Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 40 Entries. Friday, January 7 View Page 1/7/11: Ordered seeds from Howard Dill's today and have seeds in pkgs.saved from my last harvest.   Wednesday, January 19 View Page Received seeds today from Howard Dill's: 1476 Bryson, 2010; 1432 Northrup, 2009, 1318 Picketts 2010; 977 Bosworth. Made sure I re-packaged them and put in a dry storage bin so critters wouldn't find them (couple of those seeds were $20.00!. Time to start getting my compost pile figured out.   Saturday, March 5 View Page Attended the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival Symposium today and won The Harp Collection (1316 N. Harp (09) and 1441 N. Harp (2010). I gave my 1236 C. Harp to Guy (Dguyh). If he grows a behemoth, I get some braggin rights!Got a bunch of great seeds--lots of Urena's .   Thursday, March 10 View Page 3/10: TESTER SEED EXPERIMENT 1.) Cut sides of 3" peat pots & wrapped with rubber band. 2.) Checked PH of potting soil=6.5 3.) Prepared 12 "Test" seeds from last yrs. pumpkins and one seed I won in a raffle. 4.) Prepared heating pad (set on medium, cookie sheets & lined with foil to place pots on. 5.) Ordered soil thermometer (nobody in Sacto seems to have one--even the "pot" growing store!) 6.) Lightly filed edges of seeds with superfine sand paper 7.) Soaked seeds 4 hrs. in 1 qt. water, 1 tsp. 12% humic acid and 1 Tbsp. liquid seaweed/fish hyd. solution (Age Old Organics products) 8.) Mixed 1 gal. fresh VAM, mixed into soil 9.) Pre-warmed soil/VAM mixture approx. 85 degrees in window sill with heating pad underneath 10.) Planted seeds pointed end down at approx. 1" 11.) Will record and check how fast they germinate. 12.) Getting 1 gal. pots ready for setting inside yard "Greenhouse" 13.) Checking with Redmond's for 10 cu top soil (they do a special mix) 14.) Compost pile going: horse manure, chicken, coffee grounds, etc. Trying to do this RIGHT this year. Soil will cost about $300; To date, have spent $151.00 (seeds, fertilizer, potting mix, peat pots).   Sunday, March 13 View Page My yellow lab walked through some fish fertilizer I spilled today. Spent the next 2 hours cleaning up. Phew! A small price to pay for future greatness, right?!   Saturday, March 19 View Page Have several sproutlings started. These are my "test" sproutlings from last year's crop. Was experimenting with heat sources, light, organic fertilizers, etc. Will probably give them to the neighbor to see what he can do on his 3 acres. Too wet here in Sacramento to even till! Expecting 10 days of rain!   Saturday, March 19 View Page Test seedlings doing well with heating pad, light source, and starting the right way.   Saturday, March 19 View Page Too wet to till or even consider laying out the plot for pumpkins! Weather forcast expects heavy wind and rain the the Sacramento area for the next 10 days! Winds up to 65 mph on Sunday. Hoping all will dry out by mid April!   Saturday, March 19 View Page Too wet to till or even consider laying out the plot for pumpkins! Weather forcast expects heavy wind and rain the the Sacramento area for the next 10 days! Winds up to 65 mph on Sunday. Hoping all will dry out by mid April!   Saturday, March 26 View Page Re-potted into 1 gal. 12 tester seedlings and moved them to small greenhous in the side yard. So, far, so good. Will be starting my "expensive" & proven seeds in April using the same methods.   Thursday, April 7 View Page Started my "good" line-up of seeds today. Will head over to Redmond's garden center to check the PH of their new topsoil blend. I'll be ordering 10 cu of topsoil. OK...here's to HOT weather last week in April!   Wednesday, April 13 View Page My line-up for this year. All coming up strong. Glad I ran "tests" last month just to ensure the right mix/temps., etc. Now...for the fencing...   Wednesday, April 13 View Page Got my area disc'ed -no, my yellow lab,SuzyQ didn't help dig it up. Plot is 66' each side. Mr. Root was kind enough to help me with collecting soil samples and making several excellent recommendations yesterday. That kind of knowledge is invaluable. Thank you!   Sunday, April 17 View Page Planted my 2011 line up tonight. Maybe too early...but the plants were getting rootbound after 10 days. Planted the following: 977 Bosworth; 1476 Bryson; 1467 Frias; 1401 Urena; 1318 Picketts; 1355 Root; 1316 Harp; 1441 Harp; and 1535 Root. I also have some plants from my whopping 99.5 from last year and may plant just for fun.   Sunday, April 17 View Page Some smart@@## wanted to see me planting under a "full moon" on April 17th--well, this is the biggest one you'll see tonight. Happy?   Tuesday, April 19 View Page Pumpkins in and ready to grow! Am going all organic this year! Well, it's only my second year. But, I worked for 4 years with a Sustainable & Organic Ag group.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Planted my line-up early-4/17. But major wind and rain stalled growth. However, 8 sproutlings are doing OK. I don't know what possessed me to plant SO early. Stupid. Am going to start a 1050 Hebb (09) I won. That will make 10 plants. Drip system and overhead sprinklers ready, fencing almost up, and compost dug in. My only real concern is for my 1441 Harp. It seems to be having trouble thriving despite my mixture of VAM, seaweed and fish fertilizer. Keep your fingers crossed on that one.   Saturday, April 30 View Page Wind is crazy right now here in Sacramento county--35 mpr! Have my plants sheilded (somewhat). Sadly, my 1441 Harp died this week. Not sure WHY because the other 8 plants are doing fine! Are the Harps "hot house" flowers?   Sunday, May 1 View Page Here is my 977 Bosworth. Seems really strong! Am still totally bummed out about losing both Harp plants. Oh well, live and learn. Got all fencing up today to keep critters out, soaker hoses and sprinklers ready (still need to buy timers), and have the compost spread.   