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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 252 Entries.
Monday, March 2 View Page
Another season is fast approaching. Photo from Sunday March 1st, temperature zero. The top of the greenhouse is currently rolled up for the winter to prevent collapse of the structure. The third week in March I will roll the top up and secure it firmly and proceed to thaw the ground out as quickly as possible using a combination of heaters and soil heating cables. There will still be patches of snow in shaded areas into mid May most years, it's a precarious life being a pumpkin plant in Alaska.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
Time to start moving the snow away from the greenhouse for the season. It has done its job of insulating the ground for long enough.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
Alot of snow to move. Patch dogs Maggie in the foreground and Tiffins in the back. Lazy bums all winter, in the summer they hunt down voles and shrews.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
Digging out the south side of the greenhouse. Three feet of snow pack didn't make things easy.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
After lots of digging, I have one of my interior instant hoophouses ( 6 inch wire concrete reinforcement mesh ) that I use inside the main greenhouse once things are up and running.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
After moving snow all afternoon, things are starting to shape up.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
A look at my 1000 watt metal halide growing set up in the daylight basement.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
Another look. This is also where the pumpkin plants will spend some of their time before heading out into the outside greenhouse sometime in early April.
 
Sunday, March 15 View Page
Tomatos for the season already up. I have brandywine and salsa tomatos in this group.
 
Saturday, March 21 View Page
Time to shovel the greenhouse out for the season.
 
Saturday, March 21 View Page
Finally secured the top of the greenhouse for the 2009 season. I leave the top off all winter to keep the snow from crushing the greenhouse and to allow snow cover to insulate the ground. The top will remain secured for the first 7 to 8 weeks of the season after which it will be able to roll down on warm sunny days. High temperature today 24 low 5 below zero with brilliant sunny skies.
 
Saturday, March 21 View Page
Punching a trail into the greenhouse to where the plug ins for the soil heating cables are located. Shoveling snow is a prerequisite to growing anything of any size in Alaska. Although the snow is still 30 inches deep and temperatures are still falling below zero at night I'm starting the seeds next Sunday.
 
Saturday, March 21 View Page
Plugs for the soil heating cables. Plugged in for the first time yesterday. Have to raise the soil temperature from zero to 70 degrees in 25 days. No easy task when night time temperatures fall so low. I will shovel most of the snow out of the greenhouse allowing 3 or 4 inches to melt into the ground.
 
Saturday, March 21 View Page
One week later the tomatos under the 1000 watt metal halide grow light.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Maggie taking on more than she can handle with this young moose.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Eleven AM this morning. This is how you warm up very cold soil in a hurry. Focus on where you are going to plant and work your way out as the season progresses. Two interior hoophouses side by side with a 1500 watt heaters running in each one pushing temperatures over 100 degrees. Concentrates the heat in a small area. By the middle of April soil temps will be over 70 degrees.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Here comes trouble, what was once a beautiful day is about to turn dark and gray. Redoubt volcano has erupted once again and we are in the bulls eye this time. Volcano has gone off 18 times this last week with some blasts going as high as 65,000 ft. For some amazing photos and information go to www.avo.alaska.edu/ this volcano has produced some outrageous night time lighting storms.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Ash cloud moving our way. Redoubt volcano not visible but you get the idea where it is.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
My wife Dana and the approaching ash cloud.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Swirling bands of ash falling from the sky, looks an awful lot like rain bands.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
After a quick drive to the house I hopped out an took a shot of the quickly approaching ash cloud. Moments later I felt tiny pellets start to hit me, it sounded much like sleet hitting the ground and surrounding surfaces. Beige in color and looked and had the consistency and shape of tiny pellets of prilled limestone. Hey, free soil amendments.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Maggie, she delt with moose last night, today it is ash.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
This photo says it all.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Lake ice is now a gray color. Maybe it will help melt it faster.
 
Saturday, March 28 View Page
Greenhouse is now covered in gray ash. Its all part of the plan the season begins TONIGHT when I bring out the 1161 Rodonis and the 848 Lilja.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
Seed starting procedure. Mass = constant, can't get any more constant and fool proof with this method. 1161 Rodonis and 848 Lilja fixing to do 12 hrs inside the cooler. Water is 95 degrees on the 2.5 gal container ( old biomin calcium container ) laying on its side. The upright 1.5 gal detergent container is filled with water at 100 degrees to help steady the heat for 12 hours. Paper towels soaked with mild seaweed solution are folded around seeds and placed inside zip lock sandwich bags. Put cooler lid on and place two polar fleece blankets over and off we go.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
Blankets over cooler for entire 12 hour period. The following morning I remove the lid and check the temperature and it is right at 95 dgrees, right where it should be.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
This morning removed seeds from sandwich bags and placed into 4 inch peat pots for the next leg of the journey. Again 2.5 gal container is on its side filled with 95 degree water. Plastic grate sits on a lip inside of the cooler interior just above the 2.5 gal container. Two 4 inch peat pots with the 1161 Rodonis & Lilja 8448 seeds are placed on the grate along with a test peat pot with a thermometer checking internal soil temps. Next, the 1.5 gal detergent container is once again refilled, except this time with water at 115 degrees. This will bump the temperature up to 96 to 97 degrees and help warm up the seed starting mix in the 4 inch peat pots. The material spagnum moss in seed starting mix is a good insulator therefore the added juice with the heat. After 12 hours in the cooler internal soil temps will be around 94 to 95 degrees. Every 12 hours I repeat the procedure until germination at which time I will put them into my germination box flourescent lighting. To anyone trying this make sure cooler is in an area that has a constant room temperature 65 to 70 degrees degrees.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
Tomatos under the 100 watt metal halide grow light. Started seeds the first of March.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
One of the plastic 7 gallon pots which the 4 inch peat pots will be transplanted into once they are a couple days out of the ground. They have spent the last week in the basement thawing out after spending the winter frozen.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
Coffee beans have rippened on my seven year old coffee plant. Plant bloomed last July in the outside greenhouse.
 
