Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 84 Entries. Tuesday, April 29 View Page The sun rises over the pumpkin patch that was freshly tilled the previous evening. Also growing some non-giant cantaloupes and watermelons to flesh out this tract.   Tuesday, April 29 View Page The 1641 Montgomery '11 reaches a breadth of seven inches just three days (Day 13) after breaking soil.   Sunday, May 4 View Page The 1641 Montgomery '11 goes into the ground on Day 18. Hoping for great things when combined with the 1556 Companion '12! We'll see if I can make this happen in Oklahoma's climate, after two summers of practice.   Sunday, May 4 View Page The 1556 Companion '12, Day 18, and first day in the patch. Hoping that this and the 1641 Montgomery '11 will make a lovely couple.   Sunday, May 4 View Page Our personal Pumpkin Patch Model will be providing us with weekly updates as to how the pumpkins are growing. Stay tuned.   Monday, May 5 View Page I'm (relatively) new to the science of growing large pumpkins, so if any of you veterans could offer me some tips, it would be much appreciated. Keep in mind that I live in Oklahoma, with a harsh climate for pumpkins, so I'm not exactly a threat to the pumpkin weigh-offs in the northern states, and Canada. I will gladly accept any growing advice you have to offer me, especially when it comes to keeping things cool for the 100-degree days. Thank you!   Wednesday, May 7 View Page Hay mulch covering in the AG patch is nearly complete. That's about three 4x5 round bales of hay, torn apart, and spread as a covering. The 1556 Companion '12 is in the foreground, with the 1641 Montgomery '11 behind, and to the left.   Sunday, May 11 View Page 1556 Companion '12 is coming along nicely. Above-average temps of 86-93ºF (30-34ºC) have been common these past seven days, but we should be cooling to highs more in the 66-72ºF (19-22ºC) for the majority of this coming week.   Sunday, May 11 View Page The 1641 Montgomery '11 has shown some growth in the past 48 hours, after not doing a whole lot for its first five days in the great outdoors. Looking as if it has much better genetics than its partner, the 1556 Companion '12.   Sunday, May 11 View Page The best of the 197 Bright Carolina Cross watermelons thus far. Will post pics of these more frequently once they become more impressive.   Sunday, May 18 View Page Our pumpkin model poses with the 1556 Companion '12 on Day 32. Cold weather here in Oklahoma (in May!) has limited the growth over the past week, but it has now taken the lead over the 1641 Montgomery '11. Forecast highs this week should be ideal, with temps in the 82-88ºF (28-31ºC) range.   Sunday, May 18 View Page Our pumpkin model poses with the 1641 Montgomery '11, which has fallen behind the 1556 Companion '12. Nearly ideal temps this week should help, as opposed to the highs of 66-72ºF (19-22ºC), and lows of 37-46ºF (3-8ºC) that we've experienced over the past six days.   Sunday, May 18 View Page After honing the pumpkin-growing skills in 2012 and 2013, decided to go with something better this year. We'll probably be using only this product, as we don't exactly have the funds to go crazy the way that some of you here do.   Monday, May 26 View Page 1641 Montgomery '11 is spreading out nicely, and starting to grow some tendrils. Not vining out yet, but close.   Monday, May 26 View Page 1556 Companion '12 remains more impressive than the 1641 Montgomery '11 in the early going. Bottom leaf pictured is 14 inches across, and still growing.   Monday, May 26 View Page 1556 Companion '12 already growing tendrils, and showing the early stages of some blossoms.   Monday, May 26 View Page The best of the 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross watermelons. Finally beginning to look like what it is!   Wednesday, May 28 View Page On her fourth birthday, our garden model poses with the 1556 Companion '12, and shows off her birthday gardening tools she'll use for the remainder of the growing season.   Sunday, June 8 View Page Our garden model with the 1556 Companion '12. Only one bloom (male) thus far, but of course, it's still early. Began vining out 11 days ago, and has reached about six feet from the hill.   Sunday, June 8 View Page Our garden model with the 1641 Montgomery '11. Not doing as well as the Companion, but still healthy.   Sunday, June 8 View Page Our garden model with the three 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross watermelons. Finally starting to vine out!   Sunday, June 15 View Page A bit fuzzy, but this is the first viable female on the 1641 Montgomery '11.   Sunday, June 15 View Page A bit fuzzy again, but this is the first viable female on the 1556 Companion '12.   Sunday, June 15 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1556 Companion '12. This one grew a potentially viable female on the end (left) today, at 11 feet out, so we'll see how it goes.   Sunday, June 15 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1641 Montgomery '11 this evening. The viable female is at the end (right), about nine feet out.   