturday, August 24 View Page day 53 :) Saturday, September 7 View Page Been hard keeping up with journal posts..things are looking ok.. No record breakers here, except this personal best mater, the 3.63 Porkchop (Big Zac).. I was lucky to get over 3 lbs since the plant has been struggling from the get go.. There's one more on the plant, we'll see how it goes.. Saturday, September 7 View Page The 3.63 Porkchop (Big Zac) Saturday, September 7 View Page Our tallest sunflower is approaching 14 feet ! Saturday, September 7 View Page Recent evening shot.. we have had some Chilly nights.. Saturday, September 7 View Page Plant is looking healthy, new growth looks good.. Saturday, September 7 View Page New growth is about waist high.. Slow kin..pretty sure we picked the wrong fruit.. Saturday, September 7 View Page They are still fun to grow!