Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 168 Entries. Thursday, January 23 View Page plants gone wild. Thought i would grow it all winter...its already taller then me ! LOL wish i had a greenhouse.   Thursday, January 23 View Page for spence. I wasn't kidding. These are 350 kent plants. Hey Matt D. Got room for a melon???   Thursday, January 23 View Page My 2nd place plaque from the GWG. I love the green color. Thanks guys.   Thursday, January 23 View Page 350 kent cut. This was at the botanical gardens. Very low seed count as you can see by this picture.   Saturday, January 25 View Page got to work on the moles. This board is in the garden. Got Moles ??   Saturday, January 25 View Page soil needs work too. This was the 350 spot. Has some clay in the top & low on organics too. I'll get things better in the spring this year. Better soil = better bigger melons right ????   Saturday, January 25 View Page this was the 297 spot. Had better soil here, but there were moles too. When spring comes, there is alot of work too do. Ground is frozen about 4 inches down right now. Its been along time since that has happened here.   Tuesday, January 28 View Page These are from Jason Gfeller's 148.9 last year   Tuesday, January 28 View Page These are from Jason Gfeller's 148.9 last year   Tuesday, January 28 View Page These are from Jason Gfeller's 148.9 last year   Tuesday, January 28 View Page These are from Jason Gfeller's 148.9 last year   Sunday, March 16 View Page omg, there is one at every conference !   Sunday, March 16 View Page 2 seeds planted in the same pot at the same time. wow   Sunday, March 16 View Page The end of the line. These are my graft test. I finally got some to make it after many tries this weekend. These will head to the compost. They are too old to keep for the season. I hope the real ones will work.   Sunday, March 16 View Page that was supose to say many tries this winter !   Friday, March 28 View Page patch expansion underway. Making old spot bigger & adding some more new ones. Same way as last year, hand digging to start. Its great to be out side digging again after a long cold winter. Really puts you in touch with your soil ! ;) Having a hard time finalizing my line up this year. So many great seeds out there. I guess any of them would be good.   Wednesday, April 2 View Page We're not supposed to talk about this, but... ...it's a very exciting time. We got a lot to do. We gotta get to it. We're supposed to start with these programs first. A quote from the Matrix ! I love that movie ! Anyway winter is hopefully over. Its april & time to get started. Put away all the great research projects from the winter & apply it to the garden ! I can't wait to see what grows this year ! Wishing all growers much sucess & a new PB and then some ! Grow baby grow !!   Tuesday, April 8 View Page Fasten Your Seatbelts: Climate Change Could Make for a Bumpy Flight. Germination in progress....the games afoot !!   Thursday, April 10 View Page I watched Quincy when I was a kid, one of the 1st shows to do indepth stuff, like CSI now does. I was reading some Holmes quote & these were some really good ones for our "Hobby" 'There is nothing like first-hand evidence.' 'It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.' '...when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.' Sherlock Holmes Quotes   Thursday, April 10 View Page expanding my veggy garden i found a few roots that had to be removed. Note that 2 roots grew close together and then self grafted to one another. Pretty cool. I wonder if our plants do the same thing???? Maybe if the plants were back to back the roots may touch and self graft. Anyone ever see such ???   Tuesday, April 22 View Page 239 leonard. Nice, this seed just wants to grow. No problem getting them to sprout.   Tuesday, April 22 View Page 260 Clementzzzzz Even mark's seed is growing... wait theres one left....come on mark, get it in gear !   Monday, April 28 View Page Planted a 4.31 Daho tomato on 4-24-14 plant was about 1 1/2 foot tall. Only plant for competition. I read the giant tomato book by Marvin Meisner this winter, so I thought I would see what happens.   Monday, April 28 View Page Planted a 291 kent and a 242 kent. Earliest I have ever planted but with weighoffs from the end of august to the middle of October I thought I might try spreading out my plantings. Easier to get them in too ! I never had a chanced to plant the 242, but in looking at the genetics, I feel it may just have what it takes.   