Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 341 Entries. Wednesday, January 1 View Page HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!   Monday, March 10 View Page 63 degrees and sunny today. 60x70 area covered in clear plastic. Let the warming begin.   Wednesday, March 19 View Page Customs got my EGVGA bubble too   Saturday, March 22 View Page heating cables? Check.   Saturday, March 22 View Page Hole filled in and mound created for drainage? Check.   Saturday, March 22 View Page Cold Frames? Check.   Saturday, March 22 View Page cover crop? Check.   Saturday, March 22 View Page Plants? Check.   Saturday, March 22 View Page They said you have to start earlier to get the best growth during the Summer solstice... Think its too early? Let's find out.... 2 1500W heaters? Check.   Sunday, March 23 View Page Started some tomatoes and hot peppers today. Tomatoes: our 3.99 (4.2 Lyons x open), 3.71 (4.9 Nieuwenhoff x open), 3.21 (3.67 Ruegger x open), 3.11 (3.67 Ruegger x open), 2.87 (4.2 Lyons x open), and 3.98 Cole (7.18 Harp x open) 4.61 Finders (5.07 Boudyo x open), 5.33 Martin (4.79 Martin x open) Peppers: sarvenato from italy, red and yellow trinadad scorpions.   Sunday, March 30 View Page This is the 662.5 and surprisingly enough even after a week of nights in the teens it is looking pretty good. I promised it today that warm weather was coming.....lol   Sunday, March 30 View Page 662.5 from the side   Sunday, March 30 View Page 662.5 sure could use some warmth to get the N up.   Sunday, March 30 View Page 662.5   Sunday, March 30 View Page maybe I shouldn't have buried them so deep.   Sunday, March 30 View Page 568 has been more exposed no Styrofoam, just blankets at night.   Sunday, March 30 View Page 568 I think the heater got too close.   Sunday, March 30 View Page 568 Needs some N too   Sunday, March 30 View Page 568 will be happy when it warms up too.   Sunday, March 30 View Page At least the soil cables are keeping it from dropping.   Wednesday, April 2 View Page was a nice day out (until about an hours ago when it started raining. Got quite a bit done. Got the fence up and 2 backup huts out.   Saturday, April 5 View Page Tomatoes are getting good start.   Saturday, April 5 View Page Got Finders?   Saturday, April 5 View Page Got Martin?   Saturday, April 5 View Page Hot peppers are started, red trinadad scorpions didn't germ, trying a second batch   Monday, April 7 View Page tomatoes got their first drink of Uncle Dunkels tonight.   Tuesday, April 15 View Page What a difference 10 days makes   Thursday, April 17 View Page Looked at the long range forecast and decided.... ITS GO TIME!   Friday, April 18 View Page Started these soaking last night and put them in the germ box when I got up this morning. 1623 will wait one more week, just in case.   Saturday, April 19 View Page What a beautiful day. Got plant spots amended, tilled the patch, installed the auto openers for the ones that we started last night (gotta make sure they are set to correct temps and work properly for a few days before seeds are transplanted), and finished setting the poles for the shade/hail net. I was hoping to get the net up, but ran out of time. It will go up this week after work or next weekend for sure.   Saturday, April 19 View Page right side of the patch is tilled and ready to rock. This is the future home of the 1312 Weston and Johnathon's is growing his 568 (982.5 Weston x 1381 Checkon) from last year.   Saturday, April 19 View Page left side of the patch is tilled and one spot going to try the cover crop angle where we till ahead of the plant. This is the future home of the 1676.5 Daletas and the 1623.5 Wallace. Watermelon hut on the far end of the patch.   Sunday, April 20 View Page 66 hours since sanding and starting soak.... it's SHOWTIME!   Monday, April 21 View Page The 1312 and johnathon's 568 popped up above ground this morning, right at the 72 hour mark from sanding and starting to soak.   Thursday, April 24 View Page Time to get serious   Friday, April 25 View Page 10 days later...   Friday, April 25 View Page 1676.5 Daletas -- 5 days after pushing dirt, it's ready to go in the ground tomorrow. Backup 1676.5 started tonight.   Friday, April 25 View Page 1312 Weston (1381 Checkon x 1725 Harp) 4 days after pushing dirt, it will go out tomorrow as well, backup 1312 started tonight.   Friday, April 25 View Page Johnathons 568 (also 4 days old) will go out tomorrow as well, he is starting a backup tonight also.   Friday, April 25 View Page Got Dunkels???   Saturday, April 26 View Page Teresa planting the 1312. Look at those roots. 5 days old in a 5 inch pot. This is why you don't want to leave these in the house for a long time...you will get root bound... quick!   Saturday, April 26 View Page Johnathon planting his 568.   Saturday, April 26 View Page 1676.5 safe and snug in it's new home.   Saturday, April 26 View Page 1312 successfully transplanted. Time to git 'r done!   Sunday, April 27 View Page Finished installing the hail/shade net today. What a beautiful sunny day.   Sunday, April 27 View Page hail/shade net installed and stored, waiting to be pulled. One person can cover 40 x 70 in about 3 minutes.   Sunday, April 27 View Page 1676.5 after 24 hours in the patch. It seems to like its new home.   Sunday, April 27 View Page 1312 doing well in its new environment as well. (24 hours after transplant)   Sunday, April 27 View Page Came in after a long day of working outside, checked the germ box and found this...66 hours after filing and soaking...THE LINE UP IS COMPLETE! Got Wallace? (1623.5) Let the games begin!   