Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 87 Entries. Wednesday, January 14 View Page Starting off the 2015 Diary with my favorite picture and smallest pumpkin of 2014.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page The support system, Soil Biotics. Organic and Conventional Growth Programs.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page A little bit of carving fun with the 985.5 courtesy of Jean McDonald.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page Ice Creation's Chad Hartson with the 1082 displayed at the Toledo Zoo.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page Last picture was a 2nd carving of the 985.5. Here's the 1082 displayed at the Toledo Zoo with carving demo by Ice Creations.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page 2014's The One That Got Away. Grown off the 1874.5 Mathison. The 1874.5 seed has huge potential and will be overlooked. 1220lbs on 8-13. 8% Heavy 10" walls.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page The next Giant Watermelon master. 2nd year grower and has done it all on his own thus far. 50lbs improvement from 2013. He has a setup that would be admired by most, watch out when he gets dialed in.   Wednesday, January 14 View Page Lineup as of 1-14-2015. 1894 Mathison, 1790 Rose, 1865 Harnica, 1655 Harnica,1928 Globus, 1554 Mathison and hopefully the 1874.5 Mathison. There's a trend starting to form. Unfortunately all of these plants are going to be spread out between home and possibly two other locations.   Wednesday, March 25 View Page The season is getting closer, sending tests out today. It looks like the patches won't get worked for awhile longer. We should be set on myco for the year. Purchased 20lbs through Wallace Wow.   Thursday, April 9 View Page 3/4" hail at 7:00pm. I really hope that's the last time I see it for this year.   Sunday, April 12 View Page 1 down, 4 to go.   Sunday, April 12 View Page   Sunday, April 12 View Page   Saturday, April 25 View Page Early Note: 1865 Harnica & 1894 Mathison most aggressive seedling. 2002 Hawkley & 1873 Steil are slow to start.   Saturday, April 25 View Page RTI Pumpkin Pro & Rootshield incorporated into each planting mix @ 2 TBS Myco and 2 TSP Rootshield. Direct sow into Promix Media with "sea compost" and mycorrhizae. Subsoiled old patch on 4-24-15   Wednesday, April 29 View Page 2 week old Rye cover. 6" roots @ 1865 Harnica plant site.   Wednesday, April 29 View Page Nice and Cozy!   Wednesday, April 29 View Page Pounded the 1865 with Biologicals. 2 cups Mycorrhizae broadcast on 7x5' area, 2 cups in planting hole. 1/2 cup Rootshield broadcast, 3 TBS in hole. 1 TBS Azos on rootball and planting hole. 3oz/2gal Companion drench and 3oz/2gal Superzyme Using mostly Soil Biotics products again this year after a dramatic improvement in 2014 for spray/drench program.   Monday, May 11 View Page "If" this plant produces, the fruit will be named Harold. I found a way to lay the plants down tonight without stress or strain and will use it from here on out. Both the 1865 and 1894 are starting to run. I have hopes for all three being over 1,000 and am implementing techniques and products on one plant in hopes of competing for 1600+ Drenched Merit 75WP tonight in 7x5' areas. Fed high concentrate seaweed at 4tsp/2 gal with foliar feed. I've figured out starting Rye in late October is a waste of time, Incorporating Mycor with seed as the plant grows. Making sure to plant sufficient area 2/3 weeks in advance.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Root microbe mix 2 TSP/GAL On 1865 - 2 Gallons Root microbe mix, Essential 1-0-1 (3oz/2gal) Companion (1oz/1gal) on 1894 Mathison Same drench on 1873 Steil. Backup transplanted next to 2nd 1873 Steil plant.   Sunday, May 24 View Page Irrigation run on comp tomato and 1865 sight. Next up, holding tank and pump for fert injecting.   Sunday, May 24 View Page   Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1894 Mathison- On pace.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1865 Harnica - 2nd day of vine burying on this guy. I'm dreading hitting this thing with chemical pest/fungicide/bactericide controls. So far it's had 1 app of Merit and 1 app of Bifen.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page 1865   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Slow Moe. 1873 Steil, slowest starting plant(s) I've had. Settling for no less than 1300lbs from this one.   Friday, May 29 View Page 1894 Mathison prepping for the wind,hail and monsoon rain. I think it's about time for a greenhouse. If these plants had full secondaries and tap roots, I wouldn't be so cautious.   Friday, May 29 View Page Did I say cautious...no this is full blown nuts.   Friday, May 29 View Page   Sunday, May 31 View Page Finished off the month of May with a 3"+ monsoon. The large patch is flooded out around the plant sites. The 1865 Harnica patch was subsoiled and forked to about 14" and looks immaculate. Still need to check on the plants later this afternoon.   Sunday, May 31 View Page 1865   Sunday, May 31 View Page 1894   Sunday, May 31 View Page 1894   Wednesday, June 3 View Page I'm suspecting I had another visitation from my friend 2-4 D this year on 2/3 plants. This might not be funny in a few weeks. 50' buffer zone between plant and target site. Cooler temps, calm breeze to the east. Did not treat ahead of wind.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page 1st app Heritage G @ 4.5lbs/12K on 1865 Harnica Heritage G @ 4lbs/K @ 1873 & 1894 plant sites. 2TSP/Gal Dr Earth Seaweed 2OZ/Gal Superzyme @ all 3 plants, foliar feed.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Also Dithane @ .5OZ/500 ft sq   Friday, June 5 View Page 1894 Issues. Slender long side vines. Yellowing between veins in older leaves. Cupped new growth. Stale and malnourished looking main tip.   