Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 191 Entries. Saturday, March 22 View Page The first baby girl on the 1546 Shenoha, just as I had hoped! Wanted this plant as the mommy plant- check!   Saturday, March 22 View Page The one girl, and the ONE boy from the 710 Wagler who opened right on time today!!! GOOD BOY!!!   Saturday, March 22 View Page See his funky little leaves around the flower- that's a new one on me, but I am told this is the 'freak' genetics....you be as freaky as you want to be little fella!!   Saturday, March 22 View Page Looking down the length of the 1546.   Saturday, March 22 View Page Looking down the length of the 710   Saturday, March 22 View Page IF my little girl makes it to viable seed, this is what will be in there....say a kin prayer for me, it's a miracle these two are even alive!   Saturday, March 29 View Page The 710, selfed today. I'm pleased as hell with both my winter plants, for what they have been through- they are doing great!   Saturday, March 29 View Page The 1546 x 710, DAP 7. She is 12 1/2" today.   Monday, April 7 View Page Quick soak of seeds in neem/chlothonil prior to planting their little butts.   Monday, April 7 View Page And so it begins........   Tuesday, April 15 View Page LOL. Pumpking calls her the "spice girl". 30 1/4" circ this morning, day 11.   Tuesday, April 15 View Page The babies on 4/13......   Tuesday, April 15 View Page The babies today, 2 days later. My 'little Bell' squash is waaaaay ahead of everyone else. Go girl, I have faith in you Bell!!! Weare gonna whip the blossoms off em!   Wednesday, April 23 View Page Shot of one of the four patches, with the ever present pumpkin helper in the background. I keep trying to teach him to hunt down cuke beetles and vine borers, but he refuses to learn.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page 89 Shymanski. He's the smallest out there, but also the most compact.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page My 200 Bell squash. This plant is unreal, growing growing growing! Planted out 4-22-14   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 263 Lutjens squash. I have big hopes for this little fella, he is supposed to be dark green, which compliment my dark green Bell quite well!!   Wednesday, April 23 View Page My Finally C plant, second biggest of the 11. Planted out 4.22.14   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 308 Shewmaker, which is a 220 Debacco crossed open with some very nice genetics. Whichever one 'got her' can only be good! 4.22.14   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 619 Glasgow, which is a selfed 2009 Wallace. Fingers crossed, it's the second smallest plant next to the 710, which has very similar genetics. This and the 710 are my 'bet they surprise hell out of people' plants. :} I don't care, I just love growing these guys!!   Wednesday, April 23 View Page the 710 wagler, one of my favorite plants out here. This damned thing!! I grew it over the winter, prettiest AG, solid as a rock, and perfectly round. I love this plant. It didn't waste a lot effort growing foliage in Ghouse (60 square feet!)but it has no issues setting and holding a pretty damned pumpkin!   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 800 Wilson planted out 4.22.14. I planted a back up seed for this little lady.....she's kinda funked up leaf wise. No idea why. I have high hopes for this plant to cross to the shenoha.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 827 Gerhardt, which has wolf, revier, and stelts in it. 4.22.14   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 907 wagler, another great little plant, and very strong! 4.22.14   Wednesday, April 23 View Page The 1546 Shenoha, grew this over the winter too. I almost have to put her on a continuous drip- this plant sucks up water! It's currently working on holding onto the second set. This one also has 60 square feet of plant, would have 120 square feet tomorrow if I quit cutting off growth! Sets a shit load of pollinators and pumpkins too!   Monday, April 28 View Page The selfed 710 Wagler- "The Spice Girl". 43.5" circumference, day 27...or 28, can't remember. I love this pumpkin, so perfectly round she is!   Monday, April 28 View Page The 1546 shenoha x 710 wagler...I have named her "wobbly" as she looks suspiciously like a top!! Growing well, and is second attempt at this cross on my winter project.   Thursday, May 8 View Page 32 days old, the 263 Lutjens....and the fish fertilizer just pulled in on the fedex truck, HELL YEAH!   Thursday, May 8 View Page the 710 Wagler...day 32. Finally getting warm weather so these should take off soon!   Thursday, May 8 View Page The 907 Wagler.....correctly pictured for you smarties who caught on the last time around. :}:}:}   Thursday, May 8 View Page And here she is!!! "The Spice Girl"!!! I do believe 20 more days to go and I will have seed from her....and the only jack o lantern in May!! :}:} Her 'dad' is very proud of her pretty pretty color. I like how perfectly (almost) round she is too!   