Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 193 Entries. Thursday, March 1 View Page My first soil analysis. I have a lot to do to get my soil more fertile.   Sunday, March 18 View Page Grafted 179.5 Masterson (255 Mitchell x open) onto Shintosa Camelforce rootstock. Notice the large size of the Shintosa cots.   Sunday, March 18 View Page Grafted 171 Masterson, (197 Leonard x 211 Leonard).   Sunday, March 18 View Page A Strongtosa grafted CC. The larger plants had roots emerging from the length of the stem area so when I transplanted them to one gallon pots, I buried them as deeply as I could to accommodate the new growth.   Thursday, March 22 View Page I transplanted my grafted plants when I got them home from Asheville this past Saturday. Today, 5 days later, I noticed roots growing out of the drain holes already. This picture is actually of one of the my 6 chosen plants with a smaller amount of roots on it.Three of the plants showed this many roots from top to bottom. I transplanted the six into 2 gallon pots today. They will have to be set out soon.   Thursday, March 22 View Page This will give you an idea of how the roots are growing out of the squash stem. I expect them to have watermelon roots also as I am getting the stems buried pretty deep and also some of the vines will be rooting.   Thursday, March 22 View Page Here is another example of how much roots these plants grew in the last 5 days.   Thursday, March 22 View Page I have never seen watermelon plants grow as fast as these are growing. In a few weeks I hope I am able to say the same thing about their melons. lol   Sunday, March 25 View Page It is my 60th birthday today. So what did I decide to do ?   Sunday, March 25 View Page So I decided to set my 6 biggest plants out today.   Sunday, March 25 View Page They are sitting inside a cold frame each and each one has it's own 400 watt metal halide light to keep it warm and growing at night.   Sunday, March 25 View Page But what am I going to do with all these extra great plants ? There is a 285 Edwards, two 35 Kent's a 113 Kent, a 178.5 Mudd 2011, a 228 Clementz, several 171 Masterson's and several 179.5 Masterson's. Someone please help me. Anyone ?   Sunday, March 25 View Page Spring is coming along nicely here in the East Tennessee Valley. But it is still earlier than the blizzard of '93. I am not worried though. I think above average temps will continue for a while.   Sunday, March 25 View Page All tucked in and ready to grow all night long.   Sunday, March 25 View Page These are the 6 plants I planted today, on March 25, the day I turned 60. I am just glad to be here. There are three 171 Masterson's and three 179.5 Masterson's.Three are on Camelforce Shintosa and the other three are on Strongtosa rootstock. The 171's are my 197 Leonard x 211 Leonard. The 179.5's are my 255 Mitchell x open. I used they 6 because they were my nicest plants. They were my nicest plants because they are a week older than the other plants.   Monday, March 26 View Page My second soil analysis that I received back from A & L labs today. I am a little concerned about the high sulfur level. I appreciate any constructive comments.   Saturday, March 31 View Page My plants after being set out for 6 days.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Plany number 2. The loose leaf in the last picture was knocked off by a hail storm this afternoon. There were several plants with some small holes in the leaves. But it could have been much worse.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Plant number 3.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Plant number 4.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Plant number 5.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Plant number 6.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 1.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 2.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 3.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 4.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 5.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My six hills of plants. Plant # 6.   Thursday, April 5 View Page I just love early spring flowers.   Thursday, April 5 View Page East side of patch this morning. I am still using my grow lights at night but the plants have already outgrown the cold frames.So,unless I need them for a cold night or two, I am finished with them for the season.   Sunday, April 8 View Page I decided to take out my smallest plant and replace it with my 285 Edwards x Strongtosa. The size difference is due to the potted Edwards plant not getting artificial light every night for the last 2 weeks.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Notice the roots growing on top of the ground from the 179.5 Masterson I am replacing. There was only a white sheet covering these roots. I highly recommend growing grafted rootstock.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Here is the 285 Edwards after being set out.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Plant number two.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Plant number 3 .   Sunday, April 8 View Page Plant number 4. I noticed the first bloom on this plant today.It is 197 Leonard x 211 Leonard x Strongtosa or 171 Masterson. The plant in the last picture was the first to bloom.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Plant number 5.   Sunday, April 8 View Page And this is the last one. It is a 255 Mitchell x open x Shintosa Camelforce or 179.5 Masterson. I think this one is my prettiest looking plant although it is not the biggest nor is it blooming yet.   Sunday, April 8 View Page I set these 3 plants out in a small extra space at the bottom of the patch to be used as pollinators and possible seed melons.   Sunday, April 8 View Page The east side of my patch this afternoon.   Monday, April 9 View Page This is a picture of blanket tents over my 5 largest plants for the night. It is supposed to drop into the mid to low 30's for the next several nights. The blanket tents with the lights inside should help these little jewels warm and growing.   Monday, April 9 View Page I didn't bother with a blanket for the 285 Edwards since it fits easily under the light fixture and I actually desire for it to grow a little slower in case the others are too early for the Allardt weigh off.   Monday, April 9 View Page A closeup of one of my babies under it's blanket for the night.   Thursday, April 12 View Page It you look closely you will be able to notice a pretty good frost on the blanket. But it is warmer and bright inside the blanket where one of my plants is growing.   