Friday, June 5 View Page 1894   Friday, June 5 View Page Main tip   Friday, June 5 View Page Side vines   Sunday, June 7 View Page What 60-70mph winds?   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Way to much rain, I sent a tissue sample out on Tuesday and am waiting the results. The patch from last year looks done for. Maybe down to one plant that is doing extremely well.   Thursday, June 18 View Page More rain and deformities. What the hell is this? First, seeds in the blossom and now a secondary fused to the stem.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Well, I guess it's not just lawn applications that cause drift damage to plants. After consulting a fertilizer company the other other day, word is a lot of applicators are switching back to 2-4D on agriculture crops. Real happy I wasted my time this season. Down to 1 plant, pulled 2 and the entire veggie garden will likely not produce. As an applicator myself, it pisses me off when others are reckless as I take the measure twice cut once approach. 90 degree heat and 15+ mph west winds don't mesh well folks.   Sunday, June 21 View Page 100-150' drift   Sunday, June 21 View Page Yep.   Sunday, June 21 View Page I hear Lake Erie's water quality is stellar also. This drainage ditch separates the 2 properties, I'm sure it didn't catch drift or runoff with the 7-8+ inches we have received this month.   Saturday, June 27 View Page 5-6" rain in 18 hours. Still raining.   Saturday, June 27 View Page 1' from the patch. Competition tomatoes are maybe an hour from being under water.   Saturday, June 27 View Page The ditch has risen about 6-8' since Friday night. Maybe 6" in the past hour.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1st cull. 1865 Harnica, seeds in blossom.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Boy am I behind compared to 2014. But, the fruit and plant both are looking very healthy.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Quite a dent at the top of this fruit, I'm sure it will be real pretty as the growth ramps up. It just became noticeable to the untrained eye.   Sunday, July 26 View Page 1865 Harnica 27 Dap   Thursday, July 30 View Page I like this little setup, les stress on the leaves and easier to handle. I can attach wands for spraying or hook it up directly to the tape grid.   Thursday, July 30 View Page Plant view.   Thursday, July 30 View Page 31 Days after pollination. High heat really threw me a curve ball the last few days, we went from a steady 45lbs a day down to 30lbs today on 7/30/15. I named this fruit Rosie.   Monday, August 3 View Page 2 full months to grow and already have rot issues.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Table for 1 or 2? 1865 Harnica 41 DAP   Sunday, August 16 View Page 1865 Harnica DAP 48   Saturday, August 22 View Page 5.05 Reinhard   Friday, August 28 View Page I'm thinking the last hoorah of summer lows are coming. Mid 70's for the rest of next week, hopefully we can pack on some pounds.   Wednesday, September 9 View Page What the hell is going on here?   Wednesday, September 9 View Page I'm no tomato grower, not until 2016 atleast.   Sunday, September 13 View Page I started weed whipping an area that flooded out in July today and found this little guy.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Day 1 of potential soft spot.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Day 2 before treatment.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page After treatment   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Larger Picture   Monday, September 21 View Page Some areas have spread and the initial area has dried. We'll try for Harnica's on Oct. 3rd. I haven't seen any of the lineage go heavy to chart yet. The 1865 is still growing about 5lbs a day.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Well we finished the year with a Dmg entry, but it's been another fun ride. 216lbs over my previous personal best @ 1298. Every year I meet more growers. I really enjoyed meeting and talking with Dan Fleser along with the Davis'. Great job to you both, making friends in this hobby is what makes it a blast.   Sunday, October 4 View Page We'll do better next year. This fruit was a whomper width wise @ 195" cc. 2" clearance on either side of the truck bed, it got quite a few looks going down us-23.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Tyler Reinhard and his 192.5 melon.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Tyler's 598 squash.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Byron Schommer and his 1018lbs pumpkin. 1st time over 1K.   Sunday, October 4 View Page The tomato crew @ Harnica Farms. What a huge turnout for tomato weighing this year. I finished 6th @ 2.5lbs   Sunday, October 4 View Page   Sunday, October 11 View Page The family shot   Sunday, October 11 View Page My father   Sunday, October 11 View Page brother and I   Sunday, October 11 View Page The wifey.   Sunday, October 18 View Page First time doing a broadcast interview thanks to a "lead" from a family member. Hope it turns out alright. There certainly weren't many beginner questions asked.   Sunday, October 18 View Page Will air either 10/23 or 10/24 on WTVG 13 ABC.   Sunday, October 18 View Page   Sunday, October 18 View Page I'm excited to be starting a project with Tyler Reinhard next year sharing knowledge/plants and resources. Team Reinhard/Hertzfeld will pull something through. We're hoping to make a circuit run; Watermelon,AG,Squash,Tomato and Long Gourd.   Friday, October 23 View Page I hope I showed an honest view of the giant pumpkin community. Here's my first news segment. https://www.facebook.com/13abc/posts/10153635727096897