Sunday, May 4 View Page planting day for the 239 leonard, 350 kent, 316 edwards & the 260 clementzzzzzzzzz. What a difference a year makes. Last week the forcast was for 3-4 inches of rain and flooding. My patch got .30 inches. Its very dry out there this year & with the heat coming all week will have to water. Looks like a normal melon growing year !   Thursday, May 8 View Page Planted the 245 English 13 bushel gourd. Can't wait to see what these things do. Patch is bone dry. having to water every day in this early season heat wave. What a difference a year makes.   Friday, May 9 View Page lemon trees that were bought on the trip to gpc conv. in orlando. Had to transplant them again from the left side pot to the one on the right. Very root bound in only 2 months. They are growing like crazy. the big pot only came with 4 leaves on the bottom when it was bought. They are starting to grow again. Mark Clements said we would see who's does better. Hey Mark, do i win yet. How are yours doing???? They like Voodoo juice BTW.   Friday, May 9 View Page planted the 187 ciesielski bushel gourd.   Saturday, May 10 View Page extra bushel gourds. wish i had more room.   Saturday, May 10 View Page vegies....maters, lots of lettuce, purple cabbage, some caullyflower(i grow better then i spell LOL), squash. Cukes are off to the side, peppers not seen very well. Been a busy spring !   Saturday, May 10 View Page some spanish moss and tree grass from the orlando trip. I found it on the ground in orlando. The only spanish moss in a pecan tree in the smokies !!   Saturday, May 10 View Page 350 kent, some rain last night & this morning. We needed it badly. Plants had it hard with the heat we had.   Saturday, May 10 View Page 316 edwards   Saturday, May 10 View Page 187 & 177 ciesielski bushel gourd   Saturday, May 10 View Page 245 english bushel gourds   Saturday, May 10 View Page 291 kent these were planted a week earlier then the others. doing well   Saturday, May 10 View Page 242 kent also an early plant. starting to vine. doing well   Wednesday, May 28 View Page 245 english bushell gourd. Nice plant, getting ready to take off. I can't wait !   Wednesday, May 28 View Page 187 & 177 ciesielski bushel gourd a tad slower but almost ready, these look a little more bushey then the 245.   Monday, June 9 View Page this is a grape tomato. Anyone know what this is?? Parts of the plant just start to wilt. Same thing took out 4 beefstake tomatoes & now my grape tomatoes have it. Plants roots when pulled look fine & big & healthy. No sign of boarers. It must be disease... but what? Can i treat it?? Never had anything like this. This is a new garden spot too, just grass here before.   Monday, June 9 View Page and another pict.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 245 English bushel gourd. taken off. really nice plant. I love the soft leaves. has females right from the start. Patch could use some rain too, been watering alot as its dry here.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 185 & 175 Ciesielski bushel gourd. Still can't decide which to keep. Both are running. the 185 is a racer on the left. the 175 is more bushey on the right. one is getting pulled tonight !   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 350 Kent this is the leader so far. Its got the 316 edwards nipping at its heals ! I'm a few days behind last year. overall plants look good and are running fast.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page i think this is the solution to my tomato problem... Juglone poisoning. there is a huge black walnut tree on the mater side. I cut some huge roots this spring when expanding the garden. Thanks to all who sent suggestions and "big Moon", John Ciesielski who suggested this. http://www.tomatodirt.com/walnut-wilt.html   Saturday, June 14 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. I kept 187. doing well. should make a nice cross with the 245 english   Saturday, June 14 View Page 245 english i really like these things. I hope they turn out huge ! Maybe the GPC will add them in the future if we get enough growers ! ;)   Saturday, June 14 View Page 260 Clementzzzzz Great plant so far again this year. Wait till ole Bubba sees what i grow with his seed. . All plants doing well. We finally got some good rains & now we have the sun. Plants are racing now...should be polinating in about a week or so. Final plants ended up being...239 Leonard, 260 Clementz, 291 Kent, 316 Edwards, 350 Kent, 274 Kent. I lost my early 242 Kent plant.   