Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 106 Entries. Tuesday, January 14 View Page Its been wet here in Va for well over a year. The Va Xtreme Patch is in the distance with some rye straw on it. I did a soil sample on 1/2/14 and it showed my organic matter was low at 2.0 so I added rye straw. I also added some nitrogen to help break it down as well as some leftover mycos and 900lb pellet gypsum. The straw I bed the pigs with has not been combined for the seed so it is full of seeds that will help to thicken the cover crop for sure. I didn't get the wheat planted until Nov 20th last fall and we have had a really cold winter this year.   Tuesday, January 21 View Page Good Luck to everyone in 2014! I'll start my diary with a picture of my PB 487est from 2012 with Lacey Jane on guard.   Tuesday, January 21 View Page I am a carpenter by trade and this is the coolest project I was able to build in 2013. Three level's with a crow's nest for a view of the river and rubber membrane incorporated in the first floor flooring system to keep the shed dry.   Tuesday, January 21 View Page My fertilizer program.   Thursday, February 20 View Page Not much progress with the cover crop but at least I can see it after this snowy winter. I have an arsenal of insecticides,fungicides,fertilizers,covers,shade cloth,wind break,fans,inoculents,etc and I know how to use em..at least better than before. I know I'm so far ahead of last year in knowledge and the patch is juiced up. I also have a new 243 rifle with a scope for the groundhogs that Sharon got me recently. If that ground I trapped has relatives there won't be a free meal this year!   Sunday, March 9 View Page I built this 6' X 10' greenhouse.So far I have about $75 in it. I have had more problems with overheating the Giants during the day when I'm at work than a freeze problem at night. I am thinking of using Aluminet around the bottom portion with a big piece of plastic over it so I can remove the plastic when I leave for work.   Saturday, March 15 View Page We hit a small weather window this weekend. It was very windy this past week after the northeaster just missed us and the land really dried out. Friday was a beautiful 60 degree day. After work I hooked to the tiller and made 1 pass in the garden. She tilled good so I tilled the garden and called the potato planting/beer drinking crew. We got er done on Saturday and also planted onions,a few radishes,lettuce and kale.   Saturday, March 15 View Page My new patch shoes. PLGP's(Partlow Low Ground Pressure)I gave them a test run and wore them 4 hours or so. They worked great and will save me a ton of time in the pumpkin patch this year. I may use one board near the stump at the start but thats it. No more boards for me to move! I would like to thank Mr Jutras for this idea, and also thank the SNGPG and Mr. Connolly for making their great video's.   Monday, March 17 View Page What a difference a day makes! We had 6 inches of snow last night and a high temperature of 31 today.   Sunday, March 23 View Page I started my first giant tomatoes today. 4,61 Finders, 4.5 Evans. I received them from the Southern Club seed exchange. I also started sweet Italian, Banana, and Ca Wonder peppers along with my 2nd batch of Romas. I potted my Basil, 3 peppers and 7 Romas into large enough pots to carry them to May 5th or so when I put them into the garden.   Tuesday, March 25 View Page Here we go ...ugh...snowed out at work again! This is the 4th March snow we have had this year. We typically only get snow in March about once every 5+ years! I laid out the patch last evening and am going to grow 6 kins. I will have 2 sets of back to back in the middle with room for a single on each the East and West fences. I had sworn I would cut back and only do four but I can't help myself. I marked the tall poles that will go to support the shade cloth in the center. I cheated them out about 5 feet on either side which will give me another 250 sq ft. and leave more room for the 1st-4th secondaries on the middle plants. I will again put up a removable fence on the south and north ends after tilling.   Tuesday, March 25 View Page Here is my latest project I have been working on. My first treehouse.   Saturday, April 12 View Page I have spent some time on the patch this week. I extended it from 75' to 92 feet long so I could grow 6 plants in a proper space. Barn poles are expensive so for the center poles I extended 8' posts with some leftover 6x6's that I have a bunch of from building decks.   Sunday, April 13 View Page I tilled in the wheat cover crop. I put 8 bags of Black Kow Compost,3 plus lbs of coffee grounds, 2 lbs of Blood meal in the center planting spot. I will plant back to back in the center Blue Ribbon spot this year...1 will win Altoona and the other will win Yadkin Valley!!!! Ya'll better look out cause there will be something weighed in from Virginia this year in a GPC weighoff.   