Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 226 Entries. Friday, January 23 View Page Photo of the 2 wall quilts that will be in the Mt. Pleasant raffle. Still time to enter by feb 15.   Sunday, February 8 View Page Started Flatpoll cabbage seeds 14 of them.   Saturday, February 14 View Page Started 14 Cornish Giant cabbage seeds, a little late but want to try them.Will start the others OS, Megaton in a few weeks.   Tuesday, March 3 View Page Started 4 watermelon seeds on March 1st.These are a test to see how they do in big pots by May. I will start others closer to April 10. The early cabbage Cornish Giant and Flatpoll are looking good so far. I will start the OS and Megaton in a couple weeks. The Kelsae and Ailsae onions are doing fine but not as well as I have hoped. Maybe next year the new greenhouse will be up and going and they will have a better chance at some size.   Monday, March 9 View Page My table at the gardening symposium.I did get a few interested people and gave out seeds.The pictures get them every time. We had 180 people attend.   Monday, March 9 View Page Well we got a little rain again just over 2 inches to go a long with the 2.5 from last week.This is a waterway from the field south of the patch and giant grow tunnel.   Monday, March 9 View Page As you can see the hoop is back up but not finished yet. They are calling for very windy conditions the next 2 days around 45 mph gusts. Never fails! Hope it holds till this weekend so I can get the sides done.   Tuesday, March 10 View Page My Cornish Giant cabbage. One is 12 inches across already. I will put the best 6 in bigger pots this weekend.   Wednesday, March 11 View Page Hoop(30 x 97 )survived last nights wind advisory. We had wind 35-50 mph for 12 hours straight. I guess it was a good test to see what it can take so far, but I did not sleep too good. I will go out later to check everything for sure. Picture is from the kids toy room upstairs.   Monday, March 16 View Page Picture taken March 15 of the high tunnel cold frame. Ground is still wet but coming a long. I have moles in here bad right now and have put traps out and I have some poison coming. I planted a few German Giant radishes in front and covered with plastic to keep it moist and warm. Thomas likes the 85 degrees in here.   Monday, March 16 View Page The onion bed ready for 12 onions. I have 7 Kelsae onions and 5 Ailsae onions planted in there now. I covered with floating ground cover to help protect it from heat and cold. Thomas with shovel to help dig holes. I do have more onions to plant in the other bed once it is ready so I should have 25-30 nice onions and of those 12 super onions I hope.   Tuesday, March 24 View Page Kinds lost my will to grow the last few days. I lost my Brother-in law Sunday morning. He was 32 years old and had a 7 year old girl. Jeff just watched my kids the week before and showed my son how to shoot a gun and gun safety. So Thomas will always have that to remember about his uncle. He went to bed Saturday night and did not wake up. Been hard to deal with the last couple days and I hope I can regroup and get on with my season.   Friday, April 3 View Page Here is the Iowa State Fair melons. The left one is 251 Mudd and the right one is 267 Edwards. The 251 is 1 week older and is vining now. I am not sure how they will do inside the big hoop and may start another melon for outside in case this does not work.   Friday, April 3 View Page A shot of the plants inside the hoop. Clare is standing beside the 1349 Sherwood (1502 Wallace x 1041.5 McKie). The right hoop is my 800 (1207 young x 1566 Rodonis). The back center hoop are the melon plants (251,267). It was 54 degrees outside and 92 inside today.   Sunday, April 5 View Page Its going to be a cold day today and the next 3 days. Chance here for 2 inches of snow and down to 24 degrees and wind chills also with strong winds 25 mph. I took the timers off and I have the heat lamps on now 24 hours till Wednesday at least.Man this fair stuff is a lot of work and worry but come August I will think it was ok. I also cover my radishes with floating row cover to help them also. I tilled and formed a hill Saturday for my potatoes to go this coming Friday. I have alway planted them on Good Friday and have had the best potatoes.   Thursday, April 23 View Page Started 1385.5 Jutras, 1209.7 Kuhn,1428 Revier,1279.5 Barlow AGs and 111 Urena and 107 Schnicker Long Gourds. I have two 255 Mitchell watermelons up. I will start more seeds soon.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page An update on Iowa Fair plants. Here are the 251 Mudd (lower) and 267 Edwards (Upper).I have started trimming plants to grow in a flag pattern and I hope to cross the two plants. I am still not sure how they will do in the big high tunnel hoop but they sure look good so far.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Here is my 800 dmg 08 state fair Schnicker plant( 1207 Young x 1566 Rodonis). It has 20 inch leaves now and should be down in a day or 2. I drenched with Cleary's 3336 tonight on all fair plants in hoop.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page The 1349 Sherwood (1502 Wallace x 1041 McKie) down and running with 22 inch leaves. This seed was a surprise from Jim when he sent a bubble back with some field pumpkin seeds and I just had to plant it. Thanks Jim!   Thursday, April 30 View Page 1385 Jutras and 1161 Rodonis are out in hoops plus a 54 Murphy cantaloupe and 267 Edwards watermelon. I will plant more out this weekend weather permitting.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Here is my new long gourd trellis I built Saturday. Its made up of used lumber and cattle panels. It was fun getting the one on top at 11 ft.6 inches up. Now I can grow 2 long gourd plants. Boy I take a bad photo, my son Thomas 6 years old took the photo.   Sunday, May 3 View Page My new spot for 4 plants,1428 Revier,1457 Paton,1279.5 Barlow and 1209.7 Kuhn.   Sunday, May 3 View Page A view from the new patch at the high tunnel cold frame.Hard to believe there are only 2 AG pumpkins and 2 watermelon plants in there with a few onions and radishes. I still may have room for a few tomato plants. I am going with bigger fair plants this year to help them push to new limits.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Here is the best fair plants so far the 1349 Sherwood with Anne and Thomas. The leaves are really getting large but I did see a burned leaf tonight. This plant is 6 foot out now and picking up steam. I started the fans today because of little wind and the north side still is broken so can not roll it up yet. It was pushing 95 degrees till the fans got going.   Sunday, May 3 View Page My 800 Schnicker (1207 Young x 1566 Rodonis) plant at 4 1/2 ft. The main has a kink in it were it layed down. I do not see a problem with it but growing north always is a bit or work at the start.I just added the soaker hose to the 800 plant today. Clare was added to this picture.   Sunday, May 3 View Page My fair melons with the 267 Edwards left and 251 Mudd right. I hope there is enough room for these 2 plants. I bet there is only 125 sq ft each. I have started training the side vines and pruning. This is a first for me growing melons inside.