Monday, April 28 View Page forecast calls for chance of hail...Guess we got it up in the nick of time.   Monday, April 28 View Page Good news is, it is easier to deploy than last year. Lets hope we don't need it, but it feels good to be prepared.   Thursday, May 1 View Page You know how you are walking along, glance down, and see a 4 leaf clover? Well it happened to me on the way back from the pumpkin patch today...only it was something I have never seen before in my life... This has to be a sign that it's going to be a great year.   Saturday, May 3 View Page Time to get melons started.   Saturday, May 3 View Page These are the ones that have to duke it out for 2 spots   Saturday, May 3 View Page oops, forgot the pic   Saturday, May 3 View Page It's time! Planting the 1623.5 Wallace.   Saturday, May 3 View Page 1623.5 in its new home, ready to rock!   Saturday, May 3 View Page 1312 moving right along. 6 days in the patch, 12 days after pushing up dirt.   Saturday, May 3 View Page 1676.5 after 6 days in the patch...looking good.   Tuesday, May 6 View Page huts got to 100 today, raised them up to get more air in them. Thunderstorms predicted so can't remove huts or wind will take them out. Also due to Tstorm prediction hail net was pulled tonight. Last year we got hit by hail in a freak popup storm because the front was going well away from us and we didn't pull the cover. Won't make that mistake again.   Tuesday, May 6 View Page patch has finally dried out enough to get in it an work a little. Planted a mix of cereal rye, radish, clover, and vetch on last half of the patch (both sides) along with 3 lbs of mychorrizae and raked in. Since tilling is always questionable here, decided only to put it on last half so it would be dry enough to till by the time the plant gets there.   Thursday, May 8 View Page one of the changes we are making this year is instead of amending the entire patch in the spring, we decided to cut the patch up into a grid. Each 30x30 ft plant area was split into 6x6ft squares. The patch is for 4 plants so 60 x 60 ft makes 100 squares. Divide the amendments that are to be added to the patch by 100 and put them down about a month ahead of the growth. Our thought is, that the first part of the year we always have good growth, but we aren't maintaining it. By adding the amendments just ahead of the plant we hope to keep the same nutrients available to the plant through the entire growth stage and the should last longer in the last half of the patch. The first square were the plant is was amended in March. There is a few days of rain predicted, so even though we were going to amend next week, we opted to do it tonight for next 6 ft completely around the plant site. In about 2 weeks we will do the next 6 ft swath, then depending on plant growth how close together we will continue the pattern. We also planted the tomatoes. A 3.99 Weston, 2.87 Weston, 3.93 Cole, 4.61 Finders, and a 5.33 Martin as well.   Saturday, May 10 View Page 1623.5 after one week in the patch. 13 days after pushing dirt   Saturday, May 10 View Page 1676.5 Daletas at day 19.   Saturday, May 10 View Page 1312 at day 19. I think she passed the 1676 today...revving the engine getting ready to get her groove on.   Saturday, May 10 View Page 1312 2nd true leaf, doing good.   Saturday, May 10 View Page 1676.5 Daletas 2nd true leaf   Sunday, May 11 View Page It got pretty hot today and the 1676.5 and 1312 laid down. but they were both suffering, the cold frames are just too hot on an 80 plus degree day. Removed the cold frames and put wind protection around plants and staked them down. next few days predicting thunderstorms. One with quarter sized hail and 60 MPH wind just went by us about 20 miles to the North and storms will be passing through all night. The hail net is pulled. Probably won't sleep too well tonight.   Monday, May 19 View Page 1623.5 Wallace, day 21. The 2 day cold snap slowed them a little, but not much.   Monday, May 19 View Page 1312 Weston 28 days old. Down and running. Buckle up, it's going to be a great ride.   Monday, May 19 View Page 1676.5 Daletas 28 days, neck and neck with the 1312. Have I ever said how much I like the 1381?   Monday, May 19 View Page Biggest leaf so far is on the 1676.5 Daletas...22 inches   Monday, May 19 View Page This is Johnathon's 568 at day 28. It's the race horse right now and holds the honors of faster grower.   Thursday, May 22 View Page Spent a few hours installing the misters in the patch today. Misters are 3.5 ft apart on lines that are 6 ft apart. 3 lines per zone. Controlled by a timer that can turn them on and off by minutes. It's been in the high 80s several times in May already. I have a feeling we are going to be needing these for the summer.   Thursday, May 22 View Page another picture of the misting system   Thursday, May 22 View Page Here is one of the valves   Thursday, May 22 View Page and a mister   Thursday, May 22 View Page 1312 day 31. Clearly getting it done. Sides are about a ft long now. wont be long till we will be spending hours burying and pruning.   Thursday, May 22 View Page 1676.5 Daletas at day 31   Thursday, May 22 View Page 1623.5 Wallace at day 24   Monday, May 26 View Page Plants are stretching out, so amended and tilled ahead of them today   Monday, May 26 View Page Cover crop will need to be mowed soon.   Monday, May 26 View Page North side of the patch, home to the 1312 and 568(Johnathon's) Weston.   