Sunday, March 29 View Page
Alaskan style fertilizer. Ash from Redoubt volcano on the left and moose nuggets on the right. Being an opportunist I will further amend the soil and mix a portion of both ingrediants to each 7 gallon container for the young pumpkin plants.
 
Saturday, April 4 View Page
Young bull moose has taken up residence at my residence. Started tearing up old potted plants last week due to starvation so I started cutting birch and willow boughs and sticking them in the snow bank for him to eat. Now he'll never leave free meals. Picked up another 9 inches of snow this last week from two different storm systems.
 
Saturday, April 4 View Page
Redoubt volcano blew its top again this morning shooting ash 50,000 ft, fortunately this time it went to the South of us covering the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula. Redoubt has been constantly emitting ash and steam all week creating a haze in the air. The visqueen material on the greenhouse has a milky gritty film coating the top. I'm afraid the ash has already permanently stained the greenhouse fabric.
 
Saturday, April 4 View Page
Another look at Redoubt volcano looking across Cook Inlet this afternoon.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
This years line up. Fortunately for me I had a double set of both these seeds as I screwed up the first round. Restarted April second. Might be for the good anyway as breakup is slightly behind schedule here. High today 36 low 12 with brilliant sunny skies.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
Up in 68 hours the second round. 1161 Rodonis on the right and the 848 lilja on the left. Already getting them exposed to their future home as they are in the pumpkin greenhouse for some afternoon sun.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
A look at the hoophouse inside a greenhouse set up I use as a place to grow the plants out while I am heating up the soil and getting the other small greenhouse ready for the summer.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
Side view of the same setup. A 1500 watt heater blows hot air through the flexible duct work acting as a radiant heater and more evenly dispersing the heat and dampening the drying effects of the 1500 watt heater in such a confined space. At the end of the run is a 5 gallon bucket of water that acts as a hunidifier and a heat resevoir just in case the power or heater were to fail at night. The system is on a remote thermostat placed at an intermediate level in the hoophouse. During the evening and early morning hours or cloudy days I leave the hoophouse structure covered making a confined space that is easily heated. Around noon this time of year I uncover the interior hoophouse. Directly behind this hoophouse is another hoophouse that is being heated constantly with another 1500 watt heater, this is where I will eventually plant the two pumpkins in two weeks.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
He's back for more food. Birch boughs I pruned from trees then planted in the snow bank. This guy can pack it away, fortunately for me he is quickly regaining his strength as evidenced by the fact he left for 6 hours today for the first time in 9 days. He receives a pickup truck full of cuttings daily. This time of year a yearling moose would have to walk for days through belly deep snow snow to get this much food. All the easy road system food is gone. This guy just has to stand there and eat,lay down and eat some more. With breakup almost here and warmer days this moose will be gone for good very soon. Yes!
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
This guy is a regular fertilizer machine. Not the reason I have him hanging around but I have shoveled up wheelbarrow full of moose nuggets the last 9 days from the driveway. Another reason I don't own a horse.
 
Sunday, April 5 View Page
Germination box with germination mat on the bottom for additional heat if needed and a 15 watt florescent lighting system. 1161 Rodonis on the left and the 848 Lilja on the right. Plants have moved around alot today. Came out of the cooler at 11am and went into the outside greenhouse for the afternoon and this evening they are back in their warm germination box. In a couple of days they will be transplanted into the 7 gallon containers were they will spent the next 2 weeks of their lives until final transplant into terrra firm in the pumpkin greenhouse sometime around the end of the 3rd week in April.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
Young bull moose catching up on some rest on a dry section of grass my small greenhouse sat on all winter. When I moved it to its summer location the moose wasted no staking out his territory.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
1161 Rodonis on the left and the 848 Lilja on the right, day 9. Weather last week was mostly cloudy with the highs running in the high 30s to low 40s and night time lows anywhere from 12 to 25 degrees.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
Overview of the interior hoophouse with tomato and pumpkin plants. Pollinated 4 tomato blooms today on these plants, normally I would have them planted in the fish tote in the other small greenhouse, but most of the dirt is still frozen.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
Wheelbarrow full of ground up moose nuggets, 40 lbs of ash from Redoubt volcano, coffee grounds and egg shells all worked together. Will add this to the soil in both the pumpkin and tomato greenhouses for and extra kick. Moose hanging around was good for something after all.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
Breakup time in Alaska, what an unsightly beautiful sight. Sun finally came out in full force today, turning everything to water and mush around the house.
 
