Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 88 Entries. Sunday, January 5 View Page Here is a shot of the patch under about 8" of snow with more falling. Wishing everyone a new PB in 2014.   Friday, January 10 View Page Got it in the mail yesterday. Thanks Tim   Sunday, January 19 View Page Picked this up yesterday. Hope it helps that mid/late season slow down.   Friday, March 21 View Page Here is a picture of my small garden area that had a huge drift pile up this year. Might take a while for that to all melt. At one time it was four feet high.   Friday, March 21 View Page Here is the patch with some snow still on it but melting slowly. Don't look like temps are going to rise much. Weather is going to be below normal temps for at least another week.   Friday, March 21 View Page Field pumpkin expansion area will be 50 x 150. It will be less grass to mow and maybe I won't sell out of FP so fast this year. Last year everything was sold by 7 October.   Sunday, March 23 View Page Just finished this today and hope it works for giving the new plants some real sunshine. In the bottom there is a space heater with thermostat so I can control the temperature. I got all the windows for free thanks to a friend who works at a window factory. The cart it's sits on cost $5 at local auction so total investment is $5 and a few hours time. Big thanks to Marvin Mitchell for the idea, saw his last year and really thought it would work for me.   Sunday, March 23 View Page Another picture.   Sunday, March 23 View Page Bella my Labrador had pups last week. All are doing great, 5 Boys and 4 Girls.   Monday, March 24 View Page 31 Eggs today from the girls.   Wednesday, March 26 View Page Got a "FREE" corn crib from a friend and got it moved to my place today. Everything went great, we went through the fields early this morning while they were still frozen. Going to plant my sunflowers and tall corn next to it so I can just tie it up as they grow. It's only 18 feet to the top of the wire so may need to get creative after that.   Friday, March 28 View Page Got the corn crib in place now just need to keep working on pulling and cutting all the trumpet vines off of it. Floor will go in next week. Tried to dig down with post hole digger so I can sink some supports in the ground but at least 6" of frost stopped me.   Thursday, May 1 View Page 1734 went in the ground yesterday. I have been using the Advance Nutrient products this year and my root growth has been tremendous. Can't wait to see what this year brings. Also put in the 980 Fredricks and my 982 Laginess.   Sunday, May 11 View Page So here is the line-up for this year. 905 V/M Squash, 2032 Mathison, 982 Laginess, 980 Fredricks, 1734 Steil, 1040 Engle, 1530 Gehweiler. All plants are doing good but my 982 is the best looking out of them all.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page Got field pumpkins in today just in time for 1/4" of rain. But along with the rain got some strong winds and haven't put up wind break yet. Little damage but should be ok. Did have to spray for cucumber beetles today. They were heavy and tearing up the leaves on my 2032 plant.   Monday, June 2 View Page Here is a picture of my 980 Fredricks. It has had a yellow vine since it started to grow outside. Is this YVD or just what this plant looks like? I have not saw any squash vine bores only cucumber beetles and they didn't even make it to this plant. The 1734 Steil which is right next to it also has all yellow vines.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Got a nice slow rain today. It was only 1/4 inch but better then nothing. All vines buried today and found 3" slit in the main vine on the 1048 Engle. Wrapped the slit and covered.   Sunday, June 15 View Page Found this yesterday on the 980 Fredricks. It is on the main vine about 10 ft. Should I pinch them both off and wait for the next one?   Sunday, June 15 View Page Here is the 982 Laginess. Got to pollinate one at 9ft this morning. 982 x 1734 Steil. (Happy Fathers Day Everyone)   Sunday, June 15 View Page Here is 980 Fredricks. Plant looks good even after having a little yellow vine in the early stages. I think that is just because it's going to be BIG ORANGE.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 1734 Steil. Been a great plant since the start.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 1530 Gerwieler had a very bad start and is now just starting to grow out. Probably won't get a set on this one till July.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 1530   Sunday, June 15 View Page 905 V/M squash plant. I did an early pollination on this on today at about 9 feet out. 905 x 2032 Should be interesting.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 1048 Engle should pollinate one tomorrow. I will cross it with the 980 Fredricks.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 316 Edwards got put in the ground late and had no shelter so just now starting to pick up speed.   Sunday, June 15 View Page 267 Edwards. Once again slow due to late planting.   Sunday, June 15 View Page Giant cantaloupe   Sunday, June 15 View Page My wife Connie. "The Supervisor"   Wednesday, June 18 View Page Got the rain today I was hoping for but with the 1" rain we got 50 mph winds. Some vines were twisted even though the were buried and staked down.   Saturday, June 21 View Page 115 Johnson/ Butler Long Gourd doing pretty good considering one of my chickens pulled it out of the ground and it took me a day till I found it. lol   Wednesday, June 25 View Page Today I found a 6" split in the main vine right behind the kin I had set 5 days ago. This was on the 1048 Engle so I have decided to cut the main behind the split and pollinate one on a side vine and treat it like a main for now. It should be ok but I know the weight will suffer. Oh well just really want the HD award again this year.   Friday, June 27 View Page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-F0uBvjQv4 Check out Marks new video. He is Beeeezzz crazy.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 905 V/M x 2032   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1734 x 2032   Wednesday, July 2 View Page 980 x 1048   Wednesday, July 2 View Page My 982 x 1734   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Long gourds hit the top. These are the 115 J/B   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Here is a little patch of Pink Pumpkins. I planted them a few weeks early so they are ready for October 1st. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I have an agreement to donate all these pink pumpkins to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. Hope they turn out.