Monday, May 26 View Page South side of patch. Home to the 1623.5 Wallace and the 1676.5 Daletas.   Monday, May 26 View Page 1676.5 at 35 days from pushing dirt   Monday, May 26 View Page 1312 at 35 days from pushing dirt   Monday, May 26 View Page 1623.5 Wallace at 18 days from pushing dirt   Monday, May 26 View Page Johnathon's 568 at 35 days old, is still leading the pack   Wednesday, May 28 View Page misters got a workout today. Hit 92 on for 2 mins every 10 mins from noon to 5pm   Thursday, May 29 View Page SMOKIN'! plants are growing so fast, we decided to measure today. This is the 1676.5 Dalatas -- 38 days after pushing dirt -- 9ft 9 inch vine, with the first sides being 5.5 ft.   Thursday, May 29 View Page 1312 Weston shifted gears too. -- 38 days after pushing dirt -- 9ft 4 inch main vine, with the first sides being 4 ft 2 inches.   Thursday, May 29 View Page And look what we found on the tip while we were burying vines....   Thursday, May 29 View Page last picture was of the 1676.5 Daletas. There are 34 other babies on sides on the 1676.5. The 1312 Weston is also sporting a baby on the tip, and 2 more on the sides. Let's get ready to rumble!   Thursday, May 29 View Page where is the edit button -- in last post, 1676.5 daletas has 3 other babies on the sides, not 34...   Saturday, May 31 View Page Had to hand water last two days, so installation of the drip was todays priority. This is the 1676.5 Daletas at day 40.   Saturday, May 31 View Page 1312 Weston at day 40.   Sunday, June 1 View Page Watering system installed and tested. Start watering through drip tomorrow. Adjusted the misters to kick on for 1 min every 10 mins from noon to 4pm. Leaves barely get damp in a minute and are dry in 3 mins after it cuts off. We have a thermometer under the canopy and it hit 92 today, misters are cooling under the canopy 4 degrees at this rate, but were getting too wet if we increase the time on or decrease the time off. Above the canopy feels much cooler to my skin while it is running, and most importantly, the leaves stopped flagging.   Sunday, June 1 View Page The plants are hitting on all 8 cylinders. Right on time (a week before the females, the males started blooming today). Johnathon's plant had 2 males bloom today. We removed one male from each of the 1312, 1676.5 and Johnathon's 568 tonight that were going to bloom tomorrow. I don't like letting them bloom in the patch. They attract cucumber beetles and SVBs and we use systemic insecticides, don't want to harm any bees. We sprayed Talstar, daconil and garlic this evening, first spray for the year. Drenched with merit and bio-nutrients today. First merit since set out 40 days ago. Jun is always when the insect pressure increases. Got to stay on top of things.   Monday, June 2 View Page decided the baby on the 1676 was too close to the stump, rather than pollinating and then having to cull it later, we decided to cut it today. Very pretty bloom. Next one should be around 12-13 ft when it lands.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page ready for the storms   Wednesday, June 4 View Page My lovely wife and growing partner with the 1312 Weston, day 44.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page She beautiful, spunky and LOVES giant pumpkin growing....I'm sooo lucky! Eat your heart out guys.... lol This is the 1623.5 Wallace at day 37, starting to step up it's game   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Giving the 1676.5 Daletas a once over.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page 1676.5 Daletas, day 44....looking good (the pumpkin is too)   Wednesday, June 4 View Page This is our cover crop on the two off season patches. The clover has been on the 2012 patch since Oct 2012. The winter wheat is the 2013 patch and was planted last Oct. They both have been mowed once already this spring. Once the wheat dies, clover will be planted in its place.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Teresa modeling the cover crop for size comparison   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Wheat is pretty tall   Wednesday, June 4 View Page compost pile is starting to work   Wednesday, June 4 View Page beans and corn   Wednesday, June 4 View Page vegetable garden, cucumbers, squash and zucchini in the foreground, horseradish in center tomatoes and peppers beyond that, then corn beans, onions, eggplant, radishes and lettuce beyond that   Wednesday, June 4 View Page second planting of onions   Wednesday, June 4 View Page sunflowers and tall corn   Wednesday, June 4 View Page sunflower   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Johnathon's 568 will be the first to pollinate...   Wednesday, June 4 View Page tied up and covered from rain that is expected tonight   Wednesday, June 4 View Page second planting of sunflowers and tall corn   Friday, June 6 View Page pollinated the first 1312 Weston today with the 1676.5 Daletas   Friday, June 6 View Page only one male to do the deed, lets see if he was man enough....lol   Tuesday, June 10 View Page tip from the right side of plant (if you were standing at the stump) 1623.5 Wallace day 43 after pushing up dirt.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1623.5 Wallace from the left front perspective   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1623.5 Wallace from rear of plant   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1676.5 from rear right day 50   Tuesday, June 10 View Page This is what happens when you have too much N and try to make the S curve to fast. A cracked main required us to cut back the the next side vine and turn it around for the new main. Thankfully, we had only cut two tertiaries on that vine and it has a pumpkin that is about 12 ft from the stump. We will let the rear sides sweep forward a little more before we terminate to try and get a little more plant behind the pumpkin and hopefully this side will pick up where the main left off. I'm n ot worried, the plant has been amazing so far, all I have to do is quit screwing it up.