Sunday, June 15 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1641 Montgomery '11 (front), and the 1556 Companion' 12 (back). Squash bugs keep making their presence known about once per week, but we've been catching them before they can lay eggs. We've been using Bonide "Eight" to combat them, and it has worked well. Does anyone have a suggestion to combat aphids on pumpkins, since they seem to arrive in July and August?   Sunday, June 22 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1556 Companion '12. Still chugging along, but what appeared to be a viable female seven days ago simply fell off without ever opening.   Sunday, June 22 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1641 Montgomery '11. Some huge leaves (22 inches across) on the left, and two females in the past week. Hopefully, we can get a pollination with the Companion before heading out of town for the 4th!   Wednesday, June 25 View Page Our Garden Model discovers the first of the 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross watermelons. It has the classic shape to become a true giant, and already has an OTT of 38! WOOHOO!   Wednesday, June 25 View Page Let's try that again, except with a photo. Our Garden Model discovers the first of the 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross watermelons. It has the classic shape to become a true giant, and already has an OTT of 38! WOOHOO!   Sunday, June 29 View Page So far, the only 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross that is overachieving. Hoping for a bumper crop from the Bright seeds.   Sunday, June 29 View Page In the foreground are the AGs. No pumpkins yet, but we're doing our best. Maybe next week...   Sunday, June 29 View Page In the foreground are the AGs. No pumpkins yet, but we're doing our best. Maybe next week...   Sunday, July 6 View Page Our Garden Model poses with a 197 Bright '13 Carolina Cross, which has reached 40 pounds. This is the same one that weighed perhaps two pounds in the pic from June 25.   Sunday, July 6 View Page Returned home from vacation today to find this on the 1641 Montgomery '11. First female to grow any larger than a marble, and the main seems to be terminating at about this time. Unfortunately, this one is about 22 feet out, but it's the only promising start thus far.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1641 Montgomery '11 is doing well. Added the sprayer for some perspective. How impressively can a pumpkin grow when it's about 22-23 feet out? Stay tuned!   Saturday, July 12 View Page 7 DAP on the 1641 Montgomery. Terminated and buried vines today, with the main terminated at about 28 feet, and this pumpkin at 22. Not sure if the frozen bottles will help at this point, but they can't hurt in the Oklahoma heat   Saturday, July 12 View Page Decided to go ahead and bury the 1641 Montgomery today. First time I've buried a vine, and already, I've decided that next year, it's going to get buried weekly as it grows. I'm 50/50 on whether to bury the Companion tomorrow, as it has not yet produced a viable female, and I'd prefer not to waste that much time on a potential deadbeat.   Sunday, July 13 View Page 1641 Montgomery at 23.5 CC, 57 OTT, 8 DAP. Will need to transfer to a pumpkin board on a pallet soon, since this looks as if it's going to be the real deal. 20-ounce water bottle for perspective.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Another shot of the 1641 Montgomery, 8 DAP, this time with our Garden Model.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Our Garden Model poses with a 197 Bright, which has reached about 60 pounds. The rate of growth had decreased substantially, so we dug through the patch, and discovered plenty of smaller melons growing on the same plant. The small ones have been culled, so hopefully, it will now return to its previous growth rate of about four pounds per day, or even better.   Monday, July 14 View Page Just when I was feeling good about my pumpkin prospects, last night's storm tore through, and either damaged or destroyed eight of the largest leaves on the Montgomery 1641.   Thursday, July 17 View Page 1556 Companion finally produced a female that didn't simply fall off. Nice five-lober, but it's way the heck out there (25+ feet) on the vine. Unless this plant produces something closer to the stump, I'll just have to work with what I have.   Thursday, July 17 View Page Our Garden Model poses with the 1641 Montgomery, CC 35.5", OTT 83", 12 DAP. Record cold for an Oklahoma July (high of just 68ºF/20ºC) might be slowing the growth in the short term, but we'll be back to great growing temps for the weekend.   Thursday, July 17 View Page Forgot to bring something else for scale, so I threw the tape on it. The best 197 Bright has reached 130" OTT, or about 70 pounds. It may be wishful thinking, but it seems a bit heavier than 70 pounds when being lifted slightly for repositioning.   