Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 110 Entries. Friday, March 9 View Page I wasn't going to an on-line diary this year but i am really getting jacked so I changed my mind. This is a picture of one of my Ghost Peppers 53 DAP. I grew them last year and had beautiful plants but no peppers. It was then I found out that they take about twice as long as I thought. Out of 13 seeds this year I had 9 germinate. Just shy of 70%. I used my new germination box I made this winter to test out its effectiveness. Works great. I have also used products on these peppers that I got from the Hollands in Sumner WA. I am amazed at how that stuff makes a difference. Pumpkin season is coming fast. Hope I'm ready. Have to get these peppers transplanted this weekend and into the greenhouse. Will keep them under lights there until we have sufficient daylight.   Monday, March 12 View Page Finally got out to transplant peppers today(monday 3/12/12). potting soil recipe: 2.5 gal. bucket as measure -3 bkts. peat moss -1 bkt. perlite -1 bkt. vermiculite -1 bkt. garden soil -2 bkts. compost -1/2 cup limestone -1 cup each:Mycorrhizae,bloodmeal, rock phosphate,greensand Screen peat,soil, and compost. Mix in cement mixer. Yields 3.1 cubic feet.   Monday, March 12 View Page Because of time constraints I only potted 4 peppers out of 9. It took me a little longer than I thought to set up lights and timer. Seems to be working well, however I will moniter it throughout the night. Temperature right now is my main concern. I have the vent fan off until we get some sunshine. Temperature today was mid 40's. Windy and overcast. This morning Temperature outside was 33 dgs. and in the greenhouse with the heat off was 39 dgs.   Monday, March 12 View Page Winter is always so ugly to me. In foreground is veggie garden. Pumpkin patch is this side of wood fence. Anxious to get out and till and put up cloches. I'm always in a hurry.   Monday, March 26 View Page This is my latest acquisition. Picked this up today for under $800.00. It will cover our entire garden and extend our growing season by a month at least on each end. The size is 30'x54'x14' tall. I have to go dismantle it and haul it home and put it up again. With every thing else going on it will probably take me until the end of summer to get it done. Won't be using the heater or fans just yet if ever. Will put roll up sides on it. Also got drip irrigation with automatic timer with it.   Monday, March 26 View Page This is my new old tiller that I just picked up for $350.00. According to the engine it's 18 yrs. old. It's name is 'The Tank'. I found this one at my local small engine repair shop. It was on consignment. The guy who got rid of it doesn't use it anymore because he has all raised beds. He also spent $81.00 to have it serviced before he put it up for sale. My neighbor took my Craftsman apart that hasn't been working for a couple of years. When he got it apart about a gallon of water came out of it. Needle bearings everywhere. I did salvage a good 6.0 hp engine from it though. The guy who sold me this tiller said they are about $800.00 new. I found one in Canada that was same model and year as this one that sold for $350.00. I give all the glory to God for my new greenhouse and tiller.Thank you Lord!!!   Wednesday, April 4 View Page Yesterday I was thinking about doing some tilling on the patch and getting my cables set and the cloche up. Guess I'll do the laundry and clean house instead. It's 31 dgs. right now. 45 mi. away it's 45 dgs. and 125 mi. away it's 51 dgs. . The greenhouse I bought is all dismantled and moved. I have some people who are interested in buying the heater and will come by today to look at it. Sowed several varieties of pepper, eggplant and cole crops yesterday and have them in germination box. Looking at my calendar I had Big Pumpkins down for sowing next week. Most likley delay that for a couple of weeks because of the weather and I'm not ready.   Tuesday, April 10 View Page I have 3 plots for Pumpkins on this piece of property. Each plot measures 25'x45'. Spent most of yesterday preparing this site. Tilled, added compost and manure plus soil from a raised bed that I am doing away with. I also put a heating cable in this one. Prior to doing all this I applied roundup on this plot and the others. Beginning to detect chlorosis. Hauled out a lot of sod. Instead of tilling I think I will lay down wet newspaper and layer compost, manure ,soil and worms. Will till in the fall. Before planting each site will have added to it Fish Meal(10-4-0; 4-5 lbs.),Humic Acid 86(2 lbs.),Kelp Meal(1-0-2;3 lbs.),Pumpkin Power(9-3-4;3-4 lbs.),3 lbs. freeze dried Molasses, 1 Tblspn. Soluble Amino Acid for each lb. of Fertilizer. Putting up cloche next.