Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 360 Entries. Sunday, January 1 View Page Happy first day of 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What can I do in the garden today? HMMMMMMM????????   Sunday, January 1 View Page Jan. 1st and 84 today!!!!!Can we get a winter already!Thought I'd take a few pics of the garden mid winter.This is one of our artichokes with the patch ready and waiting behind it! We also have,,,,,   Sunday, January 1 View Page More artichokes,,,our favorite winter crop and,,,,,,,,,   Sunday, January 1 View Page Broccoli,,,,,,,,   Sunday, January 1 View Page More broccoli treated with AZOS yesterday,,,,you can still see the white areas.I'm doing one area of the garden with only extreme gardening products and the other (all broccoli)with nothing,,,,,,,,I'll take some pics in a couple weeks when its time to harvest!!! We also have snow peas,lettuce,cabbage and anything else that grows good this time of year..........   Sunday, January 1 View Page i meant to say,"CALCARB"not "AZOS" I transplanted a few cuttings form our artichokes yesterday and had AZOS on the brain!   Sunday, January 1 View Page Post #2 goes after the veggie post,,,I'm still trying to figure this thing out,sorry.   Wednesday, January 4 View Page Added another 100sq.ft.today while taking a long lunch break.Is it normal that this is all I'm thinking about at this point? :) And why does the backyard keep getting smaller and smaller?   Sunday, January 8 View Page Just turned all the compost.I see all you guys with these tractors turning your so,,,,,,,,,   Sunday, January 8 View Page I started a little pile myself.I'm so limited on space so you so what ya gotta do!(:   Monday, January 9 View Page My broccoli is just about ready,maybe another day of two!This first photo is just planted in soil and watered 2 to 3 times a week,,,looks nice!   Monday, January 9 View Page This one was planted with mycorrhzae,kelp,fish and bloom booster!Much greener,a little tighter bloom but about the same size head............   Monday, January 9 View Page I also added CalCarb to its diet!The only area where there was a huge difference was the stem or stalk,,,,,without the ferts it was half the size!One row was this size and the next was,,,,,,,,,   Monday, January 9 View Page This size,,,,,WOW!!!!!!!!!!!Just bored and trying to keep busy this winter! Interesting though. Can we start planting yet? :)   Wednesday, January 11 View Page Spent over an hour on the phone with Tom P.yesterday,,,,,WOW!I think my head now has an overload!!!So much to learn,,,such little time!Tom,you are a good,good man,thanks for taking the time and sharing so much knowledge with me!   Wednesday, January 11 View Page Practice,Practice,Practice!   Friday, January 13 View Page I've been gardening my whole life,,,,,whats with this giant pumpkin growing that has taken over my brain!When I wake up I think about it,all day I think about it, when I'm home I think about it,when I lay down at night I think about it,if I'm not reading about compost tea,different soils,vine positioning,ferts,myco or anything else that has to do with pumpkins,,,,,I'm back to thinking about pumpkins!!!!!!!! ARGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!Does it get worse,,,I haven't even grown a big one yet!!! Its taken me over!!!!!! Thanks for letting me rant!:) I'm going back to learning!   Monday, January 16 View Page So I'm in our local hardware store today looking for bulbs for my indoor starter kit and walk around to take a look at the ferts and find a whole section of RTI's products!CalCarb,mycos,Azos and many,many more! I thought that was pretty cool!!! And I found the killer bulbs for the germination chamber!   Monday, January 16 View Page In the oven and then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Monday, January 16 View Page Under the white trash hydro light 4 days later! Boy this is fun! Can't wait for the big boy seeds Tom!   Tuesday, January 17 View Page One of my right hand men helping me turn the compost after work.He loves playing with grubs! YUMMY!   Tuesday, January 17 View Page And he's not scared one bit!!!!   Wednesday, January 18 View Page Spent the weekend at circus circus a couple weeks ago,,,,,gosh I wish I was going with you guys next month!!!! Maybe next year! Who's pumpkin was this?   Sunday, January 22 View Page I love this new grow light! Finally getting FAT! Tom,,,your seeds are in the germination chamber now!   Sunday, January 22 View Page 48 hours on top of the VCR and boom! I planted some others yesterday as soon as they broke the shell.These I let go and extra day and was amazed at all the tiny hairs that shoot off the roots I'm sure you have all seen this a thousand times but I thought it was really cool! These were the practice seeds you sent Tom.   Sunday, January 22 View Page Another.   Sunday, January 22 View Page And another.   Wednesday, January 25 View Page Turned one of the composts today,,,,,,boy was it hot!   Wednesday, January 25 View Page Steaming nice!This one will be nice and ready for 2013!!!!!!   Wednesday, January 25 View Page Still playing. This is one of those fat practice seeds you gave me Tom! Boy is she purdy!   Thursday, January 26 View Page We've had temps in the 80's this week and after Mr.Fredricks said it wasn't to late to mix in a few more things I decided today was a great day to take half a day at work and have some fun in the patch!First added some dried up grass from summer and 150lbs of tiny bedrocks.   Thursday, January 26 View Page We have 5 kids and the rest are in school so our little Kingston was the lucky one getting to help dad with the patch prep today! Six bags of dried leaves he spread out himself!   Thursday, January 26 View Page Boy did he love the tiller! We made many passes together,,,,,,I wonder if his back hurt as much as mine?I don't think so :)   Thursday, January 26 View Page He even cleaned the mud off the tiller!   Thursday, January 26 View Page Now I guess it sits for the next few months,I get another soil test then Tom tells me what I need! I had no idea how much work this was! I better get back to work!   Thursday, January 26 View Page I also had no idea how fun and addicting it was either! Is there AA meetings for something like this? Jim,the bible readings in the morning have been taken over by pumpkin stuff :) Its bad! :)   Wednesday, February 1 View Page Tilled,cover crop spread(thanks Jim)a little water and so we wait!   Wednesday, February 1 View Page Other side of the patch.   Wednesday, February 1 View Page I have a client with a nursery,,,,he gets these barrels every few weeks so I picked up a few and was able to fill them all with rain water after that last little rain we received!! Can we start planting yet? :)   Wednesday, February 1 View Page The artichokes will be coming out before the next till :( I guess I'll just have to find another spot for um!   Thursday, February 9 View Page Didn't want you to think I was slacking over here John(northwest rain) :)Third and final batch has been tested.Right into the soil from the start,with a heat mat and some plastic wrap on the top.They all came up on the 4th and 5th day!Thanks Tom for bringing me back to the basics.Nothing fancy shmancy and it worked out great! And thanks for the emails on keeping the light right on the plants,,,,WOW,,,,,what little stocky seedlings!The babies look a million times better this round!   Thursday, February 9 View Page This one was looking so good I couldn't dump him into the compost so I made him a new home in a 7 gallon pot and he's been enjoying the mid. 70's outside during the day! Cover crop is coming in nicely and about 3in.   Wednesday, February 15 View Page Just came in the mail,thanks Wizzzzzzz!!!!And I love the fragile GrowZ'em BIG INSIDE!   Sunday, February 19 View Page Its been about 3 weeks and the cover crop of peas,oats and buckwheat are enjoying the garden!!!I've never paid so much attention to the garden and its soil.At the end of every season I would just let it sit,wait for spring,weed,dig a hole and plant my veggies,,,,,that was it. Boy is this getting fun!!!!!!   Sunday, February 19 View Page Another shot of the cover crop.I sprayed it with molasses,soluble kelp and some soluble humic right after planting and boy its prurdy,,,,,,and I'm sure the worms love it too! The patch is pretty much on auto pilot while I continue to read and learn for this up and coming season!!!   Sunday, February 19 View Page Got some sandpaper,some XIM plastic primer and some black paint and painted the white drums black for some extra heat this summer! Does the work ever stop :)   Sunday, February 19 View Page And yes,,the kids helped me with the priming and painting of the drums!!!   Friday, March 2 View Page Its time to pick artichokes again!   Friday, March 2 View Page Had some nice ones this winter!We get 2 to 3 crops a year but the winter crop with the cool temps are always the best!   Friday, March 2 View Page About 7 or 8 of these tonight,some mayo,a bowl of heated butter and were set!I've taken cuttings from all these chokes and they have been planted in their new home.The giants will now take over the whole patch!!!!!! Cover crop is about 12"now and just waiting to be turned in!   Sunday, March 4 View Page First batch of artichokes is going to be hitting some tummys tonight!!! Added another 100 sq.ft. to the patch today!!!!!   Wednesday, March 7 View Page Let a few of my test plants keep growing.Boy does he love the carpet!!!!!!:)A little sunshine now and again then back in the house.I have 3 like this,,,1 with just garden soil and the other 2 with all the goodies!!!!!I'll pull um next month and check out the difference in the root structure. Can you tell I'm a little excited! :)   Sunday, March 11 View Page Nasty looking buggers!   Sunday, March 11 View Page Just spent the last couple days reading through shazzy's diary for 2010,,,,, boy can that guy write!!! So detailed and so much info I can hardly think now! Thanks for taking the time shazzy,,,,, WOW!!!!   