Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 87 Entries. Monday, February 17 View Page Germination mix -- Promix biofungicide   Monday, February 17 View Page Growing mix -- Promix - Mycorhizobia ignore time stamp- put in new batteries and forgot to change time.   Monday, February 17 View Page Assortment of water soluble fertilizers   Tuesday, February 25 View Page Started germination experiment today. Put five seeds each of AG, Field, and giant Cinderella in the following locations. 1. 5 seeds of each (15 total) in 4 1/2 inch pots in germination mix in germination chamber set at 80 degrees ( would have went to 85 but have other seeds germinating in the chamber). 2. 5 seeds of each ( 15 total) in folded moist paper towel in a gallon pastic ziplock bag in the germination chamber. 3. 5 seeds of each ( 15 total) in 4 1/2 inch pots filled with germinating mix and placed on propagating mat set at 85 degrees in the greenhouse. Pots are covered with a clear plastic dome to retain moisture. will see how they do.   Wednesday, March 26 View Page Trinidad Scorpion Moruga peppers on right. Ghost peppers on left. Hot, Hot, Hot !!!!!!   Wednesday, March 26 View Page Germination practice plants. I just have a hard time letting plants die. Even when they are yellow from lack of nutrients.   Wednesday, April 2 View Page took giant, field, and garden soil samples to soil lab today.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page Started seeds today. One hour soak in water and peroxide.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page Then into the germination chamber. Started some in pots and some in paper towels.   Thursday, May 1 View Page Transplanted pumpkins from 4 1/2 inch pots to 4 gallon pots. Roots are much happier. Going to be hard to decide what gets the spots in the AG field.   Wednesday, May 7 View Page Giant tomatoes went in the ground today. One each of 4.19 Johnson, 5.33 Martin, 4.75 Menting, 4.58 Martin, 5.03 Menting, 2.2 Menting, Big Zac, and Steak House   Thursday, May 8 View Page Let the battles begin. AG's went into the dirt today. 1530 Gehweiler 2013 vs 454 LaRiviere (hope I spelled this right.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 1813 Northrup vs 1317 Clementz   Thursday, May 8 View Page 1770.5 Lieber vs 1554 Mathison   Thursday, May 8 View Page and a highly anticipated match 1059 Vincent/ McGill vs 1048 Engel The 1662.5 Stelts and the 1778.5 Deletas are uncontested but with backup in the greenhouse.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page Extra tomatoes. Anyone who is in the vicinity of Peoria, IL ( I am 20 minutes north and west) and needs some giant tomato plants I have the ones pictured as extras. 1- 5.33 Martin, 3 - 4.58 Martin, 3 - 4.19 Johnson, 1 - 2.2 Menting, and 2 Big Zacs.   Thursday, May 15 View Page Potted field pumpkin up today from 4 1/2 pots to 10 inch pots (actually flower baskets that I wasn't using). All of them looking very good   Monday, May 19 View Page some of the 115 to 120 day fields that will go into the dirt in a few days.   Monday, May 19 View Page My big field pumpkins for this year. Have a great lineup and a lot of high hopes for some really big ones.   Monday, May 26 View Page Bad day today. Went for a walk around the field pumpkin plot last night and the 145 McInnis seedling was down and out. Even though it was treated with fungicide in the pot and at transplant it looks like stem rot got it. I know I won't have a chance to grow many if any more of those seeds.   Monday, May 26 View Page A little over a half inch of rain today which was much needed. The AG's, big oranges and field pumpkins were suffering from the heat and dry. Planted more field pumpkin seeds into pots today. Took tubs off big oranges and staked vines. Put tubs around the big field pumpkin plants. Put a second 145 McInnis seed into pot today to hopefully replace the plant I lost yesterday.