Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 186 Entries. Monday, January 1 View Page Belgium . Good luck to all growers in 2007!   Wednesday, January 10 View Page After the pumpkinplants were removed last fall, i tilled some manure in ,and green manure was sowed. Also added some limestone.The green manure here is mustard.   Wednesday, January 24 View Page The first and only frost this winter killed the mustard.   Tuesday, April 24 View Page 1502wallace and 998pukos went in germination-box today. Also put some of my 917's in for backup.   Saturday, April 28 View Page 1502 popped up this morning.. Planted 125wolf, 1174wallace,820sandvic,582hester and a 1210wells seed today.   Thursday, May 3 View Page 998pukos is finally up after 9!days. 1174wallace up.(5 days after planting).   Thursday, May 3 View Page 1502wallace is in Belgian dirt. The little one in front is a 917ghaye(backup plant).   Thursday, May 3 View Page 1502wallace,5 days old.   Friday, May 4 View Page 820sandvic, 125wolf, and 1210wells are up.   Tuesday, May 8 View Page Transplanted the 998Pukos today.   Tuesday, May 8 View Page First rain in 6 weeks here, yesterday. Finally we can lay the last hand on the fall prepared patches. My son Siemen here, ready to start...   Thursday, May 10 View Page 1174wallace and 1210wells are in the patch. Did some rototilling, and 2 hoophouses were built up.   Friday, May 11 View Page 820sandvic and 125wolf transplanted today.   Saturday, May 26 View Page 1502wallace.   Thursday, May 31 View Page 820sandvic and 125wolf both 27 days old.   Thursday, May 31 View Page 1174wallace 28 days old and 1210wells 27days old.   Thursday, May 31 View Page 1502wallace 34 days old and 998pukos 28days old. The weed fabric is taken away as the plants get bigger.Saves me a lot of weeding time.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page Did some patch preparation for the 2008 season. Added some chicken manure and lots of compost today.Tomorrow we will sow the green manure(facelia).Horse manure was plowed under in early spring(march). The darker part of the soil on the pic is good for 4 AG-plants next season.   Saturday, June 9 View Page First female flowerbud on the 1502wallace, 10ft.out.   Saturday, June 9 View Page 1502 wallace.   Saturday, June 9 View Page 820 sandvic. Watering system running. Also added some 13-40-13.   Friday, June 15 View Page 1502wallace. Unlike the former years i did'nt make a big planting-hole this season. This plant is growing faster than any i ever had. Could be the high temps maybe... Not to hot during the days till now(no heat-stress), but very warm nights during all season till now.   Friday, June 15 View Page This one was pollinated on 6/14. 1502wallace * self. Normally this will not be a keeper.It's only 11ft. out, but the next one is 15ft. out. After the one at 15ft. there is no other yet, so it will be one of those two.   Friday, June 15 View Page This will have to be the fruit on the 1502.It's the only female in the optimal pollination zone.The stem and the angle to the vine are good.I expect it will open in two or three days.   Friday, June 15 View Page 998pukos.   Friday, June 15 View Page 1209wells.   Friday, June 15 View Page 125wolf.   Friday, June 15 View Page 820sandvic.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This female will open tomorrow morning.It's on the 1502wallace at 15ft. No female yet in the next 7ft.,so this will be my only chance. Looking good (good stem,god angle).I will self it.   Monday, June 18 View Page Beautifull 5-lober on the 1502wallace.   Monday, June 18 View Page 1502wallace selfed and covered.   Friday, June 22 View Page Back to back plants. In front the 820sandvic,the other is the 125wolf. On the left side you can see the fieldpumpkins. Between the field and AG pumpkins you can see the green manure(phacelia).   Friday, June 22 View Page 1174wallace(front) and 1209wells.   Friday, June 22 View Page 998pukos(front) and 1502wallace.   Friday, June 22 View Page Watering container warming up in the sun.   Saturday, June 23 View Page 1502wallace, 5 days old.It's 13-14ft.out. The next female bud is 22ft.out,witch seems a little far for me. So this one will propably the keeper.   Saturday, June 23 View Page I usually put a piece of root-fabric(7ft.*7ft.) with playsand on it under my pumpkins.It prevents rodents from digging up under the fruit.I also put it partially under the main vine, so i do't have to cut roots all the time to keep the main loose.