Monday, March 12 View Page Turning some new areas around the patch so I can get another 90 sq.ft. and finding a bunch of these nasty little buggers,, are they good or bad?   Thursday, March 15 View Page The cover crop is looking good Jim and about 15in.   Thursday, March 15 View Page Its like a jungle out there!!!!! If my pumpkins grow half as good as the cover crop I'm going to my a happy man! And I'm having the hardest time not pulling the trigger over here! :) A few more weeks I guess.................   Saturday, March 17 View Page Its amazing how much water you can collect off one rain gutter,,,, 400 gallons in 2 hrs!   Monday, March 19 View Page Went into the patch today!   Monday, March 19 View Page Walked around on top of the cover crop,,,,,,it felt like a sin and have never though of my soil as being alive before.!!!!   Monday, March 19 View Page The stuff is up to my knees and very thick!   Monday, March 19 View Page Tom wanted me to retest before the next till so I went around to 10 or 12 different spots, dug down 6 inches +, grabbed a little dirt from each hole and now its sitting on top of the entertainment center in the living room drying out! Every hole had bunches of worms so looks like all the goodies I've been adding to the soil all winter is working! I found 5 or 6 giant grubs too and tossed um in the compost pile. I think those have to go come grow time! The Fredricks seed is sitting on the top of my desk with about 20 seeds I picked up this year from BP......Which one will I choose to plant with it,,,,,,,,,,,its a patch learning year and anything I grow over 167lbs. is a new personal best! Boy am I ready!   Tuesday, March 27 View Page Spent some time digging around in the patch today. I noticed about 2 feet down it was solid clay. I dug down three feet, put all the clay to the side, mixed in some perlite, vermiculite, some gypsum and a little compost. I'm now mixing in all the patch soil. Some how this has to be better then solid clay for the root system. A tractor would sure be nice about now! :)   Saturday, March 31 View Page Time is getting close. The cover crop has been turned under last week, the artichokes are coming out today, the soil test has come back and will be only adding some liquid gypsum and a small amount of blood meal......... I know nothing and everything that's been learned this year (EVERYTHING) is thanks to Tom P., Jim F., John from up north and of coarse the endless posts I've been reading all year...... Thanks guys I can't wait to see the outcome!!!!   Saturday, March 31 View Page This will all be spread today and tilled in next week when I have time.....   Tuesday, April 10 View Page Every time I have a chance to do my final till another storm rolls through. Last Friday I had a few hours and rain, tomorrow I can take half a day at work and its 100 percent chance of rain and this Friday I can make time and it 90 percent chance!!!! ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG   Tuesday, April 10 View Page Got the sunflowers germinating and one already under the light and yes,,,,, I'm still practicing with the AG seeds,,,,,,, last practice run until the the real deal in about two weeks! I think I've been doing practice seeds all winter :)   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Getting ready to put another 25lbs of fish about a foot down and away from the stump area (thanks Andy)!!! I know it seems like a big waste but someone at the house bumped the freezer plug and all my catch went bad. I thought I caught it in time but all had major freezer burn......... at least I have somewhere to put it :) No tilling again today due to more stinkin rain!   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Dug four different holes, all 15 plus feet away from where the stump is going to be. Went down about 15 to 18 in. and buried um up!   Wednesday, April 11 View Page I think this is by far the most expensive item I've ever put into the garden! :)   Friday, April 13 View Page The choice has been made. I have a few 980 Fredricks,,,,, so will plant a couple and pick the strongest plant,, thanks so much Jim for the seed and the local knowledge!!! I will also be planting the 1794 Pugh and the 1051 Pugh, which Russ told me could be a really good plant. Which ever one looks the best will spend its summer in my patch!!!! Its been raining every other day and the patch is like a giant sponge that does not want to be tilled,,, maybe the end of this week! The time is almost here!!!!!!!   Sunday, April 15 View Page The littlest ones gave a hand this morning:)   Sunday, April 15 View Page Spraying molasses and humic on the patch!   Tuesday, April 17 View Page It was my birthday yesterday and my Wife always thinks of something creative like a veggie cake,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Chocolate oreos as soil and all types of different candies as the veggies! She added one thing this year,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Tuesday, April 17 View Page The giant pumpkin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I think she knows what I've been up to all winter!!!!!!! :)   Thursday, April 19 View Page Took a day off from work today to do a little patch work. Added the last of the amendments per Tom,,, bloodmeal,humic, liquid gypsum, some fish and a couple more bags of the killer hydro shop soil (this stuff has everything)!!!!!!!!   Thursday, April 19 View Page Started up the tiller!!!   Thursday, April 19 View Page Made many passes in both directions and going as deep as possible, my soil has never been so soft and fluffy :)   Thursday, April 19 View Page Brought one of the little helpers in to put up the cat\child protection!   Thursday, April 19 View Page 1 bottle of this!   Thursday, April 19 View Page Started at 7am this morning and the prep is finally complete,,, would of taken much longer without my little helpers!!! :) Kingston asked me today what happen to the garden this year and how come its so big :):):) They are so stinkin cute!!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page The stage is set! All the soil prep, the tilling, fencing, soil tests, micronutrients, pesticides, fungicides, every Growth Product known to man,(thanks Tom!)The whole winter has come to this,,,,,,,,,, the summer of madness as shazzy would say! Seeds will soak tonight and if all goes well be in the patch in 7 to 10 days! I will then test my skills and put everything I've learned into that hopefully :) large pumpkin!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page I will be doing back to back with only about 3 feet between the two. Each plant will now have 20ft. by 17ft. to spread their wings. Never doing this before and living in an area that never gets very hot or cold I am going to start one in the hot house and the other without. It will only be for a short time so we'll see what happens........... :)   Saturday, April 21 View Page On the other side of the garden the strawberry's have been tasty! Its very rare that I get one though because one of the little rug rats sneaks out there before I get the chance! I love those kids!!!! :)   Saturday, April 21 View Page The corn is jamming!!!!!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page Tomatoes starting to push!   Saturday, April 21 View Page We even have some bells already!!!! What a strange year!!!   Monday, April 23 View Page Is it normal to walk out into the patch every day? I'm not talking about during the growing season but Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March,,,,,,,,,, I just came in again from a walk all the way around the patch. Its Monday, there's no plants, just soil to look at, There's soil and a fence but yet I still I go out there 3, 4, 5, 6 times a day!!!!!! This is "MADNESS"!!!! I can't stop!!!!!!! Plant are going in soon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm thinking I might need a patch cam,,,,,,,,,, This coming home every couple hours to stare at dirt is only going to get worse!!! Is it just me? I have "it" bad!!!!! :) Oh,seeds are going on their 3rd day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and yes, I check them every couple hours too!!!!!!!!!!   Tuesday, April 24 View Page The 985 Werner, 1794 Pugh and your 980's Jim are all cracking soil!!! Should be up by sometime this evening!!! The 1051 Pugh is still sleeping. YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!   Wednesday, April 25 View Page Well, the babys are going into their new home! I've never added so much stuff to the soil, it was get the ground ready, stick the seeds into the hole, water then wait........ Only time will tell and the great emails I get when I do another dumb giant pumpkin thing! :) Boy this is great!!!!!!!!!   Friday, April 27 View Page The practice all the way up to a couple weeks ago sure paid off! I had some trouble with the last batch and it got me a little nervous........... 6 for 6 are now up!! All but the 1051 Pugh came up between the 3rd. and 4th. day,,,,, the 1051 is now pushing a little dirt and I can see green!!!!! I will be planting the three strongest plants in the next week or so then hack the smallest of the three,,,,, we'll see who has the biggest shoulders!!! The 1794 Pugh is the smallest and the 980 Fredricks is the biggest at this point............. Dang its getting close!   Tuesday, May 1 View Page They have all made into dirt today! Took a long lunch today and got the 980 Fredricks, 985 Werner and 1794 Pugh snug in their new homes. Its the battle between two 980's, the 985 and the 1794. Lets see who wins!!!! I've gone out to the patch with a flashlight 4 times already and its only 9:15pm. Oh Boy is this bad!!!! " are you going out to the garden again" Yes Dear, I am.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page 70 to 80 all winter, get the baby's in the patch then 55 to 65 for the next 10 days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,with drizzle!!!!!!!! This can't be good :(   Saturday, May 5 View Page The baby's have been in for a week now! This is one of the 980 Fredricks, they are both looking nice Jim so I'll watch them another week or so and see which one is going to get the knife!   