Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 216 Entries. Sunday, February 2 View Page Looking Forward To 2014 Growing Season!!!   Sunday, February 23 View Page Winter ... I will probably miss you :)   Saturday, March 1 View Page Yes ... Summer ... I remember you.   Tuesday, April 8 View Page April work in the garden in Wisconsin.   Thursday, April 10 View Page Building new greenhouses. Is this the Carpenter?   Tuesday, April 15 View Page Thawing   Wednesday, April 16 View Page ...   Thursday, April 17 View Page New Hoops   Friday, April 18 View Page Meet one of my mentors ... Pecky.   Saturday, April 19 View Page New Hoop 72"L x 60"W x 45"H 2x4 Construction with 1/2" PVC and 6 Mil Clear Poly   Sunday, April 20 View Page Not sure what to say here ... lol   Tuesday, April 22 View Page Lineup :) Started   Tuesday, April 22 View Page ouch   Wednesday, April 23 View Page Chamber   Thursday, April 24 View Page Lessons   Friday, April 25 View Page Babies   Saturday, April 26 View Page Lower Patch   Saturday, April 26 View Page Toastee   Saturday, April 26 View Page Pretty :)   Sunday, April 27 View Page I love them all !!! :)   Monday, April 28 View Page Some results ...   Monday, April 28 View Page I think these are special   Tuesday, April 29 View Page Snow Day   Wednesday, April 30 View Page Very wet patch.   Thursday, May 1 View Page Happy Seedlings ... Happy Gardener   Friday, May 2 View Page In The Ground 4 of 5   Saturday, May 3 View Page Additions ... three backups.   Sunday, May 4 View Page Eight of the Ten   Monday, May 5 View Page X5   Tuesday, May 6 View Page Full Till ... Very, Very, Very Happy !!!   Tuesday, May 6 View Page Sa-weet !   Wednesday, May 7 View Page The Group May 7 2014   Thursday, May 8 View Page Dreamin'   Friday, May 9 View Page Everybody Has A Buddy   Saturday, May 10 View Page Everyone enjoyed their shower last night :)   Saturday, May 10 View Page Nearby Competition ???   Sunday, May 11 View Page Wishing Everyone A Happy Mother's Day and Much Good Luck   Sunday, May 11 View Page Goodnight   Monday, May 12 View Page 1623 Wallace   Monday, May 12 View Page 1779 Werner   Monday, May 12 View Page 1526 Menting   Monday, May 12 View Page 1783 Stevens ... it is about performance.   Monday, May 12 View Page 1476 Hopkins   Tuesday, May 13 View Page Another 1476 Seed Started 04/21/14 ... oh God, I want to help it !!!   Wednesday, May 14 View Page How Can You Not Love This Project !!!   Thursday, May 15 View Page Rye Sown. Sorghum Perimeter. Four Patches To Go.   Friday, May 16 View Page Dreams can come true ...   Saturday, May 17 View Page 1623 Wallace and 1623 Menting   Saturday, May 17 View Page 1783 Stevens and 1387 Hopkins   Saturday, May 17 View Page 1476 Hopkins   Saturday, May 17 View Page 1526 Menting and 1526 Menting   Saturday, May 17 View Page 1779 Werner and 1779 Werner   Sunday, May 18 View Page It is truly amazing the amount of time a grower can spend in the pumpkin patch. Efficiency has it's element; however, the love of growing has it's element too.   Monday, May 19 View Page Check out this article: http://www.newrichmond-news.com/content/giant-pumpkins-it-starts-seed   Tuesday, May 20 View Page It is so very peaceful here.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page Do you see doubles?   Thursday, May 22 View Page At this time of year ... I love tendrils :)   Friday, May 23 View Page Watching the plants grow today, no picture needed. Amazing how fast these giants can grow in 29 days since they broke ground. Many flowers, snipping away. With a little help the grower and earth they are all doing the happy walk.   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1623 May 24, 2014 30 days   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1783 May 24, 2014 30 days   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1779 May 24, 2014 30 days   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1526 May 24, 2014 30 days   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1476 May 24, 2014 30 days   Sunday, May 25 View Page Shifted all five hoops today to make room for more growth. As in any pumpkin growing project ... this took a bit of time and was some work.   Monday, May 26 View Page Correction Key? PLEASE :) Picture entry #63 is the 1476 (not the 1623). Today the it must have been perfect pumpkin growing weather. 80F Outside, humidity up there. In the hoops was approaching 100F. Most of the plants and leaves seemed to love this. I am learning to love sweating :)   Monday, May 26 View Page Corrected Photo :)   Tuesday, May 27 View Page I think so :(   Wednesday, May 28 View Page Lorelee's Lane: Today, in the foreground, the 1526 out of the 6' hoop; middle 1783 plant is doing pretty special; and behind is the 1476 ribbon, cannot find a good secondary to establish as the new main.   