Thursday, April 12 View Page Two male flowers on the same stem.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Growth has slowed the last week due to a cool snap.   Sunday, April 15 View Page It is warmer today and growth should pick back up.   Sunday, April 15 View Page I removed my lights from the patch and put my netting down today.   Sunday, April 15 View Page I also put my walking boards down today. This is my first year using them.   Sunday, April 15 View Page I am very happy with my vine size and see no point in pushing these plants at the moment. I have never had vines anywhere close to this size in the middle of April.   Sunday, April 15 View Page My rose bush is looking nice.   Sunday, April 15 View Page A raised bed I built on the side of the yard.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Patch shot this morning.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page East side of patch.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page My largest plant, 255 x open.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Plant #2.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Plant #3.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Plant #4.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Plant #5.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Mark, here is some of the interior growth I have been talking about. If you look closely you may see a cucumber beetle.   Sunday, May 6 View Page This is my first pollination of the year. I mainly want to see if these grafted plants will easily set melons. I seriously doubt if I will keep it if it grows. It is a 191 Masterson x 197 Masterson.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Correction on the last entry; it should have read 171 Masterson x 179 Masterson. I must have been dreaming.   Monday, May 7 View Page Patch shot this morning.   Sunday, May 13 View Page My plants are growing nicely. It has been on the cool side the past several days. It will be cool with light rain today and tomorrow. However, it will be warming back into the 80's next week. I hope to start seeing more female blossoms soon.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant one.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant two.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant three.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant three.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant four.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant five.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plant 6. This is my 285 Edwards. It is way behind just like the 285 was last year. But this year the others may possibly be too early. If so, this plant may produce my largest melon.   Sunday, May 13 View Page East side of patch.   Sunday, May 13 View Page West side of patch.   Sunday, May 20 View Page This is a beast of a bloom on one of my 171's. If it grows, I will call it Beast. I pollinated with a 179 Masterson.   Sunday, May 20 View Page This was my largest plant and I cut off about 3/4 of it as I believe it was getting too large. I may have gone overboard but it is healthy and growing fast and still has lots of time.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Plant number two. This is the one with the nice bloom on it.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Plant number three.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Plant number four.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Plant number five. I spotted a small female bloom on the main this morning.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Plant number six is growing a little better now. This is my 285 Edwards.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant one.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant two.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant three.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant four.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant five.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Plant six - 285 Edwards.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Some of my young female blooms have been really fuzzy for some reason.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Patch shot.   Sunday, May 27 View Page One of my blueberry bushes starting to ripen fruit. I have been picking ripe blueberries since May 1st this year. It has been a early season for most plants this year.   Sunday, May 27 View Page This little lady is on the main of the plant I cut back. I hope it decides to grow.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Chicago Hardy fig tree.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Another load of horse manure I picked up. I have been averaging about 3 loads per week.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number one.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number two.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number three.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number four.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number five. This is a fourth 171 Masterson to replace the 179 Masterson that died from stump rot. It was the only plant I had that I thought I might possibly be able to move. Now I have to get it growing. I chopped away about have it's vines to help with the transplant shock. It made the move without ever wilting.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant number six. My 285 Edwards is starting to get a little size to it.   Sunday, June 3 View Page A small pumpkin plant in my "manure" garden.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Looking down a tomato row in the new garden at the bottom of my lot. The trees are peach trees. They are semi dwarf and I got them on sale at Lowes last fall for $5 each.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Patch shot.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant one. This was originally my largest plant and then I cut it way back. I have now replaced one plant with a smaller one, replaced one that died and cut back the three remaining plants. So this 179 is now my largest again.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant two.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant three, Pam's plant.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant four.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant five is a 171 replacement for a 179 that died.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plant six is my 285 Edwards. I think it is in a good place to do well. It is getting a good size at the right time.   