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Busy day again planting the garden with beans,lima beans,sweet corn and pulling weeds. Planted the 1457 Paton and 1428 Revier in the new patch. Planted the 111 Urena and 125.75 Urena long gourds in there spots.I planted a 1370 C+P and 919 Richards at a new location south of town with a new grower that I am helping and I will have one plant there for myself that I will plant next week end I hope.The 664 Ligget and 670 Daigle did not germ so i have started 1354 J.Young,1272 Brunst,1344 Rose and 1568 Connolly. I still have the farm plants to get out soon with the field pumpkins. Still more watermelons and cantaloupe to get up yet.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page I has a 267 Edwards melon bloom today out 4 feet but only one male 251 flower to pollinate it with so I will need another one later. It is still early and lots of chances to come. Planted some tomatoes outside tonight my 3.4, Delicious, Marves, Giant Belgium, Big Zac. All plants look good so far.Still trying to get a few more backup going of melons and pumpkins. My onions are doing better than last year with the mulch so I hope they do not double this year.   Friday, May 8 View Page Well I checked the seed starter and it was unplugged so the 1272 Brunst and 1568 Connolly 1344 Rose did not germ.Looks like the farm plants will be late again. Between work and all the ballgames this will be a trying year.   Sunday, May 10 View Page Inside the big hoop looking east at 1349 Sherwood and 800 Schnicker with the melons 267 and 251 behind them. Onions to the left and them big radishes behind the melons. They are starting to get hollow so need to pick.   Sunday, May 10 View Page The 1349 Sherwood female out around 9 -10 feet. The 800 shows no sign of female yet at 8 feet.   Sunday, May 10 View Page Planted two 255 Mitchell watermelons today outside and a 25 Schnicker cantaloupe. So it looks like I will have a 267,255,255 and maybe a 143.5 Schnicker for fall melons.This year I put my melons in my better spots. My fall pumpkins are probably my worst start to plants but I am sure they will come out of it in a week.the new patch at joes place looks great! his 2 plants look awsome and I need to get one there soon. The 1354 young plant looks to have a problem but may plant it there with a 1344 Rose or 700 Schnicker. Joes 1370 C+P plant just looks fantastic. I told Joe he would beat me with that plant.   Tuesday, May 12 View Page Picked the first row of German Giant radishes tonight. They were done and started to get hollow in the middle. They stayed solid up to baseball size and I have one more row of them to pick next week.   Tuesday, May 12 View Page Another photo with Thomas and Clare. Thomas has been eating them all spring like apples.   Sunday, May 24 View Page Pollinated the 800 Schnicker(1207 Young x 1566 Rodonis) with the 1349 Sherwood(1502 Wallace x 1041.5 Mckie) It is 12 ft out and should be another at 14 in a few days. This plant is taking the 100 degree heat in the hoop the best. I have fans running and it does not seem that hot but the new leaves are getting burned. I really do not want the shade cloth up unless it gets much warmer.   Sunday, May 24 View Page The 1349 Sherwood female at 14 ft plus pollinated today with the 880 Schnicker. I will have another one tomorrow to open but the female is a little smaller. The female at 10 ft is growing at 3 days old. This plant is 30 ft wide at the first side vines and 18 ft long on the main. I have started terminating vines on this plant. Both plants will be as big as they can get by next weekend.   Sunday, May 24 View Page The 251 Mudd and 267 Edwards watermelon plants filling up there area. the 267 is putting on females to pollinate but just can not get any to take. The 251 has only had 3 females so far to pollinate but same story. These plants will have filled up there 20 x 25 ft area by next weekend so something better set. I have used several males on each melon and they look good after the first 2 days then they just do not grow anymore.   Sunday, May 24 View Page Here is one of the 267 females after 2 days then nothing.   Monday, May 25 View Page I am having the same problem again at the farm patch. I have lost 5 plants so far. Last of the backups are in. I finally know what is going on there. It is the water! If I plant the plants without watering they are fine then in a few days when we water they get dug up. Raccoons are digging them up to get to worms. I even put my hoops over them and they tore open the screens on the hoops and dug under them to get in. It is raining now so we should be home free.(I hope) :) The fall plants 1385 and 1161 plants here are the best so far but are in the better spots.The 1279 Barlow has a split main but should be ok. 1209 Kuhn is growing fine and should be down in a couple days. 1428 Revier and 1457 Paton are down and running. Joes plants at his place are doing fine and my 1003 there is doing fine but well behind the other plants. I planted my tall corn and long beans today.   Sunday, May 31 View Page Well after a few weeks of pollinating watermelons on the 267 plant I think we have 4 set. One is deformed and ugly,Another one is slightly deformed and 2 are in good shape so far. The 251 plant has only put on 3 females so far and I do not see any in the next few days on the tips. I have let them go crazy right now till they are set for sure then I will go back and trim off some extra growth. I gave the plants some good watering today.   Sunday, May 31 View Page The long gourd trellis inside the hoop with Clare and the 107 Schnicker plant.   Sunday, May 31 View Page One of a few Cornish Giant cabbage plants.The plant looks great so far. This is my first year growing these. I have OS, Megaton ans Flat Pole cabbages.   Sunday, May 31 View Page Clare with my only giant Kohlrabi plant. Looks as it could get big.   Sunday, May 31 View Page Clare back by the main on my 800 Schnicker plant. We have one set at 12 ft. The other one at 15 ft had a deformed blossom so we will go with this one. The female looks to be a round fruit with a nice long stem, much longer than its mother was.   Sunday, May 31 View Page The 1349 Sherwood plant with 2 females left on now. Culled the one at 10 ft. This plant is big and running out of room now.   Sunday, May 31 View Page Here is a picture of the hoop now and I am standing at the east wall looking west. The 267 and 251 watermelons in front, the onions to the right,2 tomato plants west of the onions. The 800 Schnicker then 1349 Sherwood.Then my long beans, one giant Grey Strip sunflower plant. The 107 Long Gourd plant at the end plus a 50 Gibson cantaloupe plant. Not much room now. I could spend all day in there.   Tuesday, June 2 View Page Day 10 tomorrow for 800 and 1349 pumpkins. Not going to set any records when its 52 degrees out. The 267 melons have doubled in size and will cut the other ugly one off tomorrow and will leave me with 2 on now. One on a side vine and the other on the main vine.I have most of the extra growth off the 267 plants but the 251 Mudd is going wild and need to get more cleaned up there but there are still no females showing up. I may need to pull it up in a couple weeks or trim up back to stump and try again for fall melon.   Saturday, June 6 View Page Well I was wrong on my melon plants. I have 2 set on the 251 Mudd not the 267 Edwards plant. I am not sure why I was thinking it was the 267, the tags are right there. So it is a 251 x 267. That cross sound better anyway. The outside 267 Edwards plant is moving along great. The two 255 Mitchell plants are slow but should take off soon.   