Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 107 Entries. Thursday, May 8 View Page Time to start my diary for 2003. First thing is to express my gratitude towards everyone that has been generous in sharing seeds, advice and friendship over the long, cold winter months, thanks! This year I will be growing the following seeds: 996.5 Handy 821 Garrell 805 Pukos 716 Daletas 707 Toftness 537 Hildebrand Backups will be the: 707 Toftness 537 Hildebrand Should I not need to plant the backups in the garden, they will be put in a big bucket and grown for the male flowers to assist in pollination. I wish everyone the best of luck this year. Grow em big!   Thursday, May 8 View Page Had 100% success in the germination of all seeds. The 996.5 cot leaves came up attached to each other like siamese twins side by side. The first true leaf formed with a small length wise split below it. It appears otherwise healthy and strong. Will have to watch its development.   Thursday, May 8 View Page Clarification to my first entry. The 707 and 537 are being planted. A second 707 and 537 have germinated that I will use as as a backup if needed, and leave in a big bucket to continue to grow for pollination support if not needed otherwise.   Thursday, May 8 View Page A view of my upper and lower patch in early April. I put the cold frames up to heat the soil prior to planting. Also, my patch protector, Luke.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 537 Hildebrand. Notice the flexable solar tubing. Filled with water it gets hot during the day and keeps the plants warm at night. At least that is the theory, I never did do any tests to see if there was a noticeable difference. I started both the 537 and 707 over a week before the rest.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 707 Toftness, awesome plant. My goal is to set one on this baby at 15+ feet out on the main vine in the 1-10 July window.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 716 Daletas, you can see the growth difference that over a week and good weather makes with these AG's   Thursday, May 8 View Page 805 Pukos, a special thanks go out to the friend that guided me in getting this seed.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 821 Garrell, this is the best looking of all the plants in the upper patch. If this one even comes close to it's parents in heavy fruit production I am in for one heck of a ride!   Thursday, May 8 View Page 996.5 Handy. Noticed that the cots are attached together like siamese twins. This one has me a bit worried, but it is otherwise a healthy, strong plant. I am not going to replace it quite yet. My hopes are to cross it with the 716 Daletas. I wonder if I should do surgery on the cots to separate them? It could relieve any tension that is being applied to the whole plant by them being attached, course I could kill it also. If anyone has done that before please let me know what happened.   Thursday, May 8 View Page A view of both patches in the process of having wind breaks put up.   Thursday, May 8 View Page Setting up the wind breaks around the 707 and 537. The 707 and 537 are both doing great, very healthy and super growth.   Thursday, May 8 View Page Setting up the wind breaks around the 996.5, 821, 805 and 716.   Sunday, May 11 View Page The 821 continues to lead the way in the upper patch, followed by the 805. We have had some warm temps for this time of year, low 80's, and not all plants seem to like it. The 707 for instance, wilts very easliy, the 537 on the other hand, seems to thrive on the warmth. Almost like these plants have their own personalities, interesting, huh?   Tuesday, May 13 View Page After the warmest, and driest spring that I have seen in 10 years the weather is changing as I type. Woke up to rain and temps in the mid 40's. The next two days predicted to get even colder with continued rain and strong wind. I guess that this will be the test to see if the cold frames I built and the wind breaks I put up can do the job.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page 13 May, 2200 hours, 41 degrees, put hot water bottles under cold frames, tmeps are dropping. 14 May, 0100 hours, 38 degrees, get out of bed, get hot water bottles, fill em up again, put em back out. 14 May, 0600, 36 degrees, rush out to the patch, FROST. lift up a cold frame, whew, the plants have survived! I win round 1. Expecting same evening weather for the next two days. 14 May, 0630, over a nice hot cup of coffee Martina suggests I take care of her as much as I do the pumpkin plants. I say that if she could give birth to a 800 pound pumpkin I would. She predicts that the plants are not the only thing that will get cold tonight.