Saturday, June 14 View Page feeding the plants some goodies.   Saturday, June 14 View Page mark... these are the good ones !   Thursday, June 19 View Page 4.31 Daho Got a few mega blossems. Now to get them to set.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 245 english Bushel gourd. They don't seem to mind the heat. Waiting of females...... waiting.....   Thursday, June 19 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. actually had a female yesterday. I polinated it for a test. Don't know if it took yet.   Thursday, June 19 View Page 291 kent. There are 2 plants here growing toward each other. It was past time to decide....one had to go.... hope i made the right choice. i used the scientific method to decide... Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.   Sunday, June 22 View Page 260 Clementzzzzz Plant is on fire... hey Mark, save me some more seeds for next year ! I hear you are getting low. Now if i can just get a female set on her we can beat last years 297 and get over the 300 hump. Maybe i need a dating service. femalemelons.com LOL   Sunday, June 22 View Page 239 leonard 2 plants.... again its time to choose. I made my beds bigger this year to try to get better melons and give me more time to choose.... it didn't help with the choosing ! LOL   Sunday, June 22 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd   Sunday, June 22 View Page 245 english Bushel gourd   Sunday, June 22 View Page 350 Kent still the best plant.....but we aren't growing leaves... but its still nice to see ! :)   Sunday, June 22 View Page wow, monday is a make or break day.... i have 6 polinations lined up....lets see... flowers open about 8 to 830,...got to do 6...... need to be at work at 8am.... sounds like a sick day... i think the ailment is polination sickness ! LOL wonder if thats covered in the employee handbook....   Friday, June 27 View Page ok, mark... here is on of the lemon trees i got with you. Looks like no contest to me.   Friday, June 27 View Page 260 clementzzzz polinated on 6-26-14 I don't know if i will keep it. It was only the first date for it and the 316.   Friday, June 27 View Page WOW, what a crazy week of pollinations. All plants produced. Now its time to wait and watch and cull to see who makes it to the final round !! Bushel gourds have really taken off this week. I have started setting those. I like them opening up in the evening. wish the melons did that.   Saturday, June 28 View Page 4.31 Daho I got one set. Its a start !   Saturday, June 28 View Page a thistle that came up in my yard, Its about 8 feet tall now. A little too big to mow, so i left it ! LOL   Saturday, June 28 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. these things are kicking. needed a bigger spot i think... like the whole yard ;)   Saturday, June 28 View Page 245 english bushel gourd. I'm trying to set now.   Saturday, June 28 View Page 260 clementzzzzz filling in fast   Saturday, June 28 View Page 274 kent about full too   Saturday, June 28 View Page 239 leonard. I chose plant B and pulled plant A. Plant B was actually my 3rd rank leonard plant. I gave the 4th rank one to Dennis Masterson, i hope its doing as well for him as mine !   Saturday, June 28 View Page 239 Leonard. day 10 numbers are better then the 350 was. WOW ! probally wont last, and got to keep the rabbits away. But still nice too see. ! Lots more will be hitting the charts over the next week. Then we will see if we have any contenders for the crown ! I love this time of the year. It kicks your butt to stay up with the plants , but isn't that what we want. I wake up every morning thinking about how my plants are doing. Life is good !!   Saturday, July 5 View Page 4.31 daho 13 ok, is this a 2 or 3 fused blossem? any ideas?? Thanks   Saturday, July 5 View Page 239 leonard. except for the small depression on the right, its a preformer. so far the best in the patch.   Saturday, July 5 View Page My big batch of pollinations didn't go so well. I got alot of these. the right is the 291, the left is the 316. they would have been great if the had they shape. I did one more batch of pollinations on the 3rd & 4th. Weather was cool so they should take. Its now or never. whatever is out there is the ones that will be ! p.s. need rain !!!!!   Saturday, July 5 View Page 245 english. hope i got some set cause its at the end of the patch. Finally got some females on the main vine. Will see how they do compaired to the side vine. if they all set !   