Thursday, May 8 View Page Some pumpkin candy arrived as I was posting in here: "Phytomin" 4-3-4 fish fertilizer.   Thursday, May 8 View Page "Stick em up LB!" "We have the house surrounded!" LOL, the permanent tunnels are now up, and 6 plants have vines starting as of this morning...day 32 from the day I stuck their seed coated little asses in dirt...properly known as : "Popped into the germ chamber"   Thursday, May 8 View Page 89' Shymanski, day 32. I like this plant! Stocky and does NOT CARE that temps went from 60's to 90's in one day. Didn't wilt one bit!   Thursday, May 8 View Page This is my pride and joy. My little 200 bell Squash. this plant grew the 200 pounder last year on a tertiary. Currently vining, and the biggest one out here. Go girl! I got faith in you!   Thursday, May 8 View Page My biggest last year "Finally C", third biggest in the patch and also vining at day 32.   Thursday, May 8 View Page Got big hopes for this fella, the 308 Shewmaker, which is a 220 Debacco x open. I don't remember the listed 5 possibles, but they were all great genetics plants that could have pollinated. For a second year grower, I'm stoked to get a chance at the lineup I have this year! So many kind growers who donate seed! Also day 32 and beginning to vine.   Thursday, May 8 View Page The 619 Glasgow. This is one crazy little plant. It's a 2009 Wallace selfed....it seems to prefer 'highlighted' leaves. :} Actually straightening up nicely and flying right now that it's warmed up. day 32 since seeding.   Thursday, May 8 View Page My worrisome little 800 Wilson, which is a Hyudic selfed. I really didn't think it would make it....but here we are catching everyone. I really want it to make it so I can cross it to the 1546 shenoha. Day 32 since seeding.   Thursday, May 8 View Page The 827 Gerhardt, 3rd biggest and also 32 days since seeding. Not a wet or heavy sun lover is my little Gerhardt!! Put some shade material over him today during the heat of the day and he straightened up and quit looking wilted. I think he may still be a bit wet underneath from our 5 days of raining too...biggest vine so far   Thursday, May 8 View Page last, and second biggest next to my Bell- the 1546 Shenoha. Mr. Shenoha's vine thinks growing on the same side as the first leaf is funny. I fail to be amused. :} Vining, day 32, and is going to pound out plant just like his big brother. This plant grows superbly well- and loves water. I mean loves to drink!!! Waterholic.   Thursday, May 8 View Page Out of the 11 plants, 6 are vining, and the other 5 are darned close- days away I should think. I saw one cuke beetle on a hoop, smashed him and haven't seen any of his buddies. That's okay, they are already on their systemic. Suck dirt bugs!!   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 89 Shymanski, day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page My bell, 2ft of vine, day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page 263 Lutjens, about a foot of vine, secondaries, day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page My finally C from last year, 2 foot of vine, day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 308 Shewmaker, about a foot of vine now. day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 619 Glasgow, damned thing has poured on the speed in the last three days. Foot of vine, day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 710 Wagler, 'he's in gear pumpking!' Just put on a foot of main in last two days. Growing identical to greenhouse one over winter. Only ALOT more foliage! :} Little over a foot of main, one secondary is about a foot. day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 800 Wilson. She's picking it up now. About a foot of main started, she gets tacked down for first time tonight. Day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page Then there is this plant, the 827 Gerhardt. Unreal- 3 feet of main vine, 2 secondaries at about a foot. Day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page The 907 Wagler. He sat for a bit, I dunno what he was doing, but in the last 3 days he has SPRUNG forward. gets himself another vine staple tonight. Good job 907!! Day 38 from seed   Wednesday, May 14 View Page Of course, not to be out done by mr. Gerhardt, the 1546 Shenoha, having a ball growing at the speed of light! 3 1/2 foot of main, plus 3 secondaries......more vine stapling in my immediate future.   Thursday, May 15 View Page Bell put her first baby on the vine 5/13. 1546 Shenoha put her first baby on last night 5/14. Slow down you two!!! The pollinators aren't as quick as you. The Gerhardt is pissed. Hahahahahaha. This weekend I will be culling my winter project pumpkin, "Spice Girl".   Wednesday, May 21 View Page Time for the weekly picture update. The shymanski, day45 from seed. I snapped the main dammit! Taped it and daconiled it. Hasn't wilted or even seemed to care, just keeps growing a small amount each day. Slowest grower in my patch at moment.