Saturday, May 5 View Page The other 980 getting a little help!   Saturday, May 5 View Page I was cleaning one of the work sprayers after tending to the patch and the little one wanted to spray some water through the line! With a 208 tip you get such a fine, fine mist???? You know what I'm thinking Darren,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but your right about the hose,,,,,,, to much of a problem around all the vines.............. I still might go for it with one of the new sprayers,,,,,,,,,,, we"ll see ")   Saturday, May 5 View Page Boy was he having fun!!!   Saturday, May 5 View Page Now back to pumpkins! The 985 Werner is the only one in a hoop house and I think he really enjoys his warm and humid days!   Sunday, May 6 View Page So all is looking good! The 980 fredricks are both looking great, the 985 Werner is by far now the strongest, the 1794 Pugh started the strongest and is now a back up due to much slower growing and last the 1051 Pugh came up but rotted the following days :( Dang I'm having a ball and I'm still out in the patch all the time, just now I have something to look at!!!   Saturday, May 12 View Page The 985 Werner,,,,,, my biggest, thickest and greenest plant is starting to look real strange on the tip :( Real tight buds and lots of leaves in one area (right on the tip). I hope its not what I've been reading about!!!AARRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! I could just be looking at it to much. Prays God for back up plants,,,,,,,,,,,,, I have a 1794 and 1211 Pugh just waiting in the wings if something goes wrong! We have our first stretch of nice weather starting today,,,,,,,,,,, mid 70's all week! So,,,,,, I'm sure I'll know whats going on by the end of the week......   Saturday, May 12 View Page 90 percent of the backyard is now part of the pumpkin patch! " Is this a problem " :)   Monday, May 14 View Page 985 Werner doing amazing in the hoop house! Its got a few things going on near the tip. I could just be over thinking it so I sent a few pictures 3000 miles away and hope to hear its doing just fine :) Backups still waiting in the wings...............   Monday, May 14 View Page Both the 980 Fredricks are battling it out and the race is close! They both look really good Jim! A dose of companion, Microtech CT and a splash of fish for breakfast!   Wednesday, May 16 View Page The 985 Werner is kindda looking better, only time will tell. I've been advised to give him extra water so that's what I've been doing............... Maybe its working.   Thursday, May 17 View Page Sad day at the Dunn house :( been watching the 980 Fredricks for a few days and with this nice warm weather we've been having everything is growing great! The vine started twisting a couple days ago. The last couple days the main was getting more and more flat. It was a total mess this morning and had to get chopped! :( Gosh this hobby is tough, its one thing after another............ I still have one 980 going strong Jim so say a prayer for it. Its looking really, really nice! If not, backups will take its place:( With all the extra water, the 985 Werner is looking better and better!   Thursday, May 17 View Page More of the mess :(   Thursday, May 17 View Page Extra leaves, extra flowers and all kinds of other stuff I've never seen before.   Friday, May 18 View Page He took his last few breaths on the front lawn this evening :(   Saturday, May 19 View Page He pulled all the walking boards from one side of the patch to the other,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, daddy has to move them all back. At least he knows to walk on the boards! :)   Saturday, May 19 View Page So happy in the hoop house. I keep it about 90 during the day and 70 + during the night. The way its growing I'm sure it will be growing out of his home in a week or two!   Saturday, May 19 View Page So I was thinking today would be a great day to turn the soil a touch, just out in front of where the main was starting to grow. I have walking boards all the way around the plant, about 3 feet away. You guys were serious when you said these things grow fast!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a full root system 3 feet away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY COW BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So i wasn't able to turn the soil at all and it showed me how far away from the plant I should be watering!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!! I spread a little Mycorrhiza on all the roots and gently put some garden soil on top and watered. This is soooooo rad!!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, May 19 View Page They have been in the patch less then 3 weeks! These roots are growing many inches a day!!!! Now I see why you use walking boards!   Monday, May 21 View Page Loved your shoot through the jungle John! Here's one from mine...... After seeing how far out the root system was moving I did a 10 gallon drench 5 feet around both plants. Rain water and just a touch of kelp and fish. Them roots will be happy now!   Wednesday, May 23 View Page The leaves on the 980 Fredricks are sure fat!!!!   Wednesday, May 23 View Page Another shot of the 980 Fredricks. The vine is trying to make a fast right so I'm slowly working it back!   Wednesday, May 23 View Page I'm sure this patch will be all leaves in a month or so! These plants are really growing fast! There will be some cleaning up after work today Jim :)   Sunday, May 27 View Page My goodness, I put a bamboo stick in front of the 980 Fredrick's this morning and its already 3 inches past it! That's half, to an inch an hour! Them are some fast growing plants!   Monday, May 28 View Page The plants are really growing well. I hope this keeps up! After spending time this winter getting the soil ready just waiting to plant, its nice to see them growing :) I'm still worried about everything, but I guess that's part of the game :)   Friday, June 1 View Page Artichokes are are their second bloom of the season!   Friday, June 1 View Page Time to get the boiling water ready, some melted butter and even some mayo :)   Friday, June 1 View Page Now back to pumpkins! As Luke would say, " this is my redneck watering system " And it soaks pretty good! If I grow a nice one this year or even get close to a nice one, there is going to be nicer watering system for 2013!!!!! Plants are both doing well! Tom, the goodies have been added and boy were they perky this morning!   Friday, June 1 View Page Really need to proof read!   Sunday, June 3 View Page The veggies are in full swing! we have had fantastic weather this year with no May gray or any June gloom as of yet. Green peppers looking greener then ever with all the fish, tomatoes large and in charge, strawberry's every morning with breakfast, cucumbers riding up the fence and the corn is about 8 feet and will be hitting the boiling water in about 4 weeks! :) Oh,,,,,, the pumpkin patch,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I can see that it will be filling out every inch of area in less then a month................ :) Yikes,,,,,,,, did I plant to soon......................   Monday, June 4 View Page Good morning! First male!   Monday, June 4 View Page Second female on the 985 Werner. Out at just over 10'   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Got home today at 4pm. and it was still in the 80's,,,,,,,WOW! That's warm for here! Decided to put up a couple 75% shade cloths for the tips. I'd been using a plastic chair until now :) A couple bamboo sticks and I was good to go. Thanks for the advice Tom!   Wednesday, June 6 View Page First one was the 980 Fredricks and here is the 985 Werner. Nice and cozy with their newly shaded home!   Wednesday, June 6 View Page I have two of these on the 980 Fredricks and one on the 985!!! Here we go!   Friday, June 8 View Page Both plants growing " VERY " fast!!!   Saturday, June 9 View Page The keep growing and growing and growing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, June 9 View Page Its become total madness in my tiny little patch! I can hardly contain these two as they push closer and closer to the edge of the fence!!!!!!!!!! Excitement level is about a 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sunday, June 10 View Page I've been waiting all week for this one,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Sunday, June 10 View Page It was my big day,,,,,,,, being devirginized!!!!!!!!!!! Right in the middle of my backyard!!!! 3 lobe, 4 lobe, 5 lobe, 6 lobe,,,,,,,, I have no idea what any of that means yet. I just know it was a great morning and it sure felt good! Lets see what happens in a couple days :)   Sunday, June 10 View Page 985 Werner and 980 Fredricks will hopefully now become one. Its only 6am. and its already a great day!   Sunday, June 10 View Page Its so great having a home office. The only thing is,,,,,,,, I can't go 5 min. without checking on the plants. This pic was taken while sitting at my desk right over my left shoulder. " Step away from the patch Chris " :)   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Thanks Extreme Pumpkin Store!   Friday, June 15 View Page This is down the main of the 980 Fredricks. This thing is really taking off!   Friday, June 15 View Page I mean this is down the main of the 980! The last pic was the jungle the 980 Fredricks has turned my backyard into! :) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can grow a pumpkin as well as I can grow salad! A lot of work and way to much fun!   Friday, June 15 View Page This is my second fruit on the 980,,,,,,,,,,,,, the sucker has 8 inch stem!!! I guess they have the long stems to grow into their big bodies!!! :)   Friday, June 15 View Page It isn't shazzy heat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but a real nice warm up for us! Finally!   