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1312 Weston at day 50. Picking them up and putting them down. Growing well, has one pumpkin at 4 days old, and one that will pollinate in about a week.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1312 Weston on the other side   Tuesday, June 10 View Page This is a pic of Teresa tilling the cover crop (and amendments) in front of the vine on Saturday. As you can see we only have about 10-12 ft left in a 30 ft patch...what a year so far!   Thursday, June 12 View Page The 1312 weston is 19.5 ft main with 14 ft sides 1676.5 daletas is 15 ft main with 14 ft sides 1623,5 wallace is a week behind and 16 ft main with 11.5 ft sides we have a pumpkin set and 6 days old on the 1312 at 10 ft and one to pollinate in around 5 days at 18 ft the wallace will pollinate at 14 ft or so in 6 days maybe   Sunday, June 15 View Page mowed and tllled the wheat yesterday.   Tuesday, June 17 View Page been too busy to update this, need to keep track though... Hottest day of the year so far. Hit 93. Had shade pulled and misters set to run, but something happened to the timer so it didn't kick on, Johnathon ran it manually till I got home and go the timer set up again. Pollinated the 1623.5 Wallace with the 1312 Weston. 4 lober, but a little odd shaped, it's still early and there is one on the tip that will pollinate in about 5 days. Pollinated the 1312 Weston with the 1676.5 Daletas. Beautiful 4 lober, perfect symmetry, long stem, about 19-20 ft out. Both sets were covered with a Styrofoam cooler and ice bottles underneath. We have had good luck pollinating this way over the last couple of years in high 90s.   Wednesday, June 18 View Page spent several hours preparing for the storm front that was bearing down on us tonight, and thank goodness it split and went north and south of us.   Saturday, June 21 View Page Pollinated the 1676.5 Daletas with 1312 Weston very nice 4 lober. This plant is still recovering from where I snapped the main. Its working it out though and the next one should be the one we decide to keep.   Sunday, June 22 View Page Pollinated the 1623.5 Wallace with the 1312 Weston this morning. Nice 5 lober.   Tuesday, June 24 View Page At least one decision has been made.   Tuesday, June 24 View Page Shaded, and placed on a flat bed of sand, 1 inch Styrofoam, and mill fabric   Sunday, June 29 View Page A couple of more decisions have been made.   Sunday, June 29 View Page Starting to look like a pumpkin patch now.   Sunday, June 29 View Page Time to get this diary updated. Johnathon's pumpkin 568 Weston x self at 17 days old is the biggest in the patch   Sunday, June 29 View Page 1312 has been selected and set up in it's shade structure. 12 days after pollination.   Sunday, June 29 View Page 1676.5 Daletas at 8 days old in it's new shade structure.   Sunday, June 29 View Page 1676.5 top view. Looking like a barrel shape... I like!   Monday, June 30 View Page Final Answer?   Monday, June 30 View Page maybe, maybe not....   Monday, June 30 View Page under the canopy shot of the 1312.   Monday, June 30 View Page Another under the canopy shot   Monday, June 30 View Page One of the most frequently asked questions by other growers is, what do you use for weed control. The most common question by non growers is, what do you have to do for 3-4 hours a day to grow a pumpkin? The next entry is the answer to both.   Monday, June 30 View Page Good old fashioned hands and knees pulling weeds.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Johnathon's Pumpkin at day 20 Growing very well.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Top view of Johnathon's 568 x self day 20.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1312 15 days...stepping out.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1312 plant   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1676.5 day 11.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1676.5 top view.....AWESOME!   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1676.5 Daletas plant   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1623 Wallace is a week behind. We have a few set, just haven't decided yet. This is the plant   Wednesday, July 2 View Page oops the previous picture is johnathon's plant not the 1623...where is the edit button   Wednesday, July 2 View Page ok here is the 1623.5 Wallace   Monday, July 7 View Page I think we finally have a keeper on the 1623.5 Wallace. 11 Days old and stepping it up.   Monday, July 7 View Page The 1676.5 is doing very well at day 16.   Monday, July 7 View Page she's going to have some wild shapes to her, and got to LOVE how white she is.   Monday, July 7 View Page The 1312 at day 20 87 cc 60 ss 59 fb 206 ott est 201 lbs to GPC chart, 200 to TeamPumpkin Chart (or 187-217 in TP range chart)...Teresa says 250 easy.....hmmmm considering how heavy her momma was, I'll buy that.   Monday, July 7 View Page This will be the last overhead shot as the shade tarp is in the way to get any further away. This is the biggest 20 DAP we have ever had. I for one am pretty excited.