Sunday, April 12 View Page
Another look at breakup facing to the Southeast. Piles of snow will linger this year into late May to early June in the shaded areas on North facing slopes.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
Redoubt volcano has been in a constant eruptive phase since its last big blast a couple of weeks ago, currently building another lava dome which eventually collapses causing another big eruption. On this day the ash and steam cloud is blowing from North to South away from us. Photo was taken on Thursday April 16th.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
Ah...breakup continues at what seems to be a very slow pace. Every where I walk it is squishing mud and slop, I can't wait for this mess to melt. Weather today has not helped out, cloudy with a high of 37 and a low of 31.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
Tomatos have been moved to the fish tote in the tomato greenhouse for the summer. Last week I had to hack out the 5 inches of ice so I could put the greenhouse in its proper place. Had to add soil to the tote day by day as it thawed out. Amended the soil as I went and then placed a tarp over it 2 days prior to transplant. I have already hand pollinated a dozen tomato blooms even at this stage in the season. These plants were started indoors March 1st.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
848 Lilja ( Megchelsen 1019 x 998 Pukos ) day 17.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
1161 Rodonis ( 1231 Pukos X 1450 Wallace ) day 17. Plants are in 7 gallon containers. Makes final transplant difficult but necessary at this latitude, helping buy more time for soil conditions to warm up properly. I think it is easier to plant a tree...lol.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
Another look at the 1161 Rodonis plant. Will more than likely see dirt some time this week. I will wait until main is about 8 inches to a foot with a well defined lean and then I will transplant.
 
Sunday, April 19 View Page
Overview of the climate controlled interior hoophouse with the 1161 Rodonis plant on the left and the 848 Lilja on the right.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Redoubt volcano last week still steaming away.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Moose nugget compost, volcanic ash, coffee grounds and egg shells all ground up and mixed together. Has been dug in ahead of the growing pumpkin plants.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
1161 Rodonis on the right and the 848 Lilja on the left with their own climate controlled hoop houses. 1500 watt electric heater blowing into the duct work, ending at a 5 gal bucket of water. 5 gal buckets act as heat sinks and help counter the drying effects of the heaters. During the daylight hours the covers are off and at night the covers are over the hoop house frames. As soon as plants out grow the hoop houses they are removed.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
1161 Rodonis main at 2 ft, day 24.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
848 Lilja main at 2 ft, day 24.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Front view of the 1161 Rodonis plant.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Front view of the 848 Lilja plant.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Tomato greenhouse and plants.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Some tomatos on the brandywine plants.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Backside view of the tomatos.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Lake still locked in ice.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
View of the 1161 Rodonis plant from one of the North side doors.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
View from the right South side door.
 