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page Treated all AG's, big oranges, big fields, and commercial fields with a soil drench of Tenet biological fungicide and Montana (Imedicloprid) insecticide. Staked vines.   Wednesday, May 28 View Page Some of the big orange plants that are in the commercial field. 809 Young, 827.5 Gerhardt, 810 Westcott, 568 Kaczenski, 817 Moulter, 723.5 Kaczenski, 100 Brovilard, and some others. My main big oranges 1770 Leiber, 1813 Northrup, 1662.5 Stelts, and 1778.5 Deletas are in my AG plot.   Wednesday, May 28 View Page The giant tomatoes ready for their cages.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page giant tomatoes are enjoying the wet weather.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page Field pumpkins are starting to take off.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page my 108 House ( 96 Menting x 150.5 Razo) is my most aggressive field at this time.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page one of two 150 Rea plants in the commercial pumpkin field. Both plants are doing very well.   Wednesday, June 18 View Page Sprayed fields, AG's, commercial fields and gourds with fungicide yesterday. Tanos, Champ, Bravo tank mix. Pollinated first field pumpkin today. 150.5 Razo x 152.5 Deletas.   Thursday, June 19 View Page my 108 House field pumpkin continues to be my most vigorous growing field pumpkin. The 162 J MacKinnon in the background is also doing well. Pollinated the 97 Dill female with the 154.5 Ellenbecker male today.   Thursday, June 19 View Page Also pollinated 905* Vincent/McGill 09 by self today.   Monday, June 23 View Page Wind was a little hard on the Indian corn last night. Went from 5 foot tall to 6 inches tall. Don't think it is going to stand back up.   Friday, July 11 View Page Sprayed AG's, commercial AG's, big fields, and commercial fields with Bravo, Badge, and Ranman yesterday.   Monday, July 21 View Page My commercial pumpkin field looking across the road left from my driveway. I have 2 acres of commercial pumpkins.   Monday, July 21 View Page and looking right from my driveway. I have about a half acre of commercial big oranges and big fields out of the two acres. Have about 35 big oranges over 100 lbs. This is a new venture with the big ones so it will be interesting to see how they sell.   Monday, July 21 View Page my biggest orange AG currently. An 810 Westcott crossed with the 1059 Vincent McGill. 259.5 OTT ( 390 lb est).   Monday, July 21 View Page A 150 Rea crossed with the 1059 Vincent McGill. 177 OTT ( 129lb est). The 150 Rea is producing several nice oranges in the 100 lb range.   Thursday, July 31 View Page 81 Wolf x self 162 OTT (88 lb est)   Thursday, July 31 View Page 810 Westcott x 1059 Vincent McGill -- 298 OTT ( 582 lb est)   Thursday, July 31 View Page Have to watch what insecticides I use. Bees are thick. Counted nine in this blossom. Great for the commercial patch pollination but makes insect control difficult.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Definitely a hive somewhere close by. Can't believe the number of bees.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Sparyed all pumpkins and gourds with a Revus, Bravo, Champ fungicide mix. We need rain badly. only 2/10's of an inch the whole month of July and August so far. Spending way too much time watering.   Friday, August 8 View Page One of my early fields 103 House 14 (uow) 108 House x 103 MacKinnon   Friday, August 8 View Page Another early field -- 99 House 14 (uow) (103 MacKinnon x 109 Martin) The 103 went 9 percent heavy and the 99 went 12.7 percent heavy.   Thursday, August 14 View Page A 146 House 13 Cinderella progeny. Taped at 245 lb est. today.   Thursday, August 14 View Page The 810 Westcott x 1059 Vincent McGill taped at 326.5 OTT ( 758 lb est ). By far the biggest big orange I have grown and could be my PB. I had a 752 last year in my first year of growing.   