Thursday, May 29 View Page Congratulations!   Thursday, May 29 View Page Congratulations!   Friday, May 30 View Page 1779 Laying Down ... Thank you for the knowledge!!!   Saturday, May 31 View Page Growing One Flower This Year 3/4" rain today ... so far ...   Sunday, June 1 View Page Two additional inches of rain overnight and more to come. Everybody was able to get out of the hoop today as we are rockin' and a rollin'. I told my five plants about the five leaf clover I found today.   Monday, June 2 View Page Darn Wind 20 mph   Tuesday, June 3 View Page Survivors of the Wind Festival!!! Back Up Plants Removed. First sighting of Cucumber Beetles yesterday and Squash Bug today.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page 1526 Menting 1770.5 Lieber 2012 x 1623.5 Wallace 2012 The plant is over eight feet long with five side vines each side and sporting two baby pumpkins. This is the most aggressive plant in my patch. The first side vine is too aggressive and will be terminated soon. I am very happy it was suggested to me to grow this seed.   Thursday, June 5 View Page 1783.5 Stevens 1476 Hopkins 2011 x Self This is the second best plant in my patch. Very compact. It measures about seven feet long and has six side vines each side with a lil kin in the tip. You can see wind damage on some of the leaves but overall a very healthy plant. Not giving me too much trouble other than it is dragging its tips in the dirt. I will dig some trenches in front of the tips tonight.   Saturday, June 7 View Page fun with friends today ... pumpkin talk tomorrow ;)   Saturday, June 7 View Page 1623.5 Wallace 2012 1278 Goetze 2011 x 1725 Harp 2009 Today's picture is mildly disheartening as the north wind gusts had their way a short time ago. It is always amazing how quickly the plants can recover and remind myself glad it was not hail. This plant is third best in my patch only because it has been so stout that the vines have been hard to bury. Luckily yesterday I was able to secure them. This is a new patch and outside the chicken coop receiving the straw, wood chip and chicken manure clean out and tilled in the fall along with leaves and gypsum. This plant has been growing strong and I suspect will produce a marvelous pumpkin.   Sunday, June 8 View Page 1476 Hopkins 2011 1605 Sweet 2010 x 1468.5 Stevens 2010 This was a ribbon and then finally turned into a double. I cut out the extra, so the plant is finally taking it's correct shape with sides and even has a pumpkin already. This one has been difficult and I am hoping with all the rain we have been getting that the patch is not too wet.   Monday, June 9 View Page 1779.5 Werner 2013 1623.5 Wallace 2012 x 1756 Lancaster 2012 This plant is finally taking some shape and growing side vines. It did have a pumpkin that melted off after our 3" rain. Getting the main to lay down plus the wind blizzard from the SW one day and from the NE another day have all taken their toll. I should have put my wind fence up quicker, sooner; lesson previously learned. This plant has the prettiest leaves. I think in a couple weeks it will be quite the giant.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 2010 First Year Grew 1375 Stevens Disqualified @ Stillwater Harvest Fest October 8 Blossom End Split 978 lbs. This pumpkin split in August. I put a plastic bag in the 3" gap amazingly salvaging it to weigh off.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 2011 Second Year Grew 1325 Hopkins 2009 PB 1173 lbs. Fifth Place Nekoosa Wisconsin   Thursday, June 12 View Page 2012 Third Year Grew my own seed 1173 Zywiec 2011 791.5 lbs. = 18th Place Stillwater Harvest Fest   Friday, June 13 View Page 2013 Fourth Year Grew 1476 Hopkins 2011 1072.5 Third Place Chippewa Falls WI Oktoberfest   Saturday, June 14 View Page Options ...   Sunday, June 15 View Page Patch Work after 2-1/2" Rain   Sunday, June 15 View Page A little too much ...   Monday, June 16 View Page Too much work today ... between raindrops !!!   Tuesday, June 17 View Page Something Prettier   Wednesday, June 18 View Page My Puppy. Is this what we call "sandbagging"?   Thursday, June 19 View Page Rank #1   Thursday, June 19 View Page Rank #2   Thursday, June 19 View Page Rank #3   Thursday, June 19 View Page Rank #4   Thursday, June 19 View Page Rank #5   Friday, June 20 View Page Drying   Saturday, June 21 View Page Heavenly Scent :) Makes me so happy !!!   