Sunday, April 26 View Page
Pumpkin greenhouse, what a difference a week makes, finally it is starting to look like spring. Cloudy with showers on and off all day, high 46 low 34. Forecast for next week improves with mostly sunny skies with highs running in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Coffee plant has been moved outside to the tomato green house for the summer. Wow what a difference a year makes. We have already surpassed last years weather for the entire summer. Yesterday it hit 70 degrees and today it hit 71. For the entire summer last year we had two days that the temperature reached just 70 degrees, no higher and only 15 days that it was 65 degrees or higher.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Say good bye to old man winter.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Coffee beans harvested off the coffee tree today.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Plants loving the sunny warm weather, 1161 Rodonis on the right main at 8ft, 848 Lilja on the left main at 7 1/2 ft, will run cut off secondaries off the interior side and run main out the side of the green house at the 18 ft mark.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Top rolled down for some full sunlight. Plants got 3 hours yesterday and 5 hours today, that should help harden them off. Ran covers in front of the tip of the main to prevent sunburn.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Look from above.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Italian roasting peppers.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
A look to the heavens, what a beautiful site! Sun!!!!!!
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Tomatos, cucumbers, peppers and coffee plant soaking up some much needed sun.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Right between the uprights, the first female on the 1161 Rodonis plant at the 8ft mark, when it grows out it will be at the 9 ft mark when I pollinate it.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
1161 Rodonis main at 11 ft, 1st female on the main at the 9 ft mark. 848 Lilja on the left side being trained for an eventual exit of the greenhouse.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
848 Lilja plant, already have pruned off some of the right side secondaries.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
First female on the 1161 Rodonis plant a few days away from pollination. Male flowers are lagging behind this year for some reason, I hope I have some males open come pollination day.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
First female on the 848 Lilja main.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
Weather cooled off from our record setting heat last weekend. Temps for the week ran from the mid to upper 50s with light to moderate South winds. Didn't roll down the top at all during the week due to the cool dry breezy conditions.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Five lobe female in full bloom May 14th, on the 1161 Rodonis plant, pollinated with 2 males from the 848 Lilja.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Male blooms May 14th on the 848 Lilja, bloomed just in time for pollination as there had been no males in bloom to this date.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Male in bloom on the 1161 Rodonis plant May 14th.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
#2 female at the 12ft mark on the 1161 Rodonis plant. Located on an inside turn, bad location but will pollinated anyway.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Barrel to be used on my drip system, once I start hammering the nutrients to the growing pumpkin later in the season. Have used this barrel and the drip system when I grew back at the shop in prior years.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Close up of the the above set up.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
#3 female on the 1161 Rodonis plant at the 14ft mark, this looks like the potential go the distance with future pumpkin if all goes well. Great location and position plus plant will have some good size when I pollinate this female towards the last days of May.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
A look at the 1161 Rodonis plant on the right and the 848 Lilja plant on the left.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
First pumpkin on the 1161 main at the 1161 Rodonis plant at the 9ft mark, insurance pumpkin only at this stage. Plant is growing so fast it probably is not going to do much anyway.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
First pumpkin on the 848 Lilja plant pollinated May 15th with two males off the 1161.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
#2 female on the 848 Lilja, at the 13ft mark.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
A look from above with the top rolled down for most of the afternoon and early evening. High today hit 70 degrees with a low of 30.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Lettuce uncovered for the day. Six inch wire mesh makes for some quick and easy hoophouses. 2 x 4s or rocks hold down the visqueen and can be easily removed. Carrots are on the right under the visqueen, allows light to pass through warming the soil up and retains the heat to some extent at night. Germination rate is near 100% using the visqueen without it maybe 60 to 70%. Once carrots are up for a week or so the visqueen comes off for the season.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Tomatos in the greenhouse.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Brandywine tomatos in the foreground and salsa tomatos in the background, some of these should be getting ripe towards the end of May or early June.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Salsa tomatos in mid season form.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
A look towards the South.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Leaves emerging on the Parkland apple tree. Survived on of the worst summers on record last year.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Leaves emerging on the Zestar apple tree.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Leaves emerging on the Zestar apple tree.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Zestar apple tree, 6 inch wire mesh surrounds each apple tree for moose protection. Had this not been there this winter the tree would have been trimmed down to the snow line.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Parkland apple tree.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
It was so warm today I rolled down top cover over and down the west side of the greenhous for some late afternoon sun. As soon as the temperature starts to drop for the evening the top goes back up. Cover held in place by magnets.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Lucy the llaso apso, head patch dog over heating in the sweltering 70 degree inferno. We have already surpassed last summers total of two 70 degree days by reaching 70 today. That makes a total of three for the year at this location.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
This is Lucy supposed to go with the above quote.
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
Finally!
 
Sunday, May 17 View Page
A look at the set up from above.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
First cull of the season on the 848 Lilja plant, orange size # 1 pumpkin on the main got chopped in favor of the newly set # 2 pumpkin on the 848 main. Plant is for genetics only and will exit the main in a couple of days out the left side of the greenhouse.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
First cull of the season on the 1161 Rodonis plant. Nice perfect shape on all the pumpkins on this plant, great symetry on the flowers as well. So far no problem getting a set with anything on either plant so I am not worried about chopping this early. This one was grapefruit size when it bit the dust.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Second pumpkin on the 848 Lilja 22% heavy crossed with the 1161 Rodonis, heavy x heavy cross. Genetics pumpkin only.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Another angle on the 848 pumpkin day 3.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Number two pumpkin on the 1161 main at the 12 ft mark. More than likely getting chopped as well. I'm looking down the road at the # 3 pumpkin on the main and # 4 as well to go the distance.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Number three female on the 1161 main at 15ft due up tomorrow or tuesday, good location. Will try and cross with the 848 Lilja.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
This is the one I am going all in on if it goes as planned. The number 4 pumpkin on the 1161 main at the 17 ft mark. Great location, plant size will be there as well, and I like the blossum end facing the southern sun if I can get it and this one is going to have it. Will get pollinated as well with the 848 Lilja.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Pumpkin set on a strong right side secondary. Slight insurance project, but more than likely a chopper, 1161 by self on this cross.
 
Sunday, May 24 View Page
Overview of the plants on the rampage. Have just about run out of room, so now I start slicing openings for select secondaries to exit for some direct sun. 1161 main has been turned slowly and is now on the front far right side with the main somewhere at 18 to 19 ft currently.
 
Saturday, May 30 View Page
Maggie the pug guarding her bucket of hooligan/smelt netted in the Kenai River. Personel use dipnet fishery open to Alaska residents only, these fish run up the Kenai River by the 10s of millions in a double run starting from the middle of May to the middle of June. The total run for Cook Inlet could be well over 100 million of these oily fish. Actual fishing time for a 5 gallon bucket ( 250 fish ) about 10 minutes and another hour and a half removing them from the gillnet. I'll be eating fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner the rest of the summer....lol
 
Saturday, May 30 View Page
A closer look at the hooligan. Also known as candlefish, supposedly so oily they used to be dried and a wick run through the fish and then burned like a candle.
 
Saturday, May 30 View Page
Number 3 pumpkin on the 1161 main, axed yesterday in favor of the newly pollinated # 4 female on the main. Talk about taking a chance, I've cut all three pumpkins on the 1161 main without even knowing it is set.
 