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Thursday(4/12) I set up the bones for this cloche. Today (Sunday) I got the plastic on and sealed it up. I used some of the plastic from the greenhouse I dismantled. Before I sealed it I put a thermometer in it. It read 60 dgs. before I sealed the cloche and less than an hour later it was 94 dgs. I'm going to plant my 1056 Holland(1303 Sweet x 1725 Harp) in this one. In case of a failure I have plenty of good backups. This cloche also has a 40' heating cable in it. Not having to work a job is sure different. I was never able to give my pumpkins this much attention when I was working. I am going out on a limb here and hoping for a new PB of at least 1000 lbs. The largest I have heard of from this area was quite a few years ago of 800+ lbs. Still have 2 smaller pumpkin cloche's to build plus at least 3 watermelon houses.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Hardening off my Ghost Peppers. They will stay in the nursery pots all season and I will keep them on my deck. The tallest one is 2' tall. All are covered with blossoms and the taller ones are showing peppers.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Little greenhouse 1/2 filled with seedlings;Broccoli,Eggplant,peppers. Need to get the rest of the pepper seedlings transplanted. Disappointed in germination % of Paprika Peppers. Went ahead and ordered more Paprika Pepper seed today and will try again.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Here's a shot of a tray of tomato seeds that I planted Friday. This is only part of 13 varieties I planted. I have all 13 varieties planted in my germination chamber in the house. Am seeing what the difference will be in germination. This tray is in a propagation bench with a cable under it. Greenhouse stays anywhere fom 70 dgs. to 100 dgs.. I just have to remember to turn the vent fan on in the morning so I don't cook everything, and remember to turn it off at night so I don't try to heat the great outdoors. Varieties are mainly heirlooms except for Celebrity. I also planted Big Zac this year.   Sunday, April 15 View Page A post note to last entry. I planted about 400 tomato seeds when I planted Friday. Here I am hardening off 4 Hop plants I started.   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Started 2 seeds today. The 1056 is my main and the 972 is the backup. If they both germinate I will keep the 972 for a pollinator. I'll find somewhere to squeeze it in. If the 1056 fails I have others to take it's place. Amended the site this a.m. and turned on the cable.   Tuesday, April 17 View Page The seeds are still soaking but this is where they will go in the a.m.. Then it's off to the germination chamber. I have an old homemade food dehydrator, that is of good size, that I am going to turn into a grow chamber. Made a compost tea brewer yesterday. Works great!   Thursday, April 19 View Page Tried this the other day and it didn't post. Got 2 seeds in dirt. The 1056 is my main and the 972 is backup. If the 1056 fails then I have others and will still use the 972 as a pollinator. I will squeeze it in somewhere. Will be starting 4 0ther seeds shortly. Spent yesterday transplanting tomato seedlings and making potting soil. Will be doing about the same today.   Thursday, April 19 View Page Seeds went into 4" peat pots at 8 a.m. yesterday. Temp. in germination box is hanging around 85 dgs. I have an old homemade food dehydrator I will try to convert into a grow chamber. Will have to get a new ream of paper so I can add that project to my list. All the tomatoes that were in the germination chamber are up. The ones in the greenhouse are lagging behind but started to emerge yesterday. Got 100% germination on the Big Zac seeds I got from Hollands!   