Sunday, April 13 View Page The treehouse with the roof installed.   Sunday, April 13 View Page Interior view.   Monday, April 14 View Page I all but finished adding my soil amendments between yesterday and today. My soil test was taken in early January and I had already added some things including nitrogen, magnesium, lime and a half ton of calcium. Yesterday I mixed .3 lbs copper, .4 lbs zinc and some boron in my sprayer with some warm water and covered the patch. Today I spread a concoction of manganese, ironite, potash, bone meal, boron, humic in my 4 wheeler spreader just before dark when the wind finally laid down.   Tuesday, April 15 View Page The storm hit here today as expected with much rain to wash my nutrients away...I mean into the soil.lol. My 100lbs of Kelp Meal arrived as well. I will thank the ups man for covering it in plastic the next time I see him. Other than the kelp I still have my rootshield to till in on my last tilling. My wife Sharon found some barn poles at an old zip line business that has closed down. The poles are between 30 to 45 feet long(out of the ground) and they have plenty of cable for sale too. It sounds very promising and a good excuse for a weekend drive to the mountains. I am ready for growing and am over all the prepping!   Sunday, April 27 View Page I tilled in my kelp meal last week as well as some molassas around the planting sites. I broadcast 15 lbs of rye and my leftover mycos by hand with the Jutras low pressure shoes. I did not cover with the 4 wheeler drag because we were still a hare wet here. Today I got the heating cables installed and put the greenhouse over the top spot and sealed her up. The barn pole trip to the mountains was great but we didn't buy any poles. I do have another lead. I am going to go by Va Power and ask for the bad poles that they can't use.   Monday, April 28 View Page My first set of seeds for 2014. I mixed my planting mix up, potted it, and placed it in my germ box for tomorrow. I am SO READY to get it going in 2014! These 7 seeds will vie for 2...maybe 3 spots in the 6 plant patch. We are still well below are avg temps so I expect a much later than normal last frost to come. Our avg last frost is the first week of May. This is why I started a little later this year. I leave for work to early to have to deal with the cold mornings more than a few times because I've cooked some kins in the past.lol   Monday, April 28 View Page I forgot to post in my last message that I took some soil temps yesterday. I just used my old meat thermometer. At 4 inches 64 degrees and at aprox 8 inches it was 57. This is another reason why I'm waiting to plant and not just fill the patch up with plants. Been there and done that with stunted plants on cold ground. I took my spring soil sample today. It will need to be dried out some before mailing because it is raining yet again. I am curious what the results are compared to my Jan 2nd sample.   Monday, May 5 View Page We got 7 3/4 inches of rain out of last mid-weeks rain. I worked on the patch today and it is amazing how the rain "packed the soil so using boards really was pointless. A crust developed after the last few breezy days that we have had that I could walk on top of. I spread Rootshield on the two back to back sites along with some mycos and hoed it all in. Once I broke through the 3/4 inch crust the soil tilth was great albeit a little moist...and full of worms. The rye is coming up great and will hopefully keep the weeds downwhen it warms up. FYI..3 1/2 Tablespoons of granular Rootshield equals .055 lbs which will cover a 10 X 12 or so planting site with the right amount. My first batch of 7 giants all germed. The (2) 1756's have developed curled cots for some reason?? They should be ok but it seems weird because they weren't for the first two days they were up. Maybe I'll post pics tomorrow of the young'uns. I started the 2nd batch of six kins today. 1843 Geddes, 1220 Johnson, 1429 Checkon, 859 Gansert, and(2) 1784 Glasier   Thursday, May 8 View Page I got my soil test back and am pleased with it. It appears that am am heading in the right direction and the ratios are improving. My Calcium ppm went from 1381 to 2502. I was still very low in Mg so I spread 112 lbs Epsom Salt, 200 Lime, 10 Mn, 10 Ironite, 14 0-0-60, 1 Rootshield. No, that isn't a typo on the Epsom Salt...I went to every grocery store in the county and cleaned them out. I hope nobody has any need for soaking salts around here!   Friday, May 9 View Page I built a 2nd greenhouse this week. I watered down the patch to help break down the lime that I added. Then I tilled the patch and hand broadcast buckwheat. Buckwheat will do well in the heat that is surely coming this summer. We have hit the low 90's the last couple of days. The first 2 plants are in the ground! 