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page My biggest from last year, she is keeping up with the 'big guys'!! two females on the main now, boys fast approaching! Day45 from seed.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The 308 shewmaker. Slow start, but boy is it in high gear now. First female is on the main! day45 from seed   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The 619 Glasgow. Holy crap the stump on this selfed 2009!! Even the leaf stalks are stupidly large. Has a baby on the main too! Day45 from seed.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The 710 Wagler. I love this plant. It looked left at it's brother the 907, laughed, and set not one but two females! take that 907! LOl Day45 from seed.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The 800 Wilson. After starting out as the ugliest plant ever, she is throwing down vines and has her first female on the main!! Day45 from seed   Wednesday, May 21 View Page The 907 Wagler, another of my favorites. Can you say GROWING? It caught the Gerhardt this week, and set it's first female on the main. day45 from seed.   Wednesday, May 21 View Page This cat. The 1546 Shenoha. It's the biggest, has 3 females on the main, and I've picked off 4 females on the secondaries. Thank god it's on the end of the patch! I will be killing grass and tilling up to keep it's secondaries going further out. I grew this over the winter on a very small square footage and threw out foliage- out in the patch where it's got room? Holy shit!! Day 45 from seed.   Thursday, May 22 View Page If this were a horse race instead of 'first to flower' race, my Wilson would have gone off at worst odds! Yet- here she is: out flowering the 1546 and the 827. The 1546 will pop tomorrow for sure, really surprised he didn't open today!   Thursday, May 22 View Page Got greedy and snapped the main on the Shymanski dammit. Got it fixed up in it's 'cast' this morning. no signs of slowed growth since yesterday when it happened or wilting, so we will see. I'm training a secondary just in case. Gotta slowly get her pointed back to earth as she is all curled up.   Thursday, May 22 View Page And the whole ensemble. LOL. I did this last year and the main on that plant filled in the break, and grew over the cast edges! I hope this plant does the same.   Sunday, May 25 View Page It was Spice Girl Day!! I picked my winter project, while she is never going to win a weight prize, I love her anyway! Forgive her paleness, I kept her tightly covered because it was VERY hot in the greenhouse! She taped 134OTT and weighed 53 pounds according to my bathroom scale.   Sunday, May 25 View Page 5" thick walls, not bad little spice girl!   Sunday, May 25 View Page Stem end of spice girl   Sunday, May 25 View Page The tiny amount of plant, 40 or 45 square feet, I dis-remember which.   Sunday, May 25 View Page So far as I know.....the ONLY AG Jack o' lantern in May!!! LOL. can't wait to stick a light in her tonight.....it takes a special breed of weird to be in this hobby...   Monday, May 26 View Page Final pic of Spice Girl. I don't figure my "May O Lantern" will last long in the heat, but that's okay....my little new 710 is out there in the patch grinning.... :} Bye Spice Girl, I had a ball growing you. A quick thanks to Pumpking and Shazzy who were un-replaceable guidance over the winter. I learned more this winter growing their two plants then I did the whole season last year. Their help has made coming into my second AG season sooooo much easier. THANKS GUYS!!! YOUR THE BEST.   Monday, May 26 View Page This is the start of a little experiment in LB land: Seeds in the pumpkin. I very carefully divided Spice Girl into regions and placed the seeds from each out separately. There were hardly any seeds at the blossom end- and those few that were there were the smallest. The stem end contained a few more than the blossom, however what was there are the second biggest in the pumpkin, (Visually, I am going to weigh all the different seeds and see which seeds are the heaviest from where.) The East side of the pumpkin contained the greatest number of seeds, and visually the thickest. The west side of the pumpkin was similar, but slightly less in size. The top of the pumpkin had hardly any. 'Top' being the side opposite the ground. This was the side that was tightly covered to protect pumpkin from the heat and sun in the greenhouse. I will post seed weights when they are dry. I find it interesting that the East side, which gets the most sun had the most seeds, and the visually largest seeds.   