Saturday, May 30 View Page
Number 4 female on the 1161 Rodonis main at the 17 ft mark. Four lobe female pollinated/pounded with 10 males flowers off the 848 Lilja, Friday May 29th, used a combination of 5 males that had opened that day and 5 one day old males with pollen I know had germinated. Due to very cold temperatures the 2 days prior to pollination the female flower opened later than usual and the male flowers that opened that morning were lagging. I held off starting to pollinate until 12:30 pm when things had warmed up and then during the next 2 hours unloaded on the poor female. As you can see I have provided ideal conditions to help insure a set.
 
Saturday, May 30 View Page
Number 4, four lobe female in bloom on the 1161 Rodonis main.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin, pollinated with the 1161 Rodonis.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin on pollinator plant.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin pollinated May 22nd, nice long shape.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
Hopefully number 4 pumpkin on the 1161 Rodonis main, I'm all in on this one, I hope it is set hook, line and sinker.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
Pumpkin set on a strong right side secondary on the 1161 Rodonis plant. All the pumpkins I have set on the 1161 have been as round as a globe. Seems the genetics are well intrenched in this plant to throw this particular shape. Currently still an insurance project.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Number 4 pumpkin set on the 1161 main at the 18ft mark day 9, about the size of a very large grapefruit. This one was worth the wait.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Had to shade pumpkin during the heat of the day even though our high was only 74 degrees today. Temperature on the sand was 112 degrees without the shade cover.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Another look at the 1161 pumpkin. Great stem length and thick as well, always a good sign.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
A side view look below the foliage at the young 1161 pumpkin. All the sticks around the perimeter of the pumpkin allow for a blanket and to be placed over the pumpkin at night with a heating pad placed a couple of inches in front of the blossum end to help warm the sand.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin, I wish I had this one on a full size plant it would be a monster I think. It is my small pollinator plant but it doesn't seem to know it. Large basketball size already. Could be long and orange as well.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Strong secondary pumpkin on the 1161 Rodonis plant. It got the axe shortly after this photo, should help propel the new 1161 pumpkin on the main once it is gone. Looks like it would have been a wheel possibly.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Maggie the pug and the newly culled 1161 pumpkin off the secondary. Life is generally short if you are a pumpkin on a secondary.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
Top rolled down for most of the day for some full sun and warm temps. High today 74 with a low of 39. 848 pumpkin in the left front corner and the 1161 pumpkin in the right front side.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
First ripe tomato of the season picked today, 1 3/8 lb brandywine. I had almost forgotten what a real tomato tasted like.
 
Sunday, June 7 View Page
The brandywine tomato on the left has almost a burgandy color compared to the standard red. The other tomato is a salsa tomato I also picked of the vine today. Lots of sun this spring has led to an early crop of tomatos.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin in left corner.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Great shape on the 848 Lilja pumpkin and possibly orange later on in the season. I don't know how this thing is doing so well on such a small plant. Possibly drawing nutrients from the 1161 plant?
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Stem end view of the 848 Lilja pumpkin on the pollinator plant.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Well, I got the cross I wanted on the 1161 plant and the location on the main, just not the result I was looking for. Slow slow growth for a young pumpkin, misshapen stem end of the pumpkin. I was worried about this one from the start, it endured 2 very cold cloudy days and something went amiss.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
You can see the problem better from the side.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
The execution of the 1161 pumpkin. Problem solved. Now since I cut off all my backups, I am looking at setting female #7 at the 25ft mark. Should have plenty of main behind the pumpkin now. Fortunately I kept the main inside the greenhouse. It is in the shape of a U, the tip of the main is only 5ft away from the stump currently. Still plenty of time left in the season.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Number 7 female on the 1161 main, I certainly hope 7 is lucky this time, since I am running out of time.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Well here is the problem on the #4 1161 cull. Don't know what happened, but it split open inside on the interior stem side. It didn't go through, but had it kept growing, it certainly would have.
 
Sunday, June 14 View Page
Cross section of the 1161 stem of the 1161 cull. Strange is all I can say. This has not been the norm on this plant, well female # 7 opens tomorrow.
 
Sunday, June 21 View Page
Brandywine tomato on the right and a salsa tomato on the left. The salsa tomato is very firm and makes a great cooking tomato.
 
Sunday, June 21 View Page
Some rippening tomatos on the salsa plant.
 
Sunday, June 21 View Page
Pumpkin on the 848 Lilja plant, day 30 circ 68" est weight somewhere around 100 lbs, not bad for a pollinator plant with only 50 leaves.
 