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page 14 May 1730 hours, (that's 5:30 PM for you civilians) mother nature starts round 2 early. After daytime temps of around 60 degrees the temperature drops to 45 in 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of hail. The mini greenhouses hold up. We (the plants and I) are all a little shaken, but not beat. I think that mother nature is trying a full out frontal assault. Only 36 more hours to hold out, then the last frost date is behind us. Your reporter in Knopp, Germany, German Pumpkin.   Thursday, May 15 View Page Well, last night was a repeat of the night before, except it got even colder. The temperature was only 34 degrees this morning at 0600. Had I not learned about setting up mini greenhouses and wind breaks from this web site, my season would be over already.   Friday, May 16 View Page Here she is Brian, the 537. This baby is doing great.   Friday, May 16 View Page The 707 lost two leaves due to early heat stress caused by this idiot leaving the mini greenhouse over her when it got too hot. Since then she has made a fantastic recovery and is starting to vine.   Friday, May 16 View Page The 805 Pukos. It is truly an honor to be able to grow this one here. Thanks again to, well you know who you are. At the end of the season I will thank you by name if it is okay with you.   Friday, May 16 View Page The 821 Garrell, 845 sibbed. In my opinion this has got to be one of the best sibbed seeds ever. It is doing the best of all the seeds I planted later.   Friday, May 16 View Page The 996.5 Handy. This one is growing very well, but, it has a small split just belove the first true leaf. It is growing like nothing is the matter, so that is how I am going to treat it and hope for the best.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page Here is a better picture of the 996.5 Handy and the split below the first true leaf. It split when the first leaf formed but has not stopped good growth otherwise. What do you guys think? Email me please at maroon@bunt.com. Thanks, owen   Friday, May 23 View Page The tip of the 707 Toftness vine. It is a little over a foot long.   Friday, May 23 View Page Hey Chuck, I had a little split just like yours once, this is what it looks like now. It is on the 996.5 Handy. Even with the split, the plant is growing like normal.   Friday, June 13 View Page 13 June, 06:00 AM, 58 degrees, 8 foot out on the main, 5 lober. Female = 537 Hildebrand Male = 805 Pukos   Sunday, June 15 View Page Plenty of male flowers this morning but no females opened. I am going to store these in the fridge for a couple days in case some females open without any males. I did the same thing last year and was able to get a couple to set with this method.   Sunday, June 15 View Page We have been having a real good spring here, weather has been more like summer. These next two postings are so that I will remember how far I was next year and to give everyone a small "virtual" patch tour. 996.5 Handy Main vine = 11.8 feet 1st Female = 10 feet, not opened yet Longest Secondary = 6.2 feet   Sunday, June 15 View Page Both the Handy and the Pukos are being trained in a christmas tree pattern. 805 Pukos Main Vine = 10.6 feet 1st Female = 7.5 feet, not opened 2nd Female = 9.9 feet, not opened Longest secondary = 7 feet   Tuesday, June 17 View Page Pollinated the 805 at 7.5 feet out today. It was a self pollination.   Wednesday, June 18 View Page Pollinated a side vine 537 Hildebrand with some refrigerated 996.5 Handy's. Didn't have any fresh males today, this will be an interesting test as these Handy's were two days old. BTW, growing 6 plants this year is keeping me busier then a one legged man in a butt kicking contest, but it is a blast!   Thursday, June 19 View Page 996.5 Handy pollinated with a 716 Daletas.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 996.5 Handy pollinated with a 716 Daletas.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 707 Toftness pollinated with a couple 805 Pukos.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 707 Toftness pollinated with a couple 805 Pukos.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 537 Hildebrand 6 days after pollination.   Friday, June 20 View Page Today's pollinations: 821 Garrell female x 996.5 Handy male (5 lober, main vine) 805 Pukos female x 707 Toftness male (6 lober, main vine) 707 Toftness female x 805 Pukos male (6 lober, main vine) 537 Hildebrand female x 805 Pukos male (5 lober, main vine) 2 x 537 Hildebrand female x 805 Pukos male (5 lobers, side vines) This is a picture of the 707 Toftness.   Friday, June 20 View Page Okay, so here is the 707 Toftness.   Sunday, June 22 View Page Here is a shot of the 537x805 on day 9.   Sunday, June 22 View Page 2 potential giants on the 805 at 7.5 and 10 feet out on the main.