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Day 20 on the 993 V/M. I crossed it with the 2032. 157 OTT.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Day 10 on the 2032 Mathison. I crossed it with the 1734 Steil.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Day 16 on the 1734 Steil. I crossed it with the 2032. OTT is 129.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page The 980 Fredricks on Day 14. I crossed it with the 1048 Engel. OTT is 112.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Only melon on the 316 Edwards. It has an ugly shape to it but will keep it till something better comes along.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Tall Corn and sunflowers are growing slow. Tallest is at 8 ft.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Sorry That last post was of the long gourds. Here is the tall corn and sunflowers.   Wednesday, July 9 View Page Raspberries are coming in full throttle now. Made 20 jars of jam today.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page 993 V/M squash on day 27, 206 OTT It has been gaining 17 lbs per day. Not great but we have had very little rain in this part of the state.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page 2032 at day 17.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page 1734 at 23 days. 181 OTT, Has a terrible shape towards the stem end but lets see what it will do.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page 980 Fredricks at day 20. 171 OTT and a great looking pumpkin. The plant is in great condition. Can't wait to see this one grow. High hopes for HD.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page I have not gotten a good set on the 1048 Engle. It aborts after 10 days. Just set one this morning and its the last chance. I also have young ones set on 982 and 1530. I think I have yellow vine disease on the 982 so may just pull the plant.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page When it doesn't rain this is what you have to do. The tank holds 300 gallons and in town I can fill it up for $3. I have three tanks at home I fill up and that gets me by for a few days of watering the pumpkin patch. I don't want to use my well at home for that is what gives me water for the house. Plus it is very high in sulfur if I don't run it through my system.   Sunday, July 20 View Page 993 V/M Squash. Day 32 236 OTT. I have never grown one with a sunk in blossom end before. Hope it don't give me any problems.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page I have been working on this all week and just got done today.   Monday, July 28 View Page 993 V/M at day 40, OTT 293 Having constant 20-25 gains per day.   Monday, July 28 View Page 2032 at day 30. It is kinda small but got a later start. The plant looks good. OTT 243   Monday, July 28 View Page 1530 at day 25. It only has half a plant behind it but still going. OTT 167   Monday, July 28 View Page 1734 AT DAY 36. An ugly pumpkin but has OTT 285.   Monday, July 28 View Page 980 Fredricks at day 33. Has OTT 285. Great looking plant with lots of potential. We got .40" of rain yesterday evening. Just the right amount so they won't blow up. Cold here today with a high of 70 and cloudy.   Friday, August 1 View Page You have to love those 40 pound per day gains. Just have to keep watching for splits. Only 65 days till weight off.   Monday, August 4 View Page 980 Fredricks over 700 lbs and still going. Some night gains of 30-40lbs   Monday, August 4 View Page 993 V/M looks great. Another possible HD contender.   Monday, August 4 View Page 2032 is ugly but putting on the pounds.   Monday, August 4 View Page Didn't use enough sand under this one and now curling under.   Monday, August 11 View Page Got 1.75" rain today so far. We have only had 1" in the past 6 weeks. I can hear the girls growing from the patch. I will have to wear goggles to the patch tomorrow. Sort of like Dolly Parton in an A cup bra. lol   Tuesday, August 12 View Page RIP Robin Williams. I had a chance to meet him while deployed in 2002. A true Patriot.   Friday, August 22 View Page This is the 2032 just went over 1050 and still doing 20 lbs per day. Cucumber beetles are taking over the patch. I just can't seem to get rid of them. Hoping for a new PB.   Friday, August 22 View Page Tall Corn is done growing. It is over 16 ft and close to 17 ft   Friday, August 22 View Page 980 Fredricks is just chugging along. Over 1000 now.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page Both the pumpkin and our lab Sophie are still growing.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page Sunflower just about done. Probably 18' +   Tuesday, September 2 View Page This is what you find on your AG plants when you go away for a long weekend and don't check-em before you leave.   Monday, September 8 View Page 2032 still chugging along. Letting the plant go now and just feeding it weekly.   Monday, September 8 View Page 1734 Steil kin still packing on a few pounds.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Lost the 980 Fredricks to a soft spot on the bottom. UOW 1139. It was crossed with the 1048 Engle.   Saturday, September 13 View Page 1734 Steil still chugging along. Gains are at 10 lbs per day. Great plant with no problems.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Here is the 1530 Gehweiler that I didn't pay any attention to all year. It was the last to get water, ferts and spray. Only half a plant and grown off a secondary. She is taping at 725 lbs and still gaining a few a day. Pretty orange will make a great carver.   Saturday, September 13 View Page 2032 still putting on the pounds.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Some pretty nice field pumpkins still growing.   Saturday, September 13 View Page 316 Edwards is my only melon. Not very big but the chickens will love it.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Filling up the wagon with "For Sale" pumpkins.   Saturday, September 13 View Page Lots of Pink pumpkins this year.   Sunday, September 21 View Page 1734 Steil holding together. Will be weighing this one on Wed at Barnsville OH.   Sunday, September 21 View Page 2032 Big and ugly. She is still going but at a snails pace.   Sunday, September 21 View Page 993 V/M holding on for now. She almost blinds you when I have the sheet off.   Sunday, September 28 View Page Here is my new PB 1343 grown off the 1734 Steil crossed with 2032 Mathison. Second place at Barnesville Oh.   Sunday, September 28 View Page Here is my 982 I took up to Andy T's weight off, Cross was 993 V/M x 2032 Mathison.