Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 34 Entries. Tuesday, February 8 View Page Before I move onto 2005 I need to thank my helpers in 2004. First the Dog Moose, who keep the neighbors cattle out of the patch. Second to the Cat Pumpkin, who kept me company but didn't harm the mouse population. Third to AG the Sparrow Hawk who keep the sparrows from harming the pumpkins. And last to my little helper (Grandson) Aidan for helping me in the patch.   Thursday, May 12 View Page Well, the VOW season started with a cold whimper. I planted the 1058 Papez on May 1st and frost nipped it several nights later. However, damaged it survived and has started growing. The plant is telling me that it will defend my VOW title.   Thursday, May 19 View Page Well; we all do strange things when we have too much time on our hands. Here is my first 4250 lb pumpkin. It now stands guard over the patch. The 1058 Papez is making a slow comeback after being frosted. But I have high hopes for it.   Tuesday, June 7 View Page The 1058 papez (my vwo) is starting to growing well.   Thursday, June 16 View Page The 1058 VWO plant had it's first female out about 6 feet, we will wait for one out 10 to 12 feet. Billf   Saturday, July 2 View Page The 1058 VW0 had a couple of tough weeks, we had some temps in the high 90's that burnt several leaves, had hail that damaged all the leaves (15-20 holes in the large leaves) and several days ago very gusty winds that took many leaves down. However; I did pollinated the future 2005 winner and it took several hail hits, sure glad that this is not a beauty contest.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Circumference ---10 Day *** 20 Day +++ 30 Day 1458W --- 37 *** xx +++ xx 1446E --- 20 *** xx +++ xx 1432C --- 23 *** xx +++ xx 1420L --- 24 *** xx +++ xx 1144H --- 25 *** xx +++ xx 1129H --- 25 *** xx +++ xx 1125F --- 24 *** xx +++ xx 1058P --- 24 *** xx +++ xx 977F --- 22 *** xx +++ xx 926H --- 35 *** xx +++ xx 905A --- 23 *** xx +++ xx 752B --- 26 *** xx +++ xx 621P --- 19 *** xx +++ xx #16G --- 25 *** xx +++ xx 1458 Hail broke off the main before any pumpkins, growing on Secondary. 1446 Really set back by frost, lucky to be alive. 1432 Very unruly plant, great in cold weather, poor heat tolerance. 1420 Hail and wind broke main vine right after 2nd pumpkin, growing 2 on this plant 1144 Went flat vine at 6 feet out terminated main at 10 feet. Pumpkin at end of main 1129 Steady eddy here, not flashy rather droopy plant. 1125 Very nice and neat plant, watch this grow (SG) online at 1058 is VWO plant doing well. Needed to make a 90 degree turn with main. You better pour on the fertilizer on your VWO if you expect to beat this one. 977 Nice plant but doesn’t appear to have the vigor as some of the rest. 926 Terrible looking plant, froze out the first time, restated new one, Hail, herbicide, wind and heat damage have not stopped this plant. 905 Frost, Hail, Wind, heat and herbicide damage but it has come back to be one on the nicest looking plants, nice looking fruit. 752 Dog broke off main at 7 feet right after first pumpkin. Fruit looking real good. 621 Was my best looking plant until Hail and severe wind damage? Small fruit so far. #16 By far the biggest plant, was out about 15 feet before first pumpkin, it split at 14 days, number two doing well.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page For some cool photos and time laspe videos check this web site http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkin.asp In the Photo Upper Garden 1458W Near Middle Right 1446E Near Middle left 1432C far Middle Right 1420L far Middle left 1144H far Middle Middle 1129H Near Middle Middle 1058P Far Lower Garden 977F Near Right 926H Far left 905A Far Right 621P Near left Lower Garden 1058P Far #16G Middle 752B Near Super Garden 1125F   Friday, July 29 View Page All in all things are going great. However the vines are out of control, I needed to let the secondaries and Tertiaries grow because of all the damage from hail, wind, and heat. Circumference ------10 Day ***** 20 Day +++ 30 Day 1458W ----------------- 37 *********77 ++++++ xx 1446E ----------------- 20 ******** 69 ++++++ xx 1432C --- --------------23 ******** 68 ++++++ xx 1420L --- --------------24 ******** 59 ++++++ xx 1144H ------------------25 ******** 71 ++++++ xx 1129H ----------------- 25 ******** 77 ++++++ xx 1125F ---------------- 24 ******** 79 ++++++ xx 1058P ---------------- 24 ******** 75 ++++++ xx 977F ----------------- 22 ******** 70 ++++++ xx 926H ---------------- 35 ******** 78 ++++++ xx 905A ---------------- 23 ******** 68.5 +++++xx 752B ---------------- 26 ******** 65 ++++++ xx 621P --- ------------- 19 ******** 58 ++++++ xx #16G --- ------------- 25 ******** 69 ++++++ xx 1458 Cooler weather or being on a secondary slowed this one down. 1446 Fruit set close to stump but doing rather well. 1432 Very raged looking plant but growing fruit well. 1420 Fruit really orange even when small, leaving two grow on plant. 