Sunday, June 7 View Page Calling for big storms the next 24 hours here. Other than that everything is going fine. We had a warmer night last night and it showed on the pumpkins with some good gains but still small for there age.The 251 Mudd Watermelon is growing 4 inches cir a day. The fair pumpkins I have put fabric down and have them shaded.I did a merit and fungicide drench Saturday before the rain. I planted my last melon 143.5 Schnicker outside today.   Sunday, June 7 View Page My 800 Schnicker 08 ( 1207 young x 1566 Rodonis) crossed with the 1349 Sherwood 08 (1502 Wallace x 1041 Mckie). Not a bad color.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The 1349 Sherwood at 14 ft out and 13 days old. This is the 3rd fruit out set on this plant. It is a longer fruit and lighter color. This plant is around 520 sq. ft. now.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The second fruit set on the 251 Mudd pollinated the same day but well behind the one on the front main set. I will cull off soon but want to make sure the other will keep going after all the abuse the big one took.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The main fruit on the 251 Mudd out 10 ft on the main vine. It has grown 4 inches cir the last 3 days even in the cool weather at night. It is growing as fast as the pumpkins as of now. I just wish it was longer but just glad I have one to take to the fair. I made a little cooler for it because of the cold nights. It was sweating the last 3 days in the morning after it warmed up.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The main fruit on the 251 Mudd out 10 ft on the main vine. It has grown 4 inches cir the last 3 days even in the cool weather at night. It is growing as fast as the pumpkins as of now. I just wish it was longer but just glad I have one to take to the fair. I made a little cooler for it because of the cold nights. It was sweating the last 3 days in the morning after it warmed up.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The main fruit on the 251 Mudd out 10 ft on the main vine. It has grown 4 inches cir the last 3 days even in the cool weather at night. It is growing as fast as the pumpkins as of now. I just wish it was longer but just glad I have one to take to the fair. I made a little cooler for it because of the cold nights. It was sweating the last 3 days in the morning after it warmed up.   Sunday, June 7 View Page One of my big onions in the big hoop at 14 cir. There are 6 onion still ok out of 12 inside. The others doubled and tripled again from the heat. My outside onions may get bigger.   Sunday, June 7 View Page Outside Kelsae onions.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The Flat Pole cabbage from Lonnie. I should of planted a couple more in this bed. It is 50 inches across now.   Sunday, June 7 View Page 114 Sherwood field pumpkin. I hope I get one set for the fair soon but maybe too late.   Sunday, June 7 View Page 1385 Jutras   Sunday, June 7 View Page 1161 Rodonis   Sunday, June 7 View Page The north patch with the 1279.5 Barlow right and 1209.7 Kuhn left with 1457 Paton Right behind and 1428 Revier left behind. I have another plant by the 1428 because its not right yet. but maybe getting better.   Sunday, June 7 View Page 111 Urena long Gourd finally taking off and looking very good now. The 125.75 Urena is having a hard time with the new spot but I think it will come along also in time. The two 107 Schnicker,s are already 3-4 foot up the trellis but are very thined vined so far.   Sunday, June 7 View Page What happens when you leave the gate opened to the tall corn, the pony finds it. It topped 2 of the 4 plants.   Sunday, June 7 View Page The hoop is very full and everything is doing well!   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Well the cukes have showed up but the plants were sprayed the day before so there are many dead bugs now. The fair pumpkins are still growing OK and I still have 2 melons on the 251 plant. I just do not know about cutting the one off. They are not long melons and probably will not get to 200 pounds and would be nice to take 2 to the fair. They are at 20 and 15 pounds est.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Number 1 melon on the 251 Mudd growing at 3.9 pounds a day now. I left both melons on for the fair because I could not get a 267 set in time.   Sunday, June 14 View Page #2 melon on the 251 Mudd growing at 3.4 pounds a day. Both melons have hit 5 pound gains a couple days but it has been cloudy the last 3 days. The melons are around 35 pounds and should gain till the fair August 17.   Sunday, June 14 View Page I may have a couple 267 Edwards melons set now. I pollinated another one today.   Sunday, June 14 View Page My cabbage bed with Cornish Giant,O.S.,Megaton and Flatpoll. This bed is 50 inches wide and a couple plants are over that now. It has been a perfect cabbage year here so far.   Sunday, June 14 View Page My Giant Kohlrabi plant is really growing and has been fun to watch.   Sunday, June 14 View Page My 107 Schnicker long gourd in the big hoop growing very fast at over 6 ft. tall now but it has a split stem and do not know how it will effect it later. The ones outside are about 3 ft now.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Inside my 30 x 97 hoop and there is no room now to hardly walk. Plants are all looking great in here so far but the weeding never ends. I keep pruning the melon plants to keep them from getting a tangled mess. All I want is 2 mains and several secondaries and very few other vines If I can help it. Each of the two melon plants are 20 x 8 ft. wide only.   Sunday, June 14 View Page My 800 plants pumpkin at 12 ft. getting big an love the shape and color.   Sunday, June 14 View Page The 1349 Sherwood pumpkin at 14 ft. and one day younger than the 800. This one is longer and has more plant to push it. As of now the numbers are almost the same at day 20. It is really too early to say how big they will get yet. The next 15 days will tell the story.   Monday, June 15 View Page Sprayed for bugs again! We have several 267 Edwards watermelons set now but only a couple have a good shape but most have good length.No measurements today had to go to farm and find plants in the weeds. Three plants are 3 ft long there and one is just getting going. The field pumpkins are looking better.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Well we had a big storm last night and wiped out the 1385 plant good. All the first side vine to the west are snapped off to the main and the main was turned 45 degrees and moved 6 ft. I am sure the plant will survive but it will not do much. The 1161 plant was smashed to the ground and most leaves are broken off. We had 60 mph winds and heavy rain with it. The hoop with the fair plants made it OK. Just the same thing just new year.   Friday, June 19 View Page One of the 251 Mudd melons over 50 pounds for the Iowa State Fair.   Friday, June 19 View Page The other 251 melon around 55 pounds gaining over 4 pounds a day. I wish it was longer but it will be a fat one.Just could not keep the plant warm enough at night to get a longer set. The 267 has a nice long one on but not a perfect shape but will go for it and have cut off 2 melons on that plant.   Friday, June 19 View Page The 1349 Sherwood pumpkin at 25 days now. It is going to roll over the blossom. Its is a very long and wide pumpkin and is growing very well. I wish the first 20 days was better as we are playing catch up to the benchmarks.   