Wednesday, April 25 View Page Haven't had time to take pictures and get my notes together until today. This looks like the picture is sideways but it is actually an overhead shot of the 1056 Holland I planted on the 18th. It took 5 days to emerge and I am kind of bummed that it has split cotyledons and is looking kind of leggy despite having been real close to lights since the day it emerged. A positive is though, the first leaf is really starting to develop. The 972 which was planted at the same time has yet to show itself. I dug it up on the 17th and it was nice and solid. I think I just didn't file enough. Seems to have a thicker shell than most. Filed,soaked,and let sit overnight in oven 4 more seeds: 1462 Holland-08 (1092 martin x 998 pukos) 1277.5 Holland-10 (1400 holland x 1725 harp) 1211.5 Holland-10 (1505 holland x 1725 harp) 892 Holland-10 (991 urena x 901 hunt) When I took them out of the paper towels it seemed like they were going to burst into plants in my hand. They looked real good. Went into 4" peat pots at noon and are in the germination box. Lunch is over need to get back at it. Need to make a batch of Compost Tea and have two cords of wood coming in a couple of hours that will need to be put away. After several days of temperatures in the 70's and 80's, highs are supposed to plummet into the 40's by Friday.   Thursday, April 26 View Page First year growing watermelon. Started seeds today. Don't know if I'm late but don't think I am early for around here. Have no idea what I am doing so will be leaning real heavy on GWG and watermelon forum. Have room for 4 plants. If any of these fail I will fill their allotted space with pumpkin or squash.   Friday, April 27 View Page Friday April 27. Snow on the Bar-B.   Saturday, April 28 View Page Pumpkins are all up...except the 972. I'm going to give it a couple of more days. I would really like to have it as a pollinator. I thought I saw the radicle poking out so i stuck it back in the dirt and am hoping for the best. Upped the heat a bit. It is still solid. No give when squeezed. This is the first time I have had seeds come up with no green. They are greening up fast though. It is also the first time I soaked in seaweed solution that I can remember. Thus the value of a diary. May have gone a little heavy on the mix. These four seeds all broke ground in 54 hrs. or less. No watermelon yet.   Saturday, April 28 View Page Post script to last entry. I put the seedlings in the greenhouse instead of fooling around with grow lights in the house. This is a Ghost Pepper. These plants this year continue to amaze me.   Monday, April 30 View Page 204 Dawson germed yesterday. As of this morning it still hadn't shaken the seed coat. I helped it out and took it off. Going to repot and put in greenhouse. Other seeds are in nice and toasty germination box. If any of you watermelon vets see this and see I'm doing something wrong PLEASE get hold of me and let me know. This is my first year doing melons and I want to do it right!   Monday, April 30 View Page The 1056 just isn't looking too hot. When compared with the others in the greenhouse they are much more vigorous and aggresive. I'm not going to trash this one but may move it to second string, not so much as a pollinator but just to see what it can do. I'm a little concerned that it may be putting out a double vine. Will wait and see. The 1462 and the 1277.5 are looking good as far as a replacement. Still nothing on the 972. Just going to forget about it for a couple of days.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page No new melons up yet. Pumpkins are looking good.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Weather for the last two days has been cool, windy and rainy. Opened up the cloche this morning when outside air temp. was not more than 45. Inside the cloche it was 102 dgs. No heat or cable on.NOTE(For future reference): Planted 276 Broccoli plants yesterday and this morning. NOTE( To self): Don't ever do that again. Compost them next time!   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Scored some barrels this morning for rain collection. Price was right...free!!   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Pumpkin seedlings transplanted to big pots. All look good. Weather to improve in a few days. Will wait to set out until then.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Picture of the 1056. Really don't like what I see. Leaning toward putting the 1462 or 1211.5 in the big cloche and this one wherever I have room. 972 rotted. No new melons. Need to make a decision to start more or just go with one.   