Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 27 Entries. Tuesday, April 21 View Page Hi All!! Okay, I'm back!! What a winter and I am looking forward to some spring. Today is really chilly at 49 degrees F, 43% relative humidity and and wind speed of 23mph. I have missed you all. I have been away for sometime buried in college textbooks working on my graduate dual degree in architectural engineering and structural engineering. So, I am in a constant "fog" of number crunching. My baby cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Georgia and Walla Walla onions are getting the full experience outdoors for hardening. I planted a nice surprise this spring - an 1176 Lombardi and a 194 Chandler-my personal best. These I plan to cross, if all goes as planned. Anyone need seeds, please email me. Also, big thanks to all who have shared their wisdom with me. Last fall, I took a load of blue ribbons at the Sandwich Fair for veggies and flowers I grew in our community garden and around our home. I could not do this either without the love and support of my two handsome sons Christopher and Benjamin. Okay, say Ah! I know they appreciate being embarrassed now and then - LOL all!! Happy Growing to ALL!!! Saturday, April 25 View Page Hello All My 194Chandler babies are sprouted!! Fantastic to see my seeds are alive and well!! Nothing special that I did just cut a simple pair of gallon milk jugs, filled them 1/3 with Promix soil and watered. I placed them under the lights and on a heat mat. I walked away for more homework which never ends!!! Okay, so, they are up, but nothing yet on the 1176 Lombardi. More later!! Anyone want seeds - email me!! Tuesday, April 28 View Page I am so happy to announce a new 1176 Lombardi has sprouted!! I also placed my 194 Chandler out to harden off. What great weather - back to studies finals are almost here - ugh!! Tuesday, May 5 View Page Today, my research paper is due. What a trip! My stress level was really up yesterday, so I spent some serious hours practically planting everything in two 20x30 plots. i got the blessing of a wonderful son (Happy Birthday Christopher!!) who furrowed row after row for me. What treat and a six foot reinforced fence, so the garden looks like FORT KNOX!! I'll post pictures in days ahead. Okay, for the pumpkins-my 1176 Lombardi seeds were a bust! One never sprout and one sprouted with serious deformities and a flat ribbon stem. I started a 989 Liggett and put into the ground my own giant from last year. She's a beauty at her second leaf waving in the breeze. Pretty little thing LOL!! She is covered with a bucket right now, while I write to you guys - she needs her blanket and the outdoors is scary. Soon she will have her own personal nightlites above her with the moon and stars. Okay, I am sentimental. Sunday, May 10 View Page HAPPY MOM'S DAY TO ALL THOSE MOM'S OUT THERE IN PUMPKIN LAND!! Okay, finals are history and now, it is game on in the pumpkin patch. My baby pumpkin is kick'n it in the patch and growing well. I started that Liggett seed on 05/04 and it is already up as of 05/07- thank you Richard, you have provided some excellent specimens to me. Now, I wait and wait and wait!! When is the rain going to end here in the Chicago area???? It is great for ducks and geese, but what about the pumpkins??????? Bonnie finally delivered my sweet potatoes and I am ready to get them into the soil when it finally is better weather. Come now you newbie growers and ask for the seeds. Mine sprouted in 3 days flat no soaking nothing special. Thanks to Shazzy and the Janowiaks I have fast moving sprouters!! Good Luck to all and Happy Spring!! Thursday, June 25 View Page I am so excited to report - I have had 7 female blossoms (five on the main vine) on my plant and today, I pollinated a female. The "chosen one" has been tied off and wait begins. Just in time for another rain storm - AGAIN!! Row, row, row your boat........................... LOL Someone in my family accidentally planted a giant watermelon seed along with a bush watermelon seed within my other plot. Which plant is which is mystery! Thursday, July 2 View Page Hi Y'aLL, Sorry for all the delay. This week, I went on 2 interviews for engineering. A busy schedule has kept me away, but not out of sight in the patch. I am happy to report, I know have a photo to share!! My baby pumpkin, Itzy Bitzy, is now, 9 days old and growing nicely despite the rain and cold. Wait and see, wait and see and wait and wait............................ LOL Thursday, July 2 View Page My son, Christopher's corn is so healthy!! Way past knee high before the 4th of July!! Keep growing Christopher!! Thursday, July 2 View Page Okay, a new grower can never have enough photos of the babe. Here is Itzy Bitzy on more time on June 30th!!! Monday, July 6 View Page I am so happy to report a second pollination from the 989 Liggett male flowers to my 194 Chandler. I haven't seen so many girls appear on the main vine. Waiting, waiting, .............. Big shout out to Christopher, my son, for coordinating the little hookup while I worked - many Thanks!! Tuesday, July 7 View Page So much to pick from the patch. I went to check on the rain gage from last night's soaking. 