Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 108 Entries. Tuesday, January 2 View Page So here we go then, will 2007 be that vintage year? In our quite little donkey town a horse and cart delivers our manure for the patch. We’ve always been farmers round here, muck and wellies that’s us, why do a job today when it can be done tomorrow. Bob and I were pondering over a nice cup of tea when all of a sudden, WHAT THE !!! A huge lorry roars past. “New kids on the block” I explained to Bob, “It seams there are more modern ways of growing pumpkins these days. It’s that Malcolm nipper with another 18 tonnes of all singing, all dancing, state of the art, pumpkin soil. Lit up at night like Las Vegas I’m told.” “It’s all healthy competition don’t let it get you down” says Bob. “We shall see come weigh off day who will need the biggest lorry to get there produce to the show. He may only need our horse and cart lol.”   Wednesday, January 24 View Page Time to start this year’s diary for real. The old glasshouse that we grew the 1002lber in last year has gone and so has the big weeping birch. That gives us room for four plants in this area this year and bigger patches as well.( about 600sqft / plant ). We have sub soiled all the patches to a depth of about 2ft to help improve the drainage. This big patch outside will now get a cover over the whole area and it’s staying over all year. We’ve decided to do this because this year we want to be in total control of the watering and want no rain on the plants. The photo is of our new extended patch all “manured up” and you can just see the new electric box we’ve put in. ( about 2 tonnes of manure / plant )   Saturday, February 17 View Page Last week we got the ridge for our outside patch up. I added a couple of feet to the uprights from last year and if anything it looks a little high now. Anyway tall is good when it comes to keeping the humidity down and getting the heat away from the plants. Our next job will be to put the sides on so we can cover the top and it’s this top cover that’s staying up all year.   Monday, February 26 View Page This week we both agreed that the ridge was too high and we cut a little out. We also got the side posts in and now have a 3m high ridge and the side posts are 2m high.   Saturday, March 3 View Page Just five weeks to go before we sow and our cover for the outside is coming on well. It will probably take another 2 weeks before we are ready to put the cover on but I’m sure it will be worth the effort.   Friday, March 9 View Page XPG or “Xtreme pumpkin growers” got their new logo sketch today. I asked Dave Sutherland a friend of a friend if he could help us out as I’d seen some of his work. He has been an absolute star and Malcolm and I would like to thank him for all his suffering putting up with us.   Wednesday, March 14 View Page This years line up is all ready to go. Our plan is to use the 723 as the pollinator for all and use the best looking 1068 plant as the pollinator for the 723. We have a spare 723 as a back up so hopefully we won’t have the same problem as last year. Our aim is to get some top seed of our own over the next few years but pumpkins tend to have a mind of there own as well we know.   Wednesday, March 14 View Page And then there were the long gourds. We have some fantastic seed for this year. We will aim to have 2 plants of each but at the moment were not sure what we will pollinate with what. Anyway plenty of time yet   Wednesday, March 21 View Page Oh dear, bit of a hick up this week. One of the posts we put in for the side wall of our pumpkin house was in the wrong place. No problemo I thought, we will just pull it out and put it back in the right place. PROBLEMO, when we pulled the post out we were greeted with a hissing sound and a very bad smell. Unfortunately no one had passed wind and we found that we had put the post clean thro a gas main (that was to oh dear bit) Anyway the gas board did a temporary repair and will be out in the next few weeks to finish the job. We will probably get a bill saying “ pleasure to rob you” but I was thinking, small hole in pipe, free heat for pumpkins, god I’m a bad boy lol.   Friday, March 23 View Page We’ve been making up the long gourd climbing frames all winter and finally after god knows how much work are putting them up. Somehow I don’t think we will be needing to dig any holes for the gourds this year but if we did I guess it would be the best hole in the world to dig. That’s me by the way welding and yes I know I look so much better with a mask on   Friday, March 23 View Page Three climbing frames for our six plants.   Tuesday, April 10 View Page All our seeds were soaked for 24 hours and then sowed on the 7th of April. We have put the temperature up to about 95 this year on Pap’s recommendations.   