Friday, August 22 View Page My pumpkin stand opens next Saturday so spending a lot of time getting ready. This is the greeting sign. Has the 175 House 14 ( Cinderella) left, the 144 House 14 ( White Luna second generation) on left, and the 220 House 14 ( 326 House x 1048 Engel) on right as the main stars. Still have corn stalks, indian corn, gourds and small pumpkins to add to it.   Friday, August 22 View Page One of my early fields. Not a record breaker or PB but a nice pumpkin that has future potential to produce a big one and also many nice commercial pumpkins.   Saturday, August 23 View Page Had about 1.5 inches of rain in the past 8 weeks. 3 inches yesterday and 4 inches this a.m. This weather needs to make up its mind. Going to be a couple days before I can harvest any more commercial pumpkins unless I want to be knee deep in mud. Had a few of my big oranges split open yesterday. Don't know what I'll have after this flood.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Lost the 758 est House 2014 ( 810 Westcott x 1059 Vincent McGill today. When I checked on it it had a big soft spot. Harvested some seeds from it since it was such a nice shape and color. So much for my Morton Pumpkin Fest entry and display pumpkin for my pumpkin business. Now have to fall back on the 632 est ( 827.5 Gerhardt x 1059 Vincent McGill for display. No since taking it to Morton since it would not be competitive.   Monday, August 25 View Page A new PB field for me today. Harvested the 81 Wolf x 152.5 Deletas since I had a really nice 162 MacKinnon progeny that rotted in the field before I could get it to scale. Was expecting a 100 lber but got a nice surprise when it went 122.2 on my postal scale. Since that was a personal best I took it to the fertilizer plant to be weighed on their certified scale and it was 122 ( lost a couple ounces on the ride. lol) Went 16% heavy. Not sure if I have had a field go that heavy before. This seed will definitely get a spot next year in my field plot. I think the 162 would have been heavier but I will never know.   Friday, August 29 View Page Part of my picture spot at the Pumpkin Place. Left is a 242 est House 14 ( 432 Wexler x open), the middle is the 224 uow House 14 (150 Rea x 1059 Vincent/McGill, and the right is the 250 uow House 14 (146 House 13 Cinderella x Open).   Monday, September 1 View Page 612 uow House 2014 ( 723.5 Kaczenski x 1059 Vincent/McGill) is being used as a display pumpkin at my pumpkin stand.   Monday, September 1 View Page GPC needs a giant speckled swan gourd category. This is one of the biggest I have ever grown.   Wednesday, September 10 View Page Progeny from the 114.5 House 13 (96 Menting x 91 Strombach) 2 plants, 14 pumpkins, 556.3 pounds. 40 pound average. Grown in my commercial pumpkin field.   Wednesday, September 10 View Page Front -- 705 uow House 14 ( 827.5 Gerhardt x 1059 Vincent McGill Back -- 812 uow House 14 ( 723.5 Kaczenski x 1059 Vincent McGill   Wednesday, September 10 View Page Opps, That is 612 not 812.   Wednesday, September 10 View Page Pumpkins on display at my pumpkin stand Left to right 332 uow House 14 (358 House 13 x 1770 Lieber) 500 uow House 14 (568 Kaczenski x 810 Westcott) 505 uow House 14 (809 Young x Open) 250 uow House 14 (100 Brovillard x 723.5 Kaczenski) 530 uow House 14 (827.5 Gerhardt x Open) 365 uow House 14 (130 House 13 x 1059 Vincent/McGill   Wednesday, September 10 View Page A 65 pound Phat Jack from the commercial field.   Monday, September 15 View Page Second year growing big fields. All are uow but were weighed on a postal scale except the 122 which was weighed on a certified scale but not a GPC one. Top ten so far. left to right 1. 122 House 14 (81 Wolf x 152.5 Deletas) 2. not pictured108.9 dmg House 14(162 Mackinnon x 108 House) 3. 105.8 House 14 (152.5 Deletas x 162.5 LaRue) - 22% heavy 4. 104 House 14 ( 81 Wolf x 152.5 Deletas) 5. 103.8 House 14 (97 Dill x 154.5 Ellenbecker)big but light 6. not picture (103 House dmg 14)(108 House x 103 MacKinnon) 7. 