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Finally have one on the hook on all plants. It's go time! This is the 1623.5 Wallace at day 12.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1623.5 Wallace x 1312 Weston 12 DAP, let the games Begin!   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1623.5 Wallace day 14...   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1623.5 Wallace blossom end   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1676.5 Daletas day 18   Thursday, July 10 View Page oops, last pic was 1676.5 Daletas day 19   Thursday, July 10 View Page this will be the last top picture cant get any farther away because of the shade tarp.   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1312 day 23 I cant help myself, had to measure...lol 103 cc, 69.5 ss, 67.5 fb, 240 ott, est 312 lbs by GPC chart, 311 TeamPumpkin chart,(or 284-338 on TP range chart) Growing an average if 37 lbs a day over the last 3 days....I'm on pins and needles.   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1312 Stem side   Thursday, July 10 View Page 1312 with her plant   Thursday, July 10 View Page johnathons 568 32 DAP, he sure does like his orange 102 cc 72.5 ss 69.5 ee 244 OTT est 327 lbs by GPC chart est 326 by TeamPumpkin chart est 297-354 on TP range chart   Friday, July 11 View Page 1676.5 daletas 20 DAP 102 cc, 72.5 ss, ee 69.5, 244 ott, est 327 lbs on GPC chart, 326 TeamPumpkin chart, TP range 297-354....WOW!   Saturday, July 12 View Page dang it, where is the edit button? lol Ok I picked up Johnathon's measurements last night instead of the Daltetas when I went to enter the measurements, and I was so excited I didn't realize they were the same until today, still scary and our biggest ever day 20, at the correct measurements, which are: CC 97, SS 62, EE 62.5, OTT 221.5 est 245 on both GPC and TeamPumpkin's chart, 223 - 266 on TP Range chart   Sunday, July 13 View Page 1623 Wallace Day 17 Looking good. Has a small shallow superficial crack in her stem. put a fan on it 3 days ago and it is dry and healed.   Sunday, July 13 View Page 1623.5 Wallace top view at day 17th   Sunday, July 13 View Page 1676.5 Daletas day 22   Sunday, July 13 View Page 1312 Day 26 117 CC 78 SS 75.5 FB 270.5 OTT est 442 lbs on GPC chart, 438 on TeamPumpkins chart, and 399-475 on TP range chart. Grew and est of 130 lbs over the last 3 days for an average of 43.33 lbs a day.   Sunday, July 13 View Page A little something to calm my nerves.....lol   Sunday, July 13 View Page oh I forgot to mention, we got a 1/4 inch of rain this evening with storms predicted through tomorrow afternoon, thus the previous picture.   Monday, July 14 View Page 1312 27 DAP 122 CC, 81.5 SS, 78 EE, 281.5 OTT, est 501, grew 59 lbs in last 24 hours. Still holding it together and looking strong. .... 1676.5 Daletas 23 DAP 113 CC, 70 SS, 70 EE, 253 OTT, est 364 lbs, grew an average of 12.33 lbs a day over the last 3 days. ...... 1623.5 is at day 18, will get measured on Wed at day 20. ...... Johnathon's 568 36 DAP -- 112 CC, 80.5 SS, 76 EE, 268.5 OTT, est 432 lbs, growing an average of 26 lbs a day over the last 4 days.   Thursday, July 17 View Page tonight was day 30 on the 1312. 134 CC, 88 SS, 83.5 EE, 305.5 OTT for an est of 639 lbs!!! I intended on getting a picture with both Teresa and I with it, but it got dark before I thought about it, so we will post a picture in the next 2 days with us with it (I promise for all those asking for pics) It got down to 52 degrees for the last 3 nights with highs not hitting mid 70 and still getting incredible gains (after the 59 lb gain day, over the last 3 days it has averaged 45.9 lbs a day) It has more than tripled in size from day 20 to day 30 -- averaging 43.8 lbs a day Over the last 7 days it has more than doubled and averaged 46.7 lbs a day. Simply amazing!   Thursday, July 17 View Page The 1676.5 Daletas is still ahead of the 1312 on the same day and still ramping up (despite the cold weather) At day 26 it is: 124 CC, 75.5 SS,74.5 EE, 274 OTT for an est of 462 lbs, gaining an average of 32.66 lbs a day over the last 3 days of cold weather.   Thursday, July 17 View Page The 1623.5 Wallace hit day 20 today. its picking up the pace a little, but behind the pack on same day so far. 80 CC, 54 SS, 57 EE, 191 OTT for an est of 163.5 lbs   Thursday, July 17 View Page Johnathons pumpkin is 39 DAP and 121 CC, 85 SS, 80 EE, 286 OTT for an est of 525 and averaging 31 lbs a day over last 3 days.   Friday, July 18 View Page As promised, here is a picture of both of us with the 1312 day 31....our best ever at this point.   Friday, July 18 View Page My secret weapon with the 1312....aren't they both just beautiful?   Friday, July 18 View Page Teresa hugging the 1312   Friday, July 18 View Page Johnathon and the patch rodent patrol with his 568 on day 40   Friday, July 18 View Page Teresa with the 1676.5 Daletas   Friday, July 18 View Page both of us with the 1676.5 daletas   Friday, July 18 View Page Teresa with the 1623.5 Wallace day 21   Friday, July 18 View Page 1623.5 Wallace day 21   Friday, July 18 View Page probably the last top view of the 1623.5 the shade will not allow a farther shot.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 1676.5 Day 35 EE 90 SS 88 CC 151 OTT 329 EST 794 averaging 36.7 per day over last 10 days   Sunday, July 27 View Page had some wind last night They said 60 mph about 15 miles north of us, not sure how much here.   Sunday, July 27 View Page it was just tasseling out good.   Sunday, July 27 View Page good thing we put up higher wind fence....   