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Time for an update. Stuart has been getting the cover over the main growing area while I’ve been putting my feet up and drinking to much beer on holiday with Sarah. Some of the seeds came up and some didn’t, so the good news is that we have a 998 a 1231 and a 1068 planted in the patch. With seeds like that germinating what could be bad news, well we lost the first 723 seed and another 1068. So after a big deep breath we planted another 723 and two 1502’s. One of the 1502 was up this morning and we are really praying that the 723 comes up in the next few days. The 723 is our key pollinator and would like to think would produce some great seed for the future. But pumpkins tend to have a mind of there own and you just have to go with the flow, the game is to get every LB out of the plants you can.   Monday, April 30 View Page So a couple or more weeks have gone by and all our plants are out in the patch. Ups and downs as usual to say the least. After living in the shed for several weeks when my wife found out what Stuart and I had spent on seeds ( thanks by the way for all who donated bedding and food ) we lost one 1068 and two 723 seeds on germination. So after a rather painful germination season we have moved in to the growing season with a 998, a 1231, a 1068 and two 1502’s as our final plants. Here’s a photo of the 1068.   Monday, April 30 View Page The long gourds are a real pain to get germinated. We have ended up with two 88.5’s ,one 109 and three 126.5’s in the patch but at the expense of all of our good seeds. But I would like to thank Al and Joe for trading and giving us the seeds.   Thursday, May 3 View Page This years 998 is off and running and it will be interesting to see if the plant turns out to be stronger than last years. We have a couple of canes up by the growing tip to keep it close to the ground   Wednesday, May 16 View Page We’ve had cold nights for about a week now and it does show especially on the plants under the plastic cover. The foliage has a yellow tint which will go the as soon as the warmer nights come back. We have put a plastic cover round the big patch to keep out most of the wind but still leaving it well vented.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Here’s the 1231 at least 10 to 14 days ahead of last years   Wednesday, May 16 View Page The 998 had a couple of vines growing under the stem so we did a little pruning to get the plant straight. The plant should fill out ok in the next few weeks.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Both of the 1502‘s have huge leaves for young plants and the stems are like tree trunks. We already have to fight to keep the heads down and I can see the fight continuing when we have to bend the stem away from the fruit.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Here’s the other 1502 showing a little wind damage.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page The 1068 is growing fine and the colour is better as the night temps are up a few degrees. The very stable climate of a high glass house does make for great growing conditions at this time of the year.   Sunday, May 20 View Page We had a minor set back today when I found the head of one of the 1502’s had snapped off. We will still be able to use one of the laterals and at least it has happened fairly early on. We will use the first lateral behind the break to keep the apical dominance right at the front of the plant.   Sunday, May 20 View Page The long gourds are all doing fine here's a photo of one of the plants.   Monday, May 28 View Page It’s time for an update from Donkey town. Stuart has been fly fishing for salmon in Scotland for the last week so it was left to me to get the netting up for the long gourds. I keep forgetting to tape how tall the frames are but it’s a long way down from the top.   Monday, May 28 View Page The 1231 is growing well and the cover it’s in has been great as we had one month’s rain in 24 hrs yesterday.   Monday, May 28 View Page The 998 is looking rather skinny like last year   Monday, May 28 View Page Both of the 1502’s are a real handful, so much so that I had to mail their Dad Ron and get some tips on how to control them. We must think of something to call them but what we called them the other day was not repeatable lol. So for now this is one.   Monday, May 28 View Page And this is the other.   Monday, May 28 View Page We dug a small trench a couple of inches deep and lowered the main stem in and now I hope we are in some sort of control of the “plant with attitude   Monday, May 28 View Page Last but not least the 1068 is doing fine.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page One week on and were looking at starting to pollinate the 1068 in a few days time with the 1231.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page We hope to start pollinating the 1231 at about the same time.