Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 58 Entries. Friday, March 4 View Page First post for the 2011 season which I hope will be more productive than last year. Pictured below is one of the fruit out of the patch in 2010. It's a looker for sure   Friday, March 4 View Page My son Jacob and I hope to set a personal best this year. We are growing two pumpkin plants one being a 1385 Jutras and the other will be the GVGO seed of the year hopefully pollinated by either the 1080 hunt or 1329 Hunt.   Friday, March 4 View Page Here is my newly built germination chamber, similar to the one I used three years ago when I had the most success germinating seeds and also setting a new personal best that year. Test trials on the way. Its heated by a heat mat and the temp is a consistent 88 degrees and can be adjusted easily by cracking the lid about 1/16" per degree Cost $21   Friday, March 4 View Page Shown here are seeds sprouted in the chamber using the paper towel method in the pill box. 100% success on eight seeds in under 36 hours. Two of the seeds have been put in dirt and put back in the box until they spring up with leaves to ensure the process works from start to finish. The seeds that sprout the best are from my 628 from a few years back which are 1355 Marion x 1093 Hunt - don't know why I haven't planted this sucker out as I think it would throw a monster - not enough room I guess, it was 18% heavy when weighed in at Wellington.   Friday, March 4 View Page Trying giant beetroot this year and they sprouted in less than 36 hours as well. Thanks for the seeds BW.   Friday, March 4 View Page Doing some different types of giant carrots and this is the first one up.More on the way   Friday, March 4 View Page My giant cabbages are coming along but I must transplant them shortly to get them straigtened out. I will cage them off this year to keep out the ground hogs.   Friday, March 4 View Page Slow and steady will be the plan this year, with my crappy year last year I have planned out the year and my products to use and will try my hardest to stay on track. Instead of going in way to early to work I plan on dedicating the appropriate time in the morning to the patch.   Friday, March 4 View Page I have stocked up the fridge with the taste of choice here at the boonies patch as well for any stoppers by. Can't get much more canadian that Labatts 50 - OH YA   Monday, April 11 View Page Here is my best cabbage thus far, I'm new to these other veggies so its looking good I think and hopefully if weather is good I will get it outside in a week or so with some protection   Monday, April 11 View Page Here is my giant beetroot, the only one I have as some did not take so its all or nothing, looking good so far I think. I planted it in a large pot in case we get cold weather and i have to wait to plant it.   Saturday, April 23 View Page Dug out manure that had not composted to my satisfaction and leveled off area and then installed my heating cables. I'm putting plants right beside each other this year. Our area is very wet so this is the only area that got attention today. No tilling this year as I'm using a broadfork to loosen the soil to a depth of 10". More work but I hope it will work out in the end.   Saturday, April 23 View Page Area with all soil put back and 3 types of Myco sprinkled in area along with a few other ammendments. Broadfork that I'm using this year to break up soil strata is off to one side in pic.   Saturday, April 23 View Page Mini greenhouse with automatic openers installed and ready to go, heating cables to be plugged in today and small heaters will be used when plants are put in. Hope to start seeds today as well.   Saturday, April 23 View Page Seeing as Friday was earth day we built this pallet composter - 3 bays for now but one more to be added shortly. Should keep things tidier in the future. and it was free!   Monday, April 25 View Page 2 Giant cabbages are in the ground now, used my spare greenhouse and a jury rigged cover for now as we are going to get 4 inches of rain this week. I will reconfigure after the ark passes.   Monday, April 25 View Page As you can see the cabbage is nice and comfy inside   Monday, April 25 View Page 2nd plant   Monday, April 25 View Page I have set up my Lee Valley Tools IV drip system for the cabbages as they do not like overhead watering. This shot shows the shading I have set up as well until they get use to outside.   Sunday, May 1 View Page Transplanted my Giant Carrots today, growing them in discarded pieces of pipe. Mixed 50% sand,compost, patch soil and ammendments together as carrots like well draining soil. Wrapped with chicken wire and the Cornish Giant trademark pallet wrap to keep the wind from damaging them right now. Hopefully I will get one dandy out of the bunch!   Wednesday, May 4 View Page Attendance at the latest GVGO Executive Meeting held in Dummer Township! LOL   Tuesday, June 28 View Page Picture of one of the cabbages against the 2nd best beer in Ontario. Doing ok I think   Tuesday, June 28 View Page Pictured here is one of my Heavy Carrots. Seems to like growing in the pipe. I have 4 of these all about the same size   Tuesday, June 28 View Page This is a picture of one of the Othecas of Praying Mantis Hatching which we were lucky enough to witness next to my pumpkin plants. They are the tiny white things running all over the board. About 150 of them came out and went right for the plant to eat up the bad guys. Very Cool to watch!   Tuesday, June 28 View Page No picture but I had my first pollination on the 1385 Jutras on Wed. June 22nd at about 8 feet out. I know it's close but it has a nice long stem and is on the outside of the main turning so the spot is hard to ignore. Its crossed with a real good orange producer that weighed quite heavy as well. Time will tell.   Monday, July 11 View Page Latest shot of one the largest carrot I have going, its quite large around the shoulder of the carrot root so far so good.   Monday, July 11 View Page Pic of the fruit I have going on the 1385 Jutras, not earthshattering numbers but its positioned good on the vine and near the edge of the patch so its probably going to be kept.   Monday, July 11 View Page This is one of two melons that appear to have been successfully polinated. Plant is really growing with the heat wave we are having right now - must think its right at home in the deep south.LOL   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Hail along with a bad storm that sent us to the basement for about 1/2 hour. all leaves have damage from the nickel sized hail. One tough season!!!!!!!!!!!   