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page Here is the 537 at 12 days, nice looking fruit, but growing too slow. At 6.5 feet it is too close to the stump anyhow. I got another pollinated at 10 feet out on the main to takes it's place :-).   Wednesday, June 25 View Page Here is the 805 at about 7.5 feet out. It is 8 days old. If it doesn't pick up the pace it is outta here also. I got another set at 10 feet on this one also.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page The 821 Garrell at about 9.6 feet and 5 days old. I got big hopes for this one. The next one on the main is pea size at about 15 feet.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page The stump of the 996.5 Handy. This is one awesome plant. This thing split about a week after it germinated, I almost didn't give it a chance. If you look at my diary, you will see how it has damn near healed itself. If the fruit are half as good .........dreaming.......   Saturday, June 28 View Page 821 Garrell on day 9.   Saturday, June 28 View Page 805 Pukos on day 11. Day 10 circ was 21 inches.   Thursday, July 3 View Page Six plants is like having a full time job after work. Everyday I am pruning tertiaries, burying vines, cutting off females, deadheading secondaries, repositioning vines, pollinating, measuring, fertilizing, weeding, and on and on. The weather has turned to cold, windy and rainy. The rain is much needed so no complaint there, but, the cold has caused the pumpkins to slow down considerably. Here are some measurements as of today: 805 Pukos x Self Day 16 Circ = 39.5 996.5 Handy x 716 Daletas Day 14 Circ = 29 821 Garrell x 996.5 Handy Day 13 Circ = 31.5 707 Toftness x 805 Pukos Day 13 Circ = 26 716 Dalestas x Self Day 12 Circ = 24 821 Garrell x 805 Pukos Day 11 Circ = 27.5 (Side Vine) I expect that most of these will be culled because of the early start and I have recently pollinated some further out on all of the main vines.   Friday, July 11 View Page The 716 Daletas, day 20 = 48" circ.   Friday, July 11 View Page The 821 Garrell, day 21 = 48" circ   Friday, July 11 View Page The 996.5 Handy, day 22 = 50" circ   Friday, July 11 View Page The 805 Pukos, day 24 = 65" circ   Saturday, July 12 View Page The 707 Toftness, day 23, 57" circ = 60 pounds.   Monday, July 14 View Page Hope this weather keeps up...   Tuesday, July 15 View Page So, after pollinating 25 pumpkins this year I have finally cut down the number of candidates to 5. Here are the pumpkins that I will be tracking: 805 x Self, Day 27, Circ=76.5, EE=50.5, SS=47.5, OTT=174.5, 117 lbs 707 x 805, Day 25, Circ=65, EE=42, SS=45, OTT=152, 81 lbs 996.5 x 716, Day 25, Circ=59, EE=42, SS=40, OTT=141, 66 lbs (Only 1 male and it set) 821 x 996.5, Day 24, Circ=56, EE=44, SS=47, OTT=147, 74 lbs 716 x Self, Day 23, Circ=58.5, EE=41, SS=40, OTT=139.5, 64 lbs (Only 1 male and it set)   Wednesday, July 16 View Page Latest measurements. 805 x Self, Day 28, Circ=80.5, EE=52.5, SS=50, OTT=182.5, 133 lbs (16 lb gain) 707 x 805, Day 26, Circ=70, EE=43, SS=46, OTT=159, 91 lbs (10 lb gain) 996.5 x 716, Day 26, Circ=63, EE=43, SS=42, OTT=148, 75 lbs (9 lb gain) 821 x 996.5, Day 25, Circ=59.5, EE=46, SS=49, OTT=154.5, 84 lbs (10 lb gain) 716 x Self, Day 24, Circ=62, EE=44, SS=42.5, OTT=152.5, 81 lbs (17 lb gain) With only one pumpkin on each of these plants I will take this type of steady growth and be very happy.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 716 Daletas has picked up the pace the last couple of days.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 805 is a big round fruit. For some reason it just looks heavy.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 821 looks like it wants to start picking up some big pounds, hard to say, and it already is getting defined ribs.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 707 Toftness is getting some big shoulders, I like that.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 996.5 Handy keeps plugging away at about 10 pounds a day. I am happy with that, but would sure like to see this one get big. I was able to cross it with the 716 Daletas as I wanted to. This should be a good cross as the 996.5 was pollinated with the 790 Daletas, same cross and plant as the 716. Can you imagine two 700+ pumpkins on one plant, wow, great job Steve.   Monday, July 21 View Page Pic of me measuring the 805 today. 