Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 113 Entries. Thursday, February 7 View Page This is the 107 Rahe 07 (71 Rahe 06 x sibling) from last year.   Saturday, April 26 View Page These are the seeds I've decided to grow this year. My 1048 will be my main plant. I plan on doing some crosses with the others.   Monday, May 5 View Page Started 4 seeds today. Soaked them in 1/3 hydrogen peroxide and 2/3 water for 11 hrs. Added some biogrow endoplus to my seed starting mix. Shooting for 85 to 90 soil temp.   Friday, May 9 View Page Another tomato experiment. Tomatoes on right are in a 1/2 Miracle grow garden soil, 1/2 seed starting mix blend. The one's on the left are in 1/3 Miracle grow garden soil,1/3 seed starting mix and 1/3 peat moss blend. While the seedlings on the right are greener the ones on the left are much bigger. Same seeds started at the same time.   Sunday, May 11 View Page All 4 seeds have germinated. From left to right. 793 VanHook 07(1041 Mckie x 1450 Wallace) 1180 Pukos 07(1068 Wallace x 998 Pukos) 1048 Rahe 07(1450 Wallace x self) 1018 VanHook 07(1450 Wallace x self) I plan on crossing the 1180 Pukos with 793 VanHook because the top 4 pumpkins ever grown are 1689 Jutras, grown from 998 Pukos 1662 Young, grown from 1068 Wallace 1631 McKie, grown from 1041 McKie 1566 Rodonis, grown from 1450 Wallace The 1048 Rahe will be my competiton plant this year because there wasn't 1 thing I didn't like about the 1450 Wallace plant that grew it last year. The plan is to cross the 1048 with the 1018 VanHook I will be starting the 183 Bosworth soon, I haven't decided what kind of cross to make on it. I might come up with some off the wall crosses for it   Saturday, May 17 View Page The 1048 Rahe ,1180 Pukos, 793 VanHook & 1018 VanHook seedlings went in the dirt today. It's been cool and wet but it's time. I saw deer tracks in the patch today but I assure you no animals will be harmed. Some of my other seeds have come up including 183 Bosworth, 55 Rahe, 71 Rahe, triamble squash and Peck kuri cross. I'm also trying to germinate a long gourd seed a 111 Rahe and a 531 Rahe. Well at least the rabbits and deer will have plenty to eat.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page If your leaves look crinkley like this one, look for tiny black aphids underneath. Ive never had aphid problems on my seedlings before. Gave em a spray of Triazicide. The pictured plant is a Peck Kuri cross seedling.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page These are a few of my side projects. Triamble squash, Peck Kuri cross, 109 Parsons long gourd, 531 Rahe and a backup 1048 Rahe.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page This is my 1180 Pukos plant. Sorry you had to such an ugly thing. It was my best looking plant 10 days ago. Not much growth here. It's been too cool and cloudy. Gave all my plants a shot of Orthos garden disease control and Triazicide.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page The 793 VanHook. The deformed leaf was caused by aphids underneath.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page The 1048 Rahe. Not looking too bad but not growing much. I guess the plants are waiting on some sunshine and warm weather.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page The 1018 VanHook. This is my best looking plant right now.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page The 183 Bosworth orange sleeper.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 1018 VanHook. Still my best plant so far.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The mighty 183 Bosworth sleeper.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 531 Rahe. I grew this one 2 yrs ago. Lost the fruit to some disease or fungus. Looking for an orange round one from this one. Did I mention the 531 went 24% heavy? I'll probably cross this with the 183 Bosworth.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The Peck kuri cross. This is a red kuri squash x a direct decendant of the 900.5 Lyons green squash line. Odds say the fruit will be orange but there is no telling what it will grow.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 793 VanHook. I just gave this one and the 1180 Pukos an extra shot of nitrogen.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 1180 Pukos. Not looking too bad considering it was about dead 10 days ago.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page This is my 1048 Rahe backup plant. I started this one 6 days after my primary plant. I'm glad I did a backup. I had to pull the first one on 6/6.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page Beware all ye who look upon this plant, it is the kind of thing pumpkin nightmares are made of. This baby flatvined on me so I pulled it. I stuck it in this pot for amusement.