Saturday, July 5 View Page 350 kent. all plants have just about filled their space... maybe 10% left. wish the melons looked as good as the plants do ! :( Only the 239 (so far) is set and doing well....and it has the worst looking plant. go figure !   Saturday, July 5 View Page opps, heres that 350 kent picture   Saturday, July 5 View Page here is a picture of a possible 3 fused blossem bottom.   Saturday, July 5 View Page and the top   Sunday, July 6 View Page 274 kent... looking bad for this one. This was the 274 super Nathan graft. Stump started leaking about a week ago. I treated it but so far no good. Vines at the stump are leaking and looking bad. Stump looks hollow(bad). Same thing that happen the last 2 years with failed grafts. I have a melon set(nice looking) but the gains are subpar(telltale sign of problems). I will give it a few more days, but dont hold your breath on it making it.   Saturday, July 12 View Page 245 english Bushel Gourd. We have a set & takeoff !   Saturday, July 12 View Page and the 187 has one.   Saturday, July 12 View Page 187 plant, boy oh boy i got my work cut out for me. Should have pruned em better to start !   Saturday, July 12 View Page 239 Leonard Continues to be the best Leonard that i have ever grown !   Saturday, July 12 View Page 260 Clementzzzzz Hey Mark. We pollinated the same day, how is yours doing ?? Mine is ahead of last years 260 !   Saturday, July 12 View Page 316 edwards Still have 2 sets, very hard choice here. Just didn't get the set i was looking for.   Saturday, July 12 View Page 274 kent grafted. Well here is what it looks like. Got a big hole right on the top of the stump. oh well,   Saturday, July 12 View Page 274 kent grafted I had a nice melon set too. 62 lbs est here.   Saturday, July 12 View Page tomato leaf curl. I overdid something again.   Saturday, July 12 View Page 291 kent looks just like last years :) except no scar on the front. I was more careful with the rocks thin year. ;)   Sunday, July 13 View Page 274 kent is no more. the stump was all mush inside. probally could have keep growing , but it would never have been great. Was averaging 4.5 lbs a day even like that.   Sunday, July 13 View Page 4.31 Daho my best chance for a mega fused blossem is in sight. Ok Mark if i can get it to set, your on !   Wednesday, July 16 View Page I am so mad!! My great & best tomato flower is gone ! I went out to look at it since it was opening and it was GONE ! I said to my self where is it ???? The i see this Fat thing on the branch. It ate it !!! Nooooooo :( I have a plant with multiple flowers & leaves and it picks this flower to eat. I had even sprayed the plant since i had some about 3 weeks ago .   Saturday, July 19 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd I have 2 set but the blossems are leaking so i afraid to cull to 1. I cut a 3rd one off and cut it up. They are soild inside so i don't think it can split. I guess we will see.   Saturday, July 19 View Page Horses next door. They are eating my grass over the 4 foot fense. thats ok. They ate a cull. Thats maybe bad. Do horses eat melons. Should i be worried ?????   Saturday, July 19 View Page 350 kent I culled this 87 lb melon. Just not happy with the growth. Having trouble getting the melons i want. Oh well, nonething ventured nonething gained. I'll post a picture of the replacement in a week or 2. By then i will know if i did the right thing.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 245 english. Only one here. est by the melon chart is 41 lbs.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 260 clementzzzzz a blocky melon. doing well   Saturday, July 19 View Page 187 plant   Saturday, July 19 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd here is the blossem thats leaking   Saturday, July 19 View Page 4.31 Daho Here is one of the nicer sets. I'm slowly culling down to ??? the least amount i can stand ! LOL   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. Trucking right along at about 9 lbs a day, its 24 days old in this picture and 112lbs by the chart. I have no idea if thats good. But i'm happy so far !   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 245 english Bush gourd. Doing the same at 9 lbs a day. Its 2 days older than the 187. Leaning a little.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page Bhut Jolokia peppers . They are next to my mater plant and getting some good ferts !   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 4.31 Daho This is the one with the holes in it. Will probally turn soon.   