1144 Pumpkin doing well at the end of the flat Main. 1129 Growing well, just doing its thing. 1125 Nice plant, fruit really growing, watch this grow (SG) online at http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkin.asp 1058 is VWO plant doing well. Going big folks. 977 I really wanted my own plant to kick butt, but it is just hanging in there. 926 Terrible looking plant, but boy she is kicking. 905 Little Joe is starting to pack on the pounds. 752 State Fair here I come, fruit doing real well, looks just like my 977 from last year. 621 Small fruit and small stems. I think it is just waiting for August to grow. #16 Number 2 fruit doing well, but main vine doesn’t look good.   Monday, August 1 View Page Just thought I'd take the camera out today and add some pictures to my Diary. Here is a leave on the 1125 Franz it is 34.5 inches.   Monday, August 1 View Page Here is my 1125 Franz it is approaching 500lbs, it will be 35 days on the 2nd. The smaller second pumpkin in this photo is part of an experiment. Because of bad positioning and my insistance to go with that pumpkin I needed to cutoff the trailing vine. I left the trailing vine grow with the next pumpkin I had pollinated. Now it is a clone and it will tell me how much weight is lost by cutting the trailing vine off.   Monday, August 1 View Page Here is my VWO 1058, at this time it is my biggest pumpkin at about 575 on Day 28. You can see the hail dings it this one.   Monday, August 1 View Page Here is the #16 Gerry, it is getting a late start but doing it's best to catch up Day 27.   Monday, August 1 View Page 752 Blair at 42 days weighing approx 520lbs.   Monday, August 1 View Page 1432 Carlson, this is a very impressive looking pumpkin. It has real nice height but not much depth. 36 days about 420 lbs. The plant really suffers on hot days.   Monday, August 1 View Page 905 Ailts, growing a little slower than I want but it will do well in the long run. Day 32, about 300lbs.   Monday, August 1 View Page This is the 1144 Hester. Nice round pumpkin on Day 30 about 280lbs. It is on the end of a Flat vine. Will see what we get.   Monday, August 1 View Page The is the 926 Hunt on Day 26, really did well on Day 10 (35.5) and 20 (78) numbers. This plant also looks really rough but I'm hoping this is going to be the big one.   Monday, August 1 View Page Here are my 1420's, couldn't stand to remove those nice little orange fruit. They won't be monsters but they should be pretty.   Monday, August 1 View Page This is the 1446 Eaton, only about 6 feet from the stump. Day 36 about 350 pounds. Notice the hail dings on this one.   Monday, August 1 View Page 621 Pley, this plant started great and then the hail and wind etc. All three I pollinated where 19 inches on day 10. This will likely be my smallest pumpkin.   Monday, August 1 View Page 1129 Hestor, just growing well about 300 day 31.   Monday, August 1 View Page Foss 977 I'm not the proud daddy I wanted be with this one. Doing okay but no monster here. Day 34 about 330lbs.   Monday, August 1 View Page 1458 Last but only the smallest for now. Several hundred pounds on day 23 the youngest of my pumpkins. Hail broke off the main so it is on the secondary. 37 on day 10 culled two others at 36 and 33 inches.   Monday, August 1 View Page Okay had you all going for a minute the 1058 is 38 days. These fingers don't work as well as they once did.   Monday, August 8 View Page Circumference ---10 Day *** 20 Day +++ 30 Day 1458W -----------------37 *********77 ++++++ 101 1446E ----------------- 20 ******** 69 ++++++ 104 1432C ------------------23 ******** 68 ++++++ 103 1420L --- --------------24 ******** 59 ++++++ 84 1144H -----------------25 ******** 71 ++++++ 99 1129H -----------------25 ******** 77 ++++++ 104 1125F ---------------- 24 ******** 79 ++++++ 120 1058P ---------------- 24 ******** 75 ++++++ 118 977F ----------------- 22 ******** 70 ++++++ 104 926H ---------------- 35 ******** 78 ++++++ 109 905A ---------------- 23 ******** 68.5 +++++ 99 752B ---------------- 26 ******** 65 ++++++ 103.5 621P --- -------------19 ******** 58 ++++++ 88 #16G --- -------------25 ******** 69 ++++++ 101 1458 Growth slowing down. 1446 Continues a steady growth. 1432 Very raged looking plant but fruit growing very well. 1420 Fruit really orange even when small, left two grow the plant, not huge. 1144 Pumpkin at the end of the flat Main, small split at stem end. 1129 Continues to do well just doing its thing. 