Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 34 Entries. Sunday, April 13 View Page Today I started 5 pumpkin seeds and 3 long gourd seeds. All seeds were soaked in an azospirillum solution for 4 hours before inserting into a beer cup located in my germination chamber. The potting soil has about 10% biochar that was loaded with a small amount of worm soup and mycorrhiza.   Saturday, April 26 View Page I have had some problem germinations but do have three plants up and growing well. I've decided to grow only two plants in my main patch (1800 sqft)and place a third for pollen in a secondary patch way out back. Still hoping for more successful germinations. If not, I think I will still have a nice lineup.   Saturday, April 26 View Page A couple of 7.33 Hunt tomato plants with very large root mass. I'm using air pots to air prune the roots. The plants are under a 600 Watt metal halide lamp dialed down to 250 Watts. I'm trying to keep the plants fairly cool but it's not always possible with the other plants I have growing.   Saturday, April 26 View Page A Giant Cabbage given to me by Bryan Mailey. Growing very well in an air pot. Can't wait to transplant outside.   Saturday, April 26 View Page 1192 Warner one day old. This seed is an 1811 Graham x 2009 Wallace. It germinated in less than 24 hours at a temp of 90 degrees.   Saturday, April 26 View Page 1813 Northrup just peeking out of the dirt. The seed is a 1495 Stelts x 1634 Werner. Will likely pollinate with Marshmallow pollen.   Saturday, April 26 View Page Dug three glory holes today. Was amazed at the number of worms I have in my patch. Filling the holes with a concoction of promix, bio char, cultivated mycorrhizae, Azos, Root Shield and Humic powder. Drenched glory holes with Worm casting soup. Now all we need is sun and heat.   Saturday, May 10 View Page Two of my pumpkin plants were moved outside on May 7. Both plants had hoop enclosures and supplemental heat. They're doing well, except for a tiny bit of sun damage. A constant vigil is required to keep the daytime heat at the right temps. We will be experiencing unusually low temp nights over the next few nights so blanketing of hoop houses is a must.   Saturday, May 10 View Page It's been very windy at my farm the past three days. Reminds me of the troubles in pumpkin growing from prior years. Today the wind blocks will go up   Wednesday, May 21 View Page 1192 Warner after 14 days in the hoop house. The plant didn't do much the first week but now is starting to take off. Today it's getting some fish to green up the leaves a little. Hoping the vine begins to run along the ground pretty soon.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page 1813 Northrup after 14 days in the hoop house. Seems to be catching up with the Wener.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page 1813 Northrup after 14 days in the hoop house.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The Marshmallow after 2 days in the hoop house. Though a little slow growing it is very healthy.   Sunday, July 20 View Page Finally getting around to posting some pics from my patch. This is the largest megabloom I have ever had.   Sunday, July 20 View Page My largest cabbage. No balling yet so hopefully it will be heavy.   Sunday, July 20 View Page This is an 1192 Warner at 10days, grown by my son. It's been a lot of fun and helpful to have him taking such a keen interest in giant vegetable growing. I also find it interesting how his plant is so different from mine. His leaves are much smaller and about half the height off the ground.   Sunday, July 20 View Page This is an 1813 Northrup at ten days. The plant is the best I have had in my patch in terms of leaf square footage, health and growth rate. I have ninety days of growth from pollination to harvesting. A little under eighty days left (I hope) but so far so good.   Sunday, July 20 View Page Another nice megabloom. Lot's off root mass on this plant, so I'm hoping for a biggy.   Wednesday, July 30 View Page This is my 1813 Northrup at 20 dap 20. Taping slightly over 100lbs.   Sunday, August 3 View Page My step sons 1192 Warner at 25 DAP. We're very happy that the growth rate has jumped into the mid 20's even though we have had cloudy days and cool nights. Overall the pumpkin and leaves are in great shape. Hoping Benjamin surpasses my personal best of 942 lbs in his first year of growing.   Sunday, August 3 View Page This is my 1813 Northrup at 25 DAP. It has gained over 100 lbs in the past five days. The growth rate is approaching 30 lbs per day, It benefits from about 750 sqft of very large and healthy leaves. As an aside, the pumpkin is grown on a hill with the vines and leaves above the pumpkin. I'm hoping the angle to the sun will be a positive factor when we hit the remaining days in September.   Tuesday, August 5 View Page My 1813 Northrup at 53 DAP. Taping at a smidgen over 1,000 lbs with about 40 days to go. Assuming I can get it to the weigh off it is a new personal best. Still growing at almost 30 lbs per day. I'm praying for a hot September. Have a roll of Remay ready in case the temps start to plummet.   Thursday, August 7 View Page A view of my kin cave. My 1813 Northrup gets tucked in every night when the temps dip down to 60 degrees or lower.   Thursday, August 7 View Page Another view of the patch   Thursday, August 7 View Page A nice megabloom loaded tomato growing nicely.   Saturday, August 9 View Page 1813 Northrup 30 DAP approximately 350 lbs. Averaging 25 lbs per day over past 10 days. Not sure what more I can do with low daytime and nighttime temps for this time of year. May try pounding the nutes after big storm that is expected on Monday or Tuesday.   Friday, August 15 View Page 1813 Northrup 36 DAP taping 525 lbs   Friday, August 15 View Page Ugly Tomato but may turn out to be my best.   Wednesday, August 20 View Page Day 42 for my 1813 Northrup. It is taping 650 lbs, so God willing I will break my personal best. The overcast and cool weather has really slowed down its growth, although it did manage 32 lbs yesterday. Mother Nature how about stringing some sunny and warm days together.   Wednesday, August 20 View Page Long gourds growing nicely.   Wednesday, August 20 View Page Chickens watching over my patch.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page My button about to be rubbed into by pumpkin. Will it break it off? Should I cut off protruding part of button?   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Another pic of button.   Wednesday, September 10 View Page I decided that I wouldn't tape my 1813 Northrup again until the end of September. I can tell it is still growing well and my leaves remain green and free from mildew etc. Your guess on the weight is as good as mine.