1756 Lancaster 12 and 1391 Wuersching 12. The first 6 kins all are very nice and almost equally aggressive in growth. I am very blessed to have that tough decision to make. I re-potted 2 of the others. I plan on putting out 2 more tomorrow. I started batch #2 (7 kins) on 5/5 and all but 1 are either pushing dirt or up. The 2nd line: 1843 Geddes 12, (2)1784 Glasier 13, 1429 Checkon 13, 1220 Johnson 13, 859 Gansert 11,1455 Hunt 13   Saturday, May 10 View Page Patch progress photo.   Monday, May 12 View Page Today was Sharon and my 30th wedding anniversary! Yeah, she has put up with me for that long. She told me she has me trained so she will keep me. Yesterday my son graduated college! Double yeah! I will get a graduation family picture up soon. The photos are on another laptop. So a patch photo will have to do... I have 4 plants in the ground of which 2 have heating cables. In checking the soil temperature on 5/8 I found a 9 degree gain at 8" on the heated sites. 74 versus 65. At 4"... 78 versus 74. It will be interesting to see how much quicker the plants in the heated sites take off. At least I sure hope so.   Monday, May 12 View Page forgot the photo   Friday, May 16 View Page These are the potted kins I have in ranked order,right to left. I have 2 spots left to plant and I will keep the others for backups or to give away. I gave 2 plants away to a new grower yesterday and that is a great feeling to help get someone started. Another grower is coming to pick up 2 more on Sunday so that is good. I started 3 more backups in the germ box this week...1649 Lancaster, 1185 Shenoha, 1107 Sweet Jr....of which the 1107 failed to germ. 1185 is very good so far.   Thursday, May 22 View Page I have been too busy to keep up with my diary lately so I will some catch ya'll up with photos. I type so slow I break a sun dial. lol   Thursday, May 22 View Page 1391 Wuersching 12 and a 1756 Lancaster 12 in the backround on day 25.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1546 Shenoha 13   Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1756 Lancaster 12   Tuesday, May 27 View Page Another 1756 Lancaster   Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1391 Wuersching 12   Tuesday, May 27 View Page I still will plant two more giants in my last spot but it has been hard to find the time with a new litter of pigs being born and my veg garden.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page Some shiney new babys..and a dirty mama!   Tuesday, May 27 View Page My garden looks good right now so I will show a picture. I worked on it hard this weekend so now I can slackoff for a while and concentrate on growing giants.   Saturday, June 14 View Page 1391 Wuersching12 on the left and 1756 Lancaster12 on the right. We have had many severe storms in the past week that messed up some leaves. I did some extra prop sticks to help them out. It is amazing how fast these plants bounce back. The 1391 has it's first female about 10'. Both plants are over 12' I'm sure and growing well. I'm seeing some mildew because it has been very humid here in Va. I am alternating some fungicides to try and stay ahead of it.   Saturday, June 14 View Page Sorry, wrong picture....but what did you think of the buckwheat? It went crazy and I've been weed-eating and hoeing it in.   Saturday, June 14 View Page 1391 with 1756 in the backround   Saturday, June 14 View Page 1756b on the left with a 1546 Shenoha13 on the right. These plants are the same age as the other two but did not have the luxury of soil heating cables. They have really taken off recently. These two were flipped in a bad storm less than a week ago.   Saturday, June 21 View Page The plants are doing well. It has been hard to stay ahead of these fast growing plants because of my great idea of planting buckwheat. I had originally planned to cut it down with my lawnmower but there was too much for me to keep up with around here. So far the weather has been very similar to last year, borderline on too wet with highs between 88-96 most every day the past couple of weeks. There have been plenty of big thunderstorms to keep it too wet to till so I have been doing a lot of hoeing and vine burying here lately. The tiller is down anyway right now because I pulled the pull rope out of it trying to start it before a terrible storm hit. There was lightning "danger close" and I was in a big hurry I guess lol   Saturday, June 21 View Page 1756 Lancaster and 1546 Shenoha in the rear. The 1546 had it's first female appear today at 9' or so. Day 53   Saturday, June 21 View Page 1391 Wuersching This plant has females(and males) everywhere. It has not had very much wind damage like the others. The first female never opened last week I'm sure because it was 95 degrees three days in a row. I have one female at aprox 14' that should open in the next day or two. There is another one after her at 17'. The weather forecast is promising with highs from 88-91 predicted for the upcoming week.