Monday, May 26 View Page Early this morning.......Guess who popped a kid on me????? No guesses? Fine. :} The 1546 Shenoha!!! I'm hardly surprised considering the damned thing is 11' long in 50 days from seed. Shazzy, what DID you feed that pumpkin last year!!!! :} She was a nice little 3 lobe. Great stem length and shape. I selfed her as my 710 was being wicked and refusing to give me a boy. I will beat him later. LOL   Monday, May 26 View Page The first set of the season, the 1546 Shenoha. Prolly not my keeper, I would love to self this plant, but I have already arrange this marriage with the 710 Wagler.....LOL If for some reason this kin shit's the bed, I am unconcerned- freaking baby kins EVERYWHERE on this plant.   Tuesday, May 27 View Page Not to be bested, the 619 Glasgow (selfed 2009 Wallace) has hit high gear and threw a girl this morning! This likely won't be the one I keep as it is only at about 4'. I pollinated it with the 1546 Shenoha....interesting cross if it does wind up being "the one".   Tuesday, May 27 View Page 619 Glasgow x 1546 Shenoha. Day 51 from seed for all my plants. Unreal.   Wednesday, May 28 View Page NICE. YELLOW. 5 LOBE on the 827 Gerhardt this morning! I was originally gonna follow Mr. gerhardts advice and pol with the 1546 Shenoha, but it didn't have a male. The 619 Glasgow (selfed 2009 Wallace) did tho!! It may be 'the one'. It's out at 11', beautiful long stem, and nicely shaped.   Wednesday, May 28 View Page 827 Gerhardt, first kin on the main, and a 5 lobe!. 11' out. Day 52 from seed. Pollinated with 619 Glasgow. (selfed 2009 Wallace)   Monday, June 2 View Page Day 56, first 5 lobe on the 1546 Shenoha, second five lobe of the season   Monday, June 2 View Page Day56, second 5 lobe of 3 this season, 1st five lobe on the 1546 Shenoha. So far this plant has had in order a 3, a 4, and now a 5. It's at 15', can we get a 6 lobe Mr. 1546???!! LOL   Tuesday, June 3 View Page Finally seeing some great growth on the 89 Shymanski. He is going to be getting a tunnel extension TODAY. His vines are soooo thick, and deep dark green!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 263 Lutjens, day 58 from seed. Aggressive squash plant!! It threw a 5 lobe several days ago, but was to close to stump...another baby is on the way though!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page My 307* "C", day 58 from seed. She has two girls on the main, and I'm steadily picking them off the secondaries. Growing waaay better this year with good dirt!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 308 Shewmaker, (220 debacco x open), day58 from seed. getting some great growth going now, and has a female on the main. As you can see, it is vine burying day in LB land...again!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 619 Glasgow (2009 Wallace selfed) This thing has taken off! I set one female, although I'm not keeping it, it has two more coming along quite well on the main!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page My 710 Wagler, growing like a bandit. First female fell off, but there is a new girl coming! Day58 from seed.   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 800 Wilson finally getting in gear! This thing has tried to triple vine, but I caught it so now it's going to town! day58 from seed.   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 827 Gerhardt, day58 from seed. The biggest one out there, it finally eclipsed the Shenoha. It has a female set at around 8', there is a new one just about ready to pop at 19', hoping that will be the keeper with the 1546 Shenoha as the pollinator!   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 907 Wagler, putting down vines like crazy. day58 from seed. No girl yet....that's ok, he's saving himself till later when he's got all that plant behind the pumpkin. Smart little 907!! LOL   Tuesday, June 3 View Page The 1546 Shenoha. Day 58 from seed. Under the hut (he gets his extension today too) is the cross I want: 1546 x 710. If it doesn't set, sure got lots more chances as this plant produces boys and girls in abundance!!   Wednesday, June 4 View Page My squash Bell. Day 59 from seed. This is her second female, I tossed the first one, it had 2 lobes...I think, hard to tell, it was a mess!   Wednesday, June 4 View Page 4 lobes, not perfect, but they will do! Day 59 from seed, had 1 89' shymanski to pollinate with, but it sufficiently coated the girl!   Wednesday, June 4 View Page The 710 Waglers first baby!! Day 59 from seed, and 4 perfect lobes. I am tickled as I had 2 1546 Shenohas to pollinate with. If both sets stick, I will have the cross I really wanted: 1546 shenoha x 710 wagler, and 710 x 1546.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page 710 Wagler, 1st set, day59 from seed. Come on little one, hang in there!   Friday, June 6 View Page The 263 Lutjens, another 5 lobe!!! I feel like I hit the damned lottery this morning! Day61 from seed. This could be the keeper...   Friday, June 6 View Page The 263 Lutjens outside view. Now grow little one, GROW!!   Friday, June 6 View Page The 619 Glasgow- 5 lobes!! Football shape!! Sitting at 16'...watch, it will fall off for sure. Day61 from seed. Pollinated her with the 1546 Shenoha. My fingers are crossed so hard they have gone numb.   