Saturday, June 16 View Page Its been 3 weeks so I did I nice drench of Companion around the stump ( dang these stumps get big ) and all vines. All by watering can, I'm beat!!!!!   Saturday, June 16 View Page My Wife was doing story time in the garden today. Looks like the 985 Werner was trying to gobble them up :)   Sunday, June 17 View Page Finally out about 15 feet on the 980 Fredricks. Its about as far as I can go, this side of the patch is the long side at about 21 feet. If you look all the way back in the jungle you can see a nice one,,,,, but its only out about 7 feet from the stump. I'll keep letting it grow and see what the next one does. Then,,, its off with one of their heads! :)   Sunday, June 17 View Page This is the second fruit on the 985 Werner. The sucker grew a few inches around just today! Its out about 16' and might be the one. I have another at 18' that was pollinated this morning............ We'll see what happens :)   Tuesday, June 19 View Page I've been gardening my whole life and have never spent so much time with one plant,,,, never! Dang this is fun!!!!!!!!!!!!   Thursday, June 21 View Page The plants have it the edge,,,,,,,,,,,,, there is no place to go from here! There's still about 5 to 6 feet in the front of each plant but that's it,,,,,,,,,,,,,, time to start growing the hard part,,,,,,,,,, the fruit! :) Here we go!   Thursday, June 21 View Page Full house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got any ranch dressing???????????   Thursday, June 21 View Page Freedricks wonderful 980 at 25 in. cir. will be cut because of the one a few feet in front of him is in a great spot on the vine. A few more side vines behind him, much better shape and growing faster then he was!   Thursday, June 21 View Page My perfect football on the 985 Werner. Third out on the main at about 17',,,,,,,,,,,,, will this be the one? I have no idea????? The two behind him are growing well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, another week and we should know :) Can a big pumpkin be grown in my area? I will soon know,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :):):)   Thursday, June 21 View Page It was a tough day at the Dunn house :( It was my first love and she had to go :( Smooth skin, long stem, really shinny and 25 inches on day 12. The two out in front of her are in a much better area of the main and one is growing 30% faster then she was! 980 Fredricks rest in peace.....................   Sunday, June 24 View Page I sure hope I'm culling the right ones. 26 " 985 Werner in the front and the original 980 Fredricks in the back. Both plants have faster growing pumpkins out in front of them. My new contender on the 985 grew 4 inches during the night!   Sunday, June 24 View Page All the back side vines are maxed out and have been cut and buried. Have a few feet still to go out front. Fed a bit of fish and kelp under the leaves tonight.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Headed over to Catalina Island this afternoon in search of a few White Seabass. I have never left my plants for more then a few hours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'll be honest,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm a little nervous! :)   Friday, June 29 View Page Left Wed. night for a little fishing at Catalina Island. And yes I was a little nervous about leaving the patch :)   Friday, June 29 View Page We fished around the whole island, from the front, all the way around the back then back again. No seabass :( we must of hit 40 spots that should have had at least a seabass or two.............. Nothing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but we did get limits of,,,,,,,,,,,,   Friday, June 29 View Page Calico bass, which made a tasty taco later that night for the Wife and 5 little ones! :) I love those calico tacos almost more then fresh caught blufin!   Friday, June 29 View Page Now back to pumpkins,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Got home after fishing and didn't even go in the house first :) went out into the patch to check things out first! The girls did just fine without me! I cut off a few more of the un-choosen, moved the shade cloths and checked the stumps. Everything is still looking great! Then I went inside and checked on the Family :):):)   Saturday, June 30 View Page I think this is going to be my final pick for the 985 Werner. The little sucker is doing 4 to 6 inches a day!!! I have one just down the main a few feet,,, so we will see :) I didn't have much time today and will get a pic or two of the 980 Fredricks on Monday, work is wicked busy right now! Such a blessing for sure but it keeps me away from the patch and thats no fun:( A more orange pumpkin for sure Jim, with really nice color already!   Saturday, June 30 View Page Thanks for the good laugh today Luke,,, I really needed it!!! Still laughing! :):):) There's a lot of stress that comes with growing these things! I had no idea! :)   Monday, July 2 View Page I'm bolted down and ready for action! Anything over 167 lbs. and I'm going to stoked! I've put a lot of work this year so I'm really shooting for 300 lbs. We'll see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Now for the 980 Fredricks. The plants a monster and hasn't needed any shading what so ever! I'm down to my final two, one at 11 days and 31" circ. the other is 13 days and just over 35" circ. I think shes going to be the one because of a little better vine position.......... They're both really orange and going to be a really pretty pumpkin I'm sure! Big, round and orange!   Tuesday, July 3 View Page 980 Fredricks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I think this will be the pick. Day 15 is only a couple days out so we'll see what happens. Really shiny and orange and just over the past 24 hours starting to really pick up speed! Its amazing how these things start to pick up speed as they grow!!! Now, if I could just keep this up for sixty days,,,,,,,,,, wishful thinking :):):)   Wednesday, July 4 View Page I don't get out fishing much anymore, we decided to have 5 children and that takes most of my time. So getting out twice in one week is something to brag about!   Wednesday, July 4 View Page Jumped on the Sportking, its a friend of mine that owns the boat and my oldest son Ryan works as a deckhand. So we jumped on free of charge and caught some Yellowtail at Catalina Island!! Nothing better then a day on the water catching fish with your son!!! :)   Wednesday, July 4 View Page Stump action on the 985 Werner! It just keeps growing and growing and growing!   Wednesday, July 4 View Page Stump action on the 980 Fredricks! Not as big but really clean!   Thursday, July 5 View Page Faith loves the new addition to the family. We haven't come up with a name for her yet,,, but we will :) Shes growing so fast I can't get the tape under her anymore. I've looked online and found the OTT chart and how to tape it. She is 17 days old now and was 53" circ the other day! I'm excited to try the OTT but she may be a little small to get a reading on the chart, we'll see :)   Friday, July 6 View Page Just culled the last one off the 980 Fredricks, boy was that hard! I went out last night to do the dead but couldn't bring myself to cut one. The original winner was now growing half as fast as the baby. I said a little prayer and in the morning the baby had put on 3 more inches then the big boy!!!!!~!!! So out came the knife and there she sits, enjoying her last afternoon with a diet soda :) Its down to one on each plant now,,,,,,,,, wish me luck!!!!!   Saturday, July 7 View Page I just wanted to thank a few people for getting me to this point. Tom P. has been amazing for the past year getting me ready for the season. From the patch area, my soil tests, all the goodies I was going to need and how and when to use them, all the way down to all my rookie questions up to this point! Thanks Tom :):):) Also Jim Fredricks and Vince G. a couple local growers that have really helped me with our local growing style that seems to work real well. Jim's been awesome about getting me to relax and take it easy,,,,,,, not an easy task for me :) Thanks for that sprayer link Vince, I'll be ordering it sometime later today! Great, great idea!!! And you too John from Salem,,, thanks for everything!!! Thanks so very much guys, I'd never be where I'm at today if it wasn't for you!!!   Saturday, July 7 View Page I can't forget North Shore Glenn, thanks for the tips, kind words and you may have saved me with the 0-0-25 a couple weeks ago!!! I drenched the plants after that email and everything worked out! Thanks!   Saturday, July 7 View Page Note to self,,,,,,,,,,,,,, don't try and put mill fabric and sand under a 55" pumpkin by myself! I'll finish tomorrow when I can have the neighbor come over and hold the pumpkin for me :)   Sunday, July 8 View Page I don't think I'm going to have any problem beating my personal best of 167 lbs. The 985 Werner is doing at least 6" per night and I'm told its only going to start growing faster!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!! What a gas!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did my first OTT yesterday and I'm at 166" if I'm doing it right. I'll get a pic and an OTT of the 980 Fredricks in the next couple days. Its a little behind the 985 but just started to put on 4 to 6" a day the last couple days.   Sunday, July 8 View Page I was going to wait until next week to get a pic up of my 980 Fredricks,,,,,,,,,, but after getting the tape out she looked to nice!!!!!! Shes sitting at 55" inches this afternoon! She'll be big enough for an OTT reading in a day or two :)   Tuesday, July 10 View Page The 985 Werner was putting on 12 to 14 lbs. a day until yesterday. I had to tape it three times this morning,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 26 lbs. yesterday!!!! Holy Cow!!!!! The 980 Fredricks is really starting to ramp up and should be doing the same in a day or two! Upper 70's and Low 80's all week,,,,,,,,,, perfect!   