10, 20, 30 day measurements: 21, 49, 89 = 805 Pukos 19, 46, 77.5 = 996.5 Handy 19, 49, 88 = 707 Toftness 24.5, 45, 79 = 821 Garrell 20.5, 47, 83 = 716 Daletas   Monday, July 21 View Page 707 Toftness, Day 32, Circ = 92.5, EE = 50, SS = 55, OTT = 197.5, 165 lb est 821 Garrell, Day 31, Circ = 82, EE = 59, SS = 58.5, OTT = 199.5, 170 lb est 996.5 Handy, FDay 32, Circ = 85, EE = 56, SS = 57, OTT = 198, 166 lb est 716 Daletas, Day 30, Circ = 83, EE = 59.5, SS = 56, OTT = 198.5, 167 lb est 805 Pukos, Day 34, Circ = 101, EE = 63, SS = 61, OTT = 225, 238 lb est   Tuesday, July 22 View Page 707 Toftness, Day 33, Circ = 99.5, EE = 51, SS = 80, OTT = 210.5, 197 lb est 821 Garrell, Day 32, Circ = 85, EE = 61, SS = 61, OTT = 207, 188 lb est 996.5 Handy, Day 33, Circ = 88, EE = 58, SS = 61, OTT = 207, 188 lb est 716 Daletas, Day 31, Circ = 86.5, EE = 60.5, SS = 58, OTT = 205, 183 lb est 805 Pukos, Day 35, Circ = 105, EE = 64.5, SS = 63, OTT = 232.5, 261 lb est   Wednesday, July 23 View Page The last 24 hours was a slow day for wieght gain. Have to see what the next couple of days bring. 707 Toftness, Day 34, Circ = 101.5, EE = 52, SS = 60, OTT = 213, 205 lb est 821 Garrell, Day 33, Circ = 87.5, EE = 61.5, SS = 61.5, OTT = 210.5, 197 lb est 996.5 Handy, Day 34, Circ = 90.5, EE = 60, SS = 62.5, OTT = 213, 204 lb est 716 Daletas, Day 32, Circ = 89, EE = 62, SS = 61, OTT = 212, 201 lb est 805 Pukos, Day 36, Circ = 107, EE = 66, SS = 64, OTT = 237, 276 lb est   Tuesday, July 29 View Page Here is a pic of the 996.5 Handy. The last 14 days it has been averaging 16 pounds per day. It is at day 39 with an OTT of 241 or about 290 pounds.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page The 805 Pukos. The last 19 days has been averaging 16.3 pounds per day. It is at day 41 with an OTT of 260.5 or about 363 pounds. I am hoping that it will continue at this pace, but, we have been having cooler weather lately. Warmer weather is in the forecast, hope it helps. By the way, this one is about 200 pounds heavier then my PB from last year.   Monday, August 11 View Page The 707 Toftness decided early on that it was going to sit on it's butt. This may not become a very heavy pumpkin, but I really like it's shape.   Monday, August 11 View Page I have two patches, this is the second one. I never should have tried to squeeze 4 plants into it, but I have had a blast trying to keep it pruned and at the same time grow a big one. This is my second year, last year my goal was 100 pounds and I got 165. This year my goal was 500 pounds and I have made that, at least estimated. Still have a chance to get 3 pumpkins to that goal. Next year only 2 plants in this patch, and my goal will go up to 800 pounds. I know that the heavy hitters may look at this picture and shake there heads, but I just could not resist, I have learned my lesson.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page 103 degrees at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in Germany. Man, if this isn't called be carefull what you ask for....that is 18 degrees above normal, and we have had it now for over 3 weeks on a row.....anyhow... 707 Toftness has taken a liking to the heat, funny, early on it despised it...29 pound gain today....thanks Bart!   Friday, August 15 View Page if you are concerned about blossom end splits, i would not suggest looking a the next couple of pictures   Friday, August 15 View Page the split is not big, but then it don't take much   Friday, August 15 View Page a close up, i put a straw 6 inches into the cavity   Friday, August 15 View Page the 595 Olsen 2003 EST (805 Pukos x Self) Born 27 Jun 03 Split 15 Aug 03 Circ = 142, EE = 81, SS = 84, OTT = 307 David Martin/Len Stellpflug Tables Estimated at 595 pounds Season over. I will be back!   Tuesday, August 19 View Page Well it appears that the 805 is shutting down. Not sure if the split has anything to do with it, but, I believe, it was probably about time anyhow. Day 63, Circ = 142.5, EE = 80, SS = 86, OTT = 308.5, EST 603.2 lbs I have everything ready for the weigh in on Saturday. Lifting crew of about 8 guys is showing up Friday evening, and then on Saturday morning I will be taking it to a place the sells all kind of heavy metal products. They have a certified scale used to weigh things for sale.   Wednesday, August 20 View Page The 805 may have split, but I still have the following 3 pumpkins still growing, slow, but still growing: 707 Toftness - OTT 290.5 = 505 lbs 996.5 Handy - OTT 295 = 529 lbs 716 Daletas - OTT 298.5 = 547 lbs   Friday, August 22 View Page well tonight we pick this fruit, i got everything setup, hope it hasn't rotted underneath!   Saturday, August 23 View Page The lifting team.   Saturday, August 23 View Page Loaded up and ready to go.   Saturday, August 23 View Page Taking it to the scales.   Saturday, August 23 View Page The results, 291.5 kilos, or, 641.3 pounds. This is a certified scale used by this metal company to weigh products for sale. This pumpkin is only 7.1 kilos under the German Record making it the second largest in Germany (unofficial).   