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page We will have to wait for a while to pollinate the 998 as one of the posts is in the way. Also as the plant is looking a little "skinny" we are going to let some more of the side vines grow middle of the plant so that we get some more leaf cover.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page Last 1502 A   Tuesday, June 5 View Page And 1502 B   Thursday, June 21 View Page Surprise, surprise I’ve been away again so Stuart has been looking after the patch. Over the last few weeks he has increased the feed as although the weather has been absolutely rubbish, all our plants are under cover this year and they have been growing extremely fast. First up on the pumpkin parade is a photo of the 1231 and it was pollinated with the 1068 today. Stuart had already pollinated one about a week ago but we weren’t happy with the shape.   Thursday, June 21 View Page And a photo of the female we pollinated today.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Next up is the 998. This plant has really responded to the extra feed and over the last few weeks has filled out a treat. It is now a far better plant than last year and we pollinated it with the 1068 on the 18th June which is the same day as last years 998.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Next is the 1502 “A” ( “A” now stands for attitude). This plant has been a real pain in the butt. Stuart pollinated it with the 998 on the 19th June and a few nodes past the pumpkin it cracked its stem nearly half way thro again. We were going to pollinate another one a little further out but now have decided to go with the first one   Thursday, June 21 View Page And a close up of the 1502 “A” pumpkin.   Thursday, June 21 View Page The 1502 “B” has been an easier plant to look after and we will pollinate it tomorrow with the 1068.   Thursday, June 21 View Page The 1502 "B" ready for pollinating.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Last is the 1068, it is a great plant and it was pollinated with the 1231 on the 16 June.   Thursday, June 21 View Page And the pumpkin.   Thursday, June 21 View Page The Long gourds are getting a wriggle on.   Friday, June 22 View Page And one photo I missed yesterday the 998.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page We decided that we didn’t like the first 1068 female,so at the moment were going with one pollinated on the 22 June and again with the 1231. In the end the 1502 B was pollinated with the 1231 on the 22 June. Here’s a photo of the 1068 stem.   Monday, July 2 View Page The weather here in the UK has been absolutely appalling and over the last ten days or so we have hardly seen the sun. All you see on the news is flooded homes and forecasts of yet more rain. All the hard work building a cover over the main patch is now paying off as we are at least in control of the watering, but there is little we can do about the temps. Our second 1231 aborted so we are now looking at a female pollinated on the 29th June with the 1068. This female is 23ft out.   Monday, July 2 View Page Next up is the 998 pollinated with the 1068 14 days ago. All the photos this week have a 2L pot next to them and this female is 19ft out.   Monday, July 2 View Page The 1502 A pollinated with the 998 is 13 days old today and although only 12ft out I have to say is looking good.   Monday, July 2 View Page The 1502 B pollinated on the 22nd June with the 1231 is 14ft out and 10 days old today. Both the 1502’s look like peas in a pod at this stage.   Monday, July 2 View Page The 1068 also pollinated on the 22nd June with the 1231 is 25ft out which is a record for us. At ten days old were pleased with the way this one is looking.   Monday, July 2 View Page The first Long gourd has got to the top of the climbing frame this week which is 13ft high. Some of the others have still got to grow another 5ft or so. To be honest I’m surprised there growing as well as they are as the wind has been knocking seven bells out of them. We lost one of the mains on one of the plants but will use the next side vine.   Monday, July 9 View Page This weeks diary entry brings yet more news of rain and cold nights. On the weekend we did get our first two sunny days in weeks but the night temps remain at 10 to 13 C. All the northern European countries seem to be locked in to the same conditions and if the European record gets broken this year it will be a special achievement. So we hope the weather gets better for us all in the coming weeks. The 1231 has moved on,albeit slowly so hopefully in the seven days time I will be able to report that we have a keeper.   