Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 115 Entries. Tuesday, February 22 View Page The town of Putnams annual pumpkinfest 10/23/10 my pumpkin on display!   Friday, February 25 View Page holloween display !   Friday, February 25 View Page Matt D. at the NY botanical gardens harvesting seeds out of the 1810 Stevens ,the three pumpkins were a sight to see 1725 sweet, 1674 connolly, were all getting sculptured for display!   Friday, February 25 View Page These are the seeds that came out of the 1810 , As you can see alot of under developed seeds, Matt , Steve and I were shocked at the amount of empty seed cots. Imagine how Chris felt when Matt told him about his very low seed count.   Friday, February 25 View Page This is a photo looking out from inside the 1725 Sweet at the 1810 Stevens .   Friday, February 25 View Page ready for trick or treat!   Sunday, February 27 View Page Matt D. and I getting ready to weigh in at the woodstock fair . Thats Chris Horne doing the thinker pose lol. All kidding aside Chris(FireFly)will be a new grower to keep an eye on in 2011!   Sunday, February 27 View Page This is my 2010 Woodstock fair entry. That is my 107.5 long gourd above my head. The cross is 127.5 Jutras x 127.5 Jutras.   Sunday, February 27 View Page Late season shot of my patch with a few display pumpkins left growing.   Sunday, February 27 View Page The Northrupp twins!!   Sunday, February 27 View Page Look close and you can see this pumpkin was a cull that grew on only one tap root! It was about 30 lbs and orange before the tap root rotted and was picked for display . It was about 25 days old.   Sunday, February 27 View Page Another shot of the one tap root pumpkin.   Sunday, February 27 View Page Lost this one to a split the weekend before weigh off .Great shape and color.   Sunday, February 27 View Page My entry at Topsfield 2010 . Not the biggest but atleast I made it to weighoff!   Sunday, February 27 View Page This is what the 752 Lariviere looked like after getting sculptured !!! 1194 Northrup x 1395 Wallace . Big thanks to Bill and Dawn Northrup for seed! The 1395 Wallace was the biggest and healthiest plant in patch but could not get one to set . probably my biggest regret in 2010 season because I know that plant had potential!!   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Team pumpkin winter meeting at Matt D's house, featuring the 1421 Stelts clone flower as the centerpiece!!!   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Patch all amended and ready for spring soil test.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Compost pile Leafs and cow manure.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Bulk order of pumpkin pro. We took advantage of the sale Extreme pumpkin store had ! Thanks Tom!   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Best money spent all year ! You support a Great cause (OAF) and get an incredible seed line up . Big thanks to all who put this package together.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page This is what i woke up to one morning in late january another 2 ft !If you look close thats my chicken coop and duck hutch way down there... Glad I have a Tractor!   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Snow is even with my porch! Most snow sense I built my house.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Had to dig out the door to the big shed to get tractor out.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page So much snow !   Wednesday, March 2 View Page My greenhouse covered in snow.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Practice germination, Pumpkin and cabbage.   Wednesday, March 2 View Page Germanated seeds in pots on heat mat.   Thursday, March 3 View Page My wife Souad and I under the long gourd trellis. I'm building a new trellis this year this one is only 10 ft high and had to dig under the 107.5" I grew last season. (2010) You have to take into account that the vine and stem add inches when hanging.The new one will be 15 ft.   Sunday, March 6 View Page The cutiest pumpkin flower in patch!!!   Sunday, March 6 View Page Went to help with Team-Pumpkin seminar in Durham CT yesterday 3/5/11. Matt D put on a good presentation alot of input from those who attended. Good job Matt!   Sunday, March 6 View Page Picked up some more ammendments. SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!   