Friday, June 19 View Page My 800 Schnicker pumpkin that is my pride and joy out here so far with the shape and color. Both pumpkins are growing at rates I have not seen for 5 years the last 3 days.   Friday, June 19 View Page Another round of big storms came through and had 60 mph winds again. This time the hoop took a beating and is bent some on the north side. I would say about 25 ft is bowed in good about 1-2 ft. I need to fix it before the next storm or it will go down. This is the 6th storm this year so far with over 50 mph winds.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Having issues with the 800 plant now with Phytophthora ( sudden leaf wilt) I applied fungicides then I figured just to pull the first side vine off the plant. So far the pumpkin is growing at the same rate at 35.5 pound average the last 5 days. I will not water this plant for a couple days until the ground is drier.I think it was caused by the 120 degree day it had 4 days ago when the hoop it was not opened. The 1349 pumpkin is a day younger than the 800 plant and averaging 33 pounds a day the last 5 days now.Its going to be a hot week here and I hope the disease problem stays a way (Rhizoctonia).   Sunday, June 21 View Page The 2 melons on the 251 Mudd plant are at 65 and 53 pounds now. The 65 is averaging over 4 pounds a day and the other is 2 pounds a day. The 267 looks to be my longest melon out of the gate.   Monday, June 22 View Page Nailed again by big storms.Last night from 12am till 2am they lined up and hit me good again for the 3 time in less than a week with over 55 mph winds to 73mph. The fall plants are looking terrible and also have got over 7 inches of rain in that time. I am not sure if the hoop survived yet because I must get to work at 5am.   Friday, June 26 View Page My 267 Edwards melon growing well for a young melon out 10 ft. on a side vine. I love the length of this one. The 251 Mudd melons are still growing well at est.80 pounds and 60 pounds for the fair.   Friday, June 26 View Page My giant cabbages tied up now to help drainage and get them off the soil. I have lost several leaves from all the rain and hot weather. The Flatpoll has taken to worst of it but all I need is the heads for the fair. They do not weigh the whole plant just the head and 2 wrapper leaves. It is going to cool down some next week so maybe I can get them healthy again.   Friday, June 26 View Page Anne sitting behind my Kohlrabi plant. This thing can grow also. I would love to take it to the fair for exhibition August 18.   Friday, June 26 View Page My 800 Schnicker pumpkin still growing well as of now yet. I am having a few issues with leaf stem rot from the heat inside the hoop. I have stopped watering for a couple days to make sure I have everything under control. (yeah right). I may not have much plant left by August at this rate.   Friday, June 26 View Page The 1349 Sherwood ! what can I say. I will need a bigger truck at this rate. This fruit is still very long and wide. I just hope the plant stays healthy. Next week looks to be cooler with highs in the middle 80s. I am not sure if the rates will continue with the leaves getting older and fried some with the heat we have had. Temps have been around 105-110 in the hoop for most of the last 2 weeks for highs.   Sunday, June 28 View Page Pollinated a 1457 Paton 4 lobe with the 1279 Barlow at 10 ft. plus three 267 Edwards watermelons and three 50 Gibson cantaloupes. A perfect summer day today for pollinating.The Barlow plant will have one open this week around 14-16 ft.The Kuhn plant has been beaten up bad and most females were on main were destroyed. The main is 15 ft now and I do not see any females in the tip yet so I may pollinate a couple on the vine vines next week. We pollinated a 5 lobe 919 Richards Friday at 10 ft with my 800 plant. The other 2 plants there are only 6 ft yet. The farm Plants are taking off now but Julies 1354 plant turned into a flat vine then split into 2 vines so I cut one vine off. I should be pollinating there around July 10.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Thomas standing behind the 800 Schnicker. It is hard to get a good shot of this thing because of all the leaves around it.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Thomas standing by the 251 Mudd melon. As you can see not the longest melon but should do well at the fair. It should be close to 100 pounds tomorrow.   Wednesday, July 1 View Page Pollinated the 1279 Barlow with the 1209 Kuhn. A perfect 5 lobe female plus one on the side vine also a 5 lobe female. The fair pumpkins have slowed down some in gains in the cool weather and have lost my 5 inches a day growth I was having. I checked the the ott of the 267 Edwards melon for the first time since pollinating and is 53-28-34= 115 ott est. 50.1 pounds already. The 267 Edwards watermelon has a couple set now but not very long and there was a nice one on yesterday but the wife missed it. I hope a couple bees found it.I also still have 3 watermelon plants that are not very big yet but I hope to get something set by July 10. I am still working on setting them dang Cantaloupe.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Pollinated the 1209 Kuhn with the 1279 Barlow 4 lobe at 15 ft.. Also the 1457 Paton 4 lobe with the Barlow at 15 ft. Applied fungicide to north and south patches. I have a cantaloupe now but not the greatest shape.The cool weather has really help my cabbages from rotting and are heading now.   Friday, July 3 View Page Pollinated the 1385 Jutras 5 lobe at 20 ft. with 1279 Barlow. This plant was my best till all the storms ripped off most of the leaves and west side vines. I still hope to get something nice for the kids and for seeds.   Sunday, July 5 View Page We received 1.6 inches of rain yesterday and never got above 67 degrees. I had nothing to pollinate today and will be a great day with a high of 83 and plenty of sunshine. Calling for dry and hot this week with highs around 90 degrees.   Monday, July 6 View Page Lost my 800 pumpkin today at 330 ott est 756 pounds. patched it up to get more numbers and try to make it hang on till tour. Other is still Ok but looks like it could go too any day.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Pollinated two 255 Mitchell females today and hope they took before the heavy rain again. Well we had one of the wettest Junes so why not July also.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Pollinated 1457 Paton at 18 ft with 1385 Jutras. Culled the pumpkin at 12 ft. still one at 15.   Thursday, July 9 View Page One of the 267 Edwards watermelon with a quarter on top. I have 3 to pick from but this is the second best one on a main vine.   Thursday, July 9 View Page My longest 267 melon on a main vine but only 3 ft or less from stump but I love the shape. I will give them a week or so before picking one.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Finally a cantaloupe for the fair and several now set like the one above this one.   Thursday, July 9 View Page A shot of the new north patch with the 1457 Paton,1279.5 Barlow,1209.7 Kuhn and my late plant 720 Schnicker est. That took the place of the 1428 Revier.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Female on the 1457 Paton out 16 ft about 6 days.