Thursday, May 3 View Page Pumpkin plants are looking REAL good. Will probably set out best one in the next few days. 204 Dawson watermelon is just kind of sitting there. All other three seeds rotted so seeded 4 more today;133 Hampp; 209 Cantrell; 216.5 Neptune; 230 Edwards. The 230 Edwards was really flat and didn't look viable. Planted it anyway. Doing a little different method this time but still using mat and high temp..Transplanted a few Paprika peppers today. Really struggling with germination pecentage. Only about 40% germination so far. Weather today overcast and rainy. Freezing night temps. ahead. Highs in 50's except tomorrow, high is supposed to be 48. Temps. next week supposed to be in 60's and 70's. Spent a lot of yesterday trying to get ventilation working in greenhouse. My thermostat that works the fan and shutters finally quit working. When I dismantled that greenhouse earlier in the year I salvaged 3 thermostats. I put one in but have to turn it on and off by hand. It will work fine until the replacement I ordered gets here.Just keep the fan speed low and it works fine without having to constantly moniter it. With just a little bit of sun it can shoot up to 120 dgs. in no time. Have my big cloche with the cable in it closed up. Checked the temp there a while ago and it was over 100. That's with not much sunshine!   Monday, May 7 View Page Decided to put the 1277.5 in the ground today. It was a toss up between that and the 1211. The 1056 is looking a lot better but has a flat vine. On the watermelon side the 209 cantrell broke ground today. The 204 Dawson is looking a lot better and is starting to grow.   Monday, May 7 View Page It was 118 inside when I opened up the cloche this morning. The soil temp. was 85. Had the cable on and will most likely just use it at night.   Monday, May 7 View Page Scored big on a BIG pile of composted horse manure. I have hauled 3 loads already and probably have 8 more to go. On top of the price being right(free) the guy has a loader to load me up with. I have kids to unload me!   Friday, May 25 View Page Very hard frost here last night. All weather sights said outside temp was 40 dgs. My kitchen window thermometer said 33. All ridges on garden furrows and little piles of compost and manure all had frost on them. The deck was white with frost.There was ice on the 16x16 hoophouse. To top things off the heater in the greenhouse didn't kick on. Temp. in there was 42 dgs. I wouldn't mind so much if it were October but it is almost June. Neighbors that have already planted are starting to lose plants due to the wet and cold. No relief in sight until mid next week. 1211.5 Holland;1400 Holland; 1462 Holland are all in ground and doing well despite the cold. Need better coldframe/hoophouses for next year. 1056(double vine) and 892 Holland are still waiting to be planted as is my 204 Dawson watermelon. 209 Cantrell damped off after first true leaf.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 1056 Holland-This plant started out with a double vine and a split stem. It has since corrected itself and half of the vine turned into a secondary and the split which got bigger healed. It had a female flower about 30" out. I would cover it at night but it had no protection in the day. Got battered around a lot by cold wind.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 892 Holland- This one is starting to take off. For some reason it wants to head south. It too was unprotected in the daytime and was beaten around by wind.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 1462 Holland- Really starting to run. Has grown a foot in one day. Had a female flower at 36". This one had a wire perimiter around it in the daytime. I used black weed barrier around the wire for a windbreak. It was chomping to get out before I took the wire down.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 1211.5 Holland-Full plant. Nice to look at. This one was also protected during the day.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 1277.5 Holland-This is the first one I put out this year. It was in a hoophouse with heating cable and heat lamp. I was disappointed with this one because it just sat there and did nothing for the longest time. Now with the good weather it is starting to explode. Thick vine on this one. Beautiful plant.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 204 Dawson watermelon- The only one I could get to grow. This one is special to me and is going to get extra special treatment.   Friday, June 15 View Page Seaweed drench and foliar feed today. Also used Acton as foliar feed.   Saturday, June 16 View Page Drenched all with compost tea. 1462-female at 50" 1056-Female at 30" 1277.5-winner in growth since yesterday. Just a few inches.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This is a picture of a leaf on my 1462. There seems to be some chewing going on(see holes near center of leaf). If anyone knows what this might be and if I should be concerned mail me at tntnbaker@msn.com subject line diary.