Thursday, April 21 View Page This is what the 1610 Lieber seed looked like when I opened the envelope .The tip of the seed case was broken and it looks like the embryo is damaged. The good thing is it is not completely snapped off . I hope it germs because I really wanted to grow this one.   Thursday, April 21 View Page This unexpected dinner guest showed up for chicken and got himself caught inside the chicken coop. I should have videoed myself trying to get him out without hurting it or myself lol. It is a red tail hawk in case you didn't know.The thing had no fear and was huge! I finally had to cut the chicken wire to set him free.   Thursday, April 21 View Page Made a homemade subsoiler for patch this year.   Thursday, April 21 View Page Bottom view 18 inches deep. we used a old 55 gal drum cut in half some trailer leaf springs and cement. It worked great!   Thursday, April 21 View Page 3/4 of patch subsoiled and tilled ,the rest was to wet and didn't want to touch it until it dries out.   Thursday, April 21 View Page Another shot of patch.   Thursday, April 21 View Page Built this Garden table with a place for my irrigation system (controls) to go in.Had to dig a 150ft trench to bury power line and water supply to patch for drip and over head irrigation and heating cables . Alot of work but it should make less work for me in long run.   Wednesday, May 4 View Page 1596 Wallace most aggresive in patch.   Wednesday, May 4 View Page 1662.5 Stelts in cold frame with heating cables and heat lamp.   Wednesday, May 4 View Page The 1610 Lieber . This plant took along time to get going but now it is moving right along.   Wednesday, May 4 View Page All tucked away for the night, The rest of the plants will go in on Friday. The next two nights are going to be cold.   Saturday, May 21 View Page A perfect sunny day today the plants really needed sunshine, the forecast looks OK for the next few days. The 1662 is about 4 ft long and running followed by the 1610 then the 1596 ,1493,1132*Vincent magical sq, then the last are 2 weeks behind because they were backups , the 1622 young,another 1662 stelts ,1663 zoellner,and the 1421 clone from the 1663 zoellner 2010 plant witch is doing great. I plan on crossing the 1421 clone with the 1663 both ways   Tuesday, May 24 View Page Just got home from work went to look over patch and saw my first cucumber beetle. That's a little early it must be all the rain.I will have to spray before I leave for work tomorrow.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Sprayed for cucumber beetles and watered with fish and seaweed before work this morning. Its gonna be a nice sunny day finally!   Wednesday, June 1 View Page The 1610 Lieber at about 7-8 ft long.   Wednesday, June 1 View Page This is one of my 1662 Stelts plants it is about 10 ft long and growing at a great pace. I built this hail structure today to protect it from the severe storms that passed thru the area . A tornado watch was in affect from 2pm up until 11pm .   Wednesday, June 1 View Page First female on 1662 Stelts, Should be ready in 8 to 10 days.   Wednesday, June 1 View Page Patch all protected from the impending storms, it took a while but rather be safe then sorry, I'll have to remove it all before I go to work in morning.   Saturday, June 4 View Page Got some wind damage on the leaves of the 1662 and the 1610 , but I'm lucky I was able to cover with tarp before those storms hit. It could have been worst . I could see and hear how bad the southbridge and sturbridge area was getting it . The sky seamed to light up continuously with lightning and thunder. I drove Thur there Thursday after Tornado and it is not a pretty site. Makes you put things in prospective.   Sunday, June 5 View Page Patch with irrigation system. Drip and overhead systems for watering . Gave all plants a good drench today and set back up silt fence. the plant closest is the 1493 Shazzy ,the two back to back are the 1662 Stelts and the 1610 Lieber. All plant are really starting to take off I'm gonna have to get the wife to help soon!   Thursday, June 9 View Page Went out to inspect patch this morning after more thunder storms and found the 1596 Wallace torn up pretty bad and the smaller of the two 1662 plants has some leaf damage! The local station said we may have had a micro burst go through here. whats up with these storms this year!   Friday, June 10 View Page Plants took another beating from more storms yesterday good thing I reinforced the silt fences because the wind was the strongest I have seen it here. Got more leaf damage on 1610 and 1662.   