Sunday, June 22 View Page In front 1526 Middle 1783 Back 1476   Monday, June 23 View Page Pollination #1   Monday, June 23 View Page 1526 girl   Tuesday, June 24 View Page Three of Five Pollinated   Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1623 Day 3. I was not planning on pollinating this one as on L8 but when I saw four lobes and wondered "what if there is not another chance", I thought I better pollinate. The female and males were already open so this will have to be called on Open Pollination. I also pollinated with three of its own males   Thursday, June 26 View Page choppy choppy   Thursday, June 26 View Page October Bandit: Just finished burying one plant. It takes me two hours of fussing around. Or more. I try to enjoy it as these are my wintertime dreams. Two plants got attention last night. One earlier today. The one tonight. Now that last one has to wait until tomorrow. Then start all over again. Wonder if I should do another foliar. Think it is time for bed. Good night :)   Friday, June 27 View Page Sandbagging   Sunday, June 29 View Page Let's try again 1623 x 2328 4 lobes Day 1 ;)   Monday, June 30 View Page terminations have begun ... :)   Tuesday, July 1 View Page Up to my eyeballs in vine burying ... lol ... this one all done. Looking close you can see to the right is where the composted manure was dumped last fall. October Bandit: the work on this plant took me about four hours. Good thing I love growin' !!!   Wednesday, July 2 View Page fun   Thursday, July 3 View Page I picked up the pace and buried this in two hours. There are three pollinated on this plant and they all are growing and will chop off the fourth one opening. This proven seed is proving to grow like a real giant.   Saturday, July 5 View Page Giant Expectations   Sunday, July 6 View Page 1779 x 1783 5 lobes   Sunday, July 6 View Page 1623 x 2328 4 lobes   Sunday, July 6 View Page 1476 x 2328 5 lobes   Sunday, July 6 View Page 1783 x 2328 4 lobes   Sunday, July 6 View Page 1526 x 1783 4 lobes   Monday, July 7 View Page As the rain started to hurt, I asked "Is this hail?" Yes, pea size hail with high wind. I am hoping luck was within the storm. Ugh!   Monday, July 7 View Page Always Hope !!!   Tuesday, July 8 View Page It is 4:00 p.m. ... I made some coffee :)   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Guess I will be up all night burying vines.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page 1526 and 1779, respectively, tissue samples gathered yesterday, being sent tomorrow to Midwest Laboratories for a test. Yes, those are hail holes. These younger leaves suffered the hail more than the older leaves. Some of the even younger leaves were shredded. It will be ok.   Thursday, July 10 View Page Everybody is still growing.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Need to lift the vine ... no hail marks on this one.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Strong ... few hail marks.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Worrisome ... heavy hail gouges ... seemed to have healed.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Should be a good name for this one ... no hail marks.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Almost done culling #2 ... lots of hail spots ... not much damage.   Monday, July 14 View Page Brrrrr!   Tuesday, July 15 View Page Wisconsin. When I am not trying to grow a WR I take pictures.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page Guest Room View   Thursday, July 17 View Page Photo courtesy by Tom Lindfors Check out these articles ... New Richmond News is covering the Giant Pumpkins featuring Chris Stevens, a World Class Grower, a World Class Friend and a World Class Mentor. http://www.newrichmond-news.com/tags/giant-pumpkins   Friday, July 18 View Page You Know You Are An Avid Grower When: Your Friends Know This May Be One Of Your Summer Typical Outfits Seaweed Smells Good Fish Emulsion Does Not Smell That Bad It Is With Sheer Enjoyment You Are Laying On Your Belly Under The Pumpkin Canopy Pulling Weeds You Have Lost Track And It Does Not Matter How Much Money You Have Spent To Grow You Do Not Know If You Can Do Anything Else Because You Probably Have Work To Do In Your Patch You Still Find Time To Read Big Pumpkins.com Your Eyes Are Always Set On Growing A World Record   Saturday, July 19 View Page D25   Saturday, July 19 View Page D26   Saturday, July 19 View Page D20   Saturday, July 19 View Page D22   Saturday, July 19 View Page D18   Saturday, July 19 View Page Oh yeah ... I learned how to count the days right this week :)   Sunday, July 20 View Page Finally a hot day !!!   Monday, July 21 View Page Under The Canopy   Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1526 front 1783 middle 1476 back growing nicely now   Wednesday, July 23 View Page Tissue Test   Thursday, July 24 View Page Boron today. Good night.   Monday, July 28 View Page The 1623 Wallace d29 OTT 263" more than doubled its estimated weight in 6 days from 196lb to 409lb.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page ...   