Sunday, June 21 View Page
Another week another prospect on the 1161 plant. Newly set pumpkin on the 1161 main at the 25ft mark day 6, should have plenty of power behind it once it takes off. Pollinated the #8, 4 lobe female at the 28ft mark on the main on Saturday, with 4 males off the 848 Lilja plant, backup incase anything goes wrong with #7. I terminated the main today about a foot past the #9 female. Season will go down the drain basically if I don't get a set with #7 or #8. Saturday was solstice day and now were on the downhill slide towards winter. If this hobby teaches you anything it is how short the season is up here.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Summer tomatos, cobra on the left, brandywine next and the 3 smaller ones on the right are salasa variety, look very similar to roma.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin still putting on the weight circ. 77 inches. Very nice shape and color on this one, suspect this plant is robbing nutrients from the 1161 plant which is right next to it.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Another look at the 848 pumpkin. Sunny warm day with a high of 71 degrees allowed the top to come down for 8 hours.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Number 7 pumpkin on the 1161 main, day 13. High wheel shape early on.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Supposed to go with above post.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Number 8 pumpkin on the 1161 main day 8.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Number 9 pumpkin on the 1161 main at the 30 ft+ mark. Wow were getting out there. Have come full circle now, this pumpkin is back where it all started. Only 18 inches from the 1161 stump. Hopefully I don't have to resort to using this one.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
Picture perfect morning, sunny with a smokey haze high 79 low 45, doesn't get much better than this on the Kenai Peninsula.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin, day 44, Circ 85, ss 55, ee 55 = 195 OTT for a weight somewhere around 175 lbs. Just started to cantalope 4 or 5 days ago. Nice shape on this one.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
Ole #9 at the end of the line on day #9. Ninth pumpkin on the 1161 Rodonis, final shot at anything decent om this plant. A combination of agressive early season culling program, pumpkin aborts and genetic misfits has led to this moment in the season. Currently cantalope size and hasn't shown any of the signs yet that led to #4 & #7 getting axed. If I can get by day 15 it should be fine.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
Side view of 1161 Rodonis pumpkin day 9. Thirty feet out on the main. Main is terminated about a foot past the pumpkin.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
The sunny weather this summer has produced an excellent crop tomatos, a lone cobra tomato with some salsa tomatos.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
End of the line for ole #9 as the axe comes down. Third abort in a row on the 1161 main. That just about concludes my season for a competition size pumpkin.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
I still have not given up trying to get a set on the 1161 plant. A pumpkin set on a tertiary vine inside greenhouse, selfed. Same area as the #4 pumpkin on the 1161 main 6 weeks ago.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
Pic goes with above photo.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
Another set on the 1161 plant, this one on an outside secondary, selfed.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
Another ouside set on an 1161 secondary, selfed.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
Now from under achievers to over achievers, the 848 Lilja pumpkin on a small plant with less than 50 leaves. Taped out today circ 90, ss 59, ee 59 = 208 for an est. weight of around 205 lbs. Great shape and color on this pumpkin.
 
Sunday, July 12 View Page
Top view of the 848 Lilja pumpkin.
 
Sunday, July 19 View Page
Finally in the 11th hour I finally have a set on the 1161 that made it to day 15 without aborting. I won't even complain that it is on a tertiary vine at this late stage of the season. Basketball size and still normal. I don't expect anything to big out of this set if it makes it, I just want to see what this plant with throw as far as shape, color and wall thickness.
 
Sunday, July 19 View Page
848 pumpkin still gaining weight, small compact pumpkin on a very small plant. Measurements today came in at 95 circ, 62 ss, 62 ee for a total of 219 OTT = est wt. of 235 lbs. Our run of terrific weather finally came to an end this morning with rain, wind and cooler temperatures.
 
Sunday, July 26 View Page
Pumpkin on the 848 Lilja plant, everything you want in a pumpkin, great shape, color and possibly heavy as well. In hindsight should have been the # 1 plant in the patch. Taped today at 97 circ, 63 ss. 63 ee. for a total of 223 OTT for an est weight of somewhere around 250 lbs.
 
Sunday, July 26 View Page
Well same old story on the 1161 plant, this one on the tertiary vine as well has slowed to a crawl and has probably aborted as well. Season is over on this plant as I cut away about a 1/3rd of the plant. The only question left, why all the aborts? I can only conclude it is a genetic condition as I have tried setting these pumpkins on the main, secondaries, tertiary vines, in all kinds of climatic conditions all with the same result.
 
Sunday, July 26 View Page
Stem shot of the most recent abort on the 1161 tertiary vine. My theory as to why they are aborting after cutting up 4 of the aborted pumpkins? There is a common theme to everyone of the pumpkins, huge stems with a dozen to 16 lateral stem splits. I know stem splits occur with expansion, but these have all been excessive in nature. Pumpkin starts off normal but within 2 weeks after pollination the stems have expanded and split at a rate that is not porportional to the rate of growth to the pumpkin. Cutting the top 1/4 of the pumpkin off and observing the inside, I have found all have developed a star shaped cavity inside the stem side. It looks as though the rapid excessive stem expansion has split the interior end of the pumpkin severing the young veins inside the cavity. This in turn has caused fluid to weep inside the star shaped cavity behind the stem, essentially dooming the pumpkin.
 
Sunday, July 26 View Page
Only project left on the 1161 plant is to try and set a pumpkin and grow it out far enough just to see what it would look like. Here is another young set on a an outside secondary. Notice again, the big stem splits.
 
Sunday, July 26 View Page
Another set on an 1161 outside secondary. Again the stem splits. Strange, as the 907 I grew last year on the 1566 Rodonis, the reverse cross of the 1161 was the most trouble free stem I've ever had on a pumpkin, never had one lateral stem split the entire season. I can only conclude this season has been compromised by a genetic anomoly. It happens as with many things in this hobby.
 