Thursday, July 31 View Page 4.31 daho my 1st tomato to the scale. you can see the worm holes. it was starting to ripen around the holes. so 3.41 lbs   Thursday, July 31 View Page bottom   Thursday, July 31 View Page other side on scale   Sunday, August 3 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. for a plant that was slow to start, its now the leader. still doing 9 lbs a day. Looks like a green squash ! est at 166 lbs now.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 350 kent Nice plant. i wish i was growing plant this year. LOL   Sunday, August 3 View Page 350 kent melon. Oh well , this is what i cut the other one off for. Wrong choice :( As soon as i cut the big one off, this one slowed down. live , grow, learn   Sunday, August 3 View Page 260 clementz grafted. This was a graft replacement to another graft that failed. This one failed too. Stump went bad inside. I cut a hole and dried it, but it did no good. Every melon on the plant stoped. I had an 80 lb melon set. it stoped as did all the culls too ! plant was beautiful & still is.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 291 kent. this is a graft too. same ol same ol. Stump went bad. at least this melon is still growing, just not very good. I said this winter that the grafts were not a magic bullet. Sometime i hate it when i'm right. I'm sure there is one out there that is doing well.... just not in my patch this year.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 291 kent graft here is the melon   Sunday, August 3 View Page 245 english bushel gourd. I'm trying to keep it from falling, cause it won't get back up !   Sunday, August 3 View Page 239 leonard. Old faithful ! The best in the patch this year. It never lets me down except last year when a rabbit ate the vine .... but now a mouse has shown up since yesterday eating vines, i'm trying to get it. i wish it would eat any other plant besides this one !   Sunday, August 3 View Page 316 edwards a long thin melon.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 4.31 Daho I cloned the tomato plant for a late set & experiment   Monday, August 4 View Page ok, i got the mouse yesterday evening after super. Hard to believe how many vines 1 little mouse can eat. ( I hope it was just 1) Going to look...   Saturday, August 9 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd. My gourds have slowed but still growing. This one is starting to canteloupe while the 245 english has not started yet. Both are now over 200 lbs with the 187 in the lead by a nose !   Saturday, August 9 View Page here is the 187 plant. With better care & space they probally would have done even better. What ever natually pollinates them must not live here as i have only had a few culls on each plant which is good since they have had hundreds of females !   Saturday, August 9 View Page 245 english bushel gourd   Saturday, August 9 View Page trying out a new product. Supose to be good.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page my biggest yet off the 4.31 Daho 4.70 lbs It looks like a single too !   Wednesday, August 13 View Page the bottom of the 4.70   Wednesday, August 13 View Page side view. It was 23.25 inches cir.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page also picked a 4.23 lb off the 4.31 Daho   Wednesday, August 13 View Page forgot picture. 4.23 lbs   Wednesday, August 13 View Page 4.23 top view   Wednesday, August 13 View Page thanks advanced nutrients   Saturday, August 16 View Page more tomatoes from the 4.31 daho. here is a 3.03 lb one   Saturday, August 16 View Page 3.99 lbs from the 4.31 daho. Almost another 4.... so close   Saturday, August 16 View Page 3.99 bottom   Saturday, August 16 View Page 3.99 top   Saturday, August 16 View Page All 4 of the current picking.   Sunday, August 17 View Page final on the 291 grafted. measures 133 lbs , weighed 142 its the 291 X 316 edwards. Stump was rotten inside. The main vine and roots were as big as pumpkin vines & roots. I couldn't even pull the stump out, had to cut the roots. Unreal..   Sunday, August 17 View Page trying to set my last tomatoes, any idea if this will develop into 1 or 2 tomatoes. I have seen where they are like twins and have to be split and weighed as 2 ??   Tuesday, August 19 View Page a 3.84 tomato from the 4.31 daho   Tuesday, August 19 View Page a 4.94 tomato from the 4.31 daho. a new PB for me. So close to that 5 lb mark. Maybe the next one will do it !   