1" of rain!! Good that my back is not hauling 100 gallons on water from the forest preserve to the patch, but when is this going to end. Oh, Farmer's Almanac, you shall be fuel in my summer pit fires. LOL To all who have asked about companion planting - Very good results thus far.... Last night, I harvested four more monster heads of cauliflower and many pounds of sugar peas. Note: After harvesting the cauliflower, it is really good to fluff up that spent soil and apply some pumpkin power. I have now planted nasturtiums and varied these with zinnias in the spaces where the cauliflower grew. These help to confuse the onion maggot and provide vital shade to the sweet peppers nearby. Whenever the peas are picked be sure to feed them and tie up those climbing members waving at you in the wind. ...more to come on baby number 2!! Wednesday, July 8 View Page Rain, Rain, Go Away.... Back to the patch in the rain gear!! Itzy Bitzy to growing, but she looks a bit weird - don't tell her..shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! She grew a bit onto her vine and I attempted to move her, wait and see, wait and wait.......... You might notice a bit of a zipper scar? That was me bumping into her with the pad as I was attempting to place it - oops!! So sorry Itzy. Scars add character and extra special beauty!! Wednesday, July 8 View Page Never enough photos of Itzy Bitzy!! She is so cool. Okay, Christopher helped me cover a really nice female with 5 lobes prior to opening last night. And today, I selfed the 194 Chandler a ways out on the main. The boys came a call'in with a load of pollen which really coated the new girl well. She is covered up and we will check in tomorrow. This rain best quit soon!! Just started again. I picked a monster load of purple and yellow bush beans! Dinner time anyone? note: After I pick, I give them 2 full cups of a good organic nitrogen feeding. **my boston marrow has three fully pollinated girls!! I thinned down my watermelons and pray that the one selected is the refrigerator size and not the carolina cross!! LOL Sunday, July 12 View Page Hey All!! Today, my son, Christopher, helped me to pollinate my 194 Chandler (female-5 really nice tight lobes) with a 1916 Barron (3 males). My plant is growing well despite the rain and has produced a lot more females than last year's plant which was the 679 Janowiak. Maybe its the rain, heat, the compost or also a combo of these issues. I am taking it slowly with the feeding and keeping an eye on the fungal diseases. There are many plots near me with very tall weeds and more plots with gardeners having diseased plants. Noticing leaf spot on my tomatoes and removed damaged leaves and began spraying this week with Daconil and a biological fungicide rotating schedules. All plants are doing well and now, I am setting up to process good bean, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and pea crops. Tuesday, July 14 View Page Itzy Bitzy has made it to her last stand. Today, she was cut half way along with my second selfed pumpkin. Somewhere along the way, Itzy began to turn crazy. The last soaking seemed to do her in!! Thank you to seasoned growers who provided guidance. More to come..... Tuesday, July 14 View Page As of today, my pollination with the 989 Liggett seems to be doing alright. Wait and see..................... Tuesday, July 14 View Page There's always room for some serious competition. I am trying to allow my baby new pollination a chance. The Chandlerx1916 Barron is 2 days old today!! Patience!!!!!!!!! More rain last night, but only a bit compared to the 1/2" the day before. The does shine today - Yippie!!!! Saturday, July 18 View Page Before someone broke our fence this week and stole some of our biggest Wallas! Saturday, July 18 View Page Surprise for the thieves because I sprayed the night they stole from us with 7 and Daconil. Idiots!! Monday, July 20 View Page Update on my new baby 194CHANDLERx989LIGGETT. Monday, July 20 View Page Another photo opt! Try, Try again................................. Monday, July 20 View Page After having my 194Chandlerx1916Barron rot on the vine, I cut that off. I also had to cut off my 194Chandler selfed #1 due to rotting. My second self pollinated looked great, but I am seeing a lot of growth on my 194Chandlerx989Liggett. I am really excited to see how this might continue. Fingers and toes all crossed. Saturday, July 25 View Page She is drinking and growing!!! No name yet, but I may need some help. Saturday, July 25 View Page Second shot of the purple bifurcated bean! Thursday, July 30 View Page I already harvested 56 really nice sweet peppers, so this photo is one in the second picking. So many great veggies to harvest in my patch. Tuesday is sweet corn day. Christopher has some seriously good looking sweet corn!! YUM!!! Thursday, July 30 View Page Still no name - Thursday, July 30 View Page Okay, this one isn't mine, but I am the sub when Christopher is tied up with work. This is Rocky, aka, Miss Big BUTT!!!