Saturday, July 19 View Page Montgomery, it's time to meet your pallet.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 1641 Montgomery transfer successful!   Saturday, July 19 View Page Our Garden Model oversaw the transfer, and agreed to a picture only if it met her approval. Whew!   Saturday, July 19 View Page Braced up the 1641 Montgomery vine with some styrofoam after the transfer.   Saturday, July 19 View Page The largest of the 197 Bright clan has reached 132 OTT, or about 73 pounds. I had been using a white two-bushel laundry basket as a shade, but the Bright has outgrown the basket, so I'll need to hang a canopy this evening.   Saturday, July 19 View Page The second-largest of the 197 Bright melons has reached 117 OTT, or about 53 pounds. It will now be wearing the two-bushel laundry basket until it (hopefully) is too large for the basket.   Sunday, July 20 View Page Didn't like the strain on the vine and stem that I was seeing after yesterday's lift onto the pallet, so I greatly improved the situation. Stabilized the bricks on the left by driving a bent piece of rebar through them, and about six inches into the ground. That bend in the top came in handy in terms of avoiding the leaf!   Sunday, July 20 View Page The first (apparent) pollination on the 1556 Companion inspired me to spend nearly three hours burying its vines this afternoon.   Sunday, July 20 View Page This is the first (hopeful) pollination on the 1556 Companion, 3 DAP. It's a whopping ***30 FEET*** out on the main. Most of you probably wouldn't attempt anything so far out, but since it's the first female that didn't simply fall off at the size of a marble, I decided to go for it, at least until something closer pops up.   Sunday, July 20 View Page An obligatory shot of the 1641 Montgomery, 15 DAP. Obligatory, since it just reached the OTT chart, at 101 (8 a.m.). I guess I'll need to move a couple of leaves this evening. This 'kin is almost perfectly symmetric (globular). Just wish it would really start putting on some weight this coming week.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page At an estimated 72 pounds, a second 197 Bright has joined the Watermelon Tent Club, as it is now too large for the two-bushel laundry basket. Yeah, I know. Maybe I'll do some weeding this weekend.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page The first of the tented 197 Brights, at an estimated 81 pounds. The 72-pounder started later, and has been gaining more quickly, so it may overtake this one in a few days.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page The 1556 Companion at 6 DAP. Remember, this one is 30 feet out on the main, so this is more of an experiment to see if anything happens that far out.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page At 18 DAP, the 1641 Montgomery is only up to 51 CC, 122 OTT, or 44 lbs. Not too happy with the progress of this one, but at least it's been steady, rather than slowing down.   Saturday, July 26 View Page Companion, it's time to meet your mini-pallet. Hey, it's 30 feet out, so how optimistic should I be? 9 DAP.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 1556 Companion transfer to mini-pallet successful!   Tuesday, July 29 View Page The largest of the 197 Bright clan, at 144.5 OTT, or an estimated 92 pounds. This one might be the candidate for the county fair if it can remain sound until 9/9.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page The 1641 Montgomery, or as I now call it, the Great White Dope, since it's not exactly packing on the pounds as I had hoped. Monday was 24 DAP, 145 OTT, so roughly 72 pounds. The introduction of 13-13-13 on Friday seems to have added a deeper green to the leaves, but it's not yet translating to accelerated pumpkin growth, as it's stuck at a steady five pounds per day.   Friday, August 1 View Page Anyone know what causes this pattern of damage?   Sunday, August 3 View Page The largest of the 197 Bright clan has reached 148 OTT, but due to its width, likely already has topped 100 pounds.   Monday, August 4 View Page 30 DAP on the 1641 Montgomery, and a sad 159 OTT. If anyone has suggestions for a 'kin and plant that appear healthy, yet the 'kin stops growing well short of its potential, please shoot them my way.   Monday, August 4 View Page 18 DAP, 84 OTT on the 1556 Companion. At 30 feet out on the main, this was the only one to set on the entire plant, so I went with it. Not expecting anything great at 30 feet, so this is merely experimental.   Wednesday, August 6 View Page Decided to cull the third-place (and smallest) of the 196 Bright group. It was the only one remaining on that plant, but it had a malformed blossom end, and appeared to have stopped growing at a mere 41 pounds. The deadbeats go to the sheep!   Thursday, August 7 View Page 1641 Montgomery has reached 162 OTT (100 pounds?) at 33 DAP. Pretty sad, but it's something, given that it threatened to stop growing at about 70 pounds.   