Thursday, July 12 View Page These things are soooo amazing! Measured the 985 Werner x 980 Fredricks this morning on day 25 and the OTT is 202!! Also measured the 980 Fredricks x 985 Werner and its on day 22 and it came in at 174 OTT!!! The 985 did 34 lbs. just last night! The 980 just started to do about 15 lbs. per day, a day or two ago! I know they can't keep this growth up for long, but I'm going to work as hard as I can to help them out! Thanks again Tom!!!!!!!! These growth products are kicking butt!   Thursday, July 12 View Page 985 Werner day 25. These ain't no Big Macs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Thursday, July 12 View Page 980 fredricks day 22!! Gonna be nice and orange! If they stopped growing now, I'd be a happy grower! Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe not :):):)   Saturday, July 14 View Page The patch is so full and green! If I can just hang on to this for a couple more months! Did I say how much fun I was having!!!!! :):):)   Saturday, July 14 View Page The 980 Fredricks through the jungle! She did 21 lbs last night,,,,, she may be off to the races!!!!!!   Saturday, July 14 View Page The 985 Werner through the jungle!!!! She did 31 lbs. last night!!!!!! Shes already at the races!!!!!!   Sunday, July 15 View Page The 985 did 34 lbs again last night. The ott is now at 232" The 980 did 28 lbs. last night! The ott is now at 208"   Tuesday, July 17 View Page I was checking on the 980 Fredricks this morning and noticed a little fairy moving around in side the patch. I just caught her head for a second,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, then she was gone! Measurements were:cc.94 ee.67 and ss.72 Shes starting to go a lot wider!   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Faith is loving the addition to the Family!!! Measurements were: cc. 99 ee. 76 ss. 78 Just getting big all over the place!!! The weights have been real good some days, then not so good on others.   Thursday, July 19 View Page I was just looking back at my post from 7-02-12,,,,,, and al1 I was hoping for 15 days ago was a 300lber............ How can something grow to 400lbs in only 15 days!!!! My goodness!!! To look at the pictures from only a week or two ago is amazing!!! I guess my goal now is 500 WWAAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! I think I need a bigger patch!   Friday, July 20 View Page Just moving right along. Measured the 985 Werner x 980 Fredricks this morning. Day (32) cc-107 ee-81 ss-83 ott=271 for an est. weight of 449lbs.!!!!!!!!! And for the 980 fredricks x 985 Werner on day (28) cc-102 ee-75 ss-79 ott=256 for an est. weight of 381 lbs.!!!! The Fredricks is going to be a really nice orange!!! :) I like orange. The 985 is going to be a nice white one! At this rate the 985 will hit 500lbs. in a day or two and the 980 will hit 400lbs. tonight! Stay calm Chris, stay calm!!!!! :)   Saturday, July 21 View Page I get a real laugh when I see the posts Luke puts up :) So here is my best plant, thought I'd keep it in the pot for about 3 or 4 months! really starting to push some good flowers! I'm sure this will give me a nice pumpkin come October!!!   Saturday, July 21 View Page Now back to real life :) A couple weekly photos,,, here is the 980 Fredricks still putting on the pounds!!! Gonna be puurrdy!!! Thanks again for the seed Jim, it was the first AG seed I ever had! Thanks man, I'm going to do my best to make you proud!   Saturday, July 21 View Page And last but not least,,,,, the 985!!! Boy is she a beast!!!   Saturday, July 21 View Page Still putting on a 100 ++ a week!!! I have to keep this thing going for 8 more weeks!!! Yikes!! :):):)   Sunday, July 22 View Page Weekend pic of the 980 fredricks. Lots of nice plant behind her and shes really starting to pick up steam!!! She hit 400 +!!!!!! YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sunday, July 22 View Page I'm sure these Growth Products I picked up from Tom P. have nothing to do with the growth of these two giants! My goodness!   Thursday, July 26 View Page All I wanted was a 300 lber. then a 400 then a 500 then a 600,,,,,,,,,, well,,,,,,,,,, looks like I'm still rolling along and now the goal has shot up to 700 lbs.!!!! At this growth rate I should be there mid week !!!!!!! Thanks everyone for the kind words through emails and thanks you Tom for getting my weights back up!!! Gaining in the 30's a day again :) WAHHOOOOOO!!!   Thursday, July 26 View Page Hey Jim,,,,,,, is that a mattress I see in the pumpkin hut????? :):):)   Monday, July 30 View Page Faith's got the last couple pictures,,,,,, so now it was time for Kingston. This is the King sitting next to his biggest sister in the family. This beast is taking up my whole patch and thanks to Tom P. is still putting on weight!!! Shes 42 days old and an OTT of 315 or 693 lbs.!!! She will be 700 lbs. in a couple hours!!!! Now that's crazy!!!!! Now I know why everyone gets so addicted to growing the monsters!!!!! Man this is great!   Monday, July 30 View Page He's been dying to stand on it!!! So I had toooooooo!!!!!!!!!!   Monday, July 30 View Page Now for the 980 Fredricks! I got my white one and my orange one this year!!! She is a real looker, really smooth, bright orange, great shape and still packing on the pounds! Shes a few days behind the 985 at day 37 but 70 lbs heaver then the 985 was at day 37. Her OTT is 302 and the est. weight is 614 lbs.!!!! If she keeps this up shes going to pass right by her white sister! Dang Jim, thanks again for this great seed!   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Just sprayed up and under every leaf! Now that's a lot of work! Anything to keep these things growing! Jim and Vince,,,,,,,, hope that rot is only minor,,,, I haven't had a chance to come down and check out the patch yet! :)   Thursday, August 2 View Page Oh yea,,,,,, the goal is now 800!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAAHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Thursday, August 2 View Page Your 980 Jim " WILL " hit 700 lbs. tonight! The 985 Werner is really slowing down,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :(   Thursday, August 2 View Page Sprayed my butt off again tonight!!! Calcium under each and every leaf, one at a time! Boy these plants need a lot of love! :) Grow baby, grow!   Sunday, August 5 View Page Why does fishing season have to be right in the middle of the pumpkin growing season????? Going on a two day tuna trip and have to leave the Wife in charge of the girls. She's doing well with this giant pumpkin growing.... She calls me at work every morning just to check the ott,,,, its been really cool!!! :):):) 985 Werner now has an OTT of 331!!!! 980 Fredricks now has an OTT of 324!!! she's right behind the 985 and gaining fast!!!! As you can see,,,,,, my goal is now 900 lbs.!!!!! Thanks Tom,,,,, that advanced fertilizer program has had me kicking butt all season!!!!!!!   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Back from fishing again! My oldest son and I really put the hurt on the Yellowtai, Mahi Mahi and Blufin Tuna!!!! We're cutting fish all day!!! Both pumpkins are still putting on weight, the 985 is slowing down a little and the 980 Fredricks is still doing 25 lbs a day!!! Had my bag stolen when we were getting all our fish last night and my camera was in it :(:(:( I'm bummed but I'll get over it :) So no pumpkin pics until I get a new one :(   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Yellowtail :)   Thursday, August 9 View Page So I get a phone call last night from another fisherman on my trip. His daughter grabbed my bag thinking it was hers!!!!!! So awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm driving out to their place this weekend!!!! Now I can take some pics of the pumpkins!!!!!!!!!!!! God is sooo good!   Friday, August 10 View Page The new goal for the year is now 900!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a few days away! Did I mention how much fun I was having! :)   Saturday, August 11 View Page Well, went and picked up my bag that had my camera in it. The clothes in it were even washed and folded!! There's a lot of good people out there!!!!!! So back at it with the pumpkin photos!~!~!!! The 985 Werner is still hanging tough and packing on the pounds one day at a time!!!   Saturday, August 11 View Page Her OTT is now 343 or 887 lbs.!!!! If I can just continue to keep her gaining weight and have no problems she will hit a 1000 lbs. in the next week or so!!!!!!!!!!!!! These fruit are just amazing and to see them sitting in your backyard is so, so cool!!! They have both become part of the family and we even eat dinner outside to keep them company!! :)   Saturday, August 11 View Page The 980 Fredricks is still trailing but not by far. Jim, this is a really orange and shinny fruit,,, man this thing is going to look good on the front porch this year!!!!   Saturday, August 11 View Page I'm having a few stem issues,,,,,,, looked like it was going to break off the other day so I'm trying to slowly move the main vine up to keep it more even. So far so good!!!   Saturday, August 11 View Page Just becoming a monster!!!! After learning so much about these giants and thinking I needed a proven seed to get a beast,,,,,,,,, the 980 is showing me something a little different!!! For the 5th or 6th time,,,,, thanks again for the killer seed Jim! Her OTT is now sitting at 333 or 814 lbs.!!!!!! And still doing in the twenties a day!!!   Saturday, August 11 View Page I meant an OTT of 333 for the 985 or 814 lbs. Woops! :)   Saturday, August 11 View Page Woops again! I don't even smoke pot either :) The pages in my pumpkin log keep blowing because of this fan I have on me with this intense heat we've had all week! :) The 985 is 343 for the OTT. DUHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there a way we can go back and erase posts :):):)   Saturday, August 11 View Page Some of the baby Bluefin we caught on our trip! All the heads and guts were put in our freezer and will be buried in the patch before the cover crop. See how calm the weather is Jim,,, like a lake 140 miles down and out! :)   Saturday, August 11 View Page My oldest son and I caught about 15 yellows each the first day,,, I'd say it was a good day!! And the BBQ has been working overtime!   