Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 129 Entries. Sunday, March 8 View Page here is my new greenhouses   Sunday, March 8 View Page the front is also removable   Sunday, March 8 View Page here is a pic of the vine pattern i used last year and will use again this season   Saturday, April 18 View Page Finally got my amendments in and patch tilled today. I will add heat cables and the rest of my greenhouses tomorrow.   Saturday, April 25 View Page Today is seed starting day. I will be starting the following seeds. 605* Huff 824* Brunst 848* MacKenzie 1028* Johnson 665 Lovelace 829 Lovelace 915 Lovelace 1175 Lovelace 111 7/8 Lovelace 110.5 Duffy 117.63 Lyons 124 Eaton 125.75 Urena   Tuesday, April 28 View Page 824* Brunst 829 Lovelace 915 Lovelace 1st ones up   Wednesday, April 29 View Page 665 Lovelace 848* Mackenzie 1028* Johnson popped up today   Thursday, April 30 View Page 605* Huff popped up this morning.....look out Don 111 7/8 Lovelace and 125.75 Urena are up too....still waiting on the other long gourds   Friday, May 1 View Page OK the season has officially begun for me. Today I planted my 1st group of seeds in the patch. 1175, 915, 829, 665, 1028*, 824* all in now. Still have a couple more to go   Sunday, May 3 View Page The 605* Huff and 848* Mackenzie went in the patch today. Now all the plants are in the patch. I also started some backups today.   Sunday, May 3 View Page The 124 Eaton, 110.5 Duffy and 117.63 Lyons have been in germination chamber for 8 days now with no sign of life yet.I started some more long gourds today. Here is what I started. 124 Eaton 117.63 Lyons 121.25 Duffy 113.5 Starr 107 Lyons 115.25 Kline 104 Eaton I hope some of these germinate.   Saturday, May 9 View Page 2 EF2 tornadoes touched down about 8 miles from me last nite. Luckily no fatalities. Please keep the casualties of the storms in your prayers.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Today I replaced the 605* with another 605*. The 1st one looked kinda funny . I also noticed something had been munching on the 1028* and I'll have to replace it. I didn't start another 1028* so I'll have to replace it with the extra 848*. I also have some of the long gourds that have germinated from the 2nd group that I started. The 107 Lyons and 113.5 Starr are up and looking good.   Tuesday, May 12 View Page started my giant field pumpkins today. I started the 88.5 LeLand, 120 McInnis and 145 McInnis.   Monday, May 18 View Page 34° this morning, I covered the plants with styrofoam coolers and placed warm bottles of water inside to help protect the plants. Looks like it worked well. Forcast is for 32° tonight.   Tuesday, May 19 View Page 31° and heavy frost this morning....I'm not sure but I think this cold weather came from Iowa or Wisconsin, I believe Dan and Don are afraid of the Elfin Magic   Wednesday, May 20 View Page 33° and frost again today   Saturday, May 23 View Page I planted my field pumpkins and watermelons in the patch today. field pumpkins 88.5 Leland 120 McInnis 145 McInnis watermelons 205.9 Newsome 2 - 207 Brinkley   Sunday, May 24 View Page planted my long gourds today 111 7/8 Lovelace 125.75 Urena 113.5 Starr 107 Lyons I have a couple more to plant in a few days 104 Eaton and 121.25 Duffy   Sunday, May 31 View Page The 1175.4, 915 and 665 are doing great with 3-4 ft. mains now with the 829* Brunst hanging righ with em. The replacement 605* Huff is coming along nicely so look out Don and Dan. I may have to replant my long gourds, they didn't like the 4-5 inches of rain we got this past week. I have already lost the 125.75 Urena but I still have some backups. I'll wait a few days to see if they look any better.   Tuesday, June 2 View Page Had some pea size hail in the patch today. The 1175, 915, 665 and 824* all recieved some damaged leaves but nothing major. It could have been worse.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Planted my giant tomatoes in the patch today. Here is what I planted. 1 - 3.685 Timm 2 - 3.9 Catapano 1 - 5.0 Timm 1 - 5.32 Timm 1 - 5.58 Timm This is my 1st real try at big tomaotes. Maybe with the help of Marv's book I can grow something big.   Saturday, June 6 View Page I planted my backup long gourds today since I lost all the others. 113.5 Starr 111 7/8 Lovelace 121.25 Duffy 107 Lyons 104 Eaton Wish me luck with these.   Sunday, June 7 View Page here the patch today   Tuesday, June 9 View Page Ok I thought I should post some pics so I can compare em with plants from past years. So here they are.   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 605* Huff 8 days younger than the rest of my plants   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 824* Brunst coming along nicely   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 1175.4 Lovelace better than anything I have ever had at this point of the season   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 915 Lovelace also doing well   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 829 Lovelace   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 848* Mackenzie slow to get going but looking better now. I almost gave up on this one.   