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Female on the 1209 Kuhn plant at 17 ft. I have another to open tomorrow at 20 ft.but calling for rain so probably a no go.Just the shape of this one is not as good as a couple on the side vines so I was hoping for another one on the main.   Thursday, July 9 View Page The 1279.5 Barlow at 17 ft. This is the best plant I have for the fall. The female is also around 6 days old. The plants have really taken off after the beating they took last month.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Well I got home from work and made my rounds and I saw 6 leaves all folded up and dead so I cut off the bad vines and leaves on the 1279 Barlow plant then I saw the crown or stump had foam coming out of it were it was cracked when it was young. I scrapped out what I could and ran 125 ft drop cord out with fan and bleached and captan the area. I hope not to lose this plant. It is the largest of the 4 plants and best set on a main. But I have been here before every year always losing plants to disease of some kind. All the rain has not helped my case any.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Here is the pumpkin set on the 1279 Barlow at 40 inches with Clare. The dang flies keep landing on it and I have to clean the fly stuff off every day.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Side view up 1279 set, not a bad color or shape.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page The 1457 Paton set with Anne at around 36 inches. Not the best picture of pumpkin, it is very yellow.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Thomas with the 1209 Kuhn set at 33 inches. The main on this plant has been twisted in several spots so not sure how this will go. It is more to the white color   Wednesday, July 15 View Page My 800 pumpkin that split a week or so ago has come to an end. I was hoping it would last till the 21 here but found a soft spot under the right side. 364 ott est. 1010 pounds. it was still a nice ride for early fruit.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Ok time for big ugly. Last fruit for fair. Chances it will make it(slim). Plant is falling apart, main is sapping every where, a new fault line shows up everyday on the pumpkin. I have 3 fans running 24-7.Note to self! Next year start later! plants grow very fast in hoop, Set new time to start.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Side view of 1349 Sherwood. Four weeks to go! I wish it was one, maybe 2 it could hold up.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Stem view of 1349 Sherwood.Last I knew it was still gaining 15-20 a day and growing shoulders now. Not sure why its gaining the plant is shutting down. I may have 8 leaves left before pumpkin by fair time.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page My long beans in the hoop by the 1349 plant. Many are 37 inches now and still growing. I need to stake the wire better before it gets top heavy.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page One of my fall melons, 267 Edwards at 66 cc. Just not getting big numbers like I thought it would. Its the only set on the plant but its way out about 10 ft. But it has 70 plus days yet till weigh-off. I still have 2 plants that has no melons set yet. What a year so far for melons outside.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Here is the two 251 Mudd melons for the fair. They are both getting fat now. The front one has a girth of 57 inches. I am not going to measure girth again till fair time. It was heavy! I can see a blue and a red ribbon in the future. (Hopefully) Still 4 weeks to go!   Wednesday, July 15 View Page My outside 267 Edwards melon. I really thought the plant would do great here but it just looks small and almost has stopped growing. I will do major work tomorrow and get fabric down to see if that will warm it up to get it moving.   Monday, July 20 View Page Well been working on the patches and should be ready for garden tour here tomorrow weather permitting. Calling for 70 percent chance of rain so may be a wash. As long as it is not raining at the time most everything should be seen. Tour starts at 6:30 pm Tuesday night.The public is invited so should have a good show. Pumpkins, watermelon cantaloupe,long gourds.cabbage.onions tall corn and Kohlrabi.   Monday, July 20 View Page Finally have two 255 Mitchell melons set in a good spot now just need some good weather. The pumpkins are very slow here for the fall and day 20 is tomorrow so they better get going or will just have a few nice lawn pumpkins come fall. The satellite patches are coming along and have 4 plants now have sets on. I only make it there twice a week to work on plants so they are all open pollinated.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page A couple last photos of my dmg est.1010 pound pumpkin off my 800 Schnicker 2008. The wall were very thick and would of went at least 10 percent heavy. I wish I had a way to weigh it inside here but to many other plants still growing. This is my largest ever as of now. I had 20 people over yesterday for a tour of the veggies from 6:30 to 8:00. They loved everything that was growing and too plenty of pictures of this one. I cut it open to show them how thick it was and the 10 inch knife almost could not cut through close to the blossom. So I would guess it would of weighed somewhere around 1100 pounds and still had growing to do but this happens to the best of them. Still was fun growing one of my own seeds anyway.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Photo of the inside of it and has been rotting for a week and still thick but wanted to show it for the tour. I am beat cutting and hauling this thing out by hand. Each section was heavy and the kids helped for a while with there toy trucks but had to cut up smaller so took longer. But they helped, thats what counts. The seed cavity was small and not many seeds.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page On to new things. here is the 1279.5 Barlow at 21 days.71-49-50= 170 ott est. 114 pounds. The main stump is looking better now but still one root dripping some but fungicides should be kicking in soon and may stop it. If not I will cut the root from stump. I sprayed fungicides yesterday before the rain so should of worked in good.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Here is the 1209 Kuhn at 20 days,61-41-42=144 ott est. 73.3 pounds. I have a feeling about this one even though it is smaller then the other two.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page The 1457 Paton at day 20, 65.5-45.5-45= 156 ott est. 91 pounds.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page The 267 Edwards melon growing slow but steady at 146.5 ott est. 96 pounds. A long way to go till October for this melon.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page The fat 251 Mudd melon still gaining weight and 22 days till fair because it will need to be moved in case the pumpkin makes it. So it will be cut 6 days early if I can not move it 5 feet or so. ott is 74cc-44 ss-49.5 ee = 167.5 ott est 137 pounds. So still gaining around 2 pounds a day.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page My inside onions finishing up, not my biggest but still nice. Yes that is a gal.jug.   Saturday, July 25 View Page Here is my 41 inch long bean that is drying out now but still 41 inches. Not sure what the world record is but would be nice to have a couple like this for the fair in 3 weeks. Right now they are shorter around 30 inches.   