Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 65 Entries. Tuesday, April 19 View Page First post for my 2011 diary and I have managed to get things started. Work has been hectic which has forced me to cut down on the amount of varieties this year. Main priority is the pumpkins, marrow, tomato and anything else will be a bonus.   Thursday, April 21 View Page Having computer troubles at the mo so no pics. Opted to grow seed from the EGVGA bubble this year. There was a great selection in the pack once again. I had 100% germination from all 8 seeds. The 2 I decided to plant out in the poly are the 1098Moretti and 1344Berrens. Both are currently enjoying the glorious weather.   Saturday, June 18 View Page Finally have the ability to upload pics again!!!! Well nothing much changed in the way of varieties planted but the pumpkins are well away now. In the next week I should expect to have pollinations on both plants. Here is a pic of the 1098Moretti.   Saturday, June 18 View Page The 1098Moretti is currently reaching out to 14ft with a female at 13ft.   Saturday, June 18 View Page The 1344Berrens looks a very stocky plant. Nice leaves and large vines. Currently reaching out to 12ft with a female just at the tip.   Saturday, June 18 View Page What is a pumpkin grower who carves pumpkins to do in the winter? Well, in the northwest England we don't usually see much snow around here at all, so I decided to take the opportunity and recreate the Blackpool tower when we had some snowfall! The tower stood at 9ft tall in line with my 9ft tall poly. Not quite as impressive as the real deal but then again it is made of snow.   Saturday, June 18 View Page Ooops! Didn't mean to post the last pic for the caption!!!! Oh well. For the past 3 years my largest pumpkin goes on display at a local Garden centre. This year I offered to do a public carving for them on my 763 for the customers to watch. I carved up my 54lb marrow the night before so people in the morning could actually see what I was trying to do. Oh its not Halloween related as you can tell as the pumpkin stayed on display sometime into November.   Saturday, June 18 View Page The design was going to be a Santa carrying a sack of toys on his shoulder. This is just a pic of the roughing out stage with pen to get the scale. Unfortunately, I don't have a decent pic of the finished carving on my comp because of the poor lighting at the end of the day. I'll see whether I can find a better quality pic sometime.   Saturday, June 18 View Page Now then, going back to what I had meant to post!!! What is a pumpkin grower who carves pumpkins to do in the winter? Well, in the northwest England we don't usually see much snow around here at all, so I decided to take the opportunity and recreate the Blackpool tower when we had some snowfall! Ended up standing at 9ft tall in line with my 9ft tall poly. Not quite as impressive as the real deal but then again it is made of snow. Hopefully it makes more sense this time! lol   Saturday, June 18 View Page Another one for scale. This is Misty our Newfoundland who is the protector/destroyer of our garden. If you know what a Newfie is then you'll know she isn't a small breed. Her head is about 3ft off the ground.   Saturday, June 25 View Page 1   Saturday, June 25 View Page 2   Saturday, June 25 View Page 3   Saturday, June 25 View Page 4   Saturday, June 25 View Page 5   Saturday, June 25 View Page 6   Saturday, June 25 View Page 7   Saturday, June 25 View Page 8   Saturday, June 25 View Page 9   Saturday, June 25 View Page 10   Saturday, June 25 View Page 11   Saturday, June 25 View Page 12   Thursday, July 7 View Page 13   Thursday, July 7 View Page 14   Thursday, July 7 View Page 16   Thursday, July 7 View Page 17   Thursday, July 7 View Page 18   Thursday, July 7 View Page 19   Thursday, July 7 View Page 20   Thursday, July 7 View Page 21   Sunday, July 17 View Page Next instalment.   Sunday, July 17 View Page 24   Sunday, July 17 View Page 25   Sunday, July 17 View Page 28   Sunday, July 17 View Page 29   Sunday, July 17 View Page 30   Sunday, July 17 View Page 31   Sunday, July 17 View Page 31.2   Sunday, July 17 View Page 31.3   Sunday, July 17 View Page 31.4   Sunday, July 17 View Page 33   Sunday, July 17 View Page 34   Sunday, July 17 View Page 35   Sunday, July 17 View Page 36   Sunday, July 17 View Page 37   Sunday, July 17 View Page 38   Sunday, July 17 View Page 39   Sunday, July 17 View Page 40   Sunday, July 17 View Page 41   Sunday, July 17 View Page 42   Friday, October 21 View Page Ok, so my season took a down turn after realising my pumpkin didn't want to play ball this year. Looking on the positive side it stayed intact for a 2nd year running. In the end an estimated 400lbs. It’s the first year that I haven’t had to lift it over the garage. It was slim enough to slide through the side gate :( It is now currently on display at the local garden centre (Barton Grange, Brock) again ready for me to carve it up on Saturday 29th of October. I'll be there from 9am till 5pm. This year I get to do a Halloween scene.   Friday, October 21 View Page I've been trying out some more 3D carving as practice for carving events. Here are some of my latest. Meet mega mouth   Friday, October 21 View Page Marrow man   Friday, October 21 View Page Been named by friends as 'Never SAW it coming!'   Friday, November 4 View Page Did my 2nd annual public pumpkin carving display at Barton Grange Garden Centre last weekend. Carved up my estimated 400lb pumpkin. The flesh seemed rather thick so may have gone a little heavy.   Friday, November 4 View Page Based the design on sort of a pumpkin headed scarecrow.   Friday, November 4 View Page At the end of the day, the finished article. Would have ideally liked a couple of more hours to put in the finishing details but then I probably would have still wanted to do something else after that.   Friday, November 4 View Page So that customers in the morning could see what a 3D carving would look like I brought a long 2 carvings I did the day before.   Friday, November 4 View Page Left carving   Friday, November 4 View Page Right carving. This one was actually taken over to Liverpools radiocity 96.7 radio station by a customer and had its picture taken with the presenters for Halloween.   Friday, November 4 View Page When the polytunnel has finished growing a pumpkin it gets converted into a pumpkin workshop! Here is another carving I did this year. Actually, it was meant for a competition but as I was about to submit the photo I realised due to the fact i don't live in the states.....I couldn't enter! Oops!   Friday, November 4 View Page Same carving under the lights with blackened background.   Friday, November 4 View Page Same carving again but with lights on from inside the pumpkin.   Friday, November 4 View Page My final 3D carving for this year was based on Terminator/cyborg type thing. This is actually quite large. Must be 2ft+ high.   Sunday, December 18 View Page The last photo managed to get me the 'honorable mention' in Ray Villafane's online carving competition. Very pleased :) Wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.