Saturday, August 11 View Page Ryan with the kill box after our first good kelp of the day! Is it right that I care more about the heads, bones and guts for the patch,,,, even more so then the fillets???? :) This is bad! :):):)   Sunday, August 12 View Page Was thinking the same thing Luke! Not only is it big, its friggin longer then a cho cho train! Go shazzy!   Tuesday, August 14 View Page Evening shot of the 980 Fredricks. Jim,,,,,, I think we have orange! And,,,,,,, boy is she smooth!!!   Wednesday, August 15 View Page After everybody goes to sleep at night I've been sneaking out to the patch. Pillow, sheet and a large blanket. My Wife must of snapped this picture sometime in the early morning :) Anything to help keep her warm!   Thursday, August 16 View Page I'm having a tough time staying away from the tape! I tell myself to wait a week and only make it a couple days! Things are really slowing down but measurements are still going up :) Little by little! Tom P. got me on some heavy duty drenches and seems every time I hit a wall,,,, I hammer a good drench,,,,,,,,,,,, the thing starts pushing again! We'll see how long I can keep this up........ 980 Fredricks on day 56 has an OTT of 340 or 865 lbs. The 985 Werner is on day 59 and has an OTT of 347 or 917 lbs.!! Tom was letting me know about the 10 or 20 percent heavy stuff and I might have a 1000 lber!!!!!! This is just to much fun!!!!!!!!!!!! Please hold together!!!! :):):)   Friday, August 17 View Page Was that the 917 number?????? And remember " lets Make A Deal "   Saturday, August 18 View Page Well, both pumpkins are on cruise control. Boy was that fun watching them grow so fast in such a small period of time!!! Cruise control for the kins means cruise for the Family!! Leaving in the morning on a 7 day cruise down the Baja coast. I have a couple friends on pumpkin duty while I'm gone. Not much going on other then making sure the covers stay on and the water turns on every 2 days. I'll take the tape out later tonight and hope to get a few inches while were gone :):):) No computer, no fax machine, no text messages not even going to bring my cell phone!!! Just the kids and Wife!!! Boy am I excited!   Saturday, August 18 View Page Jim,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you just passed the 985! NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Just returned from a 7 day cruise. Being someone that enjoys fishing so much, I wasn't sure I was going to be happy on a boat I couldn't fish from. Man was I wrong!!!!!!! What an amazing time the Family and I had!!!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Cabo with the Wife!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Puerta Vallarta!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page We golfed!   Sunday, August 26 View Page We danced!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Went snorkeling!   Sunday, August 26 View Page We did kayaks!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Saw a bunch of these guys! 3 foot long iguanas!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Boat rides!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Held some snakes!   Sunday, August 26 View Page The kids had fun on donkeys in the rain forest!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Zip lines through the rain forest!   Sunday, August 26 View Page And played bingo on the boat every night!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Now back to pumpkins :) Well,,,, the 985 Werner is done and sitting right at an OTT of 347!!! The 980 Fredricks did 28 lbs. last week and is now at 343 OTT!!!! Still gaining!!!! I'll hit her with a drench of goodies tonight and see if I can get her moving a little more :) Shes a bright orange, almost red,,, with really, really smooth skin!!!! Going to look great in the front of the house!! Jim, saw your diary and holy cow!!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page The 985 is done and starting to turn a lite shade of orange!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Just a beast!!! Solid as a rock!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Jim's 980 is so shinny and bright, bright orange!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Purdy!!!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Still putting on weight but really, really slow. cc. 149 ee. 95 ss. 99 Boy I missed my babys while I was out of town :)   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Jim,,,,, the 980 just won't give up!!!!!!! It grew again over the past two days!!!!! cc-151 ee-95 ss-99 total OTT= 345!!!! The plants starting to look pretty beat,,,,,,,,, she keeps growing though,,,,,, I'll keep pushing!!!! Thanks again for those drenches Tom!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Sorry if I post to much,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but I am having tooooooooooooo much fun this year with these giants! 985 Werner main still strong!!!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Jim's 980 Fredricks main doing even better!!! Pushing 5 months!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Roof top shot, you can see how I've taken the whole backyard!!! Good thing we have two backyards :) and if the kids don't listen to Daddy I may take the other one too! :):):) From up here it doesn't look like I have two just under 1000 lb. pumpkins???? They look small :) 985 going one way and the 980 backed right up against it. Right around 700 sq. ft. for two plants.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page More pics,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, your getting bored!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Another for you Jim! Turning red!   Thursday, August 30 View Page Darren, did you make it out of the giants mouth?????? Thanks for the great laugh this morning,,,,,,, crazy day at work and I needed that!! :)   Friday, August 31 View Page I just went back and read my post from July 2,,, less then two months ago,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Ok,,, you were right Tom and Jim!! 167 lbs. I think I hit that the first week!   Saturday, September 1 View Page Did the end of the season bake off with the last of the jalapeno peppers!!!! The Wife did some jalapeno poppers, cheese, sprinkle of crackers and a fat piece of bacon! I think I ate about twenty of them things,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Boy did my stomach hurt :)   Saturday, September 1 View Page We also picked the last of the red and green peppers. She stuffed these with ground turkey, something else, something else and cheese! See hunny, even though I took the whole veggie garden for a pumpkin patch we still had some good eats!!!!!!!!! Strawberries are still producing full speed!   Monday, September 3 View Page The first issues of the year! ARRGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After I got off the phone with you Jim I found a couple fans,,,,,half price too!   Monday, September 3 View Page Wish me luck! Surgery time is in 5 minutes for the 985 :) To be continued!!!!   Monday, September 3 View Page The hole in the stem. Its about an inch across and almost two inches deep! I found a mussy spot and my finger fell all the way through! YIKES!   Monday, September 3 View Page Cut out all the brown stuff and took the tooth brush to it for a scrub, scrub, scrub!!!   Monday, September 3 View Page Did a little irrigation with a syringe to flush all the junk out!   Monday, September 3 View Page Fans are on full speed,,,, wish me luck :) Thanks for taking my call this morning Jim and thanks for the surprise email Thad Starr!!! Just goes to show you how amazing and helpful everyone has been,,,,,,,,, once again! Thad, that was awesome advice,,,,,,,,,,, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Chris   Thursday, September 6 View Page Is this just how it is this time of year,,,,,,, I thought I could really be on cruise control by now :) The 985 is having all kinds of issues,,,,,, its like a stinkin battle field in my patch right now :( Only 7 more weeks Jim,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, YIKES,,,,,,,,,,,,, I may have to keep this one in the emergency room or the 2nd. floor ICU!!!!!!!!!! Come on baby!!   Thursday, September 6 View Page The 980 Fredricks still hasn't seen the light of day......... It is the highlight in my garden this year! Everyone that comes over walks right by the the 985 and to see the big red one!! When I know shes done growing I will start sun bathing her a little :)   Thursday, September 6 View Page So cooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Thursday, September 6 View Page Shes sitting just under a 1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goodnight sweet heart, see ya in the morning!   Sunday, September 9 View Page Well,,,,,,,,,,,,, its happening again :(   Sunday, September 9 View Page This is what I found :(   Sunday, September 9 View Page All cleaned up, it goes all the way to the pumpkin itself. Fans are on,,,,,,,,,,,,,, now I guess I just pray!   Sunday, September 9 View Page From a little distance :( AARRR%GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sunday, September 9 View Page A couple really amazing growers have sent me emails,,, all the brown is now out ( and so is half my stem ) :):):) but looks really nice and clean! Looks like I'm going to be doing this every day from here on out now. The battle to get a pumpkin to the end continues :)   Monday, September 10 View Page Man is it hot today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Tuesday, September 11 View Page The 980 Fredricks still putting on some size,,,,,,,,,, not much but I'll take every inch I can get! The kitchen sink has already been thrown at her,,,,, so now I'm just trying to get her to the end :)   Tuesday, September 11 View Page The skin is like a baby's but,,,,,,,, man is it purdy!   