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page The 1391 is stretching out, as are all of my plants. We dodged a storm this evening with only lightning and a splash of needed rain. I ran around this evening as the storm approached moving vine sticks and adding/moving wind breaks. Then it missed us and cleared so I went back down and took some pictures. As you can see in the picture the drip lines are still hanging on the fence. They may very well stay there if I keep getting this much work and hopefully the weather continues to cooperate. The 2 larger plants will have to be watered overhead but I am hopeful to put some drip on some of the others.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page This is day 3 on the 1391 Wuersching12 pollinated with 2 males from the 1546 Shenoha13. It was a perfect 5 lobe at about 14'. Plant is day 57. The next female on this plant will open in a day or two I guess.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1429 Checkon13. She is really coming around after getting a late start in the patch.   Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1546 Shenoha13. This has been an easy plant to grow. She has a torpedo shaped female soon to open at about 11'. I am excited to see how this plant produces this summer!   Friday, July 4 View Page God has blessed me with very good fortune this year! I have 4 plants that have at least 1 fruit set. Although most fruits were set this week on hot days between 94-97 degrees and aren't very old they look great. This 1756 Lancaster was pollinated on Tuesday 7/1 with the 1546 Shenoha in the backround.   Friday, July 4 View Page This is the 1391 Wuersching with a 1756 Lancaster in the backround. This is day 12 on the first set which is in good position and growing rapidly. The first handfull of secondaries have been ended on the south side but only one on the north side. It is interesting that all plants but the 1546 are growing quicker toward the south. But heck the 1546 is from Chicago right?   Friday, July 4 View Page This is why we do all the hard work!   Friday, July 4 View Page If you can see it this is the first set on the 1546 Shenoha that was pollinated with a 1756 on Saturday. So this is day 6 and it is looking good. I have swung the main around away from it and it is in good position. It is a very long torpedo like pumpkin that was a 3 lobe. I have a 4 lobe also set 7' further out for a backup and another set on a first secondary. All of the females on this plant are shaped similar....very long shaped. The plant is in full gear now and I just ended the first secondaries.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The patch is filling up and I have been lucky enough to have fruit set on all of my plants. It certainly doesn't bother me to be ending secondaries. Sprayed Bifen and Eagle20 with a pinch of Folic Acid today. Thankfully, there has been minimal bug pressure here so far this year and it was 15 days since my previous spraying.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page My name is Earl. 1391 X 1546... 82 cc at 24days.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1546 X 1756 at 18 days. The main on this plant has left the patch recently is heading to the house.   Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1756 Lancaster b at 20 days yesterday. 81cc.   Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1546 Shenoha at 24 days. 96cc I am sorry to say that I lost the 1391 Wuersching to BE Rot. It was a rookie mistake on my part not to remove some cover and get some air moving after all the humid,cloudy weather we had been having.   Saturday, July 26 View Page It has been more cloudy than not here. I will need to work on adjustable shade cloth for next year. Although everything is going great at this time I am sure that I will see some moisture related problems when prolonged cloudy conditions occur. 1756 Lancaster b Day 25, nice tall 4 lobe poll. w/ 1391 Wuersching 101/60/63 259lb est   Saturday, July 26 View Page Sorry, wrong picture. That was still a 1756 Lancaster but one that is a day younger at Day 24. It is really moving right now and is on a very aggressive plant. Here is the picture of the 1756 b. The view is back at the other 1756.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 1546 Shenoha Day 28, poll. w/1756 Lancaster nice tall 3 lobe 111/65/70 339lb yes sir! All three pumpkins I have are doing between 21-30 lbs/day so no complaints here.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page This is the 1546 Shenoha at 31 days. 118cc. Growth has slowed some with this cold spell. It was an unbelievable 49 degrees here this morning(7/30).   Tuesday, July 29 View Page The 1546 stump has a mole hole right beside it. REALLY! I am not sure what I should do. I have heard they don't like caster oil or blood meal but I don't want to hurt the plant. I put a mouse trap with peanut butter right by the hole. Maybe I will get lucky.