Tuesday, July 28 View Page
Even though I was sure the 1161 pumpkin on the tertiary vine had aborted I left it on the vine to see what might happen, well two days later this is what happened. It looks like I hit it with a baseball bat, sometime during the night on the 27th it blew.
 
Tuesday, July 28 View Page
I don't know what forces of nature have conspired to wreck every pumpkin I have set on this plant.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
848 pumpkin about a 1/4 inch from the outer wall. Never dreamed this pumpkin had near enough plant to get this big.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
Top view of the 848 pumpkin. Taped at 100 circ. 64 ss, 64 ee for a total of 228 OTT which equates roughly to 270 lbs. still growing as evidenced by the spreading cantaloping. In fact this compact pumpkin is the most cantaloped pumpkin I have ever grown and it is not done yet.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
Front view of the 848 pumpkin. I like the color and shape of this one.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
Only two pumpkins that remain on the 1161 plant. Project pumpkins only at this late stage of the season. Still trying to get one to take and grow it out.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
South pumpkin on the 1161 plant, three weeks old. Growing slower since it is outside in the elements that in itself could be a good thing for this pumpkin. Pumpkin has already set a record for not aborting as it is three weeks old currently. The real test comes when it is about twice the size of a basketball.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
Blossum end view of the South side 1161 pumpkin.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
Stem view of the 1161 South side outdoor pumpkin. As you can see the pumpkins have huge stems for their size along with plenty of splits.
 
Sunday, August 2 View Page
North side 1161 outside pumpkin also three weeks old.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
South outside pumpkin on the 1161 plant has made it one month without aborting. Maybe I should have grown these outside all along.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
Another look at the South pumpkin on the 1161 plant. Project pumpkin only, looking to grow one out just so I can see the shape and color on the 1161 plant. Can grow till about the middle of September if I supply cover to the pumpkin. Can see the first frosts as early as late August on the Kenai Peninsula.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
North outside pumpkin on the 1161 plant about a month old. This one has the blossum end pointing up as the South pumpkin is going down.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
Another look at the North pumpkin, notice the huge stem splits.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
848 pumpkin filling out. Circ. 101, ss 65, ee 64 = 230 OTT for an est wt. 265 lbs. Good color with heavy cantaloping.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
I enjoy fabricating pumpkin lifing equipment almost as much as growing. A light weight lifting tripod I threw together out of junk laying around the shop. I plan on using this device to lift the 300 to 400 lb pumpkin in the greenhouse. Legs are only 1 3/4 inch in diameter but made from P-110 grade steel. Chain hooks welded 4 ft below the top keep legs from accidently moving outward and in the process strengthen the structure as well. Had this up in 5 minutes by myself with the help from a step ladder. Will post pics of the lift and load into truck on Aug 31st.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
Close up of the top support structure. Cylinder made of 4 1/2, 12.6 lb, L-80 tubing. Struts 2 1/2 inch square tubing 1/4 inch thick. Hooked into the lower loop is a come-a-long, one ton rating. Below the come-a-long is the lifting ring.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
A better look at the chain hooks welded in an upright fashion with one leg hosting two hooks enabling me to tie the whole structure together with a chain. To stand this tripod up, I had two legs bolted onto the top structure while it was laying on the ground, I then walked them up and placed the top onto a 6 ft stepladder and then hooked the 3rd leg on while it was sitting on the ladder. Once it was bolted in place, I walked the tripod up, pushed ladder out of the way and spread the legs out to the desired distance and then chained it. The whole structure weighs less than 200 lbs.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
Another look from a different angle.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
A close up of the come-a-long and lifting ring.
 
Saturday, August 15 View Page
It also doubles as exercise equipment. Have a great lift this weigh-off season!
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Beautiful sunny day after a week of rain, the 848 Lilja pumpkin soaking up some much needed sunshine. High today 68 with a low of 50.
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Measurements today on the 848 pumpkin, circ 102, ss 65, ee 65 = 232 OTT for an est wt of 272 lbs.
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Stem end view of the 848 pumpkin. I like the color on this one. Weigh-off a little over two weeks at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska on Sept 1st.
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
1161 South outdoor pumpkin. Still growing, but this pumpkin is not playing with a full deck either like all the pumpkins I've had on this plant. Probably feels compelled to grow, since it seems to know the season is almost over.
 
Sunday, August 23 View Page
Maggie guarding a couple of Silvers I caught in the Swanson river just North of my residence.
 
Sunday, August 23 View Page
The summer was warm enough to produce blooms on Danas' sunflower plants.
 
Sunday, August 23 View Page
Downpours on and off all day long. This particular cloudburst dumped 1 inch of rain in 45 minutes.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
1161 South pumpkin still growing. Looks OK from this end, the other end is another matter. Circ. 75 inches for an est wt of 130 lbs.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
Well, I got my wish. I just wanted to be able to grow one out far enough on the 1161 plant to see what it would throw as far as shape, color and other personality traits. Yea, it has a nickname, Shplitter. Has caverns in it so deep, when I call out its name I hear an echo.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
1161 south pumpkin stem view. This pumpkin has splits running transverse, longitudinal, through and through. Blown through to the cavity behind the stem. Huge gaping split behind the stem. I am curious how long the thing can grow before it goes down. The compost heap is only 20 ft away so it won't be a long trip to its final resting place.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
A close up of the stem split on the 1161 south outdoor pumpkin. If you look close you can see all the way through the top split and the bottom split where they line up.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
848 Lilja pumpkin, final taping before the trip to Palmer and the Alaska State Fair on Sept. 2nd. Came in at Circ 103, ss 65, ee 65 = 233 OTT for an est weight of 275 lbs. I think it will go over 300 lbs.
 