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Same thing on my 1211.5........   Sunday, June 17 View Page and my 1277.5   Sunday, June 17 View Page Drenched all plants with green pond water today. Windy and warm.   Monday, June 18 View Page Forecast high for the day 58. Low 38. 10-20 mph. winds. 50% chance of rain. Drenched all plants with soluble calcium today. Also foliar fed w/calcium. 1277.5 still doing the best. 6" growth since yesterday. 1462 seems to be stalling. All others minimal or no growth. Went out about an hour after dark last night to see if I could determine what was causing holes in leaves but found no bugs. Went out at pre-dawn and looked again and found nothing. Didn't seem to be any more damage. I am thinking it could be birds or passing bugs. Saw no earwigs or slugs. Am generally pleased with overall health and appearance of plants.   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Growth on plants is at a standstill. 1462 put on about 2" if any. Everything else nothing. Low here at patch last night(4:30 a.m.) was 42 dgs. Forecast low tonight is 37. Windy yesterday and weather felt like early March. Forecast high today is 62. I just don't think this clime is suitable for pumpkins. Not AG's anyway. I have grown lot's of jack-o-lanterns and small sugars but struggle with AG's. No new leaf damage. Too cold for bugs. Getting discouraged easily.   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Sprayed lightly with Bayer Insect Killer. Temp. at noon 53 dgs. Cool and windy. Not grower friendly.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page This morning at 4:45 the thermometer in the garden read 33 dgs.f. Upon inspection at 8 a.m. found there was no damage to any plants due to spot frost. This was probably due to the light to moderate breeze this morning. Am surprised at how heaithy the plants look despite the cold weather. Forecast for today is temps. in the 70's and lows in the 40's.The 1277.5 put on a couple more inches of growth and the others stood still. No surprise due to weather. Will remove hoophouse today.Drenched and foliar fed all plants with Nutri-Aid Blossom Booster 0-54-34 and 1/2 strength Acton 4-1-2.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Had to soak everything down this morning. Supposed to be 86 today. Forecast low is 53. We didn't even reach 53 for a high 2 days ago. With the onset of 1 day of warm weather all plants are showing signs of resuming growth. The 1462 is the winner with a couple of inches followed closely by the 1211.5.I can see growth on the 1277.5 but it is reaching for the moon and I haven't pinned it down yet. Took the hoophouse off of it yesterday. Also had a male flower open on the 1462. Don't know how I missed that one. Looks like I will be covering mains in a few days. The 892 and 1056 are lagging behing and are looking hungry.   Friday, June 22 View Page 1277.5 @ 57". 8" new growth. Very healthy looking. Will wait to bury. Lots of male flowers, no female.   Friday, June 22 View Page 1462 @ 65".secondarys starting to grow. 4" new growth on main. Female at tip. Will wait to bury main.   Friday, June 22 View Page Forecast high for today 79 w/chance of thunderstorms.. Was 52 at 4:30 this a.m.. Gave all plants seaweed drench/foliar. Will probably give manure/compost tea drench later today. The 1056@38" has no new growth on main. Small secondarys. 892@35" has secondarys starting to grow and is looking a bit more healthy.1211.5@41" has secondarys starting to grow. Male flower open this a.m.. A couple of observations: My best plant(1277.5) had the advantage of the hoophouse, heating cables and grow mat. Noted this for next season.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Warm drying wind blowing from the south. No flagging. Watered anyway. When I was watering I noticed damage on my 1277.5.. Three leaves were affected. They were intact and healthy this morning. I'm thinking birds. Have a lot of sparrows hanging around.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Here is another damaged leaf on my 1277.5. I also noticed this plant put on about 6" of growth since yesterday.   Saturday, June 23 View Page And yet another leaf. My 1462 also put on about 6" of growth. While I was taking these pictures the wind really started whipping and I had to hustle to pin my mains down. Yesterday the wind blew my 1462 about 6" to the side. No damage. Thunderstorms approaching over the southern hills. Hope my next pictures aren't of hail damage.   