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page No!!! don't look !!!! It's 1 1/2" across and 3/4" thick. Throwing 2 leaves on 1 side and one on the other.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The reverse side. Looks like a stalk of celery. The new growth has so many leaves theres no telling what it will look like. I'll update in about a week or so just to see how ugly it gets.   Saturday, June 21 View Page The patch facing north   Saturday, June 21 View Page 1048 Rahe. This is my backup plant. Starting to go now. I'm using the Agro K pumpkin program on this one   Saturday, June 21 View Page My genetic plants. As you can see growing right out in the grass. From left to right. 531 Rahe, Peck Kuri cross, 183 Bosworth, 1018 VanHook. The 1st female on the 183 Bosworth looks like it will have the classic Cinderella shape. If I knew then what I know now the 1018 VanHook would have went in my competition spot.   Saturday, June 21 View Page 109 Parsons long gourd. Growing better than I expected for being in a pot.   Saturday, June 21 View Page Triamble squash and pepper plants.   Saturday, June 21 View Page My flatvine freak.   Saturday, June 21 View Page have a little closer look   Saturday, June 21 View Page Yep, it's pretty freaked up   Saturday, June 21 View Page It looks like vine tip may be self terminating. This plant is really confused, not much growth in the last few days.   Sunday, June 29 View Page 1048 Rahe. The vine is about 7' long today   Sunday, June 29 View Page My genetics plants.   Sunday, June 29 View Page Progeny of the Peck red kuri cross. The set on this one looks like it will have the shape and color of it's mother. Red Kuri squash are normally 3lbs. It's father was a giant green squash. I pollinated it with the 183 Bosworth.   Sunday, June 29 View Page The tiny pumpkin starts on the Peck kuri cross start out almost green.   Sunday, June 29 View Page This is an open pollination on the 183 Bosworth. I made 2 more pollinations on the main vine of the 183 Bosworth today with the 1018 VanHook.   Sunday, June 29 View Page My tomato plants. The tallest one is "Potato Top" for the 3rd year these outperform anything else Iv'e grown for size. Also very prolific. I'm doing a controlled pollination on one of these.   Sunday, June 29 View Page 109" Parsons Long Gourd in a pot. The vine is about 9' long now. Iv'e only seen 1 female, I pollinated it but I don't think it took.   Sunday, June 29 View Page Freak show flat vine. The battle continues at the growing tip.   Thursday, July 3 View Page 183 Bosworth. These babies have super humongus blossom ends. Should make an interesting pumpkin if it holds together.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page This will be the last pic of the flatvine as it is rootbound and not growing anymore.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 109" Parsons long gourd, day 6   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1048 Rahe at 14' Just now showing it's first female. The males arent developing. Already gave it a shot of 8,15,9 and 15,30,15   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Peck Kuri cross day 10.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 183 Bosworth special. Day 10   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Top view of the 183 Bosworth progeny.   Monday, July 14 View Page Blossom end of the #2 pumpkin on the 183 Bosworth. Day 16 est. weight 25.8 lbs.   Monday, July 14 View Page Side view. I'm expecting a deep orange color from this one.   Monday, July 14 View Page 109 Parsons long gourd. Day 16, I can't believe how fast this baby is growing considering the size of the pot it's growing in.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 1018 VanHook. Day 11 Cir. 31.5"   Saturday, July 19 View Page I lost the first set on my 1048 Rahe plant. The stem split wide open on the bottom. None of the male flowers have matured. Looks like I will have to keep anything that I can get pollinated. Luck seems to be against me with this one.   Saturday, July 19 View Page The pair of 183 Bosworth wagon wheels. #1 is est.112 lbs. #2 is taping 119 lbs. on day 21. Both are crossed with 1018 VanHook. I haven't measured the 3rd open pollination but it is about the same size.   Saturday, July 19 View Page Correction to the Bosworth measurements. 112 and 119 inches OTT. 38.2 and 44.6 lbs.   Saturday, July 19 View Page Peck red Kuri cross day 21 estimated weight just under 20 lbs.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 531 Rahe. I crossed this one with the 793 VanHook. I thought it would grow a round one but instead its going to be a Snoopyhead.