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Heres my melon off the 222 Hunt at about 20 days. It's got a good shape I think and I have cut off a shorter stubby one. I have one going on the 239 Leonard as well that is about 12 days old.   Saturday, July 23 View Page Watermelon is coming along nicely - its getting nice and long - just can't get over how much heat the plant will take. With the humidity factored in it was 121 degrees here in the Peterborough area and hotter in Toronto - I think it set a new record for the last 100 years!!   Saturday, July 23 View Page This melon belongs to my son Jacob, its being grown in a much smaller plot but he is pleased and we will try to get one more started so he has two in case something happens to the first one. Hes pumped its that big right now!   Friday, August 5 View Page Watermelon on the 222 Hunt is coming along. Its not a monster like southern growers have on but for my first attempt I think its not too bad.   Friday, August 5 View Page This is my fruit on the 1395 Jutras. Its in the low 400's now but I don't think it has enough plant to get it to 1000 but we will see. It sure is a wide one. I think it will be a good orange colour as well.   Saturday, August 13 View Page Watermelon chugging along, beer bottle is slowly diminishing in size compared to the melon   Saturday, August 13 View Page the 1385 is slowly coming along as well, animals have had their way with this but I've treated with sulphur powder.   Saturday, August 13 View Page 1250 Vincent Mcgill is a nice looking fruit too bad its a very late pollination. Day 26 and has an OTT of 231   Saturday, August 13 View Page Tomato on the 7.33 Hunt   Saturday, August 13 View Page Another on a 7.33 Hunt   Saturday, August 13 View Page Something is eating my plant at night and leaving black frass hanging from the leaves. Is is slugs, catepillars, locusts, rabbits - its going to eat my entire patch in about three weeks if i don't get it figured out.   Sunday, August 21 View Page 1385 Jutras x 1250 Vincent/McGill is chugging along even with the varmit marks on the blossom end. Its hard to measure so no update today. Its not pretty but hopefully heavy to get me to 1000 lbs as its getting quite old now.   Sunday, August 21 View Page Heavy Carrot top is approaching 3 feet across. When I poke around in the top layer of dirt it looks great - just need it to be like that further down.   Sunday, August 21 View Page Had to pull one of the four cabbages last night as the leaves were growing wonky, this one was right next to it and is growing ok - the plant has had better days though as the cabbage has gotten the least amount of attention in the garden   Sunday, August 21 View Page 1250 Vincent/McGill x 1385 Jutras, this plant has huge vines and its growing well. Its at Day 35 and is 282 OTT and has grown 210 pounds in 9 days. I hope it does not run out of time growing cycle wise but its scheduled to go to a weigh off on October 15th so it might be a new PB for me.   Friday, August 26 View Page 1385 is cruising along, OTT of 311" not growing too much so not sure if its worthy to go all the way to a weigh off, probably just save it for the Norwood fair.   Friday, August 26 View Page 1250 Vincent/McGill is coming along nicely, Day 41 and it measures 298 OTT for 560 lbs and six weeks till the weigh off so hopefully we get nice September weather and it can gain enough for a new PB   Friday, August 26 View Page My watermelon is looking good and it is already a good year in my mind. Its made it to 143 OTT (90 lbs)which is not in the league with the big guns but alot of fun to grow for my son and I. Wait till you see his in the next pic!   Friday, August 26 View Page Jacobs melon has had a run in with some mice on the bottom but I have applied sulphur for him and now moth balls and mouse traps. He is kicking dads but now as his is at 153" OTT for 107.5 lbs - He will never let me forget it if we get these babies to the weigh off and thats just fine with me.   Thursday, September 1 View Page Our son Jacob is proud as a peacock with his watermelon and wanted me to post a picture of him on my diary. He is still battling the mice issue but we put some sulphur powder slurry on it and it seems to be holding. He thinks 150 lbs is obtainable now as it measures 118 lbs and we might just get it. Either way he is having fun and thats what its all about.   Sunday, September 4 View Page 1250 Vincent/Mcgill now at Day 49 - starting to rib up!   Sunday, September 4 View Page Showing Jacobs watermelon lenthwise but how wide the girth is   Thursday, September 15 View Page Well the third largest of our tomatoes went ripe a little too early so we had it weighed and it came in at 1.75 lbs which is not a monster but this is the first year growing them and we made many errors. 2nd largest split so we have one more to weigh in at Port Elgin if it holds out which will be over 3 pounds hopefully. You have to start somewhere so its up from here.   Thursday, September 15 View Page These Giant Carrots always amaze me with all their freaky looks. This is the smallest of our 4 Giant Carrots we grew this year and Jacob is taking it to the local fair along with a few other things.   Thursday, September 15 View Page These Giant Carrots always amaze me with all their freaky looks. This is the smallest of our 4 Giant Carrots we grew this year and Jacob is taking it to the local fair along with a few other things. it weighed in at 2.49 lbs   Thursday, September 15 View Page I'm getting the best beverage in the world ready for Port Elgin in 15 days cuz were gonna be doin some celebrating for sure. I'm gettin pumped! the more I call around to Ontario members and check their progress. Keep er goin!   Thursday, September 29 View Page Loaded the pumpkin for Port Elgin today, we are leaving on friday morning so we have to sacrifice some weight over a nice relaxed trip and stay overnight.   Thursday, September 29 View Page Melons are tucked away for the trip as well. Hopefully we can squeak out at least one of us in the top 5.   Thursday, September 29 View Page Trailer is loaded with pumpkin, two nice cabbages - one felt quite a bit heavier than the other - hopefully we can get over 50 lbs but its hard to tell. Heavy carrots tucked in for the ride as well.