99 House 14 (103 MacKinnon x 109 Martin) 8. 95.5 House 14 (150.5 Razo x 152.5 Deletas) 9. 91.4 House House 14 (108 House x 154.5 Ellenbecker) 10. 89.2 House 14 ( 154.5 Ellenbecker x 162 J MacKinnon)   Monday, September 15 View Page 122, 105.8 (the rock), 104, 103.8   Monday, September 15 View Page 99, 95.5, 91.4, 89.2   Monday, September 15 View Page Nothing like Donkins pumpkin but my biggest taper and hopefully a personal best is still in the field. Will probably harvest in the next couple of days.   Monday, September 15 View Page New PB on fields. The 131.7 uow House 14 ( 81 Wolf x Open)   Wednesday, September 24 View Page 317 uow House 14 ( 100 Brovillard x 1059 Vincent McGill) Not huge but very nice color.   Friday, September 26 View Page another pretty one. 262 uow House 14 ( 150 Rea x 358 House 13) The 358 was a 568 Kaczenski x 810 Westcott.   Monday, September 29 View Page 1048 Engel x 1059 Vincent McGill 397 lb est. A really orange pumpkin that should produce more really orange pumpkins next year.   Monday, September 29 View Page 1059 Vincent McGill x Self ( 371 lb est) Another bright orange pumpkin   Monday, September 29 View Page 1059 Vincent McGill x 1778.5 Stelts. Only a little 228 pounder but a pretty one.   Monday, September 29 View Page What-- that is orange! 1678.5 Hamalainen Ovaskainen x open 442 lb est.   Monday, September 29 View Page Meant to say that isn't orange!   Monday, September 29 View Page 1778.5 Stelts x 1678.5 Hamalainen Ovaskalnen 468 lb est. Not really big pumpkins but I had fun trying to get a big one.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page 141 House 14 Pelata Gourd   Tuesday, October 7 View Page 238 uow House 14 -- 150 Rea x 1770 Lieber   Tuesday, October 7 View Page 233 uow House 14 - Cinderella ( 146 House 13 Cinderella x sib)   Tuesday, October 7 View Page 232 uow House 14 ( 1059 Vincent McGill x 1778.5 Deletas)   Tuesday, October 7 View Page 215 uow House 14 - ( 150 Rea x 568 Vincent McGill)   Wednesday, October 8 View Page Opps that's 568 Kaczenski   Tuesday, October 21 View Page Small but pretty. The 374 uow House 14 ( 1059 x self)   Tuesday, October 21 View Page What I lack in quality I make up for in quantity. The smaller Ag's lining the parking lot of my pumpkin stand.   Tuesday, October 21 View Page A pretty fall picture. Pumpkins, corn, and colored leaves.   Tuesday, October 21 View Page The revised Pumpkin Place Picture spot. A couple of my big pumpkins finally got soft so had to replace them. Left bottom 705 uow House 14 ( 827.5 x 1059) Left Top 612 uow House 14 ( 723.5 x 1059) Center top left 141 Pelata Gourd, center middle 236 uow Houe 14 ( 150 Rea x 1059) Center right 250 uow House 14 Cinderella. Bottom center right 210 ?, bottom middle 130 Pelata Gourd, Center bottom right 280 uow House 14 ( 432 Wexler x open)   Thursday, November 13 View Page had a plant in my commercial field that was supposed to produce white pumpkins produce these. Really pretty yellow 15 pound pumpkins. I doubt if there is any chance the seeds from it will produce the same color but I harvested some to give it a try.   Thursday, November 13 View Page Harvested seed from the 705 uow House 14 ( 827.5 Gerhardt x 1059 Vincent McGill). It was a beautiful, dark, shiny orange.   Thursday, November 13 View Page Also harvested seeds from the 224 uow House 14 ( 150 Rea x 1059 Vincent McGill) I didn't want to part with this one but could have sold it 100 times it was so popular at my pumpkin stand.   Thursday, November 13 View Page Harvested seed from the 250 uow House 14 ( 146 House Cinderella 13 x Open) Really nice red orange color.   Thursday, November 13 View Page Also harvested seed from the 612 uow House 14 ( 723.5 Kaczenski x 1059 Vincent/ McGill) Ignore the time stamp. Camera went dead and changed batteries but forget to set correct date. Another really nice deep orange pumpkin)