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Providing some shade... a bigger shade structure will be erected later.At least i hope i will have to...:)   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Pollinated a female 1502wallace*self at about 22ft.out.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 1209wells*1174wallace 13ft.out.   Saturday, June 30 View Page 1502wallace fruit. Females on 998pukos and 1209wells will open tomorrow.   Sunday, July 1 View Page 998pukos*self 15ft.out.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Pollinated fruit on the 998pukos.Plant in the back is the 1502wallace.   Sunday, July 1 View Page 1209wells*self 15ft.out.   Sunday, July 1 View Page The 1209wells(1370rose*1225jutras) is a beautifull plant. In the back is the 1174wallace.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Bended the vine away from a fruit on the 1502wallace.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page 820sandvic 17ft.out pollinated with two 1209wells males.Rain all morning, so i put some cover on it.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page 1174wallace pollinated with 998pukos. Every female on this plant till now has deformed lobes, and they are very short stemmed. This one is about 16ft. out, and the next one will be at about 20ft.out.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Giant males from the 1209wells.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page 1502wallace 16 days old and 37.5 inches circ. Not a superstart, but this pumpkin has hardly seen a few sunrays. Dark and wet weather(no two consecutive dry days for seven weeks now) since the plants are in the dirt here in western-europe.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page An overview of the patch.   Monday, July 9 View Page 1502wallace day 21.   Monday, July 9 View Page Another fruit on the 1502wallace, 22ft. out and 12 days old.   Monday, July 9 View Page 820sandvic. 6 days old.   Monday, July 9 View Page 998 pukos,day 8.   Monday, July 9 View Page Fruit on the 1174wallace.Very short stem, seeds in blossom-end..... waiting for the next one(could be my luckyone : pollinated on 7-7-7)   Monday, July 9 View Page 1209wells. Day 8.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 1502wallace.Day 26 , 130lbs.est.Finally warm wheater.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 998pukos.Day 14.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 820sandvic.Day 11.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 125wolf.Open pollinated on 7/10.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 1174wallace. Pollinated with the 1209wells on 7/7/7. I decided to terminate the main after this one due to the very bad angle to the vine and the very short stem. I will train the secondary in the picture as a new main after the fruit.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 1209wells.Day 14.Not sure if this one is the keeper.   Wednesday, July 18 View Page 1502wallace ,day 30:220lbs.est.(100kg). After a very slow start,picking up some speed now.90lbs in the last 4 days.   Friday, July 20 View Page Fruit on the 820sandvic.I like the shape of this one.   Friday, July 20 View Page 1209wells. 53"circ.   Friday, July 20 View Page 1174walllace. 35" circ.   Friday, July 20 View Page 998pukos.38"circ. The one in the back is bigger, but it will be culled tomorrow.I allready cut the stem halfway today.Hope i made the right choice.   Friday, July 20 View Page 998pukos plant with the 2 fruits. The shape of the one in front is a little better.   Friday, July 20 View Page 1502wallace.269lbs(122kg)est.   Monday, July 23 View Page 1502wallace, day 35 . 350lbs(160kg)est. 230lbs last 10 days. 130lbs last 5 days.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Made a protective structure for the 820sandvic fruit today.Not so much for the sun , but for the cold and the always pouring rain this season.We haven't had 2 consecutive dry days since may 2.   Friday, July 27 View Page 820sandvic.   Friday, July 27 View Page 998pukos.Day : 22 Est.wgt.: 90lbs.(41kg)   Friday, July 27 View Page 1209wells.Day : 17 Est.wgt.: 40lbs.(18kg)   Friday, July 27 View Page Biggest cull i ever made. Much too late, but i decided to go on with another one on the 1209wells.Between this one and the keeper there was another one that aborted after 10 days.   Friday, July 27 View Page 1174wallace.day : 20 est.wgt.80lbs.36kg   Saturday, July 28 View Page 1502wallace.day: 40 est.wgt. 454lbs.(206kg)   Sunday, July 29 View Page Found this pinhole in my pumpkin yesterday evening.   Sunday, July 29 View Page It's very deep, but not into the cavity of the pumpkin.