Tuesday, August 19 View Page both together   Tuesday, August 19 View Page 4.94 top   Saturday, August 30 View Page sunrise this past week :)   Saturday, August 30 View Page 260 clementzzzz plant. Poor plants. Despite what seems to me as a better growing year weather wise and doing (i thought) the same as last year, the results are far from what i was looking for. Haveing problems with plant health which no matter what i do just gets worse. Just can't figue it out.   Saturday, August 30 View Page 260 Clementzzzz Same for the melon growth. Something is out of wack.. but beats me what it is. I'm missing something or too much something or who knows. poor results on both spots from last year or new spots prepaired the same as last year. I guess it just goes to show we have alot to learn.   Saturday, August 30 View Page 239 leonard. 1 of the few bright spots in the patch this year. Man I love this seed !   Saturday, August 30 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd not much growth left. Seems to have most of their growth by DAP 50 About 230 est lbs   Saturday, August 30 View Page 245 english bushel gourd Ditto   Saturday, August 30 View Page 350 kent. like winnie the Poo. short fat & proud of that ! LOL This plant got spider mites but thanks to Todd Dawson(ice man) i have treated it with Lucid and they seem to be gone ! The stem has developed issues so it may not be arout till the end of the season.   Saturday, August 30 View Page 316 edwards. Doing well but i always worry about the long melons being under chart.   Sunday, August 31 View Page My biggest & best flower of the year on the 4.31 Daho. Half is set. I hope the other half sets too. Then maybe no BER. Then is there enough time !   Sunday, September 14 View Page 4 Melons, 4 weighoff ! I still can't decide who goes where. Its been that kind of a year. Usually by this point(weighoff start next weekend sept 20 at Bear Wallow Ky) i kinda know the line up. Guess i will just toss a coin when the time comes unless someone volunteers !   Sunday, September 14 View Page 245 english. looks to be about done at 250 est. no clue what it really weighs. Got to get it to a scale !   Sunday, September 14 View Page picture helps !   Sunday, September 14 View Page 187 Ciesielski bushel gourd ditto !   Sunday, September 14 View Page more maters from the 4.31 Daho   Sunday, September 14 View Page 4.31 daho = 4.56. still can't get the 5.0 !   Sunday, September 14 View Page oh, and the fence in front a melon in the picture is to keep the horses from an early snack. They can just about reach the melon from their side of the fence so i added an extra line of protection.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page the 260 clementzzzz became the 231 kent 14 at Bear Wallow   Tuesday, September 30 View Page kids had fun there. Great place ! We love going every year   Tuesday, September 30 View Page the 316 edwards became the 251 kent 14 at Elkin. Another top notch site. Boy oh boy were there big pumpkins there. I got some good growing tips from the top growers there. Thanks and already looking forward to next year !   Tuesday, September 30 View Page here is what the 316 edwards plant looked like at the end. Could be better, could be worse   Tuesday, September 30 View Page 245 english bushel gourd plant. There is just no stoping these things !   Tuesday, September 30 View Page 239 leonard plant. Still looks pretty good. This one goes to Allard this weekend ! Taping about.... opps, better wait and see ! LOL   Tuesday, September 30 View Page this is the 187 ciesielski bushel gourd. I could only take 1 to the scales , so this little piggy stayed home and got weighed on my home scale. 229 lbs, nice ! the plant has 3 more volunteers growing. Will make nice decoration if i get them dry.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page 350 kent. a fat little melon. Also headed to Allardt to see what she weighs.   Sunday, October 12 View Page a beautiful mega fused blossem fruit on the 4.31 Daho. It survived a light frost a week ago. Growing very fast. Wish i had this in june !   Sunday, October 12 View Page this is the 239 leonard that is now my 251 kent 14 (239 leonard X 316 Edwards) . Took 1st at allardt on oct. 4 . I love the plaques they give for winning !   Sunday, October 12 View Page Final melon for the year. Headed to Raleigh, North Carolina state fair on tuesday ! Its still growing 1/2 lb a day. I was going to pick today, but its poured rain all day, so i guess i'll do it monday. I might need that 1/2 lb ! See everyone there !