Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 71 Entries. Saturday, April 4 View Page Well, 2015 has started. It's been a pretty nice spring so far. All of the patch prep is done, the heating cables are in and hoophouses up. The back side of the farm patch is a little lower and still wet, but the majority of it has been tilled. Hopefully I can get off to an early start to the season. Looks good so far.   Saturday, April 11 View Page So, let's try something new. I'm trying to push back my pollination dates to try and maximize my growth in July. August nights can be quite cool and I think that's where I'm losing weight gains. That's the plan.... Anyways, Alex has the greenhouse this year and we are both growing squash. Alex put in a 1324 Neily. I put in a 1578 Holub.   Monday, April 13 View Page Pumpkins are back in the patch in the backyard. The big greenhouse has been up for two weeks and the soil was nice and warm. Saturday, the 110km/h winds took it apart. Good thing there were no plants in the ground yet. I put in a smaller one underneath. Inside, I have a 2032 Mathison, with a 1499.6 Dettweiler as a backup.   Thursday, April 16 View Page The other two squash went into the greenhouse at the farm. Alex's put in a 1421.5 Jutras as his main plant. The 1324 Kline is his backup. I also put in my 1159.5 Kline as a backup.   Friday, April 17 View Page Andrew isn't growing this year, so I've got more space for my own plants. We had 3 plants in the main patch at the farm for the past few years. I've taken it down to 2. On the east growing to the west, I have the 1813 Northrup, and my 731 Makarchuk as a backup for my extra pumpkin. The extra squash is growing to the east. I put in an 800 Neily, with a 1094.6 Butler and a 1094.6 Butler. Alanna may take over one of these plants in the next few weeks. She's unsure at this time. The grasshoppers last year really freaked her out. However, Alanna and Alex will be growing long gourds out at the farm. Those go in the ground in a week or so.   Friday, May 1 View Page So far so good with the early start. Here's the 2032 Mathison in the back yard. It's a tad behind the 1499 Dettweiler beside it with it's 5 leaves. For May 1st, I'm still happy.   Friday, May 1 View Page The 1813 Northrup. I had to steal the heating cable from this spot as the one in the greenhouse died. Maybe that's why last year had such a slow start in the greenhouse? The 1813 had the heating cable go in the same day as the plants were put in. It's a bit behind the others, but still doing well. I'm ok if this one is a little slower. It's in the main patch and once it outgrows the small greenhouse it will be exposed earlier to the weather.   Friday, May 1 View Page The 800 Neilly. This one is going to share the main patch with the 1813 Northrup.   Friday, May 1 View Page The plants in the greenhouse. In front is Alex's 1421 Jutras. Top left is my 1578 Holub. Creeping along in the top right is my 1159 Kline. Alex lost his 1324 Kline to something munching on it's stem. We replaced it with another 1159 Kline. If all goes well, the 1159's will be taken out to the leave the 1421 and 1578. The weather has been fairly nice, except for the wind. Ugh, it just keeps blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing. It's just downright depressing. I can't sleep at night. I keep hearing it hit the hoophouse and have to look out the window every few hours. I know the small hoophouses will stand up to almost anything, but I just can't get past it.   Thursday, May 21 View Page May has been pretty nice...if you like cold weather. Not a lot of wind, lots of sunshine, but cool cool nights. My wife is confused as to why our power bill spiked this month. She doesn't want to see what I have running in the hoophouse. Anyways, here's the 2032 Mathison in the backyard. I pulled the 1499 Detweiller last week. The 2032 caught up to it, plus the 1499 put out a double vine and wasn't my primary choice. Easy to cut that one off. Main vine is running nicely and so far so good.   Thursday, May 21 View Page The 800 Neilly at the farm. The heating cables in the main patch don't heat up the soil as well and these plants are a little slower.   Thursday, May 21 View Page 1813 Northrup. Again, in the main patch with not a lot of protection. Slower growth, but still ahead of the last few years.   Thursday, May 21 View Page My 1578 Holub in the greenhouse at the farm.   Thursday, May 21 View Page Alex's 1421 Jutras squash. Nice plant for a 9 year old.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page It's been really warm and dry the past little while. All I do is water and water. Here's the 2032 Mathison. I had the first female open at 14 feet on the 14th and crossed it with the 1813 Northrup. I have another one opening at about 16 feet in a few days. I need to keep the hoophouse structure up all through the summer for shade cloth and storm protection. This may be interesting positioning the vines compared to the posts for the hoophouse.....   Tuesday, June 16 View Page The 1578 Holub out at the farm. I have a female opening about 12 feet in a week or so.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page Alex's 1421 Jutras squash.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page The 1813 Northrup. The plants in the main patch are a bit behind the others, but still ahead of the past few years at this time.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 800 Neilly Same progress as the 1813 Northrup   Monday, June 22 View Page At about 14 feet out the 1578 Holub opened today. Unfortunately, I was in Banff recovering from my marathon the day before. Thanks to Andrew and Andrea for getting up early and pollinating. They selfed it as there were no males from the 1421 Jutras or the 800 Neilly.   