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 665 Lovelace also looking real good   Tuesday, June 9 View Page 10 minutes after taking pics and foliar feeding some kelp a storm came thru and we got more hail again as you can see here in this pic   Tuesday, June 9 View Page I went to survey the damage after the storm passed and to my surprise the plants only recieved minor damage......hhmm......must be......   Tuesday, June 9 View Page Elfin Magic   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 605* Huff today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 824* Brunst today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 1175.4 Lovelace today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 915 Lovelace today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 829 Lovelace today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 848* Mackenzie today   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 665 Lovelace today   Friday, June 26 View Page Here is my new tea brewer. Cost me $25 Good deal huh   Saturday, June 27 View Page I pollinated my 1st field pumpkin today 145 McInnis x 120 McInnis   Monday, June 29 View Page pollinations today 145 McInnis x 120 McInnis 120 McInnis x 88.5 LeLand 829 Lovelace x 1175 Lovelace 915 Lovelace x 665 Lovelace 1175 Lovelace x 915 Lovelace   Saturday, July 4 View Page 665 Lovelace day 10 Ernie is happy with this one   Thursday, July 9 View Page 120 McInnis day 10 27" circ   Thursday, July 9 View Page 145 McInnis day 12 31" circ   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 665 Lovelace day 20   Wednesday, July 15 View Page The Green and Shiney 605* Huff day 10. Looks good huh? Don and Dan   Sunday, July 19 View Page 88.5 Leland 31" circ day 11   Sunday, July 19 View Page 824* Brunst day 10   Sunday, July 19 View Page 1175.4 Lovelace day 20   Sunday, July 19 View Page 915 Lovelace day 20   Sunday, July 19 View Page 120 McInnis 51.5" circ day 20   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 145 McInnis day 25 61" circ   Friday, July 24 View Page 665 Lovelace day 30   Saturday, July 25 View Page 605* Huff day 20   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 88.5 Leland day 20 58" circ   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 605* Huff today .....dang elfin magic ran out on me   Wednesday, July 29 View Page My 665 had been weeping from the blossom end for a few days so after nursing for a few days it finally splt into the cavity today. I caulked it and will just let it grow to see how big it gets or until it goes down on me.   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 824* Brunst day 20   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 1175 Lovelace day 30   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 915 Lovelace day 30   Thursday, July 30 View Page Pollinated a few long gourds 7 -28 2 - 121.25 Duffy x 107 Lyons 1- 107 Lyonx s 121.25 Duffy 1- 107 Lyons x 113.5 Starr 7-29 1 - 113.5 Starr x self 7-30 1 - 121.25 Duffy x 107 Lyons 1 - 107 Lyons x 121.25 Duffy   Monday, August 10 View Page found the blossom rotting on the 824* Brunst today ....no squash for me this season....BUMMER   Monday, August 10 View Page also found the stem spli into the cavity on my 1175 I am down to 1 pumpkin now. Oh well I guess I can start patch prep early   Thursday, August 13 View Page my last remaining pumpkin   Thursday, August 13 View Page 3.685 Timm 17" circ   Thursday, August 13 View Page 3.9 Catapano 17.75 circ   Thursday, August 13 View Page 3.9 Catapano 19" circ   Thursday, August 13 View Page 5.0 Timm 17.75 Circ   Thursday, August 13 View Page my long gourds the longest one is the 121.25 Duffy and next longest is the 107 Lyons   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Mater update 3.685 Timm 2 fruit 17.5" & 18.75" circ 3.9 Catapano #1 19.25" circ 3.9 Catapano #2 20" circ 5.0 Timm 2 fruit 17.5" & 18.75" circ   Thursday, August 20 View Page Revised mater update I wanted to see if some of em were growing as fast as I thought and I must have had a brain fart yesterday. LOL So here are the measurements today 3.685 Timm 2 fruit 17.75" & 17.875 circ. 3.9 Catapano #1 19.50" circ 3.9 Catapano #2 20.125" circ 5.0 Timm 2 fruit 17.5" & 18.75" circ   Saturday, August 22 View Page 88.5 Leland x 145 McInnis   Saturday, August 22 View Page 120 McInnis x 88.5 Leland   Saturday, August 22 View Page 145 McInnis x 120 McInnis   Sunday, August 23 View Page My 3.9 Catapano #2 has grown very little in the last 3 days so I decided to pick it and take to local fair tomorrow.   Sunday, August 23 View Page so I decided to take it to local super market and weigh it on their certified scales   Sunday, August 23 View Page and the result was 2.70 lbs I'm pretty happy since this is my 1st try at growing giant maters and I also have 4-5 more to weigh yet.   