Saturday, June 23 View Page My 'puter is weirding out on me. Heres the pic that went with the last post.   Monday, June 25 View Page Another gorgeous morning I have been granted to experience. Plants look good this morning despite 10-20 mph. winds we have been having. Drenched with Biomin Calcium this mornng. I am thinking that I may have been ODing the plants on the Seaweed. Observed what must have been 2 dozen sparrows flying out from under, on, and around the 1277.5 plant yesterday. A thought and observation for next season;- All my patches this year are virgin patches, meaning no amendments or tests from last fall. Will remedy THAT mistake and prepare them this fall. Also the 892 and 1056 are growing but are slow and puny. Totally my fault for keeping them in the pots too long. I just believe they are stunted. Must get patch hothouses built this fall so I am prepared in the spring!!   Tuesday, June 26 View Page Rain blew in early this morning. Gusts to 16 mph. Everything looks good despite the wind. Received about .25 " of rain so far. Supposed to rain all day. The 1277.5 looks pretty tattered where the sparrows have beat up on it. Good growth on the 1462 and the 1211.5. Female flower on the 1211.5. The 892 and 1056 still puny but greening up. Forecast high for today is 61. Depending where you look the forecast low is 34-37....that's fahrenheit. Fingers crossed but then I'm not in control here.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Dodged a bullet with the weather last night. At 4:30 this a.m. the temp. in the patch was 35 dgs. Drenched and foliar fed with Nutri-Aid Blossum Booster and watered down solution of Acton. Using Natural Wet as a wetting agent. All looks well. No growth except for the puny 1056 which put on several inches of growth. While mains on the other plants seem to be stalled out the secondaries are growing.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Buried mains today on 1211.5; 1277.5; and 1462.   Friday, June 29 View Page 1277.5 has developed a flat/ribbon vine. Seeing how this is my best plant I am going to stick with it. The sparrows are wreeking havoc on this plants leaves. All other plants are doing well. The 1462 has put on about 1' of growth since burying the vines. The secondaries are growing good also and showing female flowers. The 892 is exploding in growth everywhere but forward. Seaweed drench/foliar today. High to be around 80. Some sprinkles so far and overcast.   Friday, June 29 View Page Did some much needed pruning of secondaries. Had secondary vines I didn't know I had.   Wednesday, July 4 View Page Foliar fed seaweed monday. Today foliar fed soluble calcium. Missed tying record low by 1 dg. overnight. Low was 37 officially and in the patch. Can't buy a break. Supposed to be in the 80's for the next ten days. Was just out in the patch and found a squirrel heading for my 1211.5. Assume he was after female flowers for a snack. After I chased him out I set my " Dr. Kvorkian have-no-hart" trap. All plants are really growing. The 892's main has pretty much stopped growing and the secondaries behind the tip are acting like mains. Will be doing pruning and burying today and tomorrow. Hopefully will be burying a squirrel.   Thursday, July 5 View Page Spent most of yesterday pruning and burying vines. Am really pleased with what I saw. Lot's of roots and new growth. Didn't touch the 892 or 1056. Will do them today. While I was working yesterday I was thinking of how important water is for these things. I have seen AG's grown on ditch banks with no special care become huge. I think that may be part of my failure in the past is not enough water. Will put it to the test as the forecast is now for highs in the 90's. 98 for Sunday. Spent most of last night tossing and turning thinking about pumpkins.Aaaargh!!   Sunday, July 8 View Page Temperature near 100 forecast for today. Was out at 4:30 a.m. watering; soaking deep on everything. Sprayed with Seaweed, Acton and Natural Plant Wet to help plants deal with any stress they experience today. Stayed out of the patch yesterday. High was around 90 and I noticed this morning that every plant had at least one leaf that was burned. Other problems are the double main vine on the 1277.5. It had double everything on the tip. Did some surgery to see if I could stop it. If that isn't enough the 1211.5 is putting out double secondaries. I'm beginning to think my favorite plants are the volunteers coming out of one of my compost piles.   