Thursday, August 14 View Page The Great White Dope (1641 Montgomery) at 40 DAP. This dud is only up to 170 OTT (115 lbs?), and is putting on a stellar two pounds per day. There's no point in cutting it off right now, so I'll just let it keep going until it's done.   Thursday, August 14 View Page At 30 feet out on the main, this is the experimental 1556 Companion. Yes, it sucks. 28 DAP, and about 35 pounds. Just like its buddy, slow growth is still occurring, so I'll just let it do what it wants until it's done.   Friday, August 15 View Page Our second Garden Model poses with one of the two largest 197 Bright, which have both reached about 115 pounds. Too late to do anything about pulling up the grass this year, and it's only 25 days until the turn-in for the county fair. At the suggestion of Lloyd Bright, I'll be using Poast next year to keep the grass at bay.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Our two Garden Models obtain the final measurements on the rabbit-gnawed 196 Bright '13. 150 OTT, and actual weight of 101.2 pounds. Pretty close!   Sunday, August 31 View Page The sad conclusion to the Great White (now orangeish) Dope from the 1641 Montgomery. A mere 120 pounds, but 6% heavy. For 2015, I'll be moving the AG patch back to better sun and soil, where in 2012, a generic store-bought seed reached 137 lbs. in 105ºF temps in 45 DAP before the vines succumbed to the scorching heat.   Monday, September 1 View Page This 197 Bright '13 melon finished out at 165 OTT, 73 DAP, and a bathroom-scale 125 pounds. I'll be taking it to a more accurate scale this week to confirm or deny this reading. It was limited by the ridiculous amount of grass growing in the melon patch (background), but I'll take better care in 2015.   Monday, September 1 View Page Our Garden Model stands next to an unofficial 125-pound 197 Bright '13 melon, with an unofficial 127-pound 197 Bright '13 in the foreground. There's still one melon growing in the patch, but it's not likely to reach 120 pounds. The 125-pounder is much "prettier" than the 127, so the 125 is the one going to the county fair next week.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page Update to yesterday's photos: After being taken to a more reliable scale, the 197 Bright '13 melons are 130.2 and 128 pounds, respectively.   Sunday, September 7 View Page The last giant watermelon still on the vine. Don't have a DAP on it (discovered it after it weighed maybe 20 pounds, due to my lack of weeding), but it's 160 OTT (121 pounds?), and 77 cc. Vine and stem are still entirely green. Yes, the grass is awful, but there is an unseen barrier beneath it, and the bottom is solid. It will be a "shame" if this one passes up the 128-pounder that I'm taking to the Rogers County Fair on Tuesday, since there's nowhere within 100 miles that I can take it once it's done.   Sunday, September 7 View Page P.S. This is a 196 Bright '13.   Thursday, September 11 View Page Does a blue ribbon mean anything if nobody else bothered to enter a melon? Well, anyway, here's the "pretty" 128-pounder, a 197 Bright '13 that fought against my complacency to earn the equivalent of a Participation Trophy. A big "Thank You!" to Lloyd Bright for providing the seed, and offering me a few tips for 2015. I'm now on a mission to make the Rogers County (OK) Fair more competitive for growing giants.   Monday, September 15 View Page The top three melons pose for a 2014 class photo. On the left is a 196 Bright '13, at 119 pounds. In the center is a 197 Bright '13 at 128 pounds, which was the blue ribbon winner at the Rogers County (OK) Fair. On the right is a 197 Bright '13, at 130 pounds, but was bug-scarred enough not to be the fair melon. All three ended at about 4% light on the chart, so that's a fairly consistent problem to isolate, hopefully. Combined weight of 377 pounds. Pie-in-the-sky goal for next year: one melon over 200 pounds, with the top three combining for 550 pounds. Reasonable goal for next year: top melon over 180 pounds, and top three combining for 500 pounds.   Friday, September 19 View Page Cross-section of the 130 Snyder 2014, grown from 197 Bright '13 x self. Saved about 300 seeds for friends and family to try their hand in 2015, and I may try growing one, just because.   Sunday, October 19 View Page Now that the growing season is over, it's time to throw in an obligatory photo of what we do during the Fall and Winter. This photo may cause some of you northern firewood hoarders to have an OCD moment. Yes, the stacks are sloppy, but that wood is entirely from hackberry trees that have been "standing dead" for two to three years, so the logs don't need to season any further. That's more than five cords, and will last through the toughest of any Oklahoma winter.   Monday, December 1 View Page First AG seeds arrived in the mail today. A big "Thank You!" to Bubba/Mark! I have a feeling that "big and orange" will be my mantra for 2015. Wanted a 1947.5, but I'm not yet part of the "club," and I couldn't justify $100 per seed. Maybe in 2016...