Wednesday, September 3 View Page The 707 Toftness, sitting on it's butt, I call it Jabathehut. Estimating it to be about 550 pounds.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page The 996.5 Handy, best looking of all my pumpkins. Estimating it to be right at 600 pounds.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page The 716 Daletas, going to be a hard choice which one to take to the weigh-off this one or the Handy. Estimating this one to be about 615 pounds.   Tuesday, September 9 View Page Here is a webcam picture of the German weigh-off site. It is in Ludwigsburg, Germany. I am attaching the weblink so you can watch us get our pumpkins weighed...LOL...you will only have to get up at 6 AM on the East Coast in the States to see us live on 5 October. http://www.blueba.de/Aktuell/aktuell.html   Saturday, September 27 View Page The 996.5 Handy   Saturday, September 27 View Page The 716 Daletas   Saturday, September 27 View Page Cory and Martin, a couple of kids from the village. The pumpkin to the left is the 821 Garrell, it is about 375 pounds.   Sunday, September 28 View Page Future giant pumpkin grower Kevin, kicked back on the 707 Toftness.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page Only 5 days to go and now this. A couple of days ago I noticed signs that mice had infested my patch. Yesterday some stray cat (we have a lot of them in our village) found them also. It scratched the heck out of one of my pumpkins and dug a hole about 2 feet wide and a foot underneath one of the pumpkins trying to get to the mice. Now I really do not know what to expect when I lift them up. For all I know they have made themselves right at home through the bottom of the pumpkins. Another stupid newbie lesson learned the hard way I fear. 5 more days to go, man this is crazy!   Saturday, October 4 View Page Well, the mice did in fact eat away at the bottoms of both of these pumpkins, but, they didn't get through to the inside, so I am off to the German Weighoff on Sunday morning. I hope that all that weighed on Saturday went heavy.   Monday, October 6 View Page Well it looks like records are falling allover the place. the German record fell three times yesterday, and even though it wasn't me, a great time was had by all. I do not have the exact results, but here they are as I remember: 1- 741.4 (Actually a squash, beat last years record by 83 pounds) 2- 739.2 First and Second were actually closer then this, these results are only what I remember, not exact. 3- 710.6 Third place beats last years record by 52 pounds. 4- 638.4 This was my first one, the 996.5 Handy, it was 0.8% heavy 5- 627.8 This was my second one it is the 707 Toftness, and went 9.7% heavy I am sure full and exact results will be posted later. A great time was had by all.   Monday, October 6 View Page The season is not over yet, still one more weigh-off next Sunday in Switzerland. I will be taking my 716 Daletas to this one. My goal this year is to go heavier then 300 kilograms, which is about 660 pounds. We will see.....   Monday, October 6 View Page On the left the 628 Olsen 03 (707 Toftness x 805 Pukos) On the right the 638 Olsen 03 (996.5 Handy x 716 Daletas) A couple of pretty nice crosses.   Friday, October 10 View Page here we got the final pumpkin on the "bulldog", tomorrow we head to Switzerland for our last weighoff this year   Friday, October 10 View Page So, the 716 Daletas is on the trailor. This one estimates in the mid 600 pound range. Sure hope it goes heavy.   Monday, October 13 View Page Final result was 642 pounds. Been a long season. Wish all of the good people out there a lot of success.......   Monday, October 20 View Page Moving the pumpkins into position for carving...   Monday, October 20 View Page A back side view after the seeds have been removed and the carving has begun....   Monday, October 20 View Page Here is Kai and Martin getting busy. Neither of these kids had ever carved a pumpkin before, much less one over 600 pounds....   Monday, October 20 View Page Proud carver with pumpkin....   Monday, October 20 View Page Another proud grower...the pumpkins are sitting on their stems. Seems to work pretty good...   Monday, October 20 View Page Don't get to close to them big mouth pumpkins, they're hungry!   Monday, October 20 View Page A great time was had at our first annual giant pumpkin carving party. These three are all related, though I know it is hard to see the family resemblence....lol. Still to come, night time shots of the hard work (if i can figure out how to do it with my camera).   Monday, October 20 View Page picture could be better   Monday, October 20 View Page this one has a big bite....   Monday, October 20 View Page hope they hold out till Halloween....