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 109 Parsons. taping at 60". I'm really glad I grew this, its so long its blocking the door for the lawn mower, Awesome! great excuse to not cut the grass for the rest of the year !!!!   Thursday, July 24 View Page The plant on the right is my 1048 Rahe. It is in the middle of my competition patch. None of the male flowers have bloomed. I am up to 10 pollinations on this one and nothing looks promising yet and that just pisses me off.   Thursday, July 24 View Page The plant on the left is 1018 VanHook (1450 Wallace x self) The Day 15 cir. was 51.5" this set is on a side vine because something ate the end off of my main vine This was supposed to be a genetics plant. As you can see the 1180 Pukos plant on the right is much greener because it is planted in the edge of the competition patch.   Thursday, July 24 View Page 183 Bosworth #2 day 26. Est weight 57lbs. Already showing some orange color.   Thursday, July 24 View Page 183 Bosworth #1 est.51 lbs. This one is getting elongated. If I was going for size I would cull it.   Thursday, July 24 View Page This is pumpkin from my 71 Rahe   Thursday, July 24 View Page 109" Parsons long gourd. Taping 72" today. This is being grown on a very small plant in a 5 gallon planter.   Thursday, July 24 View Page This is my experiment on a rare squash called Triamble. When pollinating I pollinated the bottom lobe with 183 Bosworth pollen. 30 minutes later I uncovered the bloom and pollinated the other 2 lobes with Triamble squash pollen (self pollination) In theory the seeds from lobe 1 (Bosworth lobe) will grow some bizzare orange squash with a weight well over 10 lbs. Seeds from lobes 2&3 will only grow green 3 lb. Triamble squash. Now I will wait and see if the pollination took. I hope so as I won't have anymore 183 Bosworth pollen to work with.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page The canopy of leaves on my 1048 Rahe (1450 Wallace x self)plant. You can see a couple of possible pumpkins on the bottom right   Tuesday, July 29 View Page A line pic of the 1st set of secondaries.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 183 Bosworth (55 Rahe x 748 Pukos)pumpin #2 day 30 est.65lbs.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 531 Rahe progeny. last time I grew it, it was round, this time it's got a snout.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 1018 VanHook (1450 Wallace x self) Day 20 est. 88 lbs.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 1180 Pukos (1068 Wallace x 998 Pukos) Looks like it will be a nice round orange one.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 793 VanHook (1041 McKie x 1450 Wallace) Ive lost 2 pumpkins on this plant. I hope this one keeps going   Tuesday, July 29 View Page My Triable squash cross didn't take. The 109 Parsons long gourd is about done at 73" The Peck Kuri cross is done at about 20 lbs or so   Tuesday, August 5 View Page Here are 5 hopeful pumpkins on the 1048 Rahe plant. Nothing has made it past this size. As of today I have made 29 pollinations on this plant.   Tuesday, August 5 View Page These are the 3 pumpkins that still have a shot of getting big. On the left on a side vine is the 1018 VanHook. Center front on the main @ day 17 is the 1180 Pukos, On the right on a side vine the 793 VanHook.   Thursday, August 7 View Page The 1180 Pukos (1068 Wallace x 998 Pukos) at day 20 est. 75lbs. The benchmark for this size on day 20 would suggest the final weight could be between 800 and 900 lbs.   Thursday, August 7 View Page The 793 VanHook (1041 McKie x 1450 Wallace) at day 27 est. 160 lbs. These numbers aren't so great but I have to remember these were supposed to be my genetics plants. My competition plant 1048 Rahe refuses to set a pumpkin. MelonFarmer!!!   Saturday, August 9 View Page 17 Rahe 08 uow (Peck kuri cross 07 x 183 Bosworth 07) Harvested on day 36 because the vine was dead. Peck kuri cross 07 (Red Kuri x 135.5 Blalock* 05) 135.5 Blalock 04 (895.5 Hester* selfed 3x) 183 Bosworth 07 (55 Rahe 06 x 748 Pukos 06) 55 Rahe 06 (cinderella x 1238.5 Brunst 05) 1238.5 Brunst 05 (1370 Rose x self) 748 Pukos (1370 Rose x 1231 Pukos) Ok so theres no telling what the 17 Rahe will grow. I call it a surprise me cross. No pressure to grow it big and who cares if it splits or the plant dies LOL   Sunday, August 10 View Page The 1180 Pukos pumpkin. I found these white sunken lesions near the blossom this morning. This is my only fruit on this plant and it is going to abort. It quit growing about day 20. Today is day 23, 144 lbs.est. I can't think of any reason this one would abort, the plant looks great and so does the pumpkin. Oh well, MelonFarmer.   