Sunday, July 27 View Page 7 feet high   Sunday, July 27 View Page 1312 Weston Day 40 SS 103 EE 100 CC 164 OTT 367 EST 1081 Averaging 44.2 lbs a day   Sunday, July 27 View Page Teresa hugging the 1312 on Day 40   Thursday, July 31 View Page 1312 tissue test. Taken day 37. The best ever tissue test we have had. I think we have finally dialed in the soil with Bry's calculator. a couple of additional Epsom Salts, manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate drenches in the future.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1623.5 Wallace Day 36 SS 84 EE 82.5 CC 143 OTT 309.5 EST 664 averaging 34 lbs a day over last 10 days   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1676.5 Daletas Day 43 SS 97.5 EE 94 CC 165.5 OTT 357 EST 1002 Averaging 38.5 a day over last 10 days   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1312 Day 47 SS 109 EE 106 CC 175 OTT 390 EST 1270 Averaging 33 lbs a day over last 10 days.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Teresa with 1312 on day 47   Sunday, August 3 View Page Teresa hugging the 1312 on day 47   Sunday, August 3 View Page Today was patch tour day and we have named all of our pumpkins but the 1312....we went out to the patch this morning and found this -- its hard to see in the pic, but is says "some pumpkin", so now the 1312 will be know as Charlotte.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Teresa with her watermelons   Sunday, August 3 View Page Johnathon with his 568 on day 56 SS 100 EE 94 CC 146.5 OTT 340.5 EST 877 averaging 24.5 lbs a day over the last 10 days   Wednesday, August 6 View Page 1312 50 DAP SS 111 EE 108.5 CC 179 OTT 398.5 EST 1342 lbs Gained an average of 24 lbs a day over the last 3 days.   Wednesday, August 6 View Page Stem side of the 1312 50 DAP   Thursday, August 14 View Page 1312 Weston 57 DAP   Thursday, August 14 View Page difference from day 47 to day 57...   Thursday, August 14 View Page 25 day comparison   Saturday, August 16 View Page 1312 day 60, still packing it on, and she;s getting her colors, gotta love all that greeeeeeennnnn! Looks a lot like her momma, who was 22% heavy. Fingers and toes crossed.   Saturday, August 16 View Page 1676.5 Daletas is looking meaner and meaner, day 56 and not that far behind the 1312.   Saturday, August 16 View Page the 1623.5 Wallace on day 43. No signs of going down, but not changing on the tape. Afraid it may have a BES but can't see it. Time will tell.   Saturday, August 16 View Page Johnathon's is sure going to be purty! He past his PB today! Go Johnathon go!   Saturday, August 23 View Page The heat wave this week (highs in the low 90s, nights in the 70s) has picked things back up. Got 1 inch of rain over last 3 days..., plants responded in kind. Nothing like a slow soaking rain to make plants Happy, Happy, Happy Starting to get down to where the rubber meets the road now.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page The 1623 Wallace is no more. It stopped growing on 6 Aug. We hoped it would hold until Bear Wallow, but tonight we found this. Not sure if it is a disease or if it just aborted at day 38. EST 154 CC 88 EE 89 SS 331 OTT 809 lbs EST   Tuesday, August 26 View Page The blossom didn't split.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Grower error is most likely the culprit. When it started rolling over on its blossom, I tried to prop it up and kinked the stem. It grew pretty good for a while, but I think it eventually just couldn't get enough juice to stay alive.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page the last pic was the vine where it met the stem, not the stem.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page enough depressing news....on with the good stuff   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Side view of the 1312 on day 70   Tuesday, August 26 View Page other side of 1312   Tuesday, August 26 View Page OMG, where did you go?   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Just kidding around..... lol   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Measuring on 70 DAP,... Uh oh! Can it be?   Tuesday, August 26 View Page We are going to need to add on to the tape. That's a good thing. Right?   Tuesday, August 26 View Page We've been so focused on the 1312...and all of a sudden, look what else we have... 1676.5 Daletas 66 DAP   Tuesday, August 26 View Page another view of the 1676.5 Daletas.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page And for perspective.... Its WHITE, low, long, and wide....cantelouping, and looking mean.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page measuring the 1676.5 day 66....   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Could it really be? TWO pumpkins over 196 inches CC at at less than 70 DAP? It's real folks! Believe it or not.   Monday, September 1 View Page As the storm marched across the Midwest towards us, we put up our 7 ft wind fence and deployed the hail net. Hopefully we don't need them, as the storm seems to be going north of us, but we are as prepared as we can be.   Saturday, September 6 View Page 1676.5 daletas blossom side day 66 Still growing good, plant is finally filled in. Early on we were doing an experiment and we had way to much N. After we started doing what we should have done from the beginning, it started doing much better. Lesson learned, don't always believe what you are told by a so called expert.   