Monday, July 9 View Page Were not sure if the 998 has become our first real casualty of the year. On Sunday we found some shallow cracks in the skin and dots of sap coming out of the skin on the top of the fruit. Were guessing that it has something to do with the two hot days after so many cold ones. It was 21 days old today and had a total measurement of 121inches. For the moment we are going to keep it on the plant and we got to pollinate another female this morning. Oh the joy of pumpkin growing lol   Monday, July 9 View Page The 1502 (B) is doing fairly well despite Stuarts best efforts to break of the stem (it was only a small crack and looks like it’s healing over already). On day 20 its vital stats are a total of 118 inches and doing well esp. as it’s our smallest plant.   Monday, July 9 View Page Were not sure if the 1502 is the full ticket so to speak, there’s a bit of a shape issue but the plant looks great. I think in two weeks time we will know if she is destined to be one of the beasts of the patch. She measures in at 92 inches on day 17   Monday, July 9 View Page So the last photo is of the 1068 also on day 17. She is up to 107 inches in total and looking very good. I should add that she is in the best location with a computer looking after the vent temps. This is the third seed we have paid for and we have paid over $2000 for the three seeds two of which did not germinate. The only reason for buying these seeds was to get some top genetics of our own and we were really disappointed when the two 723’s didn’t germinate. So at the and of the year if we can get a good pumpkin with the right genetics, hopefully we can swap some seeds with other clubs. That means XPG might get some good seeds to auction and our club will be up and running   Monday, July 16 View Page Lets get some of the iffy news out of the way to start with. The 998 and 1231 are right back where we started, both on recently pollinated females. It’s worse than a game of snakes and ladders. The good news is we haven’t given up on them yet and I will fill in there own diary when things start to improve. The 1502 (A) on day 27 is a total of 174 inches 122lbs and 79 lbs for the week.   Monday, July 16 View Page The 1502 (B) is no oil painting but we can do ugly, as long as it’s big and ugly. It’s a total of 138 inches 65lbs and 42lbs for the week.   Monday, July 16 View Page Last the 1068 has a waist line of 172inches 118lbs and 84lbs for the week. So after 24 days she is beginning to get a wriggle on. Although “Bayer” could not sponsor XPG this year they did kindly give us a pallet of “Phostrogen” which is a great balanced feed just right for us. So all the plants will be getting a good feed tomorrow with the spray lines and the leaves will be washed of with a little plain water.   Monday, July 23 View Page Guess what, its chucking it down and we haven’t seen the sun for two days. Our 1231 looks like it might be up and running, it would have been pollinated on about the 8th of June and open pollinated. It’s not great for future seeds but it’s our only option and beggars can’t be choosers.   Monday, July 23 View Page The 998 was pollinated with the 1068 on the 10th July and we think this one is up and running as well. Both are about two and a half weeks later than we wanted but at least they are under cover.   Monday, July 23 View Page Talking of covers, how dinky is this one.   Monday, July 23 View Page The 1502 (A) has had a fairly good week and although were not sure about the shape, on day 34 is a total of 224 inches and 246lb which is 124lb for the week   Monday, July 23 View Page The 1502 (B) on day 31 is a total 173 inches and at 120lb has put on only 55lb for the week. Stuart calls it the lemon which describes rather well; I think it’s on a diet.   Monday, July 23 View Page Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear, that’s what we said when we saw this small crack appear on the 1068 four days ago. Well I think the language was not quite as I described but all I can say is that the crack is the only problem with the plant and our fingers are well and truly crossed.   Monday, July 23 View Page So at 31 days the 1068 is 223 inches in total 223lb and up 125 lb for the week. This cross and the 998 x 1068 I think are our best crosses this year, so we can only hope one of them performs. I am away in Holland next week so there won’t be a diary entry for about 2 weeks. I could get Stuart to do it for me but he’s still learning how to do joined up hand writing. Bless lol.   Tuesday, August 7 View Page I’m back after a truly amazing week as my son Ben has just become World Laser Radial Sailing champion, I still can’t believe he has done it but now I’m back with the pumpkins and the first bit of bad news is we pulled the 1502 lemon plant. It was never going to get any real size as it was only 256lb after 45 days so it had to go. The 1502 (A) is still growing fairly well and on day 48 is 283 inches and 482lb.   