Sunday, July 26 View Page My 700 Schnicker dmg from last year at 4 days old at farm patch open pollinated out at 12 ft. Plant still need some size to push.   Sunday, July 26 View Page 1354 Young at 10 ft or so about 12 days old. This plant is small and most side vines will be to the south side of the plant. Not really expecting anything big from this plant because of planted spot near the trees more. Open pollinated also.   Sunday, July 26 View Page 688 Schnicker 2008 (963 Paton x 1566 Rodonis) at around 14 days. This plant is the biggest and should have the best chance to grow something for size. Going to suck the blossom in I think again like its Mom.   Sunday, July 26 View Page Picture of the farm patch That I visit twice a week if I can. We also have field pumpkins there. Still have many plants to set pumpkins on yet here. Last year we had many field pumpkins already big by now.   Sunday, July 26 View Page This is Joe's place south of Mt. Pleasant where we have 3 plants growing the first plant is 1370 C+P that started out so slow here we almost pulled it but now is taking off and have 2 set now at 10 and 12 ft but side vines just getting going good. The second plant is 919 Richards plant that the dear or groundhog broke the main on and now we have 2 set on side vines. The last plant is my 1003 Schnicker dmg from last year. Joe is there taking photos of pumpkins.   Sunday, July 26 View Page The 919 Richards on a side vine around 14 days old. I like the length on this one.   Sunday, July 26 View Page The second pumpkin on the 919 plant at 8 days old selfed. We may go with 2 pumpkins on this plant being this is his first true year growing. I come out here to help a couple times a week.   Sunday, July 26 View Page My plant here is the 1003 at 12 ft or more out. I found a grub in the main stump and dug it out. Not sure if there are more or not but hope thats all. Went home and got sprayer and soaked main and stump.   Sunday, July 26 View Page The 1003 Schnicker is (1566 Rodonis x 1207 Young). This is the cull from 8 ft out. I just wanted more plant so I hope this works. Man I hate cutting off pumpkins that are growing so well.   Sunday, July 26 View Page Day 25 on the 1279 Barlow,89-60-60=209 ott est.202 pounds. This is my best pumpkin at this time. Stump still there and need to fill hole back up soon before a heavy rain.   Monday, July 27 View Page Day 20 for 1209 Kuhn, 80-53-54=187 ott est. 149 pounds. gaining a steady 4 inches cir. a day. gained 19 pounds today.   Monday, July 27 View Page Day 20 for the 1457 Paton, 85-61-55= 201 ott est. 181 pounds and gaining around 20 pounds a day now. I really do not see big gains here in this patch this year being new and non- amended soil.Could still pull out a 1000 pounder thou.   Monday, July 27 View Page The 251 Mudd fair melon is at 173.5 0tt now est 150 plus pounds. The other melon on this plant is around 112 pounds. We still have 3 weeks till they get picked. The fall 267 melon is 150.5 ott. over 100 pounds now. Still over 60 days till Anamosa for her. Other fall melons are just set and gaining now. The 255 melons are not the best shape now but will have to do.The 267 Edwards plant is sick and melon still gaining but plant may fail soon.est 57 pounds.   Friday, July 31 View Page 1385 Jutras main vine out 20 ft.168 ott est.111 pounds. lost the side vine fruit today with split blossom end. Was 49 degrees this morning then 78 for high and sun. We have more casualties because of this.   Friday, July 31 View Page 1279 Barlow 30 days today 253 ott est.349 pounds. gaining 31 pounds a day the last 4 days but........   Friday, July 31 View Page I have 2 stem splits on it now. I probed it and not into cavity yet but does not look good. This is my first stem split ever after 6 years of growing. So not sure what to do. They are calling for rain tomorrow and it could go all the way in. This is my best fall pumpkin and largest plant. I do have a side vine fruit left open pollinated and will leave on and see what happens.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Day 30 for 1209 Kuhn 97-64-65= 226 ott est.252 pounds. gaining gaining 21 a day for the last 6 days. Still waiting for some heat.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Day 30 for 1457 Paton 101-3-65= 239 ott est.296 pounds. Not sure on this shape,like blossom end stopped growing and stem side is. I may leave one on the side vine also.   Saturday, August 1 View Page The 1279 Barlow shot from the side day 31. I cut the stem in 3 places to stop the splits from going further in. So far it has helped but gains have slowed from 31 a day to 24 today but maybe a good thing till heals up.It was a very cool and wet morning and cool day in the afternoon only 72 for high.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Ok updates, Day 35 1279 Barlow 125-79-78=282 ott est. 477 pounds. The stem splits seem to be not getting any bigger but stem is spreading out some. Average weight gain per day the last 10 days is 26.9 pounds.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page I have cut down to 1 watermelon now on the 255 Mitchell plant and is at 47 inches cc around day 15. My Anamosa watermelon from last year has a nice one growing also. They will be only 75 days old by Anamosa. The stem on the 267 Edwards melon is red and sapping so may not make it to October. Too bad because it is 120 pounds now.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Long gourds are 111 Urena has 2 on. Both selfed and are 68 and 72 inches and still fuzzy.The 107 and 125 plants I can not get sets on.   Thursday, August 6 View Page My 700 Schnicker dmg 08 (1242 Chambers x 1566 Rodonis). It is 12 days old. 53.5-41-40=134.5 est.61 pounds with Clare.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Clare with the 1354 Young at 77-58-53.5=188.5 est 152 pounds. Not a very big plant and was attacked by raccoons early.Should grow a nice one for the kids.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Clare with the 720 Schnicker (1354 Krug x 1462 Gibson) aaround 24 days old 97-59-60=216= est. 222 pounds. Starting to look some like its mom. Steve I hope you see this.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Here is Anne with my 1003 Schnicker dmg 08 (1566 Rodonis x 1207 Young) it is 15 days old. 61-45-45=151 est. 83 pounds. This plant is at Joe's place. So I had my 800 that was est.1018 pounds, and also have my 700,720,688 plants growing.It makes you want to grow your own more after you see how they do.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Day 35 for 1209 Kuhn pumpkin, no picture again till day 40.108-71-73=252 ott est. 345 pounds.picking up the pace now at 25 a day. It has a great no problem shape so far.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Day 35 for 1457 Paton,114-80-71=265 est. 398 pounds. I do have another pumpkin on a side vine growing to keep this from splitting. It is very thin on the blossom end and do not think it will go past day 45-50.   Sunday, August 9 View Page My 2009 first cantaloupe I wanted to take to fair but had other reasons. It weighed in at 25 pounds with my youngest daughter looking it over. I hope to have a couple more for fair but may not be as big.   Sunday, August 9 View Page The 255 Mitchell watermelon at 53 inches cc.I hope the warm weather does it good.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Thomas measuring his melon at 53 inches also and about the same age as 255 melon.   