Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 40 Entries. Thursday, May 8 View Page Growing 2 Plants this year. I have 2 planted in each spot. #1- 1734 Steil,1495 Stelts #2- 2032 Mathison, 1622 Young. Here is a picture of the results of a back breaking afternoon of broad forking. I'm glad I did it..the soil had a layer of compaction 6 inches down..I don't think I have broken a sweat like that is years.. Seedlings looking great..supposed to be mid 70's this weekend..should see some nice growth.   Sunday, May 11 View Page Lost the 1734 Steil today- Corn Seed Maggots. Hope they don't get the others..should know in a few days.   Thursday, June 19 View Page Final choice for 2 plants are 2032 Mathison and 1495 Stelts. 2032 is doing great..female on the end..should pollinate in a week. 1495 had some double vine issues but cut off the main and retrained a secondary..vine looks normal.   Friday, July 4 View Page Pollinated 2032 Mathison x Self..5 lober. nice position 12 ft out..   Sunday, July 20 View Page Might be down to 1 Plant. My 1495 looks anemic..very weak plant no vigor..no pollinations set. On the good side my 2032 Mathison is doing well..This is a July 4th Pollination..12 ft out on the main.2032 Mathison x Self   Sunday, July 20 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self..Day 16..10 day growth was average..day 16 is picking up a good head of steam..Nice long football shape..long stem.   Sunday, July 20 View Page 2032 Mathison plant..Plant is really healthy..side vines on the right side have slowed..left side has remained the same speed..a little odd but the vines are normal..not stunted..just growing slower. The main vine is out 23 ft.   Thursday, July 24 View Page Day 20 - 2032 Mathison x Self..Starting to grow much faster. Vine is in great position. @ 200 lbs   Thursday, July 24 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self-Different angle...looks like its going to long and wide.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self- Day 25..did 46 lbs per day for the last 2 days...I'm in uncharted territory..   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self..This fruit is big in every direction..I am puzzled by the growth..I didn't amend this spring..soil looked good..have only been foliar feeding Fish,Seaweed, and Extreme blend..occasionally adding Epsom salt and Boron as a weekly spray.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 2032 Mathison..Day 30..Averaged 32 lbs per day from day 20 to 30.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self..Side View..Wide and Long.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self..Side plant view..Plant is the healthiest I've ever had . Uncovered the main vine ..I was getting worried with all the rain we had..didn't want any chance of the main rotting. Still filling in..Have about 1/3 area still left to grow in.   Friday, August 8 View Page Day 35 - 2032 Mathison x Self..Still doing good daily weight gains despite cold nights..36 lbs a day average.   Friday, August 8 View Page 2032 Mathison..You can see the blossom end is being grown over. I posted about this and guys said don't worry about it..not a problem. She is beginning to look like a white whale.   Friday, August 8 View Page 2032 side view..   Wednesday, August 13 View Page Day 40- 2032 Mathison by self. Still growing well..36 lbs a day average for day 30 - 40. She still has babyskin..It rained 2 inches today..the next few days are supposed to be sunny..gotta keep a watch for splits. Pumpkin is over 800 lbs   Wednesday, August 13 View Page Front View of 2032 Mathison..WIDE!!!!This is a first for me with this shape..will be growing off the width of the mat (54") sometime this week. The fruit is pulling so much that I still haven't terminated the last 5 secondaries. They are barely growing..hopefully I can use those new secondaries to power through September.   Friday, August 15 View Page Low tonight are supposed to be 50 degrees..I had to make a choice..use the solar blanket to keep the pool warm..or the pumpkin..Well that was a no brainer!   Saturday, August 23 View Page Day 50 on the 2032 Mathison x Self. Still doing good lbs per day. 1000 lbs est.   Saturday, August 23 View Page The blossom end may disappear this week..Everything looks good though. I painted the blossom and stem with daconil as a prevent.   Saturday, August 23 View Page Side view..she is getting pretty tall.   Saturday, August 23 View Page 2032 Mathison...Blossom end view..   Saturday, August 23 View Page I gave up on my 1495 Stelts early in July..My daughter said she would care for it..OK..She self pollinated it on July 23rd. Here it is at day 30..400 lbs..not bad!!   Saturday, August 23 View Page 1495 Stelts x Self..Side view..She is going to be a long one! I think she can make 800 lbs. That would be awesome. Go Lizzy!!!   Sunday, August 31 View Page 2032 Mathison..Day 57..Patch secured for rains tonight..Leaves are looking great for this time of year. I got back my tissue test last week..made some adjustments to my foliar spray routine. The 2032 is still doing 23 lbs a day..Hope I can squeeze one more week in the 20's.   Sunday, August 31 View Page This is my 1495 Stelts..Day 39..Leaves are also looking good for this late. 1495 is doing 30 lbs a day..weight is 600 lbs. With a little luck maybe this one can make 1000. Will need to a warm September. And I almost pulled this plant..was stunted ..double vine..couldn't get a set until July 23rd.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page 2032 Mathison still growing..Starting to rib up. Still doing high teens. I figure things will slow after this week..supposed to get cold next week.   Thursday, September 11 View Page 1495 Stelts x Self..Day 50..780 lbs..GO Lizzy!!   Thursday, September 11 View Page Forgot the picture!!   Thursday, September 11 View Page 1495 Front View....LONG!!..Still doing 17 lbs a day..Hope fully 900 + lbs by weigh off   Thursday, September 11 View Page 2032 x Self..Day 69..Still showing decent gains per day..the lumps are growing.   Thursday, September 11 View Page 2032 Mathison..Stem View..nice and clean..no stem problems..no Blossom problems..no rib problems..Hoping to exceed 400 inches ..Getting close!   Thursday, September 11 View Page 2032 Leaf Canopy..They look great..hope that equates to a great September growth..   Monday, September 29 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self..Day 87..still growing..Hoping for a PB..Everything looks good..Still has a viable leaf canopy.   Monday, October 6 View Page 2032 Mathison..5 days till weigh off..leaves still looking great..still measurable growth daily..Made my last foliar tonight..Threw the kitchen sink at it..Hope she goes at least to chart.   Monday, October 6 View Page Last Picture until weigh-off..   Friday, November 7 View Page 2032 Mathison x Self is now the 1320.5 Lombardi. Carved her up for Halloween. Wall thickness was really good.About 8 inches all around..no dill cracks at all. The Stem end was 12 inches thick.   Friday, November 7 View Page Me sticking my head in the wrong places..my daughter couldn't resist taking this picture. Seed count was good.. Lizzy's 1495 Stelts x Self is now the Lizzy 917...Good seed count on that one also.