Wednesday, July 30 View Page D33   Thursday, July 31 View Page Very, very, very pretty on day 37 :)   Friday, August 1 View Page More signs of an avid pumpkin grower: Your hands are stained black from digging in the dirt that probably contains humic acid. You can bury vines in the dark and the mosquitos do not bother you. Every conversation with every acquaintance starts with “How are your pumpkins doing?” You are thinking already of the next season. You dream of winning a weigh off. - LJZ   Saturday, August 2 View Page The Scent of Rain ... we could use some rain.   Saturday, August 2 View Page 1526 Menting is my oldest pumpkin. On D40 the OTT is (124+77+72) 273. I am hoping the measurement from ground-stem-blossom-ground I am taking through "the valley" is diminishing actuality. Since last measured five days ago, there is a 28 pounds per day average.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1783 Stevens D40 129+85+79=293OTT. The last six days this pumpkin averaged 30.5 pounds per day. I was probably overly worried about potential hail. I believe in this pumpkin.   Monday, August 4 View Page Cooling off at night, covering with a sleeping bag. Good nigh !!!   Tuesday, August 5 View Page I think this is a Happy Leaf.   Wednesday, August 6 View Page 1476 Hopkins D40 136+92+81=309OTT or estimated 661 pounds. Three day average estimated weight gain of 39.67 pounds per day. This pumpkin is amazing !!!   Thursday, August 7 View Page Missing is a Giant Pumpkin Flower   Friday, August 8 View Page 1623 x 2328 D40 150+98+89=337OTT.   Saturday, August 9 View Page Momma Woodchuck and babies visited he patch today. Luckily these are not my plants. The Momma may have went to heaven and hopefully the Babies are scared and ran off. Was advised to buy a live trap. Was advised to bait with apples. Definitely on Woodchuck patrol.   Sunday, August 10 View Page 1779 Werner D40 134+80+78=292OTT. The "Baby" is doing well.   Monday, August 11 View Page 1-7/10" Rain this morning. Funny was this evening when I thought it might hail, running AS FAST AS I COULD to put the Giant Blankets on.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page Baby Swallows just about ready to fly. When I started snapping the camera, they shut their eyes so I cannot see them :)   Wednesday, August 13 View Page Day 45   Friday, August 15 View Page These two pumpkin plots reflect when one weeds and when one does not weed, respectively.   Friday, August 15 View Page I am learning to LOVE weed killer :)   Sunday, August 17 View Page This is Grandma :) 1526 x 1783 D55 156+93+86=335OTT 837lbs 24.8/5dy   Monday, August 18 View Page You always know when there is going to be a rainbow. You always know there is HOPE. Notice the three barn swallows giving their air show?   Tuesday, August 19 View Page My new fans ... electric or battery ... the tilt feature is handy to direct air flow perfectly :)   Wednesday, August 20 View Page Busy getting things ready for the SCGA patch tour this Saturday, August 23rd.   Thursday, August 21 View Page Lorelee's Lane view from the North   Friday, August 22 View Page Little Bummer "The Baby" 1779 x 1783 d51 154+90+809=333OTT 823lbs. 22.67/6dy BES. I would take a picture of the blossom; however, it is tucked a foot under this pumpkin.   Friday, August 22 View Page correction 809 s/b 80 :)   Sunday, August 24 View Page On Saturday, August 23, the SCGA held it's annual Summer Patch Tour. Nearly 30 growers were in attendance traveling many miles from Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. The Club provided Grill Items and Beverages. Everyone brought a Dish to Share. Awesome People! Awesome Feast! Awesome Event! It wasn't really about the pumpkins, but the people. Thank You To Everyone For Coming !!! :)   Monday, August 25 View Page Sleeping Giant   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Remember when you learned to ride a bicycle? How about when you taught a child to ride? All of that crashing into curbs, mailboxes and parked cars sure looked like failure, didn't it? But in the end, we all learn to ride. We all want to get on and ride off right away, but few things in life happen that way. You don't become the master of anything if you don't try. You have to have patience and persistence. - El Haji Nero   Wednesday, August 27 View Page Another Race Against Time I Am In.   Thursday, August 28 View Page Oozing !!!   Thursday, August 28 View Page Selfie. LOL. 1623 D60 184 + 117 + 107 = 408OTT 1424lbs. :)   Friday, August 29 View Page OK. Rain ALL day is making me nervous. 8/10" thus far.   Saturday, August 30 View Page 1779 x 1783 D60 169+95+96=360OTT 1025lbs 22.44/9dy. This pumpkin put on over 200 lbs. since it's BES nine days ago. The walls were thick and so dense it took me hours to dice up with a spade shovel and bury. I harvested over 350 mature seeds.   