Sunday, May 15 View Page Wind, rain and hail most of today. Got 8 plants rooted and growing. Put planter buckets over the wee plants yesterday--luckily just in time. But, with all this weird weather...who knows what will happen. I am SAVING for a freaking greenhouse next year.   Friday, May 27 View Page I was really trying to "Go Organic"....but spyed two lygus bugs sucking the life out of two of my plants. I RACED to the hardware store for Ortho Garden Pesticide. Yeah, everything is all hunky dory until you witness a greedy bugy eating your prized pumpkin plants!   Friday, June 3 View Page On June 1st we had a tornado warning and HAIL the size of nickels slam into Sacramento county. The hail shredded the leaves (see pic of 1318 Picketts) of 8 plants! Dang it! Normally, temps would be in the high 80's and nothing but blue sky. Weirdest weather EVER.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Here is my 977 Bosworth (5 ft out) and growing like crazy! Lots of male flowers this week. Hope in the next 7-10 days the females will follow. It is 98 degrees today at 4:00 p.m. My timer blew out last night, so have had to turn hoses and sprinklers on manually 7 times today! Goal is to get to the hardware store for a replacement on Weds a.m. GO SUMMER!   Wednesday, June 22 View Page Ron standing behind the 1318 Picketts (10). Have 8 plants, with five growing strong, 6-7 ft. of vine and several females ready to bloom in a day or two. It is SO hot here--102 yesterday. Between the soaker hoses and sprinklers plants are doing well.   Saturday, June 25 View Page Pollinated my first female on 6/24: 1467 Frias (f) x 977 Bosworth (m)--primarily because there were no other females ready on the other 7 plants. But, it could turn out to be a good cross. It is only 8 feet out, so we'll see what happens. Pollinated 2 more this morning, 1318 Picketts (f) x 1404 Urena (m. Really thankful the weather is in the mid-80's. Lots of watering and just purchased some dried blood meal.   Tuesday, June 28 View Page Busy all last week pollinating and checking plants. Yesterday I pollinated my 977 Bosworth (f) x 1401 Urena. That should be a great cross. Also pollinated 1535 Root x 1050 Hebb--just for the heck of it. I am being very careful about covering both male and females flowers prior to opening and tying off female blossoms after pollination. Live and learn!   Sunday, July 3 View Page From little seedlings great pumpkins grow (we hope). Here is my 1535 Root--softball size as of today (1535 Root x 1467 Frias) pollinated on 6/29. Its hot here today...101 and going to get hotter this week. My sprinklers and soaker hoses are doing the job, but I can see the heat is stressing the plants.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page This is my 1318 Picketts. Has a 35" pumpkin growing and several others on the main. Time to cull. Have continued pollinating and recording crosses. A big "Thank you" to Mr. Root for teaching me pruning techniques.   Thursday, July 28 View Page This morning's shot of my largest pumpkin: Approx. 240 pounds according to OTT Tables. Pollinated on 6-25, Description:1318 Picketts x 1401 Urena. It is developing a nice, thick skin. My other four are only about 60 pounds-"porch pumpkins"...have had many abort about the size of a basketball. According to Mr. Root, 'kins are not getting enough water. Ahhh...love those 100 degree days in Sacramento county (not). Here's to my sky-high water billthis summer!   Thursday, August 11 View Page Here is the 1318 Picketts x 1401 Urena. Circumference is approx. 106" (326 pounds). Noticed a sag line/dill ring. It does not go all the way around 'kin, so I am holding out hope.   Thursday, August 11 View Page This is the 1535 Root (f) x 1467 Frias. About 230 pounds as of last night. Have been foliar feeding every 3 days and watering more than ever. That's why I culled down to just 3 plants! Water bill has gone up over $100 per month.   Sunday, September 4 View Page Me and my Big Pumpkin (and bug spray!). Think it has stopped growing. We'll see. I have two others in the patch. Hope they make it until October!   Monday, September 5 View Page Here is my 1535 Root x 1467 Frias. Very nice looking pumpkin--good shape and color. Sometimes in life "size doesn't count"--ah, who am I kidding?!   Wednesday, September 7 View Page Me and "Mr. Root"--even though this 'kin is small, I love the shape and color. This is my second year growing--well, first maybe since I had no idea what I was doing last year!   Sunday, September 18 View Page For some reason, unknown to me, my 1318 Picketts stopped growing. It measured 252 OTT today, so about 345 pds. I have no exuse...this being my second (really the 1st) year of growing. I learned a LOT this year, and plan to put that knowledge to good use in 2012!   Sunday, September 25 View Page Today, the 1318 Picketts measured 245 OTT=about 318 pounds, and my little 1535 measured OTT 212=211 pounds. Think I know what went wrong this year, and will re-adjust next year! Growing AG's is a challenging hobby, but fun.   Friday, September 30 View Page Two pumpkins all wrapped up and ready to go to Elk Grove on Saturday! Ron wanted to submit the 1535 Root x 1467 Frias because of the shape and color. Am SO thankful for my neighbor with his tractor, and our other neighbors for helping out last night. BBQ to follow!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Had a great time seeing all the of the growers and their pumpkins at the Elk Grove Weigh-Off today! Congratulations to Mr. Urena for a Northern CA new record. Weight of the 1318 picketts x 1401 Urena was 332 pounds. Better than last year! Am now dreaming of next year's events.   Wednesday, November 23 View Page Happy Thanksgiving! I cooked a turkey early for the church dinner. This is a 22 pd. hen.   Friday, December 30 View Page SuzyQ and Jeri wish everybody a Happy 2012!