Sunday, August 23 View Page The 62 Lovelace 09' 120 McInnis x 88.5 Leland   Wednesday, August 26 View Page long gourds day 28 best is 99.25" on the 121.25 Duffy   Thursday, August 27 View Page I decided to pull the field pumpkin since the forcast was for lotsof rain tomorrow. They haven't grown in a few days. I hope they make it till weigh off time. This one is the 145 McInnis x 120 McInnis   Thursday, August 27 View Page 88.5 Leland x 145 McInnis   Sunday, August 30 View Page Today was mater picking day. I lost 2 of because I waited too long to pick em. They split on me dang it. Too many splits here this season. Here is the one on my 3.9 Catapano plant number 2.   Sunday, August 30 View Page on the scale   Sunday, August 30 View Page 2.74 lbs not too bad   Sunday, August 30 View Page This is my heaviest tomato of the year grown on the 5.0 Timm. 2.77 lbs   Sunday, August 30 View Page The 2.77 on the scale   Sunday, August 30 View Page Woo Hoo 2.77 New PB   Sunday, August 30 View Page 2.29 lbs also grown on the 5.0 Timm   Sunday, August 30 View Page 2.29 on the scale   Sunday, August 30 View Page smallest one of the season but still bigger than anything I have ever grown before   Sunday, August 30 View Page My 1st try growing big tomatoes 2.29 lbs 2.70 lbs 2.74 lbs 2.77 lbs I happy with the results and will try them again next season.   Sunday, August 30 View Page My long gourds still growing but very slow. I hope I can get a few more inches before they stop.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Man what a season. I went to check on my long gourds and this is what I found. We had a storm come thru today and I don't guess the vine could take the pressure of the winds and rain. I have never had problems with the gourds breaking off the vine before. Luckily it didn't break. It was still growing a little bit last time I measured. Looking forward to next season.   Sunday, September 6 View Page The long gourd that fell yesterday still intact. Now all it has to do is make it 20 more days till weighoff.   Sunday, September 13 View Page Here are my last 3 field pumpkins the one in the middle is the 120 McInnis x 88.5 Leland the other 2 are open pollinated from the 88.5 Leland   Friday, September 25 View Page Well I got bit by that damn elf again. I lifted my last remaining pumpkin today to find it leaking from the bottom. This is the 1st season since I started growing that I didn't get one to the scales. Kinda bummed today but that will pass. LOL I want to wish everyone the best of luck at the upcoming weighoffs. Grow em Big   Saturday, September 26 View Page Rick Holder with his North Carolina State Record 1258....GReat Job Rick   Saturday, September 26 View Page Henry Pleasant with his North Carolina State Record 267 lb watermelon...WOW what a melon Awesome Job Henry   Sunday, September 27 View Page another shot of Henry's 267 lb melon   Sunday, September 27 View Page A shot of all the pumpkins. This was the best turnout we have ever had.   Sunday, September 27 View Page Here are some of the melons and field pumpkins   Sunday, September 27 View Page Annette Burchette with her and Roberts 2nd place pumpkin   Sunday, September 27 View Page Randi Byrd with 3rd place pumpkin   Sunday, September 27 View Page Al Davis with the 4th place pumpkin   Sunday, September 27 View Page pic of the top 3   Friday, October 2 View Page Here are my field pumpkins let to right 86.9, 84.1, 75,and 72.2 lbs   Friday, October 2 View Page My 2 best long gourds 105.5 on the left and 107.625 on the right.   Tuesday, October 6 View Page check out the cutest pumpkin grower ever   Wednesday, October 28 View Page Well after being away from home the last 24 days I finally made it back tonite. Guess what I found when I checked on my dried seeds.All my field pumpkin seeds were gone. Frickin mice got em. I guess mice don't like long gourd seeds as they were untouched. Fits right into the season I had.   Wednesday, October 28 View Page On a good note.....I'm heading out in the morning to the Grand Canyon and Vegas. We are hiking and camping in the canyon then on to Vegas for some fun.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Here we are starting our hike into the Grand Canyon via the 7 mile South Kaibab Trail. left to right is Jeff, Johnny, Stewart and me   Tuesday, November 3 View Page awesome views   Tuesday, November 3 View Page a look at the trail on the way down   Tuesday, November 3 View Page another view   Tuesday, November 3 View Page amazing huh   Wednesday, November 4 View Page view   Wednesday, November 4 View Page view of the steps on the way down.....way too many steps   Wednesday, November 4 View Page Incredible isnt it   Wednesday, November 4 View Page more steps   Wednesday, November 4 View Page different view around every corner   Wednesday, November 4 View Page 1st glimpse of the Colorado River   Wednesday, November 4 View Page Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon   Wednesday, November 4 View Page view heading out of the canyon   Wednesday, November 4 View Page another awesome view   Wednesday, November 4 View Page after hiking up the 9.6 mile Bright Angel Trail we were happy to be at the top