Monday, August 10 View Page Day 40 for the 1279 Barlow 140-84-82=307 ott est. 611 pounds.This will show you can grow a nice one here just in new soil with nothing added, Just tilled and planted and sprayed pesticides and fungicides. This fall if plants do OK till October I will plow and add several yards of manure and compost to get ready for next year.   Monday, August 10 View Page My 688 Schnicker(963 Paton x 1566 Rodonis) from last years Iowa State Fair entry. I can see both parents in this one. very young pumpkin yet just hit 25 pound gain. 104-70.5-67.5=242 est. 307 pounds.   Tuesday, August 11 View Page Day 40 for the 1209 Kuhn,117-77-78= 272 ott est. 430 pounds. Still a nice looking pumpkin just no big numbers average is now 17 pounds a day.Still could go 800-900 pounds if it keeps going by Oct.   Tuesday, August 11 View Page 1457 Paton day 40, 122-84-75=281 ott est.472 pounds. This one is really slowing down but I do have another pumpkin on a side vine growing fast to help this blossom from splitting.   Tuesday, August 11 View Page Iowa State fair update, I found a soft spot under stem and dug it out and bleached and sulfured and now have 2 fans on it. I thought that was the end but it seems to be OK after a couple hrs I checked it and it seems to not be in the pumpkin too far. I cut a trench in the stem to drain the fluid out. In just need 2 more days to get this thing loaded up.I am so close at maybe having a nice pumpkin make it to a weigh-off after 6 years.   Thursday, August 13 View Page Pumpkin loaded and ready for drive to fair.Time for some fun after all this.   Friday, August 14 View Page My 251 Mudd melon had to be moved before we could load the 1349 Sherwood up for fair. It is 179 ott est 165 Pounds, The girth is almost 62 inches. next photo.   Friday, August 14 View Page 251 Mudd girth almost 62 inches.   Friday, August 14 View Page Wayne Woline moving skid loader in position.   Friday, August 14 View Page Loaded and ready for the Iowa State Fair.   Friday, August 14 View Page Pumpkins lined up waiting to be weighed in.   Friday, August 14 View Page Awards table   Friday, August 14 View Page My Personal best 1099 Schnicker 09 (1349 Sherwood x 800 Schnicker). 1st place Iowa State Fair.Thanks everyone for a great time!   Sunday, August 16 View Page Well the fair is still going and have more stuff to load for Tuesday but here is an update on the fall pumpkins and stuff. Here is the 1279 Barlow 150-90-88= 328 ott est 743 pounds. This is my biggest fruit by far for Oct.The stem splits seem to be dry and gains are still good.   Sunday, August 16 View Page The 720 est Schnicker at the farm around 400 pounds still gaining in the 20s.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Thomas wanted to take a picture so here is the 1209.7 Kuhn at 125-81-83=289 ott est. 512 pounds.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Here is one of my youngest pumpkins on my 688 Schnicker at 118-79-76=273 ott est 434 pounds. The plant is small and its set only 8 ft. out but gaining in the 20s.   Sunday, August 16 View Page My long gourd in my hoop house off my 107 plant at 87 inches.   Sunday, August 16 View Page The 111 Urena plant that has several set now.I have 2 buried inside the main that are hard to measure. One I had to dig a hole for and I will take it to the fair. the other is at the top of the trellis and still has 3 ft to get to the ground.They are both about the same length but not for sure. I will take ladder out tomorrow to get a better measurement. I feel they are around 100-105 inches somewhere.   Sunday, August 16 View Page My other long gourd trellis with nothing on set. I hope something will set soon.   Sunday, August 16 View Page The 267 Edwards melon at est. 125 pounds. The stem is in bad shape and too bad it would of been a keeper.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Well I will get some more photos loaded tomorrow night. It's late and I am tired. Heres a photo of some of the jumbo veggies. results: 1st place and second place Jumbo watermelon 179.7 and 132.4 pounds. 1st place and second place cantaloupe 23.15 and 18.83 pounds. 1st place cabbage 22 pounds 1st and second place long bean 31 and 27 inches 1st place Long Gourd 101.5 inches 1st and 1st on onions tie at 3.38 pounds 1st place watermelon round with the Black Diamond 1st place with green cabbage The giant Kohlrabi weighed 33.4 pounds exhibition. Jumbo woody stem pumpkin weighed 49.9 pounds and was 3rd place. We had a few other entries place but thats the best of them. Not a bad year so far.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page The family at the 2009 Iowa State Fair with the 1st place 1099 Schnicker grown from the 1349 Sherwood.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Anne and Thomas climbing the wall at the fair.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page We were looking at some trackers for next year's patch work.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page More tractors below.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Thomas with the 1279 Barlow at 49 days. Still gaining 25 a day! At 340 ott.est.826 Pounds.   Thursday, August 20 View Page Heres my Cornish Giant cabbage we picked and weighed just under 50 pounds total. I thought the head may be big enough to take to fair but after I tore all the wrapper leaves away the head was not heavy enough to take. It needed a couple more weeks to fill out better but was fun to grow.   Friday, August 21 View Page I wanted to get these numbers down on my late melons for reference. 255 Mitchell is 66-32-44 = 142 ott est.88.3 and my other melon is 66-32-41=139 ott.est. 83.5.   Saturday, August 22 View Page Day 32 for my 1003 Schnicker dmg 08 (1566 x 1207) is at 115-80-77 =272 ott est 430 pounds. This is my biggest gainer now everything else is like 14-16 pounds a day.This is my youngest pumpkin also.   Saturday, August 22 View Page The 720 Schnicker est.08 is 135-74-75 ott est 487 pounds around the 40 day mark. Not the greatest photo but it is very low, wide and rolling over blossom. The gains have slowed on this one but weather has been cooler again with highs is the 60s and low 70s.   Monday, August 24 View Page My 101.5 long gourd at the Iowa State Fair. We went back up and loaded the veggies up. The 179.7 Watermelon may go to the watermelon festival next weekend.   Monday, August 24 View Page Thomas with the 33.4 pound Kohlrabi.   Monday, August 24 View Page Thomas with Don's pumpkin after the fair. Looks like Don has been practicing his skills.Thomas does have more teeth though.   Monday, August 24 View Page Fall melons are not doing much and not sure why. Plants look OK but gains have really slowed and I may be lucky to get a 110 pounder to Anamosa. Fall pumpkins are gaining slow but have not lost one yet. Est. are 487 pounds on the 688 plant. 641 pounds on the 1457 Paton plant but have one on a side vine now at est. 250 pounds to keep one on main from splitting. The 1209 Kuhn plants pumpkin is at est 606 pounds. The 1279 Barlow is at est. 900 pounds. My long gourds are still gaining at 85,85 and 80 on the 111 Urena plant for the newest ones. The longest old one is over 110-113 now somewhere just can not get a good measurement of it till we pick it in a week or so.   