Tuesday, August 7 View Page The 1068 after 45 days tapes 289 inches for 512 lb. Stuart and I know we won’t be setting many records the year but we still think we can make the 1000lb with one of them.   Tuesday, August 7 View Page We are also going to struggle with both of the Pukos plants but were sure it is only down to the bad weather. The best of the two is the 1231 which on day 29 is 185 inches and 144 lb   Monday, August 13 View Page Right, here we go then, the 998 is toast and for those of you not from the UK, that means we will be pulling the plant up some time this week. The 1231 is on day 36 up to 256lb and up 112lb for the week. It’s late in the year and for her to make a decent weight but we will do our best.   Monday, August 13 View Page Our 1502 made the best weight gains this week up 147lb for the week. She now tapes 310inches and 629lb.   Monday, August 13 View Page The 1068 ends this week on day 52, one inch larger than the 1502 and is now 635lb. So 123lb for the week is Ok but we have some real bad weather on its way for tomorrow.   Monday, August 20 View Page So here comes this weeks news from Donkey town. First of all I have to say the weather over here is fantastic, if your growing parsnips or winter cabbages that is lol. The long gourds have been the biggest problem and we only have one plant out of six with a fruit set. The temps have been down to 10C (50F) at night and all the young ones have been aborting which is a great shame. The one that we have growing and is 32inches is the 88.5 x 126, so a nice cross and next year we will have a new battle plan.   Monday, August 20 View Page Extreme measures have been taken with the 1231 to try and get it back on track. This week we filled in both ends of the tunnel and made a roll up vent on the side. We then plugged in 5 hot air heaters but found we only have enough buckets of electric to run them on one bar. Never mind, we are 4 to 5C warmer than out side and if the now HOT pumpkin looks like it has potential, we have more cunning plans to keep the temp up as we get into September. On day 43 the 1231 x open was 261 inches 381lbs and up 125lbs for the week.   Monday, August 20 View Page The 1502 although under cover is in the cold at night and only put on 62lbs for the week leaving it on day 62 at 691lbs.   Monday, August 20 View Page The 1068 however had a fairly good week and in a little warmer conditions put on 114lbs this week. That leaves it on day 59 at 329inches and 749lbs. Stuart and I are both thinking that this is one seed that will be going into our patch next year.   Monday, August 27 View Page This year it looks like the more we try the more problems we find. After last week spending hours filling in round the sides of our 1231 tunnel and heating, it only gained 86LB to end the week at 467LB. One of the reasons is a very fast build up of scarid flies and their larvae have damaged the roots of the plant. Stuart and I both think that although the weather has been a real pain it has taught us a few good lessons and this year is not over yet. Except for the LG’s that is as our only growing fruit has aborted at 40inches.   Monday, August 27 View Page Last up for the week is the 1502 which now tapes 329inches 749LB and 58LB for the week.   Monday, September 3 View Page It looks like we sorted out those scarid flies, we put 250 million nematodes on the three patches and the roots are on the way back. Unless you have plenty of time I would not recommend you put these on as a treatment as it takes forever to count them lol. So on day 57 our 1231 measured 296inches up 83lbs to end the week at 550lb. Got to say she is a real looker like last years 1102.   Monday, September 3 View Page I meant to say 1002. Any way the 1502 taped 804lb this week up 55lb. I took a long shot of the plant and pumpkin this week as the pumpkin is no oil painting if you know what I mean.   Monday, September 3 View Page The 1068 put on 53lb this week to end up dead on 900lb and god knows how I did it but I managed to get Sarah to be in the photo. We’ve been married 24 years today; I keep saying it quick to see if it sounds better lol.   Monday, September 10 View Page Our 1068 has done well this week and put on another 54lb to end the week on 954lb with about 5 weeks to go till the show. So were still in with a chance to break our over UK record of 1124lb and to get every last pound we have put up tents with heaters in.   Monday, September 10 View Page The 1502 has also got it’s own tent and on day 83 is up to 847lb after putting on 43lb for the week.   Monday, September 10 View Page Yep I know that was a photo of the 1231 but it’s been a long day. Anyway as you can see from the photo she is a gorgeous looking pumpkin and still in nice warm conditions (I’m keeping my head down when the lecky bill comes in). Unfortunately she only put on 56lb this week to end the week on 606lb. We would have loved to get this one over 1000lb for Joe as much as anything but that looks unlikely at the moment. But it won’t be over till she gets weighed and we will keep looking after her till then. Here’s that photo of the 1502.   