Sunday, August 10 View Page 793 VanHook day 30 est. 190 lbs. Nothing big coming out of my patch this year. Now i'm just hoping it holds together, I really want to try the 793 x 1180 cross.   Sunday, August 10 View Page The 3 183 Bosworth progeny about day 40. 70- 80lbs each.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page Triamble squash x open. I cut this one off yesterday in hopes I can still set another squash and pollinate each lobe with different pollen. Thing is I grew this one in a pot and it probably doesn't have enough Mojo left to get the job done.   Sunday, August 24 View Page 183 Bosworth #2 day 56 estimates 80 lbs. Cross is 183 Bosworth x 1018 VanHook Last leaves on the plant just died, will harvest soon   Sunday, August 24 View Page 183 Bosworth # 2 day 56 estimates 66 lbs.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Side view of the Bosworth wheels   Sunday, August 24 View Page 183 Bosworth #3 blossom end.- open pollinated -about day 60 estimates at 51 lbs.   Sunday, August 24 View Page "Potato Top" tomato 16.25" circumfrence, almost 2 lbs.   Sunday, August 24 View Page 1180 Pukos plant. Pulled yesterday   Sunday, August 24 View Page 793 VanHook about a cheesecake over 200 lbs. Not growing at all.   Sunday, August 24 View Page 1018 VanHook x 1180 Pukos. About the same as my last entry. Blogblogblog   Sunday, August 24 View Page A pic of the patch. Just wait till next year. LOL   Sunday, September 7 View Page I harvested the 793 VanHook pumpkin about 1 week ago at day 52. The stem rotted off over Labor day. The seeds look good. 213 Rahe 08 est. 793 VanHook 07(1041 Mckie x 1450 Wallace) crossed with 1180 Pukos 07(1068 Wallace x 998 Pukos)   Sunday, September 7 View Page My largest pumpkin this year is from the 1018 VanHook 07 (1450 wallace x self) Tapes at 215 lbs   Sunday, September 7 View Page The 531 Rahe pumpkin. This ones done growing. Nice color goofy shape. Tapes at 62lbs. Crossed with 793 VanHook 07   Sunday, September 7 View Page Pollination attempt #30 on the 1048 Rahe. This was the last chance for a pumpkin on this plant. I will be pulling up the plant shortly.   Thursday, October 9 View Page This is a picture of some of the progeny grown from my Cinderella crosses. The 3 pumpkins on the left were grown from the 71 Rahe and the uow weights are 106, 98 and 28 lbs. The one on the right was grown from the 55 Rahe and it's uow weight is 87 lbs. Great job Janet !   Sunday, October 19 View Page The Rahe Triamble squash cross Lobe #1 is crossed with 1180.5 Pukos 07 (1068W x 998P) Lobes #2 and #3 are selfed. This is my experiment to see if pollinating different lobes with different pollen is a practical idea. The stigmas were pollinated using an artist brush using reasonable care not to share pollen. I chose the Triamble squash for 2 reasons. The distinct shape will make it easy to tell which seeds are from what lobe. Green is a recessive trait so only the seeds from the selfed lobes will grow green triamble squash. The seeds from lobe #1 should grow a much larger fruit that most likely won't be green.   Tuesday, October 28 View Page Triable squash marked off   Tuesday, October 28 View Page Lobe #1   Tuesday, October 28 View Page Lobe #2   Tuesday, October 28 View Page Lobe #3   Tuesday, October 28 View Page The seed cavities were well defined   Tuesday, October 28 View Page The squash cut into 3 sections   Tuesday, October 28 View Page This is a pic of area seperating the lobes. The squash was solid and the cavities well defined. Cutting it like this made it easy to keep from mixing up the seeds. Any seeds from this area were discarded.   Tuesday, October 28 View Page The seeds bagged, marked and ready for drying.   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 80 Rahe 08 est (183 Bosworth x 1018 VanHook) The 1018 VanHook is 1450 Wallace x self   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 66 Rahe 08 est. (183 Bosworth x 1018 VanHook) The 80 and 66 are the same cross   Wednesday, October 29 View Page The blossom end view of my 3 183 Bosworth pumpkins. The 3rd one is open pollinated.   Wednesday, October 29 View Page The stem end view of my 183 Bosworth pumpkins   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 229 Rahe 08 (1018 VanHook x 1180.5 Pukos) It went about 5% heavy   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 62 Rahe 08 est. (531 Rahe 04 x 793 VanHook)   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 213 Rahe 08 est.(793 VanHook x 1180.5 Pukos) The 4 parents of this cross grew the 4 largest pumpkins in 2007.   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 72 3/4" Rahe 08 Long Gourd (109" Parsons x self) Grown from a 5 gallon pot. Required about 2 gallons of water daily.   Tuesday, December 23 View Page My lunch today.