Tuesday, September 11 View Page Giving her a little suntan today :) She was so thankful!   Monday, September 17 View Page 985 Werner,,,,,,,, DONE!!!!! Stem will be falling off any day now :( Hey,,,,, at least I got the rot :):):) My 980 Fredricks still looking amazing and strong!!!!!! Just trying to make it to the finish line!   Tuesday, September 18 View Page Hey Luke, I have a really small hole in the stem of the 985 Werner. Still putting on about 20 lbs. a day though!!! NOT!!! I did everything I could to save it guys :( looks like its just going to have to start losing weight :(:(:( Thad, next year I'm going to watch that stem like a hawk :) Looks like the 980 Fredricks will be the one making the drive to Pumpkinmania!!! At lest she'll get to see her sister!   Friday, September 21 View Page Well, its getting close to the end of the season. The pumpkins are both covered most of the time. This is the 985 Werner, the stem is hanging by a thread. There seems to be a little rot going into the pumpkin,,,,,,,, who knows,,,,,, only time will tell. CC-149 EE-99 SS-105 total OTT= 353 or an est weight of 964 lbs. This pumpkin is like a rock, soild, solid, solid!!   Friday, September 21 View Page Here's the 980 Fredricks. Plants still looking ok,,,,,,, stem is in perfect shape and the best part of all is, shes still putting on a little weight! Nothing to write home about but weight none the less :) Shes at CC-157 EE-95 CC-100 total OTT of 352" or an estimated weight of 956 lbs. :) This will hopefully make it to weigh off in 5 more weeks. I think I might start a couple weeks later next year........... Your on to something up there Glenn :):):) We have a little different weather then most.   Sunday, September 23 View Page Fox 11 News is coming by today! Friday was suppose to be the day but the stinkin Space Shuttle landing at LAX got in the way :):) I think they should of let the people in charge of landing the Space Shuttle know they had some giant pumpkins to film :)   Sunday, September 23 View Page Channel 11 Fox News just left! How fun is this!!!!!   Sunday, September 23 View Page A fun day with the Wife and kids!   Sunday, September 23 View Page I acted like I really knew what I was talking about :):) I even said redneck a couple times Luke :)   Sunday, September 23 View Page Looks like I was excited!   Sunday, September 23 View Page Another.........................   Sunday, September 23 View Page They asked about the stump and how it gets so big! There again, I winged what you all have taught me this past year :):):):):)   Sunday, September 23 View Page One final picture as the season comes to a close...........   Sunday, September 23 View Page They got some good videos of your 980 Jim, channel Fox 11 tonight if you get it down there !! I'll try and post it if I can figure it out ;)   Wednesday, September 26 View Page Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't it almost October???? The pumpkins sitting in the sun,,,,,,, done growing,,,,,,,, can't be happy :(:( More of a reason to get my 985 down to your house to weigh this weekend Jim :(   Thursday, September 27 View Page Well,,,,,, I'm able to get the fan right on it now!!!   Thursday, September 27 View Page The stem fell off the other day ,,,,,,,,,, ouch! Luke,,,, I'm still hoping she puts on a few more pounds:):) The 980 Fredricks is still trudging along,,,,,,, Thanks again Tom for all the endless amounts of pumpkin wisdom :):):) Shes still getting new stretch marks!   Thursday, September 27 View Page Well,, the stem is gone and there's some deep rot going into the stem area. I cut all vines around the 985, rocked it back and forth and wa-la,,, sitting up straight like a good girl :) I'm not taking down all the fences twice and weigh off isn't for another 4 weeks so I have a team of 8 guys coming tomorrow to try and lift this bad boy! A giant drop cloth, bare hands and brute strength!!! We will then try and get her into the back of my truck, on a pallet then off to Jim Fredricks house on Saturday to get an official weight... If it doesn't work, the 985 will then be placed in the front yard and be ready for the October display :):) So wish us luck tomorrow and make sure to say a little prayer around 4pm. when this all goes down!!!! Oh yea,,,, when you put them standing straight up like this,,,, they look huge!!! :):):):):)   Friday, September 28 View Page Well Jim,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the 985 Werner will see you tomorrow! More pics to come,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm beat!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Jim Fredricks with his brute of a 980!   Saturday, September 29 View Page That's me with Jim's 980, I've never seen a pumpkin that big in real life! :) What a day!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Jim and Vinces 980 being lifted off!!!! Thanks again Tom for the last minute hook up on the lifting ring, we couldn't of done it today without it! Just so people know how cool Tom is,,,,, he's been out of lifting rings and sent me one of his personal ones at an amazing price!!! Thanks Tom!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Vince guiding it in for a safe landing!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Getting the final OTT measurement...............   Saturday, September 29 View Page Jim looking under the blanket to see the new San Diego county record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, September 29 View Page 1116 lbs.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow guys,,,,,,,,,,,, your weights just keep going up and up!!! Great job!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Vince and Jim with the beast, with big smiles all around!!!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Vince holding up a piece of one of the secondary vines,,, boy were they huge!!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Then it was my turn,,,,,,,,,,,, the 985 on its way to the scale! The thing is a brick and most are telling me it was going heavy for sure,,,,, I was excited! :)   Saturday, September 29 View Page Its on the scale and looks like I was a bit nervous :):) Jim had covered the weight,,,,,,,,,,,, It was time!!!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Jim congrats me with my first pumpkin ever weighed!!! 833 lbs. it went 120 plus pounds lite to the new 2012 chart..............   Saturday, September 29 View Page I was a little bummed but just a little :) I still have one more to weigh in a couple weeks at Pumpkinmania!   Saturday, September 29 View Page Thanks again Jim and Vince, I had a day to remember, good friends, a great turnout of Family and neighbors, being able to see an amazing patch and a bit of fellowship with a couple great brothers! See ya in a couple weeks at Pumpkinmania!   Sunday, September 30 View Page So Kingston noticed the 985 was gone and asked if he could go in the patch, walk on the soil and start cutting the main. I'll be honest,,, I was a little sad :( I said sure Kingston,,,, go enjoy yourself!!! :)   Sunday, September 30 View Page It was so cute, my 980 is backed right up against the 985 and is still looking good and the pumpkin is hooked up! The main still looks decent and the kin is bright and orange. After about the 3rd. cut King asked me, " are you sure this isn't going to hurt the big orange one, are you sure these vines arn't hooked up together ???" It was so cute!!!~ :):):)   Wednesday, October 3 View Page Another lame day in the patch :( my 980 Fredricks stem broke off due to rot I didn't know about :(:(:( I guess she just starts losing weight from here............ End of October weigh offs are tough! Following your footsteps Glenn and planting a few weeks later in 2013 :)   Wednesday, October 3 View Page Goes all the way in and its leaking all kinds of fluid :(:(   Friday, October 5 View Page The hole in the 985 Werner now goes all the way into the pumpkin and I can see seeds hanging...... Is it still ok to bring to a GPC event????? The hole isn't very big :)   Saturday, October 6 View Page Well,,,, the 985 is going down.................. Kingston had a wonderful idea!   Saturday, October 6 View Page Dad,,,, can I cut a hole and make a little room???????? Thanks dad!   Saturday, October 6 View Page Off he went!   Saturday, October 6 View Page Dad,,,,,,,,,,,,,, this is so awesome in here,,,,,,,,,,,, its even warm! There's sooooo much room in here!   Saturday, October 6 View Page Look at all these seeds Dad,,,,,,, should I take them out????????   Saturday, October 6 View Page Don't worry Dad, I'm going to get every single one!   Saturday, October 6 View Page Found a few more :)   Saturday, October 6 View Page Ok dad,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I think I got out most of the seeds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Its really nice in here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, can I sleep in the pumpkin tonight??????? I love these kids!   Sunday, October 7 View Page Well, the patch is done! The main fell of the 980 early this week,,,, I think she's going to make it a couple more weeks though. I've been working on the stem damage and things are looking good,,,, we'll see :) You can see how I trained the main vine to go down, take a quick right then come all the way back up towards the stump,,,,, its like a big "U" shape......... The only reason its still going is, I have the perfect pumpkin going right at the end :) It will be my 25lb. 980 Fredricks for the front porch!;) Please make it 19 more days!   Wednesday, October 10 View Page Well, the plants are all dead. Just trying to keep the 980 Fredricks alive and in one piece for the Pumpkinmania at the end of the month. Our first rain in over 5 months moving in tonight. Tucked her in nice with a couple tarps to keep the water away. The fan is under the tarps blowing full speed to continue drying the stem issues I've been dealing with. Just a couple more weeks ;) I'm more excited then ever for next year!!!!!! :)   Sunday, October 14 View Page This is the weeks weather,,,,,, are you kidding me??? Mid October............... Is it going to be another warm winter???? Could be a good thing living this close to the ocean......   