Saturday, June 27 View Page Alex's 1421 Jutras opened today. He was quite excited to get up early and pollinate. He crossed it with the 1578 Holub. The bad news is it looks like the first two pollinations on my 2032 Mathison didn't take. We are heading out of town for 3 days. We'll see if the neighbour will take care of things. I thought I had it all planned out lol   Wednesday, July 1 View Page The 3rd female on the 2032 Mathison opened on June 28th. We were enjoying the heat in BC and playing golf. The neighbour came over and selfed it. We'll see. At 20 feet, another one opened this morning. It was crossed with the 1813 Northrup. I got up early to pollinate and there was a raging thunderstorm. Had to wait 20 minutes until it passed. Once I figure out which one I want, I need to adjust the vine. I am running out of patch room and may have some space issues once the pumpkin gets bigger.   Wednesday, July 1 View Page I think I may have a soil issue in the backyard. The 2032 Mathison has a number of leaves with problems. This started about 6-7 weeks ago. Anyone have any suggestions?   Wednesday, July 1 View Page The main patch out at the farm. The 800 Neilly is on the left and the 1813 Northrup on the right. They are a week or two ahead of the plants in the same place for the past 2-3 years. I should be pollinating in the next 3-4 days. Without the bigger hoophouse or the greenhouse, I just can't get them to grow as fast. The problem is, the bigger hoophouse at the farm isn't as protected and gets hammered by the wind. Oh well, just keep plugging along.   Monday, July 13 View Page The 1578 Holub. For the most part, it has been hot and dry, with a few mild thunderstorms coming through. We had a few cold nights in early July, down to 5....ugh, that was cold. I don't know if it is the excessive heat, or those cold nights, but everything is a little slower than normal.   Monday, July 13 View Page Alex's 1421 Jutras. He cut off the second squash later that day.   Monday, July 13 View Page The 800 Neilly. This was pollinated July 4th and crossed with the 1578 Holub.   Monday, July 13 View Page Ooops. The 800 Neilly was pollinated on July 3rd. This is the 1813 Northrup. Pollinated July 4th and crossed with the 2032 Mathison.   Monday, July 13 View Page The 2032 Mathison at home. The one on the left was selfed by my neighbour on June 28th. The one on the right was July 1st and crossed with the 1813 Northrup. I culled the smaller one today. Not quite happy with the shape, but I have no choice in the matter at this time. Even my little old neighbour across the back alley is commenting about how things are growing more slowly this year...   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Overhead view of the main patch at the farm. It seems all I do is water. We pollinated Alex's first long gourd today. The pumpkins may not be loving the heat, but the long gourds seem to like it. Alanna and I have females opening in the next few days. This is way ahead of last year. I extended the trellis at home by another 3 feet last fall. Things are looking good here....knock on wood.   Friday, July 31 View Page I came back from a week away to find some problems with my leaves in the greenhouse. There's a few in the centre of the plants that are starting to yellow and turn brittle. What's up with this? I've never had this? I have two other plants just 30 yards away outside the greenhouse that look really good.   Friday, July 31 View Page A closer version of the leaves at the base of the two plants.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Here's a better picture of a few of the leaves.   Saturday, August 8 View Page Here's the main patch out at the farm. The pumpkin is the 1813 Northrup. Behind it is the 800 Neilly. These two hvae picked up the pace in the past 10 days after a slow start.   Saturday, August 8 View Page 800 Neilly   Saturday, August 8 View Page Alex's 1421 Jutras   Saturday, August 8 View Page The 1578 Holub. I'm fighting spider mites in the greenhouse. The two squash inside have slowed down. This won't be my best year.   Sunday, August 9 View Page The long gourd trellis at home. Even though the squash and pumpkins are not where I would like them to be, the gourds give me a bit of hope. Still putting on about 6 inches a day.   Sunday, August 9 View Page The garden at home. We've been eating tomatoes adn peppers for a few weeks now. Never have we had so much fruit so early. We had a few scares with thunderstorms, but nothing too severe.   Sunday, August 9 View Page I've let the 2032 go into the alley. We've stopped using this gate for now.   Sunday, August 9 View Page The 2032 Northrup. A little lumpy but is now putting on decent numbers. A little later than I wanted, but I'll take what I can get.   Sunday, September 6 View Page The 800 Neilly. We had over two inches of rain the past few days. This is more rain than we have had all summer combined. Taping 500 pounds, if you loook closer you can see.....   Sunday, September 6 View Page Oh no. This was my biggest squash. Still had a chance at about 600 pounds. Not any more.   Sunday, September 6 View Page As soon as I uncovered it today, one of the cats jumped on it right away. Maybe it could smell the hole. The 1578 and Alex's 1421 are just not going to cut it this year. I'll be happy with 450 from my squash this year. Problem is, that's not the only disaster today.   