(yet?). I threated it with captan, and i will put a fan on it tomorrow.Rain is pouring down today and i don't want to mess with electric wires till it's a little dry. Pumpkin gained 26lbs.(12kg) last 24 hours. That's good but not so extreme much.Hope i can keep her, but it's looking bad.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page This is how my plants begin to look when they get a bit older.I had this also in former years, except for last year.I grow in tunnel greenhouses, and i thought it was caused by too fresh compost or salts in bottom,combined with insuffient venting.Also it 's always in the heart of the plant(oldest leaves)it appears first.Last week i found out it is caused by spidermites.They love dry and hot conditions (greenhouse).They are there all the time and everywhere on the plant, but they're to little to see them.You only know they're there by seeing the effect on the leaves.That's why you start to see it on the oldest leaves. Anyway, i sprayed against them, and will spray again in 8 days for those that will be born by than out of the eggs.But it's not easy on such big plants , as you have to spray under the leaves too. Next years i will be earlier to take care of them.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page Leaves end up like this.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page When you see those webs you're sure it's spidermites.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page August 1,good day for an update. 998 pukos . day : 27. est.wgt. : 190lbs.(86kg)   Wednesday, August 1 View Page 820sandvic. day : 29 no measurements   Wednesday, August 1 View Page 1209wells. day : 22 est.wgt. 110lbs.(50kg)   Wednesday, August 1 View Page The wheel on the 1174wallace plant. day: 25 est.wgt.: 152lbs.(69kg)   Wednesday, August 1 View Page 1502wallace. day: 44 est.wgt. : 522lbs. 237kg   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Got soiltest result today for my 2008 patch. It's grassland right now. Gonna start preparation soon.   Monday, August 6 View Page 1502wallace day :49 est.wgt. : 635lbs(288kg) Gained 113lbs(51kg) in last five days in spite of a huge spidermite problem on this plant.Think i got the problem under control now.   Monday, August 6 View Page 998pukos. day : 32 est.wgt. : 328lbs(149kg) Gained 138lbs(63kg) in last 5 days. Gained 38lbs(17kg) in last 24 hours.   Monday, August 6 View Page 1174wallace. day:30 est.wgt.249lbs.(113kg) Gained 97lbs(44kg) in last 5 days.   Monday, August 6 View Page 1209wells. day : 27. est.wgt.: 231lbs.(105kg) Gained 111 lbs.(55kg) in last 5 days.   Monday, August 6 View Page 820sandvic. day:34. No measurements.   Saturday, August 11 View Page 1209wells. day : 32 est.wgt. :377lbs(171kg) Gained 146lbs(66kg) in last 5days.(little 30lbs a day)   Saturday, August 11 View Page 1174wallace . day :35 est.wgt.365lbs(165.5kg). Gained 116lbs(52.5kg) in last 5 days . (23lbs./day). Stemsplit on 08/09.Not into cavity.   Saturday, August 11 View Page 998pukos. day :37 est.wgt.: 474lbs.(215kg) Gained 146lbs(66kg) in last 5 days ( 29lbs/day)   Saturday, August 11 View Page 1502wallace. day : 54 est.wgt.: 690lbs(313kg). Gained 55lbs(25kg) in last 5 days.(11lbs/day).   Saturday, August 11 View Page 820 sandvic on day 39.No measurents. Was pollinated with the 1209wells.If i can keep this one till maturity gonna try a seed of it next season.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 1502wallace. day : 59 est.wgt.: 723lbs(328kg) Gained 33lbs,15kg last 5 days.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 998pukos. day : 42 est.wgt.: 611lbs(277kg) gained 137lbs(62kg) last 5 days.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 1174wallace. day: 40 est.wgt.: 465lbs(211kg) gained 101lbs(46kg) last 5 days.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 1174wallace. day: 40 est.wgt.: 465lbs(211kg) gained 101lbs(46kg) last 5 days.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 1209wells day: 37 est.wgt.: 514lbs(233kg) gained 137lbs(62kg) last 5 days.   Thursday, August 16 View Page 820 sandvic on day 39. No measurements.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page 1502wallace. day : 64 est.wgt.: 763lbs(346kg) gained 40lbs(18kg) last 5 days   Tuesday, August 21 View Page 998pukos. day: 47 est.wgt.: 743lbs(337kg) gained 132lbs(60kg) in last 5 days.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page 1209wells. day : 42 est.wgt.: 647lbs(293.5kg) gained 133lbs(60,5kg) in last 5 days.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page 1174wallace.day: 45 est.wgt.:544lbs(293,5kg) gained 79lbs(36kg) in last 5 days.