Wednesday, October 17 View Page Well, 10 more days until my first weigh off. Pumpkinmania is just around the corner and couldn't come fast enough! She's been off the vine for a good couple weeks and hanging on by a tiny little thread ;) If she doesn't make I will be sad but at least I'll have some amazing seeds for another pretty one !!! 10 days and counting!   Sunday, October 21 View Page A few of my neighbors said the pumpkin was starting to smell????? Looks fine to me ;)   Sunday, October 21 View Page I sure wish someone would of let me know what was going to happen to the pumpkin left in the hot sun in my front yard................ I'm sure some of you can relate,,,,,,,,,,,,, my whole neighborhood smells and I live in a big neighborhood:):):) My goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Looks like something big was in my small patch????????   Saturday, October 27 View Page My final pumpkin the 980 Fredricks is gone!!!!!!!!!!!!! She must be Getting ready for Tanaka Farms pumpkinmania tomorrow!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Had to get all this stuff out of the way and take down the fence!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Plants, table, chairs and fence has been removed!!!!!! Had to take my front fence down too :) The joys of growing a giant in your backyard!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page All ready!!!!! I can't thank Tom Privitera for getting this lifting strap to me just in time!! Thanks again Tom! Also Vince and Jim F. for the lessons a couple weeks ago and Jim's house,,,,, I couldn't of done this without your help :):):) Thanks again guys!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Ready for lift off!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Bottom looks good! This part is a little stressful ;)   Saturday, October 27 View Page We made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Out the front gate and off to the truck!!! I will never,,,,,,, I repeat,,,,,,,,,,," NEVER ",,,,,,,,,,, move one of these by man power again!!!!!!! 2 guys and we didn't even crack a sweat!!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Kingston wanted to get in on the action!!!!!!!!!!   Saturday, October 27 View Page Then right into the truck!   Sunday, October 28 View Page Took the family to a real pumpkin patch today. A place not to far from the house called Tanaka Farms! It was a day of fun with the family and my first pumpkin weigh off!!   Sunday, October 28 View Page That's my 980 Fredricks in the middle and John's blob to the left, he ended up taking home the first place prize!   Sunday, October 28 View Page There she is ;)   Sunday, October 28 View Page Well I was lucky enough for second place and my pumpkin went a tad lite ;) She taped at 956 lbs. was off the vine for a month,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and came in at,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,798 lbs. I was a little bummed while also being very excited!!!! This stuff is sooooooooooooo addicting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Sunday, October 28 View Page $500 big ones and good bunch of ferts too! Mine also won the best looking!!!!! Stu's the guy that puts this weigh off together every year and did a fantastic job! Also met up with Kevin from bp great guy and he he's fired up and ready for next season!!! Looking forward to seeing what you bring next year Kevin :) And yes Jim,,,,,,,, your pumpkin would of smashed us all!!!!!!   Sunday, October 28 View Page Got to chat with Mae Powell too. She was the lady that lost all her pumpkins in Pasadena early this year from those punk kids :(:(:(:( She wanted me to thank both Vince ( Gourdzilla) and Jim ( Team Faith ) for sending her that care package of 980's!!! She was really happy guys! :):):)   Thursday, November 1 View Page Hey Jim,,,,,,,, this crack is growing by the hour now! She never would of made it if the contest was next weekend........... Its about 10 inches long and about a half inch wide! Looks like I'll be harvesting seeds tonight ;)   Saturday, November 3 View Page Well,,,,,, its that time of year again. Dug 15 holes throughout the patch. Have some friends that work the docks and picked up about 75 pounds of fish gutzzzzzz!!!!! This time it wasn't my prime fillets I lost from a freezer that was unplugged ;)   Saturday, November 3 View Page Kingston and Faith helped me dump in all the fish and then put a shovel full of my good homemade compost! Fish gutzzzz, great compost and lotzzzz of worms!!!!!   Sunday, November 4 View Page For the people that sent bubbles for the orange one,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, She was cut today!!!!   Sunday, November 4 View Page Kingston and Faith picked out a couple hundred nice fat seeds!!   Sunday, November 4 View Page As Darren would say,,,,,,,,, last one I promise!!! She will be in the compost pile tomorrow....... What a great time I had this year!!!! Thank you everyone for being sooooo amazing and kind ;) And yes,,,, I have it worse then ever and can't wait until spring!!!!   Thursday, November 8 View Page I'm not playing this year :) Had 10 yards of well aged manure delivered to my new patch. This patch is about a mile from my house and I'm sure won't get as much attention as my home patch........ Man am I excited!   Thursday, November 8 View Page I thought 10 yards would be a lot more then this.   Thursday, November 8 View Page Man was this stuff nice! It will be added to about 50 large bags of leaves I've been collecting over the last month,,,,, then tilled in for the winter............ Maybe after this I can rest.................... This pumpkin stuff never really ends I guess,,,, there's always something to do ;)   Sunday, November 11 View Page Spent the last four hours dumping the compost all throughout the patch, pushed both sides and extra 5' by 17', raked smooth then sprayed with molasses and a little fish! In the next week or two I will be spreading the manure, dumping in about 20 bags of leaves, giving a good till and then laying down the winter rye, a little oats and also some peas!! Then and only then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I can rest! ;);)   Monday, November 19 View Page Had some time today to work the soil at the Botanical Gardens. The new patch is 60' by 30' I now have a little more growing area! Things will be a little different here. There's no chemicals what so ever. Everything that goes into the gardens has to go through the front office and approved before using. It will be fun to see how well these plants do. Good soil, water, kelp and fish,,,,,,,, that's it............. I think 2013 is going to be a busy year!   Saturday, November 24 View Page Now that's cool John (northwest rain) Considered best in the north west!!!! Great job this year brother and I'm sure now you won't post as much ;) Hope its not raining to much! :):)   Saturday, December 8 View Page Today was a good day!!! :)   Tuesday, December 11 View Page This ones for Ashton................... This is what the middle of your compost should look like when its doing its thing. Every handful should be loaded with worms! This compost pile will be ready for spring! :)   Friday, December 21 View Page Gave a little love to the new patch today. Did a good soaking of molasses, kelp and humic acid...... I'm going to hit it once a month all winter to keep all the little critters under the soil happy!:) This cover crop is only a couple weeks old and really kicking butt! This is a new patch, I did a couple here last year just for fun,,,, I think Tom P. was the only one that I shared to about this patch to be. The soils was like a rock and dry and dusty as could be....... I brought a backhoe in a couple months ago. I dug down 4 feet and turned all the soil under. I added the 10 yards on Chino State prison cow poop, another 5 yards of veggie compost, bags and bags and bags of leaves then tilled it every way possible!!!! The soil is looking really, really good now:):) I haven't done a soil test but plan to as soon as spring arrives........   Friday, December 21 View Page I planted winter rye, some peas, a sprinkle of oats and tillage radish............ I wish we had the warmer summertime temps like a lot of you,,,,, but we can grow a wicked cover crop through the winter! I guess you can't have everything:):):)   Friday, December 21 View Page You can see the radish and its big leaves pushing its way through the rye!   Sunday, December 23 View Page Not ever doing this before,,, I couldn't believe all the seed request I got from the orange one! Really cool! :) I had 1 for the white one,,,,,,,,,, and about 15 for the orange!   Sunday, December 23 View Page Its now the 795 Dunn,,,,,,,,,,,,, smooth skin, bright orange and could of grown much larger,,,,,,,,, grown in only,,,,,,,,,,, 280 sq. ft.!!!! If interested in some orange seed, feel free to email me :) medunn16@yahoo.com   Monday, December 24 View Page Marley,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, just watched that video in my office,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1 minute later,,,,,,, the whole family was in the office dancing!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck was that! LOL!!!!!!!!!! Not much going on here today either........... :)   Monday, December 24 View Page Its 5pm here and yessssssssssssssssssss!!!! Its been one of those days Marley!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!   Monday, December 24 View Page Well, its Christmas eve! The big boys know whats going on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, But our two littlest ones,,,, they are so excited about Santa coming tonight they can hardly take it!!!! Merry Christmas everyone!!!