Sunday, August 31 View Page Pumpkin Burial   Monday, September 1 View Page Lorelee's Lane from the South 1526 (1082est); 1783 (1105est); 1476 (1146est). The wind was up, the sheets would not stay on, makes a beautiful picture.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page My kitten, Blackie Jackie with seeds from the 1779 x 1783.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page These two window sill house plants went from miniatures to giant miniatures with some excess giant pumpkin fertilizer. They, at least, quintupled in size and vigor. Note the very tiny peppers in the background prior to the fertilizer. Fish, Seaweed, Micro Nutrients, Humic Acid plus some other stuff probably.   Thursday, September 4 View Page check out this article http://www.newrichmond-news.com/content/giant-pumpkins-pace-be-contenders   Saturday, September 6 View Page With all the rain, I washed and dried the pumpkin sheets and blankets. My kitties, Blackie Jackie and Smicken' always need to get in on any action and just couldn't wait to get there fur on this clean pile. I have been putting a warm blanket on any/most nights below 70F to help hold the heat into the pumpkin. It also helps keep the morning dew off the stems.   Monday, September 8 View Page Pumpkins   Tuesday, September 9 View Page This is one of my favorite pumpkin pictures I have taken for the SCGA "Stillwater Harvest Fest 2013". Next to Christmas, this is my favorite time of year. This year same second weekend in October, as always.   Wednesday, September 10 View Page FROST tonight ? ? ? Trying to cover with poly ... ugh.   Thursday, September 11 View Page Some of my friends :)   Friday, September 12 View Page New Look   Friday, September 12 View Page The last photo, the wind was blowing the 6 mil (darn thick)poly around, now anchored with rocks. Tonight everything is covered nicely, with every extra sheet and blanket and table cloth I own. Nearly covered every square inch. Will probably have some low lying frost towards day break.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Nosy Posy   Sunday, September 14 View Page Too close for comfort competition.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is NOT my damaged pumpkin.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page 1526 Menting x 1783 going to Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest this weekend ... I think. Hoping it will beat my pb of 1173 in 2011.   Thursday, September 18 View Page My friend Brie, first year grower, and her "Baby Jesus" all set to go to Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest this Saturday. Good Luck Brie !!! :)   Friday, September 19 View Page 1526 Lift ... the last of Lorelee's Lane ... yes the stem was tore off. I think this will meet its 1200lb mark :)   Sunday, September 21 View Page 1526 official weight 1189.5 ... in the picture that is the broken stem sitting on top of the pumpkin. New personal best. Thank you Joe Menting for giving me the seed to grow.   Tuesday, September 23 View Page 1688.5   Thursday, September 25 View Page to Sturgeon Bay or bust :)   Monday, September 29 View Page 1476 x 2328 6th Place :)   Tuesday, September 30 View Page It was a big day !!!   Saturday, October 4 View Page Off to Nekoosa today with the 1783 x 2328 pictured here with my Mentor. Thank you Chris for the insight on how to grow some big ones ;)   Sunday, October 5 View Page Nekoosa 2014   Sunday, October 5 View Page 1783 Stevens x 2328 @ 1420 :)   Wednesday, October 8 View Page There is more to life than pumpkins. But what pumpkins can do for life is grow friendships that turn into a giant family.   Friday, October 10 View Page Here is Brie Quandrud and Plan B getting ready for Stillwater Harvest Fest :) It was great to meet your mom Brie !!!   Friday, October 10 View Page Final Harvest - Oh What A Night !!! Thank you Chris Stevens, Joe Ailts, Chris Ailts, Wayne & Jo Ailts, Mark Borgstrom, Matt MaRose, Doug Carlson, Tom Lindfors, Ed Midthun and Pete Midthun. It takes a village to move a mountain or two.   Sunday, October 12 View Page Happiness !!!   Monday, October 13 View Page Some big pumpkins at Stillwater Harvest Fest 2014!!!   Monday, October 13 View Page Here is my friend Brie with "Plan B"   Sunday, October 19 View Page Prepping 2015 five patches. 7.5 yards composted manure delivered. It was easier to move the compost around before one of the handles broke on the wheelbarrow. It does not stop me :)   Thursday, October 23 View Page Awe-inspiring !!!   Friday, October 31 View Page My 1781 ... starts in RI ... moves to WI ... Chicago it's final resting place ... mighty fine !!! Happy Halloween every soul !!! :) -Art/Photo Steve Dahlke   Wednesday, November 12 View Page I love this day !!!   Thursday, December 25 View Page And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but 259 of my 1479's back from Tennessee(1476x2328 20% heavy). Merry Christmas !!!