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page 820sandvic on day 49.   Sunday, August 26 View Page 998pukos. day : 52 est.wgt.866lbs(393kg) Gained 123lbs(56kg)last 5 days. Gained 676lbs(307kg)from august 1 till now.That means a growth of 27lbs(12kg) a day for 25 days.Never had a fruit doing better.Let's hope she holds.   Sunday, August 26 View Page 1209wells.day : 47 est.wgt.: 745lbs(338kg) Gained 98lbs(44.5kg) last 5 days.(20lbs a day)   Sunday, August 26 View Page 1174wallace. day : 50 est.wgt.:633lbs(287kg). Gained 89lbs(40kg)last 5 days.   Sunday, August 26 View Page 1502wallace. day : 69 est.wgt. 807lbs(366kg). Gained 44lbs(20kg) last 5 days.   Sunday, August 26 View Page 820sandvic at day 54. Est.wgt . 500lbs(227kg).   Sunday, August 26 View Page 1174wallace and 1209wells are back to back plants in a tunnel greenhouse.   Friday, August 31 View Page My good friend and fellow pumpkingrower Luc Bex came by yesterday.Here he is with my 998pukos fruit. 998 pukos today : day:57 est. wgt.:970lbs(440kg) gained 104lbs(47kg)last five days.Speed is down to 20lbs(9kg)per day.   Friday, August 31 View Page Blossom end of my 998pukos fruit.   Friday, August 31 View Page 1502wallace. day : 74 est.wgt.:840lbs(381kg) Gained 33lbs(15kg)last 5 days.   Friday, August 31 View Page 1174 Wallace.day :55 est.wgt. : 699lbs(317kg) Gained 66lbs(30kg)last 5 days.   Friday, August 31 View Page 1209wells.day:52 est.wgt. 798lbs(362kg). Gained 53lbs(24kg) last 5 days.   Friday, August 31 View Page 820 sandvic on day 59 . Est.wgt. 546lbs(247kg)   Monday, September 3 View Page 998pukos fruit on day 60. Est. wgt. 1023lbs(464kg) Gaining about 18lbs(8kg) a day now.   Saturday, September 8 View Page 998pukos. day : 65 est.wgt. : 1083lbs(491kg). daily gains : 12lbs(5.4kg).   Saturday, September 8 View Page 998pukos. Stem end.   Saturday, September 8 View Page 1502wallace.day: 82 est.wgt.: 874lbs(396.5kg). daily gains : 4lbs(2kg)   Saturday, September 8 View Page 1209wells. day :60 est.wgt. : 842lbs(382kg) daily gains : 5lbs (2,4kg).   Saturday, September 8 View Page 1174wallace.day: 63 est.wgt.: 800lbs(363kg) daily gains : 12lbs(5.5kg)   Saturday, September 8 View Page Trying to prevent the 1174fruit from tumbling forwards.   Saturday, September 8 View Page 820sandvic. day: 67 est.wgt. 618lbs(280kg).   Saturday, September 8 View Page 820sandvic. Front view.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 998fruit is developping a stemsplit.   Thursday, September 13 View Page 998Pukos.Day 70. Est.wgt.:1142lbs(518kg).11lbs(5kg)/day. My other fruits : 1502wallace.day 87.est.: 917lbs(416kg) 1209wells. day 65.est.: 857lbs(389kg) 1174wallace.day 68.est.: 829lbs(376kg) 820 sandvic.day 72.est.: 662lbs(300kg)   Monday, September 17 View Page This is the fruit of my 1174wallace plant.Stemsplit went into cavity today. Measurements on the pallet : OTT 342,5" for an est.wgt of 844lbs(382kg).Weighed it and actual weight is 954lbs(433kg).It was my 4'th biggest fruit and it went 13% heavy.   Tuesday, September 18 View Page 998Pukos.Day 75. Est.wgt.: 1201lbs(545kg). In the background is my 1502wallace fruit est.922lbs(418kg).   Sunday, September 23 View Page This is my good friend Marcin,who helped me measuring this morning. 998Pukos. Day: 80 Est. wgt.: 1246lbs(565kg). Circ is 178,5".OTT 178,5+105+107 = 390,5" The fruit is still gaining 9lbs(4kg) a day.13 days to go...   Sunday, September 23 View Page This is Marcin with my 1502Wallace fruit. Day : 97 Est.Wgt.950lbs(430kg).   Sunday, September 23 View Page 820Sandvic .Est.wgt.: 754lbs(342kg). Looking good!   Sunday, September 23 View Page This was my 1209wells fruit. It started to rot from the inside.Est.wgt.882lbs(400kg).I didn't weigh it.   Sunday, September 23 View Page Harvesting seeds out of the 882Est.Dam.Ghaye. Cross was 1209Wells*self   Friday, September 28 View Page Last measurements before the final ones: 998pukos. day : 85 est.wgt,: 1257lbs (570kg) 1502wallace.day : 102 est.wt.: 954lbs (433kg) 820sandvic. day : 92 est.wgt: 780lbs (354kg)   Friday, October 5 View Page Lifting day today. Started with the fruit on 1502 wallace.   Friday, October 5 View Page 1502wallace fruit on the pallet. Measurements : 368"OTT Est. wgt. 1044lbs(473,5kg)   Friday, October 5 View Page Fruit on 998pukos ready to be lifted.   Friday, October 5 View Page There she goes. Measurements on the pallet : 401,5"OTT ESt.wgt. : 1350lbs(612kg)   Friday, October 5 View Page The 3 of them : The one on the left is the fruit of 820sandvic plant. It's est.wgt. is 862lbs(391kg).   Friday, October 5 View Page Locked up for the night.