Friday, June 6 View Page 619 Glasgow from the outside...hard to believe something so little has the potential to be so damned big.   Friday, June 6 View Page My "Finally C" plant. This one is special only to me, as it is a complete unknown genetics wise. I see many improvements from last year in this plant. She threw a 4 lobe this morning, last year she had a ton of 3 lobers. Day 61 from seed, pollinated her with the 619 Glasgow. Grow girl, at least now we know one of your family tree's side!   Friday, June 6 View Page "Finally C" from the outside this morning.   Friday, June 6 View Page New sump pump for watering out of the ditch...and my built in agitator. Tested water: PH is at 6.8 so perfect with my 6.9-7.1 dirt, and it is LOADED with P and K. Pumpkins love this water.   Friday, June 6 View Page View of watering pipe running down through plant UNDER the canopy, which is perfect. I drilled small holes in it every 8" or so and by rotating the pipe I can reach out under the canopy and water 4' either side of the main. I just add a stick of PVC pipe when the plant grows past each 10' piece.   Saturday, June 7 View Page 308 Shewmaker's first female, and it's a 5 lobe!! This is the 220 crossed open, with the following open possibles: "selfed", 1443 Ellsworth, or 1655 Ford. I have hit it with the 619 Glasgow, maybe I will get lucky next year. :}   Saturday, June 7 View Page LOL. Always looks like a little hat to me. The 308 shewmaker, day 61 from seed. I've got growing nicely at 11'....however this one is just as pretty and out at 19'....agony   Sunday, June 8 View Page The 907 Waglers first open female!! Sitting out at 19' (which gives it 228 square feet)behind this little lady!! WOOT!! Day 62 from seed.   Sunday, June 8 View Page Inside the 907 Wagler, quite a beautiful 5 lobe!! Pollinated (closed) with the 800 Wilson, a 1102 Hyudic x self. Day 62 from seed.   Sunday, June 8 View Page So as of today (day 62 from seed) I have 6 plants carrying a 5 lobe set, and 3 plants carrying a 4 lobe set. Two more plants to go!!!   Monday, June 9 View Page If someone could help me figure this out.....it's some kind of nutrient deficiency I think...I have been unable to match it up with any pictures. This started out on one leaf, is now on six leaves- not leaves close together, but 6 different leaves scattered over the entire 15' x 20' plant.   Monday, June 9 View Page Weird little squash flower!! Your not supposed to flower out of your leaves! bad squash plant, now straighten up and fly right!LOL   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 308 Shewmakers 3rd set. Day 65 from seed.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page This odd little flower! 4.5 lobes? The 619 Glasgow, day65 from seed. This one only got pollinated in case the keeper right behind it goes belly up.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 710 Wagler's second set, and likely the one I keep, 5 lobes! day 65 from seed   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 827 Gerhardt, 3rd set, and another 5 lobe! I'm so up in the air on this plant. The first set is at DAP 13 today and OTT of 89.....I've almost cut it 3 times as it's back there around 11'. The one I set this morning is a great looking 5 lobe. My plan now is to wait till DAP 20 on the 11' set, measure todays set which will be at DAP 7 and see what they are doing. The 11' foot one is....football shaped and lumpy.   Tuesday, June 10 View Page The 5th set for the 1546 Shenoha, 4 lobes. Choices choices. Set #3 is back there growing like a horse, this one is only about 5' further down the main- which terminated it's self! I will be sending a secondary out ahead as the 'main'   Thursday, June 12 View Page Another 5 lobe from the Lutjens, thank you little plant- keep up the good work!!!   Thursday, June 12 View Page The lutjens second five lobe, outside view. Day 66 from seed.   Thursday, June 12 View Page Finally C has finally done it!! LOL Her first five lobe!!   Thursday, June 12 View Page It's a wee little thing "C", but still, good job, and likely the keeper!! Day66 from seed   Monday, June 16 View Page Little bit of stem crack on the Shenoha,with the brown goo. Cleaned it again this morning, then packed with dry clorthalonil. Fan in place.   Monday, June 16 View Page 1546 Shenoha is sweating, hang in there kinno, moms fixing your stem, and the ground is drying. This damn pumpkin is going to give me gray hairs growing this hard...DAP14, 121 OTT.   Monday, June 16 View Page 1546 Shenoha, DAP14 121 OTT. Day 70 from seed.   Monday, June 16 View Page 263 Lutjens, DAP9, 77 OTT. Day 69 from seed.   Monday, June 16 View Page 619 Glasgow. Day 69 from seed, DAP9, 67OTT.   Monday, June 16 View Page 710 Wagler. Day 69 from seed, DAP11, 85OTT.   Monday, June 16 View Page 827 Gerhardt. 69 days from seed. DAP10, 66OTT   Tuesday, June 17 View Page LOL. Nice, set right against hoop leg.....SIGH. 308 Shewmaker, day72 from seed.   