Saturday, September 6 View Page 1676.5 Daletas Stem side   Saturday, September 6 View Page 1312 Weston Stem side day 81 Some of the older leaves are starting to show their age, but still packin it on   Saturday, September 6 View Page 1312 blossom side Still plenty of young plant to make up for it though   Saturday, September 6 View Page the two most beautiful girls I have ever seen....   Saturday, September 6 View Page craziest sunflower I have ever seen a big head and a bunch of little ones   Saturday, September 6 View Page our new deck from the pond, think of reverse view we have   Saturday, September 6 View Page our new deck   Sunday, September 7 View Page Started on 2015 patch today. New Dirt.   Sunday, September 7 View Page made a drainage ditch along one side   Sunday, September 7 View Page Compost is just about ready   Sunday, September 7 View Page making a raised bed to improve drainage. We believe that is what will take us to the next level.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page Still Growing! Will have to see what this cold spell does to her.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page her shoulders and stem   Wednesday, September 17 View Page 1676.5 Daletas day 88   Wednesday, September 17 View Page Has a request for a few pics of Johnathons. It is 101 days old today, and still growing, albeit slowly.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page the blossom side of Johnathon's kin. The color is just as bright as the shoulders, but was getting dark outside. IF you look close you can see the stretch marks because the skin is mature and it is still growing.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page the dark area below the stem was caused by spraying peroxide on the blossom.   Wednesday, September 17 View Page errrr, below the blossom, where is that edit button?   Thursday, October 2 View Page Here is my super power, hard at work!   Thursday, October 2 View Page Eat your hearts out guys!   Sunday, October 12 View Page ok here are some pics of the 1676.5 Daletas   Sunday, October 12 View Page 1676.5 Daletas on loadup day   Sunday, October 12 View Page 1676.5 patch   Sunday, October 12 View Page Cutting her off of the vine   Sunday, October 12 View Page Teresa with the 1676.5 right before lifting   Sunday, October 12 View Page up up and away   Sunday, October 12 View Page Bottom is good   Sunday, October 12 View Page coming in for a landing   Sunday, October 12 View Page Safe and sound   Sunday, October 12 View Page ready to roll   Sunday, October 12 View Page you ready to see what she weighs?   Sunday, October 12 View Page Think heavy......   Sunday, October 12 View Page does this pumpkin make the trailer seem small? its 6x6 platform   Sunday, October 12 View Page here she is next to the 1312 Weston that Doc grew.   Sunday, October 12 View Page and here is the answer   Sunday, October 12 View Page do we look happy? We are. Have a PB, bigger than our mentor's PB (so far) and site record.   Sunday, October 12 View Page Then it was the moment of truth. And we came in second to Jerry Rose. Congrats Jerry, what a year!   Sunday, October 12 View Page top 5 at Oakland. Stay tuned for Circleville on Wed   Tuesday, October 14 View Page Well folks, they moment of truth grows very near.... the 1312 just before loading her up for her trip to the 108th Circleville Pumpkin Show   Tuesday, October 14 View Page But first we had to get Johnathon's little ones out of the way, so we could get to his. After football started, he let his patch go. There were 8 pumpkins (besides the big one) ranging from 350-200 lbs, all orange and nice and round. We took one to be carved at the visitor's center, one went on his sister's porch, one went in the neighbor's front yard, and the other 5 are in our fall display.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page Moving the smaller ones   Tuesday, October 14 View Page I won on of Lee's small lifting rings in Las Vegas. It is perfect for pumpkins up to 600 lbs or so. Our club ring is too big for those. We moved 6 yesterday, 8 today and it will get to lift probably 10 or 12 tomorrow before we put the big boy on.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page No chance of slipping out of these.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page WHEW Loaded up safe and sound! (the pics of loading were on Teresa's cousin's camera, will have to wait until she forwards the pics so I can post them.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page we really grow dinky kins....   Tuesday, October 14 View Page loading johnathons   Tuesday, October 14 View Page now its our turn, inspecting the bottom   Tuesday, October 14 View Page backing trailer   Tuesday, October 14 View Page setting it down   Tuesday, October 14 View Page need a little adjustment   Tuesday, October 14 View Page WHEW, touchdown!!   Wednesday, October 15 View Page 1714 lbs!!! Second place... to one of the best growers in the world... we'll be proud to take that!   Wednesday, October 15 View Page Very Very Proud of our year!   Thursday, October 16 View Page this is what we work for all year....the moment of truth   Thursday, October 16 View Page very proud of our son, he was on the lifting team, worked very hard to lift them all.   Thursday, October 16 View Page here is a picture of the exhibitors today, all within a 21 mile radius of the center of town.   Thursday, October 16 View Page this is why you don't preweigh, the moment of realization is incredible.   Saturday, October 18 View Page our 1714 on the stage on the last day of Pumpkin Show as day was just breaking.... Awesome photo!!   