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Loading the pumpkins for travel to Duisburg.Had to borrow a friend's trailer as the 998fruit didn't fit in mine.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Ready for the trip.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Duisburg !   Sunday, October 7 View Page The pumpkin on the left was brought in by my buddy marcin. He took 4'th place with 877lbs(398kg).   Sunday, October 7 View Page My 1502Wallace fruit went 14%heavy and weighed in at 532,6kg(1174lbs).i took second place with it. Cross of the 1174Ghaye is 1502Wallace*self.   Sunday, October 7 View Page My fruit of the 998,6Pukos plant went 4%light and weighed in at 588.4kg(1297lbs).I took first place and it's the new Belgian and European Record! The cross of the 1297Ghaye is 998,6pukos*self   Sunday, October 7 View Page Iwan from the netherlands won some GOOD (=belgian) beer.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Fons Verstappen, the man i got my first Giant pumpkin seeds from, won the squash contest.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Getting my prizes!   Sunday, October 7 View Page Me and the former recordholder and 4 time champ Paul Boonen.   Sunday, October 7 View Page The 1297Ghaye 07.   Monday, October 15 View Page Arrival at Ludwigsburg(Germany) for the European weighoff(okt.14)   Monday, October 15 View Page Arrival in ludwigsburg(germany) for the european weighoff(oct.14).   Monday, October 15 View Page Pumpkin ready to be lifted from the pallet.   Monday, October 15 View Page A pic of the bottom from my pumpkin.It's a little concave, but solid.   Monday, October 15 View Page The best thing on an event like this is that you are able meet a lot of fellow growers you know from Bigpumpkins.com. In the back you can see Ludwigsburg castle.   Monday, October 15 View Page Anders Lilja from Sweden (left) and me , both grew our fruit of a 998Pukos seed.   Monday, October 15 View Page Anders, winner of last years weighoff,and bringing a very big one this year as well had to explain it in front of the camera.   Monday, October 15 View Page Martin Reiss , doing an interview during the life broadcasting of the event. (Weighoff and the whole pumpkin event was live broadcasted during 1,5 hours on german TV)   Monday, October 15 View Page There were two scales, and the two last ones (mine and anders') were weighed simultaneously for the TV coverage. Here we are a few moments before the weights were announced.   Monday, October 15 View Page I had to say a few words as well...lol   Monday, October 15 View Page Belgium rules!!! My fruit weighed in at 583kg(1285lbs).It lost 5.5kg(12lbs) since last week.   Monday, October 15 View Page One of the interviews after the weighing.   Monday, October 15 View Page Me, Owen and his latest girlfriend! Isn't she cute?   Monday, October 15 View Page No worries, Martina.Just a little joke...lol   Monday, October 15 View Page After the weighoff the pumpkins were exposed , so the crowd could take a look and take pics. We left at 6.15 pm and arrived home at 0.30 a.m. after a 6 hour drive. It was a very long but also a very nice day.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page My pumpkins are displayed in front of my store during the month of october.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page View on my 1297 from inside.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Weighoff in Kasterlee oct.28   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Weighoff Kasterlee   Wednesday, October 31 View Page My pumpkin lifted and heading to the scales.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page First prize was a 26" LCD TV and first in belgium over 500kg was awarded a trip to UK.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Family pic.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page From left to right : My wife Mira, Siemen, Robin,last year winner Paul Boonen,from the netherlands:Harry Poels (3th place today) , and last but not least Luc Vanheuckelom.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Some guy asked me if it was OK to take a few pics of his girlfriend on the 1297. Well... what could i say? lol   Wednesday, October 31 View Page 1297Ghaye ready for halloween. TV station came to film . Here's the link: http://www.tvl.be/nl/nieuws/zoek?src=pompoen   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Inside the 1174.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page 1297 ready. My little boy digging for seeds in the 1174.   Wednesday, October 31 View Page Happy Halloween !!!