1125 Nice plant, huge leaves. Big orange fruit really growing, watch this grow (SG) online at http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkin.asp 1058 is my VWO plant doing extremely well. Going big folks. 977 Stem and pumpkin split, hanging in there. 926 Terrible looking plant, fruit growing great. 905 Little Joe growing a slow steady pace. 752 Nice big and orange pumpkin. 621 I’m hoping it is just waiting for August/September to grow. #16 Doing well, but main vine doesn’t look good.   Saturday, August 13 View Page Here is my 1125 Frantz today. To see a time lapse video of this pumpkin growing from 0-500 in just a few seconds check out my sons website at http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkinIOW/index.asp   Thursday, August 18 View Page Need Rain, it has been going around us for the last three days. Need to pick one for the MN ST Fair on Wednesday. Circum 10 Day 20 Day 30 Day 40 Day 50 Day 60 Day 1458W 37 77 101 116 1446E 20 69 104 120.5 1432C 23 68 103 123 1420L 24 59 84 101 1144H 25 71 99 119 1129H 25 77 104 128 1125F 24 79 120 141 1058P 24 75 118 138 977F 22 70 104 115 926H 35 78 109 126 905A 23 68.5 99 120 752B 26 65 103.5 125 621P 19 58 88 104 #16G 25 69 101 117.5 1458 Growth slowing down will be lucky to make 600lbs. 1446 Continues a steady growth. 1432 Very raged plant but fruit continues to grow well. 1420 Fruit really orange even when small, left two grow on the plant, not huge. 1144 Pumpkin at the end of the flat Main, small split at stem end. 1129 Continues to do well just doing its thing. 1125 Nice plant, huge leaves. Big orange fruit really growing, watch this grow from 0-600 LBS (SG) online at http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkin.asp 1058 is my VWO plant doing extremely well. 977 Stem and pumpkin split, hanging in there. 926 Another terrible looking plant, fruit growing great. 905 Little Joe growing a slow steady pace. 752 nice big and orange pumpkin. 621 Growing slow probably will not make 500 lbs. #16 Doing okay, main vine doesn’t look good and now it has a small split at Stem end.   Friday, August 26 View Page Here is the new MN ST Fair Record the 840 Foss 1432 Carson x 1458 Whittier. Goal one obtained, working on goal two (repeating as the VWO winner) and goal three getting to 1100 lbs. I had the Foss 977 and 1129 Hester split at the ribs, patched them up to hopefully use as yard decorations later. The rest including the vwo plant are doing well. Had three inches of rain last night the worries me after a month with no rain.   Monday, August 29 View Page They all are at least 50 Days today. Circum 10 D 20 D 30 D 40 D 50 D 60 D 1458W 37 77 101 116 127 1446E 20 69 104 120.5 131 1432C 23 68 103 123 132 1420L 24 59 84 101 107 1144H 25 71 99 119 133 1129H 25 77 104 128 148 1125F 24 79 120 141 154 1058P 24 75 118 138 147 977F 22 70 104 115 129 926H 35 78 109 126 140 905A 23 68.5 99 120 130 752B 26 65 103.5 125 140 621P 19 58 88 104 111 #16G 25 69 101 117.5 125 1458 Growth slowing should make over 600lbs. 1446 Continues a steady growth on track to make 700 plus. 1432 Went to the MN State Fair on day 59. 840 lbs. 1420 Fruit really orange even when small, left two grow the plant, not huge. 1144 Growing well, fruit at the end of the flat Main, small split at stem end. 1129 Developed a Dill ring and developed a small crack on day 50. 1125 Nice plant, huge leaves. Big orange fruit really growing, watch this grow from 0-600 LBS (SG) online at http://www.quantumpetshop.com/projects/pumpkin.asp 1058 is my VWO plant doing extremely well. 977 Stem and pumpkin split, Split at rib on day 53. 926 Another terrible looking plant, fruit growing great. 905 Little Joe growing slow. 752 nice big and orange pumpkin. 621 Growing slow probably will not make much over 500 lbs. #16 Growing well, main vine doesn’t look good and now has a small Stem split.   Friday, September 9 View Page 1058 VWO,still doing fine. Lost a total of five to splits in the last several weeks. 1458 Whitter 533 lbs Still growing 1129 Hestor 855 lbs 977 Foss 678 lbs 926 Hunt 888 lbs Still growing 905 Ailts 540 lbs   Wednesday, September 21 View Page Here is a pic of the 1058 Papez the VWO for 2005. Very little grow in the last 10 days. Hoping to take this one to the Weigh off in Stillwater, MN on OCT 8.   Thursday, October 6 View Page Boy was it cold and windy this morning when we loaded for Stillwater. The one on the truck is the 1058 Papez my VWO entry. The next three front 1144 Hestor, 1446 Eaton and 1420 LaRue. Wish me luck.   Sunday, October 9 View Page It is offical, here is my VWO entry for 2005 The 1020.5 Foss (1058 Papez x 1420 LaRue)at the Lake Elmo/Stillwater weigh off. Thanks to all those who put the Lake Elmo/Stillwater weigh off together.