Tuesday, June 17 View Page 619 Glasgow, another 5 lobe. Went ahead and set even though the kin up the line is the keeper..just in case measures. Day72 from seed   Tuesday, June 17 View Page Another just in case measure, set this 5 lobe on a secondary on the 1546 Shenoha....just in case. LOL Day72 from seed   Tuesday, June 17 View Page This is a picture of the main vine on the Shymanski, about 1 foot out from stump where I snapped it almost off on the 20th of May and it's 'cast' I made it. Filling in nicely now around it's cast and throwing plant out, so I guess they must get nutrients through even that scar tissue. Not quite 30 days yet since that happened. Another 30 and she will be closed in completely.   Friday, June 20 View Page The 263 Lutjens, aka "Piggy": DAP14, 139OTT.   Friday, June 20 View Page 308 Shewmaker, aka "Kinky leaf", I like it, a kin with a sense of style, she's into doodads. LOL. DAP10, 73OTT   Friday, June 20 View Page The 619 Glasgow...needs a really good name...DAP14, 139OTT, here we go...   Friday, June 20 View Page My bag, that should have read DAP14, 140OTT for the Glasgow.   Friday, June 20 View Page The 710 Wagler, also needs a name.. DAP16 142OTT   Friday, June 20 View Page The 827 Gerhardt, aka "The torpedo"...you can see why...DAP15 120OTT.   Friday, June 20 View Page The 1546 Shenoha, aka "The horse".....DAP19, 170OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page My Bell, DAP26 183OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 1546 Shenoha, DAP25, 214OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 800 Wilson, DAP12, 106OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 710 Wagler, DAP 20, 179OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 907 Wagler, DAP10, 100 OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 308 Shewmaker, aka "Funky Leaf" LOL. DAP16, 146 OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page "Groovy" DAP15, 111 OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page This picture absolutely cracks me up. 827 Gerhardt "Torpedo" DAP21, 179OTT   Thursday, June 26 View Page 619 Glasgow, DAP20, 202 OTT.   Thursday, June 26 View Page 263 Lutjens, DAP20, 191 OTT   Friday, June 27 View Page Hahahahahahahahahahahaha   Monday, July 7 View Page Finally a 89' Shymanski Baby!!! WOOOT! Hope it makes it, but there are plenty of girls down the vine. Poor plant has been through hell. Dap13, 129OTT   Monday, July 7 View Page "Groovy" Doing her thing every day. Not going to set the world on fire, but I like her as she is 'mine'. Dap 26, 198OTT.   Monday, July 7 View Page Funky leaf, aka 308 Shewmaker. LOL. Still retains her leaf, which I have grown fond of, Dap25, 216OTT. Gaining around 16 pounds a night. Officially weighs more than it's "mother", the 220 Debacco. Go little funky leaf, you have style!   Monday, July 7 View Page The 619 Glasgow, Heaviest in my patch so far.....Dap 31, 259OTT, gaining 21 a night weather depending. With my freind Pumpking's help I got her fixed up in mostly correct position,as well as could be. He has stressed the importance of 'S' curves my whole season.....I was slow on the uptake. :}:} her stem is fine now and in the last week no new pressure has been put on it.   Monday, July 7 View Page The 710 Wagler, one of my very favorite plants. Hardy, requires almost zero help, grows a pumpkin like crazy. Pumpkin is so worry free it is ridiculous. Great plant for some one like me in only their second season- throws big, doesn't require a ton of know how. It's one of my 'keep forever' plants. Dap 33, 248OTT.   Monday, July 7 View Page "SLUP" DAP 23, 181OTT. Whitest thing out there.   Monday, July 7 View Page Gotta love the 'torpedo'. Do they have a prize for funniest looking??????? I'm in there if they do!! Dap 32, 243OTT   Monday, July 7 View Page The 907 Wagler. This plant...maintenance free, damn near buried it's own vines. Grew slow, and took it's sweet time throwing some girls...apparently saving it's self for this kin!! I like this plant too..another keep it forever plant for me. Dap 20, 203OTT. It's not a mis-print, I swear! I realize to all the people who have been growing a long time this doesn't seem too amazing, but the rapid growth of this kin absolutely blows me away.   Monday, July 7 View Page "The Horse" aka, 1546 Shenoha. Should you ever become lost in the desert, pray you trip over this plant/kin. Water flows freely from it all the time. I counted it out weeks ago as I thought it was rotting. Appears not, as it continues to grow very well, no softness to it's skin, but phew, what a 'leaker'. In the morning I stand over it and watch it form drips from everywhere. It's been 'leaking' since it was about dap10. Then in the afternoon all the leaks are gummy and harden up. *Shrug* I'm too new to AG's to know what this is, but, in 14 days I will hit day 50 and have the cross I wanted. *Let it live a little while longer* Dap 36, 253OTT.   