Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 20 Entries. Sunday, March 30 View Page After an extreme drought all winter, we're finally starting to get some snow. Just a dusting last night but much more expected Monday and Tuesday.   Saturday, April 26 View Page The 1048 Engel six days after putting into wet paper towels inside a plastic bag. Cots are still a little weird but I'm clearing a space on the wall for a Howard Dill. The 1874.5 Mathison isn't far behind.   Wednesday, May 7 View Page Pretty good frost this morning. I had a sleeping bag over this 2009 X 1770 cross but no heater. I need to finish the dome today and to train Layla to walk on the plywood steps.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page I had to leave at 7:00 AM Sunday, Mother's Day, to visit my mom. And even though it was 32 degrees, I had to remove my portable dome so that this plant wouldn't cook after it warmed up. A couple of leaves were damaged but I think it will recover okay. It's a 2009 X 1770 cross and I have high hopes for it.   Saturday, May 31 View Page It seems like every year at the end of May I take a picture of frost on the top of my pickup that I've scratched with my fingernails. I really didn't see this coming as it was 84 degrees here yesterday. I don't think there will be any damage because I had shading covering all of my plants but the cold can't be doing them any good. Wish I had kept my domes out with heaters going.   Wednesday, June 18 View Page The usual June 18th picture of frost on top of my pickup that I scraped up with a credit card. Pumpkin plants seemed to have survived but this will probably slow them down somewhat.   Saturday, June 21 View Page I'm a big believer in mill fabric but if you wait until you are sure the pumpkin is a keeper, it can be a big hassle to try to lay down under the pumpkin. This year I thought I'd try putting it down before the female blooms to see how this works out. I can always move it up if the flower aborts. This is my own 560 dmg from last year that I grew as a backup. Naturally it's outgrowing every other plant in the patch including my 1874 Mathison so I'm going to try to keep it somehow.   Tuesday, July 1 View Page Selfed the 1048 Engel. In the past I've always avoided selfing but just can't ignore the results that other growers have had so I'm trying it this year. Could be some future Howard Dills in this one.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page Aaaaaagh. My 1048 Engel which had been doing great just went down to the dreaded blossom end split. And I had already cleared a space on the wall for the Howard Dill Award. On top of that, something has been chewing the leaves off my 1874 Mathison. Not really sure what it is, the only animals I've seen in the neighborhood have been racoons. Maybe a rabbit that has kept well hidden?   Wednesday, July 23 View Page More bad luck, while I was gone for a week the aphids returned. This ladybug has her work cut out for her.   Saturday, August 9 View Page Last year I put out ladybugs early and often and had no aphids. This year I was a little late and now they're back. And once again it appears the ladies are having too much fun to bother with aphids.   Wednesday, August 27 View Page Highs in the nineties, lows in the low forties. I need to move.   Wednesday, August 27 View Page My 1874.5 is only gaining about ten pounds a day now. Even though I've had nothing but forty degree nights, a major aphid infestation and a deer that got in and ate all the new growth, I think the problem is this kink in the main vine right before the pumpkin. I've been so afraid of snapping the vine that I never could straighten it out. Going to start trying gradually again today when it gets hot.   Sunday, September 14 View Page My own seed in the foreground is almost as orange as the 1048 Engel in the background and just over 600 pounds now. Both of these are late July pollinations. My first 1048 was doing incredibly until a BES took it down on July 23. A major hot spell finished off the first pollinations on my own seed but better late than never.   Monday, September 29 View Page Took home my second Howard Dill yesterday at Placerville with the 1048 Engel. The pumpkin was an almost iridescent yellowish-orange. Thanks to Shannon for the seed and congratulations to Reuben Frias for his winning 1533 pounder.   Sunday, October 12 View Page I borrowed a security camera to see what's been jumping my fence and eating my new cover crop. This is very low-resolution because I had to capture a frame from the video but check out the rack on this guy.   Monday, October 20 View Page A better picture of one of the bucks visiting my garden at night. On the plus side, I found one last Carolina Reaper pepper after the bucks ate all the leaves off the plant.   Wednesday, October 22 View Page People are stopping in the street and blocking traffic to check out my Jack-O'Lantern.   Saturday, October 25 View Page I never had a deer problem until this year because I live several blocks into town but last night I walked out the back door and these two guys looked up at me. I guess they'll keep devouring my clover cover crop until I can raise my fence.   Sunday, November 16 View Page Can't wait for next spring. One for big and one for big and orange.