Sunday, August 30 View Page
Some Italian roasting peppers from the greenhouse headed to the grill.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Lift day has finally arrived along with rain and cooler temperatures. High today 54 low 48.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Me and patch dog Maggie.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
First pick of the 848 Lilja pumpkin with the lifting tripod. Couldn't back through the south doors to get fully underneath the pumpkin with the truck. Had to pick off center to drag pumpkin towards the truck bed and in the process had to be careful of the greenhouse edge when doing the pick.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Fixing to set a pallet down underneath and let the pumpkin back down on the pallet and the shorten the straps on the lifting ring by running them back over the top ring and back down.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Repick, now I can get some real height.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Tripod worked great, definitely need a bigger pumpkin to really test this setup.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Distance view of the lift.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Could only get half the state fair pallet on the truck so I had to put a pallet on the ground and lay some dunnage on top of that to support the state fair pallet and pumpkin. Once I had the pumpkin set down, the plan was to leverage the pumpkin and pallet the rest of the way into the bed of the truck.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Ok, lets horse this pallet and pumpkin into the truck.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
848 pumpkin ready for loading.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Rain may have been a good thing today as it is going to make this pallet slide into the truck a little easier.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Finally loaded, one man lift took 2 hours from start to finish.
 
Tuesday, September 1 View Page
Tomorrow morning I head out early for the 230 mile drive to the Alaska State Fair in Palmer for the early afternoon Midnight Sun Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. Have a terrific weigh-off season everyone!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Pumpkins on display prior to weigh-off at the Alaska Midnight Sun Giant pumpkin weigh-off. Mine is the shrimp on the far left. The other two are Dale Marshalls both grown off the 1349 Sherwood.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
A close up of Dales gnarly orange giants. These guys were rock solid.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
A close up of Dales gnarly orange giants. These guys were rock solid.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Lined up ready to weigh.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Rigging up the 848 Lilja pumpkin. Dales dentist had some Alaska Midnight Sun Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off shirts and hoodies made up for the event. Cool, I really like them.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Final moments before lift in the cavernous open air AG building in Palmer Alaska.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
314 lb pumpkin off the 848 Lilja went 11.34% heavy. Grown from my small pollinator plant. Would have made for a good cross had my 1161 Rodonis plant been normal this year. It was a fun season just as well, even with all the problems.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Rigging up Dales eventual 573 lb pumpkin off the 1349 Sherwood. Pumpkin went 9.5% heavy.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Rigging up Dales eventual 573 lb pumpkin off the 1349 Sherwood. Pumpkin went 9.5% heavy.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Dales largest taped pumpkin moving into position to be weighed.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
594! Yikes, I just got my clock cleaned!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
There's a new marshall in town and he goes by the name of Dale Marshall. Congratulations Dale on a terrific season. With this guy at the reigns, the 1019 record could easily go down next year.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
New Alaska State Champion Dale Marshall. Enjoy the moment Dale, you earned it!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Dale Marshall and Fran Durner covering for the Anchorage Daily News. Everything that relates to gardening in Alaska gets attention from this lady. Thanks from all the growers out there for all the great articles and blogs!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Scott Robbs 146.5 pound watermelon.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Giant Veggies display room in the AG building, always cool in dry in the AG build.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
One man wrecking crew Scott Robb just getting warmed up with his first world record wrecking ball rutabaga. This first one came in at 79.55 lbs.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Next anvil to hit the scales.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Moments later another world record rutabaga, this time an anvil dense 82.90 lbs. Congratulations again Scott and Mardi, your both at the top of your game!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
Hey! Whatcha looking at! Keep your eyes up here unless you want to be tossed out on your kiester! Meet Marie Domer, giant veggies crop director at the Alaska State Fair, ask her politely and she might tell you where to get one of these shirts.
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
The new King of the crucifers, Steve Hubacek with his other worldly world record giant cabbage. Took down the seemingly impossible previous world record of 124 lbs set by Dr Bernard Lavery of Wales in 1989 with his own mammoth cabbage of 125.9 lbs. Implemented a plan, executed it to perfection and took advantage of a great Alaskan summer. Congratulations again on the conquest of the cruciferous everest!
 
Thursday, September 3 View Page
It's official 125.9 lbs!
 
Sunday, November 1 View Page
The 314 on its way home from display at the Kenai visitors center. A big thanks to Joy Falls for the masterful carving job.
 
Sunday, November 1 View Page
Your a good model Maggie, I suppose you want a pay raise in dog biscuits.
 
Sunday, November 1 View Page
The 314 made a great Halloween night display with a 60 watt florescent bulb inside.
 
Sunday, November 1 View Page
Another look at Halloween night in Alaska.
 

 

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