Sunday, October 19 View Page Got this picture of the 1718 at Oakland yesterday from Chuck and Diane Geiger. Thanks!   Sunday, October 19 View Page The top 5 at Oakland with the winning pumpkin. Thanks for the pictures Chuck and Diane.   Sunday, October 19 View Page Brought the pumpkins home from the Pumpkin Show today and put them on display for everyone to enjoy for a while longer.   Sunday, October 19 View Page This is what it looks like from across the street.   Sunday, October 19 View Page side view   Sunday, October 19 View Page From the other side   Sunday, October 26 View Page We opened the 1714 up today to retrieve the seeds.... I am sorry to report it had only 10 seeds that may be viable(will have to dry first to see if they even have anything inside of them). The rest were immature flat and empty.   Sunday, October 26 View Page The blossom end of the 1714. About 5 inches thick at the thinnest spot.   Sunday, October 26 View Page There were no cracks inside at all, perfect pumpkin.   Sunday, October 26 View Page Spent the weekend getting next years patch worked up. After all additions it will be about 12 inches above grade.   Sunday, October 26 View Page Old patch is cleaned up, everything put away and tilled, ready to plant a cover crop. Just have to go get some seed and get it down.   Monday, October 27 View Page Compost on the far back left   Sunday, November 2 View Page After drying, the 1714 looks to have 12 viable seeds, although only 3 are completely formed.... We opened the 1718 up and it has seeds! They are 1676.5 Daletas x 1312 Weston (but contaminated by a bee during pollination) so technically open.   Sunday, November 2 View Page Unfortunately about 120 sprouted inside of her....there are a good many others that look fully developed. Most of the ones that sprouted were in the top part of the kin.   Sunday, November 2 View Page Unfortunately about 120 sprouted inside of her....there are a good many others that look fully developed. Most of the ones that sprouted were in the top part of the kin.   Sunday, November 2 View Page the 1718 did have a dill ring toward the blossom end.   Sunday, November 2 View Page retrieving seeds.   Sunday, November 2 View Page Blossum end was over 6 inches thick (that's a 6 inch filet knife).   Sunday, November 2 View Page It's hard to tell by the picture, but the inside of the 1718 was very even...So the humps and bumps on her are solid pumpkin, I cant wait to cut her up so we can see how thick the thickest parts are.   Sunday, November 2 View Page With the weather hitting below freezing every night this week, these won't last much longer....What a year!   Sunday, November 2 View Page Probably the last picture of the 1714 in one piece.   Sunday, November 2 View Page and the 1718   Sunday, November 2 View Page one last pose with her baby.   Sunday, November 2 View Page an with the 1718 right before we extracted the seeds.   Wednesday, November 5 View Page The overhead view of the pumpkin display at Pumpkin Show 2014. For those that never have had a chance to visit Circleville Pumpkin Show...this is what you are missing. 9 City blocks in the center of town, School is closed, 4 days nothing but pumpkins. 16 pumpkins over 1000, 38 giants, on display. The rest are field pumpkins and gourds. Several giants were unable to be displayed in the center of town due to space restriction, but were donated to the carver and displayed at the visitor center.   Tuesday, November 11 View Page Been gathering leaves since Oct 15th. This is one of the loads from our yard. Got several other loads from friends in town.   Tuesday, November 11 View Page Once they were gathered, they were spread over the patch about 1.5 to 2 ft deep   Tuesday, November 11 View Page Then we run over them again and again with the lawnmower to finely chop them. When down they are about 3-4 inches deep on top of the dirt.   Tuesday, November 11 View Page Now it's time for the compost. Dark pile is mushroom compost, file in the far back is the cow and alpaca compost we have been working on for 2 years. The closest pile is the beginning of the next compost pile and won't be used this year.   Tuesday, November 11 View Page 25 yards of compost was spread about 2 inches thick on top of the leaves.   Tuesday, November 11 View Page Tilled and ready, come on spring.   Saturday, November 15 View Page Cross section of Johnathon's 1064   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1064 5 inches at the blossum   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1064 8 inches at the stem   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1064 6 inch bottom   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1718 Cross section   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1718 11 inches at stem   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1718 9 inch bottom   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1718 6 inch blossum   Saturday, November 15 View Page Was a sad day, the kins froze over the last few days and started getting soft. Time to take the out of the yard. We will miss seeing them everyday....   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1714 cross section we took the blossom out to get the seeds out. it was a sucked in blossom and about 5 inches at the thinnest spot.   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1714 9 inches at stem   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1714 7 inches on the top   Saturday, November 15 View Page 1714 6 inch bottom   Saturday, November 15 View Page Entry 319 should have had this picture. Last pose with her baby.