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page This is the 1756 Lancaster on day 27. 99,68,68,235. This is a solid looking pumpkin doing 23 lbs/day for the last week. I find it very interesting that all three of my pumpkins taped the same on day 27 ...235"   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 1756 b. This pumpkin is shaped like a melting scoop of ice cream. She has some tiny cracks with slight leakage on the stem side. I have been lightly dusting them with Captan and have a fan going which seems to be working. Last year I lost 2 kins to this so I am keeping my fingers crossed. If someone knows any other remedies or could help me out with advice on this thanks.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page 1756 b   Thursday, August 7 View Page My first goal of a new PB is checked off the list! And a looker too! Day 40 1546 Shenoha 297 ott 585 lbs 150 lb gain last 7 days 50 days until Va State Fair...an eternity   Thursday, August 7 View Page Blossom end view. The blossom disappeared about a week ago.   Thursday, August 7 View Page 1756 Lancaster Day 36 286 ott 524 lb 177 lbs last 7 days I got my first foamer yesterday on this plant about 3' from the stump. I did some nearby pruning to create a drip to relieve some pressure(thanks for the tip Wiz) and dusted the foam spot with sulfer.   Friday, August 8 View Page 1756 Lancaster b Day 37 278 ott 483 lb 127 lb last 7 days This pumpkin slowed down recently. I don't know if you can tell in the picture but this plant is about half the height of the others. It has always been that way. The plant is very healthy so maybe it will pick it back up.   Friday, August 8 View Page ...forgot the picture   Sunday, August 10 View Page 1756 Lancaster b Day 40 134 cc Everything is doing great in the patch right now. Knock on wood   Tuesday, August 12 View Page Patch photo showing 1912 lbs! Yeah! I am in uncharted waters here; with some time to go.... Hopefully am up to the challenge to finish the job. I have been fixing/managing problems that I never could have figured out without the great folks who post here on BP. Thanks   Tuesday, August 19 View Page Patch Security is on the job checking the 1756. A mole dug a complete circle around pumpkin under the mill fabric. I squished it down so he dug it out again. So after a couple of days of this he has moved on to softer soil for now. This is on day 49. She has passed 700lbs with 98lb gain in the last week.   Tuesday, August 19 View Page The other 1756 on day 48. 326cc 766lb 134lb gain last 7 days This has been a great plant to grow but quite a handful! There is always something to prune on this one. This pumpkin has been trying to take the patch lead but a couple of foamers I believe has slowed her down. Along the main vine three feet from the stump the main blew at a secondary; which caused the stump to foam. After working on it, I lost about 1/3 of the main on the bottom side. I have a fan on it and I think it is under control. The stump has a periodic small foamer now but looks good.   Tuesday, August 19 View Page Shazzys 1546 has broken the 800lb mark for me. I am not going to say it but you know what my next goal is! 122lb gain last 7 days. I do have a problem. There is always a catch,isn't it? The pumpkin is growing more towards the stem side, at least more than I allowed for. The main is getting very tight heading back toward the stump.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page This is my patch as of today, everything is going fine. Been dodging thunderstorms and hoping for the best.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page *Please note that in my last entry "everything is going fine" really means they are very tough plants and I have been blessed with great weather.   Tuesday, September 9 View Page The 1756b was the ugly duckling of the patch but sure has filled out well and is the fastest grower in the patch now. All three plants have started to push new growth fast despite some mildew issues. All in all I think the plants are doing great. I did my first slight spray damage 2 weeks ago but these guys have shaken it off. God has been very good to me this year and the patch is over 2900lbs now!   Sunday, September 14 View Page Overhead patch view. Irrigated 350 gallons with fertilizer on Friday evening since we had dried up some here. It rained on and off Saturday so it worked out great. Added 1/2 cup Epsom salts to each 120 gallons with a little fulvic acid. I always run the sprinkler to rinse for 10 minutes to not abuse the leaves. I sprayed this evening with Bifen and Eagle 20 for what I hope is the last time, or at least next to last. All three kins are still pushing sand still which is the most important thing. I'm a happy man and living the pumpkin dream right now.   Sunday, September 14 View Page 1546 Shenoha is the prize of the patch. Another goal was reached as she passed the half ton mark last week!!! Two weeks to go until the Va. State Fair. Gettin a bit nervous   Sunday, September 14 View Page another view   Sunday, September 14 View Page Last one.   