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Well the Burlington Hawkeye newspaper guys came out and did an interview and took some pictures of the pumpkins still growing. I think they enjoyed it but were mostly into the pumpkins not the other veggies. But I like pumpkins more too!   Wednesday, August 26 View Page This just in from the weather service. .More Heavy Rain On The Way... .A Front Will Remain Nearly Stationary Across The Area Through Thursday. A Tropical Atmosphere Will Provide The Necessary Moisture For Extremely Heavy Rainfall. A Weak Low Level Jet Is Forecast To Intensify Tonight Which Will Cause The Upper Level Front To Fluctuate Between Interstate 80 And Highway 20. Additional Rainfall Of 2 To 5 Inches Is Possible Over The Next 36 Hours. Isolated Higher Amounts Over 5 Inches Are Possible.   Thursday, August 27 View Page It is raining as hard as I have seen it now. Pumpkins will be floating away at this rate. My mom just told me her basement is full. This is nuts.   Friday, August 28 View Page Lost one of my long gourds today at 95 inches that was still young after the storms last night. I still have 3 at 91,93 and 95 inches and the long one around 113 that I may need to pick soon so it does not end up on the ground. I also lost one pumpkin off my 688 plant but was my smallest in this patch but was the best looking pumpkin around 500 pounds. I found a soft spot on the bottom and it will be mush soon. The storms last night dumped anywhere from 3 to 10 inches just east of me and there were several rescues from people stuck in there cars from standing water some were swept away but were Ok. we ended up with 5 last night but had 1 inch earlier for a total of 6 in 24 hrs. The last 5 were in 3 hrs time. The pumpkins are sapping everywhere and will be lucking to have anything in a couple days. The plants have mildew bad and this weather is not helping. Other then that everything is peachy.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Picked my long gourd today for Anamosa. The other 2 on the trellis are 100 and 98 inches and still gaining but plants are really looking bad now. Melons are at 105 and 110 est but one plant is dying so probably will not get much bigger. I should of left one for fair on the plant for Oct. Pumpkins are down to a crawl now and nothing that big. Several 400-700 pounders and one nice one around 900 pounds. I am starting getting ready to plan next years patches and better plans for the melons. it was just too cold and wet this year for the fall stuff and the hoop did great for the fair pumpkins and melons but no room for fall stuff in there.   Monday, September 7 View Page Well if everything dies now I can not complain about the year.I am just so pleased with the early pumpkins and melons that we took to the fair and the personal best in pumpkin and watermelon. The patches are about done with mildew and stem rots and gains are small. But it is nice to have this many pumpkins still there. I have 3 pumpkins still here at home that are 678 pounds to 950 pounds and still gaining a few pounds a day. I have 2 nice ones at the farm patch around 450-550 pounds with 2 smaller ones around 350. Joe has 2 left at his place around 600 pounds. Joe says he has a family thing that weekend of Anamosa and I may have to bring his also for him. I am not sure on the rules there on someone else bring there pumpkin.   Thursday, September 10 View Page One of my long gourds off the 111 Urena still gaining a few inches but plant about done.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Clare with her 700 Schnicker pumpkin at the farm. We will pick them Sept. 18 for out weigh-off here in Mt. Pleasant the 19th.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Clare with the 720 Schnicker pumpkin over 500 pounds at the farm. A very low wide pumpkin.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Thomas with the 1209 Kuhn pumpkin around 700 pounds.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Anne with the 1457 Paton around 735 pounds and a second pumpkin on this plant around 350 pounds on a side vine. The blossom is pointing straight up now.   Thursday, September 10 View Page My biggest pumpkin left here is on the 1279 Barlow with no ferts or amendments at all to soil in this patch.The pumpkin has not gained this week but still sapping and is around 168 cc. Not real big but I will take it.   Saturday, September 19 View Page A shot of the Henry County Giant Pumpkin weigh-off group after we weighed them in. We had 11 pumpkins 3 watermelons and 2 long gourds. The growers had a tough year but we had another good turnout.   Saturday, September 19 View Page Thomas with his winning pumpkin that went 578.5 pounds.It weighed to the chart within 4 pounds.   Saturday, September 19 View Page Clare with her second place pumpkin that weighed in at 454 pounds.   Saturday, September 19 View Page Another shot of the group with that green thing in there. I asked were they got the seed and they said me! I am not sure how it got in there but it adds color to the group.   Saturday, September 19 View Page The 3 watermelons. 130.40 pounds with Anne 74.9 pounds with Thomas 60.95 pound with Clare, Its a Black Diamond.   Saturday, September 19 View Page Anne with the 130.40 pounder.   Thursday, September 24 View Page Lost my big pumpkin today for Anamosa. Not sure why but I think a mouse again. The fabric is not under the stem part of the pumpkin and there is a pile of dirt by it. Once again no big one for that weigh-off. Still have 2 pumpkins left, one for Redwing that is est. around 700 and the other around 800 now for Anamosa.   Thursday, September 24 View Page So the 1279 Barlow x 1209 Kuhn is now the 365 ott est. 1016 Schnicker 09 DMG.   Friday, September 25 View Page The 1279.5 Barlow now the 1016 est.dmg Schnicker 09 with Anne.Not the only bad news of the day.   Friday, September 25 View Page the 1209.7 Kuhn now the 703 est. dmg Schnicker. We went to load it up for Redwing and it had a soft spot on the bottom unreal. I never thought this one would go bad. A great shape and no problems at all with this pumpkin.   Friday, September 25 View Page Loaded up my second biggest pumpkin that was going to Anamosa but do not want to lose another one next week so here it goes to Red Wing. May not have anything to take pumpkin wise to Anamosa. I do have a satellite patch with a pumpkin around 525 I may take if we can get it loaded but may just go with the small melons and long gourds and have fun watching.   Sunday, October 4 View Page My new Iowa record gourd at 114.5 inches off the 111 Urena. we had a second gourd off this plant go 105.25.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Our 18 place pumpkin at 815.5 pounds.   Sunday, October 4 View Page A shot of some of the melons here at Anamosa.Don got me with a 135 pounder but I held on for second place at 131 pounds. This was not a melon year for outside plants.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Well this ends my season for the year and I can not complain. I set many personal bests with my 1099 Iowa State fair 1st place pumpkin. A personal best Watermelon at 179.7 pounds at the Iowa State Fair. Also a new Iowa record long gourd at 114.5 inches. Time to start amending patches for next year.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Note for future reference. Its snowing outside!   Tuesday, December 8 View Page Started 7 Kohlrabi,35 Kelsae onions,7 Cornish Giant cabbage.I already have 5 Kelsae onions upstairs in the window that was started several weeks ago from the seed ball.