Sunday, September 6 View Page My best grower this year was the long gourds. Ok, I only had one really good gourd. Too bad I'm talking in the past tense. It hasn't put on any length in the past 4-5 days. I should have cut it off. The rain didn't help things......   Sunday, September 6 View Page In the space of an hour, I find I lose one squash and one long gourd. Not a nice day. I have never had one split before. It was fine on Friday.   Sunday, September 6 View Page So, just for kicks, I take it down and measure it. The Smoky Lake record is 104.2 inches. Sadly, this one taped in at 105 inches.   Sunday, September 6 View Page So here's the view from the roof. I had to clean the needles from the trees out of the gutters today. This is the 2032 Mathison   Sunday, September 6 View Page The main farm patch. In front is the 1813 Northrup. In Back is the split 800 Neilly. The 1813 is starting to scare me.   Sunday, September 6 View Page The 1813 is still growing quite well. Don't know if it will survive the latest rain with the blossom end looking the way it is.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page 2032 Mathison. Still doing 10 pounds a day.........   Wednesday, September 16 View Page But not so pretty from the blossom end. Taping 811.5 pounds and still putting on good numbers. After the rain last week, I covered the plant to avoid any more growth spurts. I guess I was too late. Personal best for me in terms of size for pumpkins. Still not as big as my 825 squash from 2009. Final numbers 96.5 89 147 for an ott of 332.5 We have a frost warning out for tonight. The 1813 Northrup is still ok, for now... This is not my year.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page I was always worried about the blossom end. Just hoping it would hang on.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Picking day. Alex and his squash. It's been beautiful weather the past few weeks. Oh, what could have been if things would not have split.....   Thursday, October 1 View Page 1813 Northrup. Since the splits all happend, I backed off on this one. I wanted to have something to take to Smoky. Good news, no mice this year.   Thursday, October 1 View Page It's good to have friends with heavy equipment. Man, this thing is huge!   Thursday, October 1 View Page Everything is loaded up on the trailer, ready for the ride to Calgary tomorrow, then on to Smoky on Saturday. We had to wait until after hockey practice to get things loaded. Sure gets dark early these days, but an absolutely beautiful evening!   Thursday, October 1 View Page Everything is loaded up on the trailer, ready for the ride to Calgary tomorrow, then on to Smoky on Saturday. We had to wait until after hockey practice to get things loaded. Sure gets dark early these days, but an absolutely beautiful evening!   Saturday, October 3 View Page So after stopping in Calgary Friday night, my Dad jumped in the truck with Alex and I to make the trip to Smoky. We fought a really strong cold north wind all the way. That was not a fun drive.   Saturday, October 3 View Page They changed the rules at the Smoky Lake weighoff this year. You have to be 16 to enter anything. We didn't find this out until earlier in the week. So, we managed to get it on the scale before the weighoff started. He was a little disappointed but understands why they made the rule change. He still had a great time.   Saturday, October 3 View Page Here's the 3 largest squash. Alex's would have come in 4th. His was off the 1421 Jutras My 1578 Holub came in at 373. We had some soil issues in the greenhouse this year with my salts being way too high. Have to fix that for next year. Oh, yes Eddy. You kicked my butt in the squash division this year. Eddy's is on the left at 593. Double or nothing next year!   Saturday, October 3 View Page My 1813 Northrup came in at 637. Taped out at 602 so not bad. Good enough for 7th. I'm pretty happy considering I pulled the plug on the planta few weeks ago after my 2032 went down. I just wanted something to take to Smoky   Saturday, October 3 View Page I hate being interviewed on stage in front of all those people. I have one person to thank.......   Saturday, October 3 View Page And we have a new Smoky Lake record! Ray Beaudin of Coalhurst at 1470.5 pounds. Great job Ray!   Saturday, October 3 View Page Alex hamming it up with Ray's 1470.5 This thing was huge!   Saturday, October 3 View Page Just to prove my Dad went along for the ride.   Sunday, October 4 View Page After a stop in Fort Saskatchewan at Boston Pizza with Eddy and his gang, it was a long drive back to Calgary. The next morning, it was time for some relaxation with the leaves in the backyard.   Sunday, October 4 View Page As we were heading home through Nanton, we passed by the Bomber Command Museum. We drive past this place every time we go to Calgary, but we have never seen the Lancaster bomber out of the museum before. We just had to stop and take a picture.   Friday, October 30 View Page That time of year again. Alex loves playing with power tools lol!   Saturday, October 31 View Page Here's what we came up with. Alex and I spent quite a bit of time time Friday and Saturday working on our display. Great working with him. He's full of energy and great ideas. He's looking a little jaundiced. He went as a Minion for Halloween and I forgot to take a picture before he put on his makeup.   Saturday, October 31 View Page All lit up. Lots of kids again this year. Lots of families who come to our area just for my pumpkins. This is my favourite part of growing. Patch prep for the year is all done and everything is put to bed. Just have to clean up a few things and the season is over.