Tuesday, July 10 View Page "How long will you stay in bed you slacker?"....."A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber....." Decided to sleep in a little bit this morning. Didn't get out to the patch until about 6:30 and found a beautiful female flower open on the 1056. It had bees flying all over and around it. I knew it was there and was going to use it for practice. There was a male open a couple of feet away but I didn't see any bee activity around it. RrraTTs!!! The other closest AG male is about 50' away on the 1462. There are Hulless and Small Sugar and Banana Squash males within 30'. Buried vines on all the plants yesterday except the 1277.5. Will do that today. Have to keep a closer eye on the rest of the females.   Tuesday, July 10 View Page Tidied up the 1277.5. Have female flowers covered for tomorrow on the 892, 1462, and 1277.5. Looks like the surgery took on the 1277.5. Favorite plant today is the 1462. The 1277.5 is really a nightmare but looks good. Have had the whizzers going the last few days to help cool things off. Plants really growing with warm weather.   Wednesday, July 11 View Page Pollenated 892 this morning with the 1056. No matter if it doesn't take. Mostly for practice. Other flowers didn't open. Gave everyone a drink of manure tea. foliar fed w/ Biomin Calcium, and drenched with just water paying attention to buried mains and secondaries. Forecast high today 93. Whizzers set if needed.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Forecast high for today is 98. Pollenated 1462x1277.5 this morning. Temperature when I pollenated at 6:15 was 53 dgs..I like the shape of this fruit and hope it takes. Will be icing down all fruits pollenated today. I am going to drench heavy again and the whizzers are at the ready. 1277.5 did not open yet but looks like it will be ready tomorrow. Lots of growth on all plants in one day. Hoping for the same today.   Friday, July 13 View Page Here it is the middle of July and it's finally starting to look like a pumpkin patch. I just need to get a better jump out of the gate. Pollinated 1277.5x1211.5. Nice 5 lober but pollen seemed to be scarce. If it doesn't take no big deal. Forecast high for today is 91. Everything looks good!   Saturday, July 14 View Page Temps. back into the 80's. Thunderstorm came through late yesterday p.m..Heavy rain. Flattened my corn. Pumpkins o.k..Foliar fed with Nutri Aid Blossum booster this morning. Fruit set on 892 has big dimple in the side of it...looks like a sow bug chewed on it. Thinking it might abort.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Spent over 5 hrs. burying vines this morning. This is a picture of the 892 fruit that I culled. Something chewed on it and it pretty much stopped growing.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Here's another picture of the 892. I cut it open to see if there was a bug inside but there wasn't. I found another female on the plant that was open and the bees were working it so that is my new fruit for the plant.   Sunday, July 15 View Page 1056 and the 892.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Two thunderstorms with two downpours in two days has made the entire garden and patch explode with growth. It has also caused an explosion of new weed growth. Which is good because once I kill them that will be that much less for next year.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Volunteer Banana Squash coming out of my compost. Fruit looks like it was crossed with AG last year.   Sunday, July 15 View Page The 1277.5(nightmare-not pictured) is just giving me fits. It has a flat/ribbon/double/whatever main vine which is 3" wide and has multitudes of growth coming off of it. When I was burying the secondaries on it today I found another female and am going to let it develop. It's a beautiful plant, it just has issues. The main where I did surgery has curled back on itself so I am going to pay more attention to secondaries. I removed about every other secondary at the front of the plant because there were so many.   Friday, July 20 View Page My latest score.....My wife picked this up for me at a yard sale yesterday. Cost--$1.00. I have been so blessed with deals this year. Have always wanted one of these but too expensive. Monday ; seaweed foliar spray and manure tea drench. Wednesday; Biomin calcium foliar. Today Nutri Aid Blossom Booster. Have been watering pretty heavy. Plants are responding positively. 