Sunday, June 10 View Page I have covered 5 of my stumps up with glass to try to avoid any more losses.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Stump 2.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Stump 3.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Stump 4.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Stump 5.   Sunday, June 10 View Page A three day old melon that looks like it may grow. It is on the one remaining 179.   Sunday, June 10 View Page A possible set on Pam's plant.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant one.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant two.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant three.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant four.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant five is just starting to come out of being stunted.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Plant six, my 285 Edwards. It has reached a good size and is trying to set a melon.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This picture is from one of my 171 Masterson's. You can see 2 areas that are leaking sap. I fear my problem is only going to get worse. The best advice I got may have been to pull all my plants but I refuse to do so unless I deem the situation hopeless.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Stump rot on one of my 171's.   Sunday, June 17 View Page My nicest melon so far. It is on one of my 171's. It is a open pollination that I spotted Friday night with a flashlight. It is 10.5" long and probably about 10 days post pollination.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This little melon is 4 days old and is on my remaining 179. It has a great shape to it and is on a large finger. I hope it is my keeper on this plant.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Here is another melon on my 179 plant. It is five days post pollination and a very long melon on a secondary vine.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Here is the third set on my 179. It is 8 days post pollination and has a poor shape to it. It will probably come off in a few days.   Sunday, June 17 View Page My patch looks to be a picture of health. And I will probably end up with nothing due to stump rot issues. Live and learn I guess. Now I know how Jake Holloway felt when his vines went down to similar problems.   Thursday, June 21 View Page A shot of my patch this afternoon. Mark told me my vines are huge, so I gave them a big trimming. I don't want to get too far ahead of him. :o)   Thursday, June 21 View Page This is the east side of my patch this afternoon.   Thursday, June 21 View Page I am trying grow lights at night on one plant to see if they will help with melon growth.   Sunday, June 24 View Page I don't know if using grow lights at night will add a single ounce to this melon. I do think it is an experiment worth conducting though. But so far , growth has been about what would be normally expected.   Monday, June 25 View Page Patch shot this morning.   Thursday, June 28 View Page This melon is estimated at 22 days old and about 62 pounds.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Blossom end.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Stem end.   Sunday, July 8 View Page First let me say my camera is displaying a wrong date. The following pictures display 7/4/12 and were taken today, 7/8/12. This picture is the stump on one of my 171's. It has completely rotted out on the inside and split open. It wilted and was apparently dying when this happened so I severely pruned the plant o save it. The melon that was on it appears necrotic on top and has a terrible shape to it. I should probably terminate this plant.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This 171 Mastrson is my grow lights experiment plant.It is day 32 and the melon is measuring only 95 pounds. So I am not averaging even 3 pounds a day. I keep telling myself it's the heat but it is hotter where the Finders grow and they are getting 5.5 pounds / day.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Shot of plant and melon.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is a long melon set on my 285 Edwards that I will probably let grow. It has been difficult to get a good shaped melon off this plant.   Sunday, July 8 View Page My little pumpkin plant.   Sunday, July 8 View Page My little pumpkin. It is unknown x self and is about 10 days old. I had a five lobe pumpkin going on a secondary but decided to go with this 4 lobe one on the main.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This pumpkin plant is growing in almost pure horse manure and is having to compete for space in my lower garden with other vegetables. It is my first big pumpkin in over 40 years. My PB is 197. lol   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is a over the top shot of my grow lights melon.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Stem end of "Growlight". I think I have named it. lol   Sunday, July 8 View Page Blossom end of Growlight.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is looking up towards the 285 Edwards plant in the corner.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the stump of my grow light plant. It seems to be holding it's own at the moment. And I seem to be getting some pretty good vine rooting also.   Sunday, July 8 View Page A young melon on the plant below Growlight.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This very ugly melon is on a plant with a rotted out stump. The melon became this way when the plant nearly went down from the rotting process. This plant is on landscape fabric and so the vines are unable to root for the most part.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This melon is on my remaining 179 plant and is probably my third largest melon at around 60 pounds.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This melon is in my lower garden and is doing unexpectedly well considering the neglect it has received.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Correction, the previous picture is of the same melon as the one before, which is off my 179 Masterson (255 Mitchell x open). This is the picture of the melon I think is doing well in the lower garden .   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is the remaining plant in my main garden without a set melon. It is late but it is getting ready to set a melon. I have removed the landscape fabric from this one. I now wish it was gone from all my plants considering the problems I am having with my stumps.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This young melon in my lower garden is perhaps my fastest grower. It is the only melon I have set that is on the main vine. I just hope it's plant stays healthy.   