Sunday, June 19 View Page Started dead ending and burying secondaries on the 1662 Stelts at 12 ft out . Had a mutated one that I had to get rid of, it had started to flatten and threw a double vine and 4 leaves and 4 tendrils at each leaf node. Had Matt D over for a little patch inspection and advice. It is good that I have an experienced grower like Matt to answer any questions I may have and point thing out that I should or should not be doing! Thanks Matt for all the encouragement....   Sunday, June 19 View Page Pollinated the 1610 Lieber this morning, 4 lobe cross it with self. May not be keeper not sure yet I wanted to cross with 1725 Harp or 1810 Stevens. Have another at 17 ft.   Saturday, June 25 View Page Mutation on 1662 before I dead headed and buried.   Saturday, June 25 View Page Looks like another cool rainy day 4th in a row . patch is to wet but I need to catch up on burying and pruning secondaries.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Pollinated 1493 Shazzy x 1610 Leiber 4 lobe 14 ft out.   Sunday, July 3 View Page Pollinated 1132* vincent mcgill squash x self ,also the 1663 Zoellner x 1421 clone ( plant that grew the 1663 ) also pollinated the 1421 clone with the 1663. so I have 1663 x 1421 clone and 1421 clone x 1663 should be interesting. Also pollinated the 1493 shazzy x 1610 this is the second pollination on this one, same cross as the first witch is doing great so far! Happy 4th everyone!!!!   Monday, July 4 View Page Pollinated another 1132 squash this morning x self on secondary just in case the first one didn't take.   Saturday, July 9 View Page Anybody know how to get rid of this infestation?   Wednesday, July 13 View Page 1662 Stelts x 1610 Lieber D-22 OTT=179 the blossom end is a little sunk and tip tilted also had a little stress split in stem early on but it has healed up nicely. photo taken 7/4/11   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Everything going well so far! All kins set and showing good gains each day. Big thanks to all who opened there patches this past Sunday to the Team - Pumpkin tour Your all an inspiration to me!!!! And last of all Thank you Matt D. for putting this all together it was a great time had by all!   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Long Gourd trellis.   Thursday, July 21 View Page Over view of patch with mister's cooling patch, very hot today!   Thursday, July 21 View Page Another shot.   Thursday, July 21 View Page I believe I finally got one set on the 1132 Vincent McGill. It's at 22 ft and was the sixth one I pollinated. The plant is covering a area 30x30 and is all dead headed except the main and the last 4 ( 2 on each side )secondaries.   Saturday, July 30 View Page 1493 Shazzy D28 ott-269 The 1662 stelts has slowed to a crawl came out of the gate quick but has now ripened to a nice orange. Been feeling under the weather lately so went to doctors office and found out I have Lime Disease! No sun this aught to be interesting working in patch at night or early morning.   Monday, August 8 View Page Hey Norm ! Turned my compost pile today.. finally!   Monday, August 8 View Page 1493 Shanoha x 1610 Leiber- D37   Monday, August 8 View Page 1610 Leiber x Self D45-287 Growing slow but steady.   Monday, August 8 View Page 1132-Vincent McGill * x Self- D33   Monday, August 8 View Page 1132 plant is in great shape and has filled the 30x30 area in nicely.   Monday, August 8 View Page Somebody posted something about having a long stem ? So I had to put this out there. LOL   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 1493 chugging along with the 1610 in back ground.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 1610 x self   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 1132 V/M Squash D43, Great shape and a very nice plant to push it.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 1132 V/M x SELF   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Stem measured 11 " circumfrence.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Last 2 pics of squash are D/38 not D/43   Saturday, September 3 View Page Team - Pumpkin 16 ft tri pod in a honda civic!!! Thanks Matt..   Saturday, September 3 View Page Just add water and stand back ! lol   Saturday, September 3 View Page Matt Debacco and I getting pumpkin up to inspect under side of pumpkin .It was nice and flat no problems.   Saturday, September 3 View Page Big thanks to Chris Horne and Matt for helping me get loaded for weigh off.   