Friday, July 11 View Page Here is one for you guys to ponder. No break in the vine, no evidence of vine bores, be it live ones, dead ones, or any in traps, no holes from them or evidence of frass. About a week ago the vine cracked open and was leaking like a foaming stump. Got it all cleaned up and dried out. It sat normal looking for about 5 days, and today this is what it looks like. What in the world happened here? No evidence of further vine deterioration, foliage perfect.   Monday, July 14 View Page While I am saddened that she had to be cut off because her vine decided to go bye-bye "The Horse" is a beautiful girl!!! What a pretty pumpkin!! Also the seed should be viable as she was 44DAP this morning, at least some of it anyway, which means I FINALLY got the cross I wanted so badly. Estimated weight is 388 pounds, beat my PB of last year of 307. If I can con neighbor into it I'm going to take her to town and get her weighed on the grain scale.   Monday, July 28 View Page The 89 Shymanski, who I refer to as "Smash" because it looks like a gint came along and smashed it flat, LOL. DAP32/215OTT   Monday, July 28 View Page "Groovy" x 619 Glasgow Remember my question about that horrible little kin that had deep grooves everywhere, was all lumpy looking? She turned out to be real pretty. Still gaining around 7 a day. never going to set the world on fire, but she is mine and I love her. DAP45 249OTT   Monday, July 28 View Page "Funky leaf" 308 shewmaker x 619 Glasgow It is my great hope to show up at weigh off with a pumpkin that has a leaf sticking out of it's stem...*Laugh* It even is growing within the one inch tolerance for stem length at weigh off. HAHAHA. Anyway, Funky Leaf. :}:} DAP44, 264OTT.   Monday, July 28 View Page "Forehead" AKA 619 Glasgow x 1546 Shenoha. Forehead is pretty damned good little pumpkin, it has about 100 square feet of plant on totally craptastick dirt, yet continues to gain 13 pounds a night no matter what mother nature does. I look forward to growing this cross next year on the 'good dirt'. "Forehead" DAP50, 307OTT   Monday, July 28 View Page "Going steady" (LOL PUMPKING) aka 710 Wagler x 1546 Shenoha This pumpkin also plows ahead at 13 pounds a day no matter the weather. Great plant. The hurricane ripped up 3/4 of the leaves and it still keeps going. Love it!! "Going Steady" DAP52, 295OTT.   Monday, July 28 View Page "Torpedo" aka 827 Gerhardt x 1546 Shenoha Torpedo is quite possibly the ugliest pumpkin ever. I love it!! If there was a pumpkin regatta near me I'd take her in a heart beat. It gets much longer I'm going to have to rename it "The canoe". LOL. "Torpedo, DAP51, 286OTT   Monday, July 28 View Page "The wagon wheel" aka 907 Wagler x 1546 Shenoha This angle makes the main look like it's tight as a guitar string, but it isn't, nice and loose. This plant is crazy. It goes on vacation when it rains.....the kin stops growing but save a few pounds every time it rains...as soon as the soil dries up a bit, a day or two, BOOM, it's back to growing around 17 pounds each night. LOL, silly plant, this isn't a union job. I measured this tall girl to see how high it was as it's just about to my hip now, just about 3' tall. Love the color and shape! "Wagon wheel" DAP39, 276OTT   Monday, July 28 View Page This pic and the next one are for all you disease guru's out there. WTH is going on with this plant? It's the Shenoha, and every single kin 'bleeds' like this. If I treat the kin everyday no rot sets in. For all the horrible look in this picture all that gunk comes out of the pumpkin. There are three kins on this plant, and they all 'bleed' a creamy white goo, and a yellow goo. Someone enlighten me. The plant is ridiculous- tons of growth, no stump or vine rot....just this bleeding pumpkin syndrome. UGH.   Monday, July 28 View Page Another shot of the 'bleeder'. *Shrug* HELP??   Sunday, August 3 View Page Had Dark Horse all dried up, but three days into a now 7 day rain stretch has put this right back where I started. Oh Goody. We are at 4" of rain in 3 days now, another predicted 2" today and Monday. This low we are stuck under is now going to stay right on top of us and wait for Bertha to arrive. they are now thinking that good old Bertha will merge with this low...what does all this mean? Tons of water, and I'm already seeing the results.....in total they are now predicting us to have 10 days of solid rain. Good Bye pumpkin patch.   Sunday, August 3 View Page The Lutjens baby went boom last night. thank you rain, I love working my tail off and seeing nothing for it. Gosh I'm crabby this morning.   Sunday, August 3 View Page My heaviest, the 619 Glasgow...I'm praying she holds together. packed all three cracks with captan this morning. The only good news is that if everything I have goes balls up, I should have some viable seed for next year as everyone is either over DAP 50 or very, very close to it. The shymanski is the only one not even close to DAP 50. Hope she makes it.   