1211.5 is a bust as there are hardly any flowers and secondaries are turning into double/flat vines like the main on the 1277.5. Still a nice plant but all salad.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 1056 holland 110 OTT est. 30 lbs (+ or -)   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 892 holland 95 OTT est. 23 lbs. (+ or-)   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 892 holland   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 1462 holland 122 OTT est. 44 lbs. (+or-)   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 1211.5 holland....A beautiful symetrical plant but lacking in the flower dept.. Two fruits are set, this being the larger one. Have a feeling it will abort as it hasn't been growing and the second one a little farther down the main is acting the same way. Will probably be pulling this plant in the near future.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page 1277.5 holland 106 OTT est. 30 lbs. (+ or -)   Friday, August 10 View Page 1056 Holland--est.121 Weights could be wrong. Not too good at measuring. They just look bigger.   Friday, August 10 View Page 892 Holland--est.108   Friday, August 10 View Page 1462 Holland est. 180   Friday, August 10 View Page 1211.5 Holland-- Didn't measure this one. I was going to pull this plant but it is so beautiful I can't bring myself to do it. It will make nice compost in the fall.   Friday, August 10 View Page 1277.5 Holland--est. 136   Sunday, August 12 View Page This is for my son Joe in Boise, Idaho. He helped me take down the greenhouse and move it here. With the help of our good Lord and friends and neighbors we put these ribs up today in 30 minutes. They are 31' wide and 2" tubular steel. Thanks to Steve, Eric, Jesse, and Giovonni for their help. Thanks for offering to help Dave even though we didn't need you. The glory belongs to the Lord.   Monday, August 20 View Page 1056 Holland est. 232   Monday, August 20 View Page 892 Holland est. 226   Monday, August 20 View Page 1462 Holland est. 333 New personal best, I regret that with my limited growing experience that I haven't been able to do this one justice and bring it to it's full potential. Still think that if I would have had a better jump out of the chute all my pumpkins would be doing better. Will save seeds from this one for next year.   Monday, August 20 View Page 1211.5 Holland probably around 100 lbs. This is the plant I was going to pull. After this fruit set I truly thought it was going to abort. Quit burying vines on this one sometime ago. Just do limited pruning where it starts to encroach on the plants on either side of it. The plant is the biggest of all of them with the smallest pumpkin. Will provide lots of compost makings.   Monday, August 20 View Page 1277.5 Holland est.266 lbs.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 1056 Holland est.390 lbs. This one is done. Fruit grew over the main vine and has a serious vine split.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 892 Holland est.269 lbs.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 1462 Holland est. 412 lbs.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 1211.5 Holland Won't measure until the frost hits. Right now it is probably around 150 lbs.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 1277.5 Holland est. 369 lbs.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page Dear Diary, Game over!   Tuesday, September 11 View Page The end.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 1056 Holland est. 300 lbs.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 892 Holland 272 est.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 1462 Holland 459 lbs. est.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 1211.5 Holland 231 lbs. est. This was the only measurement I have taken on this one. Not bad for all but ignoring it. It is just over a month old. I noticed this morning that she had grown over the main and was splitting the vine near the stem. Also for not putting out flowers early on there are little pumpkins everywhere.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 1277.5 Holland 412 lbs. est. I'm thinking they all weigh heavy but won't know until/if I weigh them.   Thursday, September 27 View Page Final 2012 entry. Weighed my two biggest pumpkins today. 1277.5 Holland is 376 lbs. 9% light. Thin walls-few seeds. 1462 Holland is now 596 White.(1462 Holland x 1277.5 Holland) 30% heavy. Lots of meat. Personal best.