Saturday, September 3 View Page Wess Dwelly's entry 1044 lbs, Truly one of the best growers that's in this crazy hobbies of ours! And you will never meet a nicer couple than him and his wife Marcia.Thank You for all your encouragement and support it means alot to get that from you guys!! And Congratulations to you!!!!   Saturday, September 3 View Page Congratulations to Scott Labonte and Peter Place first year growers Great job guys!   Saturday, September 3 View Page Chris Horne's entry also 1st year grower great gob Chris!His goal was 500 lbs and he beat that, and has an even bigger one still growing!   Saturday, September 3 View Page The 1047 Lariviere 1493 Shanoha x 1610 Lieber Thanks for the seed Jeff (Shazzy)!!!   Thursday, September 8 View Page 1132 V/M Growing slow but still growing. The plant is in great shape considering what mother nature has thrown at us this year.   Thursday, September 8 View Page 1610 Lieber x self Trying to hold this on together . Way to much rain it has surface splits all over it.   Thursday, September 8 View Page Another shot of 1610   Tuesday, September 27 View Page 1610, 6 days before weigh off went out to find a soft spot so harvested seeds and put her in the compost pile.   Tuesday, September 27 View Page 1035 Lariviere DMG = 1610 LIEBER X SELF   Tuesday, September 27 View Page Went to the Roba farms weigh off in PA with Matt Debacco and Chris Horne and as we were walking around we noticed this cute little pumpkin.next thing you know Chris is missing we looked high we looked low Chris where did you go!!! ( see next diary entry)   Tuesday, September 27 View Page All I can say is he slepped like a baby in the back seat the whole 4 and a half hours home!   Tuesday, September 27 View Page All kidding aside Great job Chris! I,m proud of you. This is an awesome achievement for a first year grower and he snapped the main vine in late June and grew this on a side vine. Go Team-Pumpkin!!!   Tuesday, September 27 View Page Great job Ken! If anyone deserves this it's Ken .With out bp.com where would we be!! See you in topsfield Ken I've got some peppers for you.   Tuesday, September 27 View Page DO NOT ALLOW THIS MAN NEAR YOU WITH A CAMERA!!!   Tuesday, September 27 View Page My honey with my squash .It's all loaded up ready for weigh off.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Another Team -Pumpkin Road trip!   Sunday, October 23 View Page 3 Hours later. WHERE BACK!!   Sunday, October 23 View Page Official Seed Harvesters, GO Team-Pumpkin!!!!   Sunday, October 23 View Page What a sight to see.The 4 biggest pumpkins in one place.1704 UREA   Sunday, October 23 View Page The Stelts Monster 1807, The 1495 that grew this was 25 percent Heavy! Somebody told me to plant this seed last spring ,I didn't listen Dave . But it will see dirt in 2012   Sunday, October 23 View Page 1698 Bordsen, Ray Villafane cut the top pieces off to make the zombies for the 1818.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Matt D. getting ready to dive in!   Sunday, October 23 View Page 1ST view inside the world record 1818!   Sunday, October 23 View Page Another shot you can see the stem end went clear down to about an inch away from touching the bottom. It was tough getting all the seeds out from under that mass but we checked it again after Ray Villafane cut the hole for the 2nd Zombie and we didn't miss one.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Is that a man inside that pumpkin? Thats the most asked question all morning.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Good seed count in the 1818. All 4 pumpkins had a good seed count this year so these genetics should be passed along in the comming years.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Me trying to pull Matt D out of the 1818 but something had him and was pulling him in!!!What could it be?   Sunday, October 23 View Page Matt comming out the other side as a pumpkin zombie.Caution do not eat the pumpkin while harvesting seeds!! Or this could happen to you.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Group photo above the rose gardens. It was a pleasure meeting everyone and had an incredible time .We were all treated like vip guest , Thank you Karen!   Sunday, October 23 View Page Ray giving a question and answer during his break. He is an incredibly talented artist and one hell of a nice guy.   Sunday, October 23 View Page World Champs!! I want to say a big thank you to the GPC and all the growers for allowing TEAM-PUMPKIN to be the official seed harvesters of the worlds biggest pumpkin grown this year .It is an honor and a pleasure thank you!