Friday, August 8 View Page First lab run soil test. Gobbldy gook to me, anyone want to help me out as to what this means? The county extension agent went over it, but only as an analysis in relation to field pumpkins. I wrote the numbers out bigger in case they didn't show up well in the photo   Sunday, August 17 View Page Pictures to follow. RIP 619 Glasgow. DAP 71, 330 OTT. Tapes estimate of 782 pounds. Main vine right behind pumpkin rotted out. been chasing rot since the foamer. Cut it off as I got worried about the crap getting into the kin and ruining the seed as the rot had gotten to about a foot behind kin. Vine was completely rotted with only one thin strand the size of a pencil still good....and it was still gaining 18 pounds a night with a 100 square foot of shot shit leaves and unamended dirt. This baby is going in next year!   Tuesday, August 26 View Page "405 Bond" all gutted and carved. 405 pounds and zero nutrients. 100 square feet of plant. Cool. She is a '200 bell x 89 Shymanski'. Blossom end was 7" thick.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Now the 817 Bond. Vine went down on her, which sucks as she was still doing 18-20 a day weather depending. 100 square feet of plant, with only 10-10-10 to work with. This one is a replant for sure! She is a 619 Glasgow x 1546 Shenoha. Blossom end was 9" thick! 4.4% heavy to chart.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page 817 and I. Love the shape of this pumpkin! For scale,I'm standing on same platform she is.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page Germination test on the seeds from my *817 and *405 is complete: 100% germination- WOOT!!   Monday, September 8 View Page 3" of rain in 2 hours and counting.....2" combined between yesterday and the day before. Ground is so wet now there is no hope of getting the 'wheel' out of patch to get it weighed at grainery.....though it is still growing and hasn't developed any softness around the blossom....the gap foam plug seems to be holding...   Sunday, September 14 View Page Last pic of the 907 Wagler, now called the 665 Bond. Blosom rotted a week ago, thought I had it, but found the side softening yesterday. SNIFF!!! I have one left for weigh off potential....   Sunday, September 14 View Page "Groovy" Who I am comptemplating taking as an HD candidate   Sunday, September 14 View Page Another shot of groovy   Tuesday, September 16 View Page Yeah. That.   Friday, September 19 View Page My help failed to arrive, and as I wanted to get her weighed...I began this morning by building this contraption...   Friday, September 19 View Page Then I carefully put the lifting ring I got from lee over her, nice and even. First bead of sweat and one finger nail chewed off...   Friday, September 19 View Page Snugged up the straps- what a wonderful idea to make them adjustable- and started lifting her.....4 more nails went flying   Friday, September 19 View Page Off the ground!!! WOOHOOO!!!! no more nails left to chew, hurrying to back and fill, back and fill to squeeze the trailer in between the posts and get her down!!!!!As cool as a floating pumpkin looks, it's nerve wracking for 'mom'!!!   Friday, September 19 View Page PHEW!!! Now can stop making diamonds with the sphincter!! Wooot!! I think my stomach finally unclenched around 3 hours after getting her back from weighing her....547 pounds, 40 over chart. Not bad for 120 square feet. Tomorrow she is off to the counties 100 year anniversary festival for the agricultural extension office.   Wednesday, October 29 View Page I deem this: "How to move your 786 pound pumpkin without a truck, tractor, tripod, or help" First, you dig a little hole to put the pallet in...   Wednesday, October 29 View Page Second and third: put pallet in hole, add a layer of plastic sheeting- because god knows after ll this time we hate to scratch her up!! add a little dirt, peg the front of the pallet and go get your husbands tow strap....   Wednesday, October 29 View Page fourth: Hook your little 4 cylinder car to the pumpkin and ease forward while leaning out the driver side door till you get some tension on the strap. Then scramble out and make sure the strap is where you want it....   Wednesday, October 29 View Page 5th: WALA!!! One 786 pound pumpkin on the pallet!!! Hot damn!! 6th: Hook car to pallet and drive away with your prize!!!   Thursday, November 6 View Page It is done. While it doesn't look like much: that's a 6" raised patch measuring 120' long and 40' wide for the 6 plants next year. As I was already digging and shoveling, I went ahead and created 100 square foot raised beds for all 6 plants too. Much digging, shoveling, leveling, tilling, and compost went into it....I don't own a tractor. The dirt came out of 'pond' I had dug for drainage at the far end of patch in picture. This should give me a great draining patch next year!!! I HOPE. Well, onto the winter project pumpkins!!!