Monday, September 24 View Page I had a week off the diary as I working in Sicily last week and do they cook good food down there or what. You have not missed much as most of the pumpkins are nearly fully grown now but all are still putting on the pounds. The 1231 has put on 104lbs in the last two weeks and after day 78 tapes 710lbs. The 1502 has only put on 15lbs and now tapes 862lbs. And finally the 1068 has put on 32lbs to end day 94 taping 986lbs. Our show is on the 13th Oct and I would like to thank, Frank and Mark (Dorset farmers), Malcolm (Malc C) and my brother Stuart for forking out all the money and more so pumpkin growers will have a GPC weigh off in the UK. We don’t have any prize money this year but we are working on a sponsor for next year. We do, however have all the official rosettes which is worth far more than money. I also had a phone call from the BBC asking if “Blue Peter” could film the weigh off and also our pumpkin boating exploits this year. So the long and short of all of that is, any of you UK growers out there are welcome to come along pumpkin or not. We have no secrets down here in the South and we will also look after anyone wanting to grow AG’s next year with some top seeds. Here’s a photo of the 1068   Monday, October 1 View Page The only thing to report on this week is that our 1068 tapped 1010lbs today. Were looking forward to getting them of the plants and on to the scales. Here’s Stuart with the 1068.   Sunday, October 21 View Page So after a difficult year we still beat our own record mainly down to the fact that the 1068 is well known to go heavy and ours was no exception. The 1068 taped 366 inches 1027lb and weighed 1188lb which is 13.5% heavy, so no complaints there then.   Sunday, October 21 View Page The 1502 (Stuart and I think this is our best cross) also went heavy and after taping 900lb weighed in at 963lb 6.5% heavy.   Sunday, October 21 View Page Here’s a photo of our two best pumpkins this year. The 1231 weighed in at 816lb and we should have done much better with this one. I must say thanks to all the growers who came from all corners of the UK just to support the show. Also a huge well done for Mark Raymond who got a new PB with 936lb.   Sunday, October 21 View Page The show at the Royal Victoria country park went really well with I think over 3000 people turning out and the BBC filmed the lot.   Sunday, October 21 View Page On Friday the BBC filming for Blue Peter arrived again and we had a very long day doing a sort of scrap heat challenge making to pumpkins into boats. Stuart had team green with Konni (Blue peter presenter) and Dave. I had team blue with Zoe (blue peter presenter ) and Hannah.   Sunday, October 21 View Page Stuarts team   Sunday, October 21 View Page And my team   Sunday, October 21 View Page Making sure the “pumpkin cam” is working ok   Sunday, October 21 View Page Hannah and I holding on to “Trick” and “Treat” our boats names   Sunday, October 21 View Page Konni and Zoe ready to go with a big crowd watching   Sunday, October 21 View Page The girls found driving the pumpkins a little unusual and after a great try Dave and I did the race to find out which was the fastest.   Sunday, October 21 View Page Dave won and after Stuart’s team were presented with the “Golden Pumpkin” we headed off to the Isle of White four miles away.   Sunday, October 21 View Page We started of well BUT   Sunday, October 21 View Page After 1.3 miles the waves started to get to big and swamped the outboards. Never mind the challenge is still on for next year and we can be seen on the 31st Oct on Blue Peter.   Saturday, October 27 View Page Our 1068 has filled out well this week and on day 66 was a total of 343inches 847LB and 98LB for the week. At least she looks like getting very close to our UK record of 1124LB.   Sunday, November 18 View Page Here’s a nice photo of one of the pumpkins that we carved on our pumpkin BBQ day   Sunday, November 18 View Page And another   Saturday, December 8 View Page It’s that time of year again and the auctions have started. Last year I was kicked out of the house and had to spend all winter in the shed when Sarah found out how much we had spent on seeds. So this year I’m one step ahead of the game and the shed has heating and a beer fridge. Not quite sure what to do about food but fair play to Sarah; she is making me some curtains.   Saturday, December 8 View Page The outside poly cover blew of last week as we didn’t put on properly after lifting the pumpkins out. After last years weather we will not be taking any chances and have started to fill in both ends of the tunnel and we will put a roll up vent on the side.