Sunday, July 8 View Page This is a picture of the vine of the melon in the previous picture.   Monday, July 9 View Page Growlight measured 149" OTT this morning and so it has finally made it's first 100 estimated pounds.   Sunday, July 22 View Page This is Growlight at 46 days and about 139 pounds. Gains have been slow on this one and she will have to maintain steady gains for a while to do any good. Daily gains are now dipping under 3 pounds.   Sunday, July 22 View Page This is my 285 Edwards at around 18 days post pollination. I kept pulling off poorly shaped melons from this plant and I ended up with this one. It is the first long melon I have set since my 207 in 2009. I have big hopes for this melon.   Sunday, July 22 View Page This is a 179 Masterson in my lower patch. It seems to be doing fairly well but there have been some leaking and rot issues with it's stump.   Sunday, July 22 View Page 113 Kent in my lower patch at about a month old and around 130 pounds. It is on a good vine and started out with a good shape but has grown into a pear. This will be my heaviest melon if it stays healthy and keeps up the good gains.   Sunday, July 22 View Page Blossom end shot of my 113 Kent.   Sunday, July 22 View Page My little pumpkin. I have named it Manurkin, since it is growing in straight manure with a little gypsum added. It is the first giant pumpkin I have grown in about 40 years. It is growing slowly and is at about 164 pounds. I am having difficulty convincing myself to terminate the vines as I want it to have plenty of healthy leaves in the later part of the season. Somebody please convince me to do the right thing. lol   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Manurkin at around 385 pounds. It blows away my previous PB from around 40 years ago. I know it isn't much by today's standards; yet I am still proud of it.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page This is my 179 Masterson. It is a short melon and isn't going to amount to much.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page This is "Growlight". It is diseased and has all but stopped growing and the stem is turning brown. The use of grow-lights on it during the growing season is questionable. I am thinking of taking it to the Tennessee Valley Fair but I think I will be beaten by Brother Dave Cantrell if I do. I originally hoped this one would be big enough to go to the Tennessee State fair in Nashville. The best laid plans.............   Wednesday, August 8 View Page This is my 113 Kent. It could be a decent melon if it keeps putting on a few steady pounds for a while.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page A top view of my 113 Kent.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page This is my 285 Edwards. It has a long way to go but may have the best potential of any of my melons this year.   Saturday, August 25 View Page My 285 Edwards is about 36" long now and growing Very slowly. I don't think it will get large enough to be a contender.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Another shot of my 285.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Manurkin measured 286" OTT this morning charting at 497 pounds.   Saturday, August 25 View Page My 113 Kent measured 196" this morning and so it charts at 211 pounds.   Saturday, August 25 View Page This is the blossom end view of my 113 Kent.   Saturday, September 15 View Page The final results from the Bear Wallow Farm weigh-off.   Sunday, September 16 View Page My daughter Pam and myself with my new personal best 228 Masterson. And a special thanks to Chris Kent for the seed from his 113.   Sunday, September 16 View Page My friend David Cantrell with his contest winning and Howard Dill Award winning 1051.5 pumpkin. It is a beautiful beast.   Sunday, September 16 View Page Some of the pumpkins at the Bear Wallow weigh-off 2012.   Sunday, September 16 View Page Frank Mudd with his Bear Wallow 2012 weigh-off winning 256.5 melon grown off a 239 Leonard seed.   Sunday, September 16 View Page The world record watermelon 2012. Not my picture but I wanted to re-post this picture on my own diary for my easy future reference.   Wednesday, September 26 View Page Can anyone tell me how to get in touch with the grower of this giant pear gourd ?   Saturday, September 29 View Page Manurkin at something over 100 days post pollination. If I manage to get it to the scales next week, I am hoping for a weight around 600 pounds.   Saturday, September 29 View Page This is my 285 Edwards. It never fattened up much and has been sitting on a dead stem losing weight. It will go light to the OTT measurement. I am thinking in the 180's. I will probably take this melon to Allardt provided it lasts that long.   Saturday, September 29 View Page I am very proud to have these three 245 Bartoli seeds from Italy. The 3 seeds on the bottom are from the gourd cultivar that was used as rootstock to grow both the 307 and 326 Bartoli's.   Saturday, October 6 View Page This is me acting crazy sitting on my little pumpkin at Allardt. It turned out to weigh 585.2 pounds. Being nearly a rookie I am not unhappy with that.   Saturday, October 6 View Page A picture of me on the left and then next to me and in the middle the first place pumpkin winner, Jimmy Sowers who had a 579.2 pound pumpkin. And I think Robert Burchette who along with Gail Newsom captured third place with a 579.2 pounds entry, is on the left. I felt honored and realize this was not a good year for many growers in this part of the country. I believe it will take a lot of hard work and good luck to ever get myself back into such a nice place of honor again. It is going to be fun trying to get there though.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Me at Allardt sitting on my little pumpkin. It went 585 pounds.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Posing with my pumpkin.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Headed for the scales.   Sunday, October 7 View Page The Allardt biggest pumpkin winners posing for the cameras.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Pam and I sitting on our 585 Masterson 2012.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Some of the melons at Allardt. Bill Neptune won with a beautifully fat 266 pounds melon.   Sunday, October 7 View Page Children were have a great time climbing all over the pumpkins and having their pictures taken.   Sunday, October 7 View Page This was the view out the rear window of my truck early Saturday morning all loaded up and ready for the drive to Allardt