Sunday, September 14 View Page I might as well show the whole 1546 plant while I'm at it. The main is 75'+ in the foreground and is still growing 8" a day and has been growing on grass for the last 35'.   Saturday, September 20 View Page One week until the State Fair and two weeks until Altoona. Everything is great except we have had a rabbit in the patch for about a week now...just what I need...have been tucking them in at night and spraying around the pumpkins extra. I also spread cayenne pepper around them to hopefully get us down the homestretch.   Saturday, September 20 View Page Another view from the gate.   Saturday, September 20 View Page Just behind the gate are my long gourds. I keep forgetting to post a picture of them.   Saturday, September 20 View Page God is good!   Friday, September 26 View Page Loading this evening went great! thanks to a great team effort...who left before I got my camera out...lol. Sharon has some photos of the crew I will post later. Wish us luck at the fair and I plan on eating a lot of deep fried food!   Friday, September 26 View Page Lacey is always on the job. I like this photo without the plants. It was weird to walk over and destroy the plants you had taken care of for so long but also a good feeling at the same time.   Friday, September 26 View Page Loading   Saturday, September 27 View Page I'm trying to look cool and relaxed here.   Saturday, September 27 View Page opps..here   Saturday, September 27 View Page Insert redneck hoot and hollar here! 1203lbs and New Va State record. I think I hurt myself celebrating.lol   Saturday, September 27 View Page Last one. It was great to meet a bunch of good growers and meet new friends at the fair.   Friday, October 3 View Page A huge thanks to Ray & Homestead Hardware for helping me out to load my last pumpkin. We are heading to Altoona in the morning to make our first GPC weigh-off.   Saturday, October 4 View Page We arrived after our 5 hr ride through some beautiful countryside to see some large ones.   Saturday, October 4 View Page James and the lifting crew took good care of "fat albert" and all of the entries. My thanks go out to everyone in the Pa club for a well run event.   Saturday, October 4 View Page While the 1756 was hitting the scales I was called to the microphone by the top dog himself Dave Stelts for a lightning round of questions. Very cool!   Saturday, October 4 View Page Then Mr. Stelts asked me what my pb was and I almost answered 487 but switched to "1203 just last week" in mid sentence....Then he put me on the spot and said " so do you think broke your new state record here today?" I could tell that everyone but me knew that answer by that time. Both kins had taped exactly the same on the pallet so I knew it would be close. Maybe was the only word I could muster..lol   Saturday, October 4 View Page The 1187 Houston 14 1756 Lancaster 12 X 1391 Wuersching 12 13% Heavy Pollinated on 7/2, 97 degree day, 4 lobe 23' on the main 1150 sq ft plant 93 days old and still growing   Saturday, October 4 View Page Here is the winner. The 1579 Fulk 14. She went heavy to edge the Checkons by only 7 lbs. We had a great time at the weigh-off meeting new people and making new friends and hope to make it back again next year.   Sunday, October 26 View Page Well, we got her back home and my friend Jeff and his family came over for a carving party. I think he did a great job. The 1203 was mostly 7" thick but had up to 10" thick areas. The thinnest spot was on a dill ring between the left eye and nose and was 3.5". It was 32 days since it was picked and still solid despite some 80 degree weather we've had mixed in recently. I have always wanted to unload something by tying it to a tree and driving off.   Friday, October 31 View Page Happy Halloween everyone!   Saturday, November 22 View Page The 1187 and 1203 were displayed at our local Hardware store.   Saturday, November 22 View Page Got long gourds! Let me know if you want some I have the 113.75 and a 102 dried and ready. These 2 are leaning in my garage still. One winter project for me is expanding and raising my lg setup for next year. They were very fun to watch grow and I look forward to next year...shooting for 10'.   Saturday, November 22 View Page My 2014 season was one I will never forget. Thanks to my extended BP family who helped me; many of you helped me and don't know it. This picture was taken at the Va State Fair. In the back round is the stable where Secretariat was born, arguably the greatest racehorse that ever lived. From left to right is the 1187 Houston 14, 1203 & 948. The two largest pumpkins ever grown in Virginia! I have a few seeds available on all three and after my club giveaways. If anyone is interested in growing some southern seed let me know.