Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 167 Entries. Monday, March 9 View Page Sub soiled and plowed the patch today. I should get my soil test results back any day now. The long range outlook for summer in the Pacific Northwest is another long, warm snd dry summer!   Monday, March 23 View Page I attended my first GPC convention and had a good time! It was so nice meeting people in person, and to be surrounded by "pumpkin royalty". I picked up a few fantastic seeds that I'm excited to try!   Monday, March 23 View Page Here is what's being planted in the Tobeck 2015 patch:   Monday, March 23 View Page A proven performer. I planted it last year and didn't have good luck, but I'll try it once more.   Monday, March 23 View Page This is my #1 seed and I'm excited to grow it again. Much thanks to Gary Miller, who was so very nice to meet at the convention!   Monday, March 23 View Page I got to meet Mr. Gantner last weekend, and look forward to planting this heavy-producing proven performer.   Monday, March 23 View Page I got a couple of seeds from The very nice John Hawkley! I think I'm going to go with this one for 2015. I can't wait to see how it does for me! It was a very beautiful pumpkin.   Monday, March 23 View Page I got to meet to gracious and generous Pete and Cindi Glasier who gave me this special seed! What nice people!   Monday, March 23 View Page I finally met Al Berard and Hiram Watson and got to hear the story of the 1900. So, I will start this seed too! What nice guys!   Monday, March 23 View Page So, that's my starting lineup. 6 will go into the main patch and will be double planted with my own seeds just in case. I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2015.....happy spring!   Thursday, March 26 View Page Here I am at the GPC Convention with my new jacket for the 4000 pound club. It looks like I'm with some pretty good company!   Thursday, March 26 View Page This is the photo that was up on the big screen when I got my jacket. Not my biggest pumpkin, but now my most infamous 'pumpkin pose'.   Thursday, March 26 View Page Awards night with my good friend Ron Barker!   Thursday, March 26 View Page Scott Holub and I were very happy to get our 4000-pound club jackets!   Saturday, March 28 View Page Tomorrow is the spring meeting for the PNWGPG and the PGVG, and we're having a potato weigh off. I just measured my potato and it's a whopper. I lifted it onto a pallet and put it in the back of the truck.   Monday, March 30 View Page We had a successful spring meeting and I scored some more really great seeds....I think I might change my line up! Ah, decisions, decisions!   Monday, March 30 View Page If you watch the Alien astronaut shows on History Channel, you'll get it.   Monday, April 6 View Page I've got my golf cart loaded up with 400 pounds of amendments!   Monday, April 6 View Page Spreading....   Monday, April 6 View Page And more spreading......   Monday, April 6 View Page It's looking and feeling like spring here in Littlerock, WA, but I need about a week of dry weather before I can rototill the patches. The manure I added in November is really hanging onto the water despite my deep plowing.   Monday, April 6 View Page This is the husband. He grows boring-sized produce. He's weeding out his garden boxes today and probably thinking how it would be nice to have a "normal" wife. Ha!   Tuesday, April 14 View Page I just completed 5 successful test germinations. Tonight my line up will get filed and go into their warm 8-hour soak. The weather outlook is auspicious for the coming week, and I should get the patch rototilled Sunday or Monday. I've got my sights on 3 different state records this year....let the games begin!   Saturday, April 18 View Page All of my line up has emerged! 100% germination. 1985 Miller looks like my most vigorous.   Sunday, April 19 View Page All of my sprouts got to sit in the sun today. I will repot them this evening. The patch gets rototilled this week and I have a dump truck load of mushroom compost delivered on Tuesday for my second patch. Soon I'll be building greenhouses and burying soil cables...but I'm not ready to think about that now...it makes me too tired!   Wednesday, April 22 View Page   Wednesday, April 22 View Page Early morning and the sun rays are showing where the next Half Moon Bay winner will be grown.....   Wednesday, April 22 View Page I had 10 yards of mushroom compost delivered to my secondary patch. It will get tilled in today in preparation for my SECRET plant that I'm not revealing until later.....   Wednesday, April 22 View Page My first rhododendron and azalea in bloom.   Wednesday, April 22 View Page Here is my line up in the morning sunshine!   Monday, April 27 View Page This weekend I singlehandedly built 6 greenhouses! I need some lumber delivered before I build #7. Plastic is on 5, and all of my Napa pumpkins are in the ground! Warm in the mid 70's today, so no ends will be up.   Monday, April 27 View Page This weekend I singlehandedly built 6 greenhouses! I need some lumber delivered before I build #7. Plastic is on 5, and all of my Napa pumpkins are in the ground! Warm in the mid 70's today, so no ends will be up.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page I get several emails from growers wanting to know how to build a greenhouse. So here goes: start with 5 20 foot 2x4's. Also you'll need 4 6-foot 2x6's and 2 8-foot 2x6's. These short boards should be pressure treated.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Drill through the 2x4 and 2x6.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Put the short boards on the outside ends, and the long boards in the middle.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Next fasten them together with these:   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Once the boards are bolted and tightened down, figure out where your seedling will go. Position the middle set of boards accordingly. I've marked my planting site with a stake. Next dig down about 3' ant the ends of each pt board.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Ta da!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Next measure out six feet from both sides of the central upright board. Mark these spits and dig holes about 2 feet down. Repeat at the opposite end of the central upright. Position the side uprights into the holes and tamp down.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Digging!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Here are the side spans in place. Level the uprights and tamp down.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Put six 30-foot long PVC schedule 40 one inch diameter ribs over the spans. Just eyeball it and spread the out somewhat evenly...no need to measure.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Drill a couple of aluminum wiggle wire channels onto your remaining 20-foot long 2x4's.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Here is what they look like when finished.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Oops! Let's try that again!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Put these boards along both sides of the rib ends. They will help to get the ribs lined up straight.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Now take 6 sticks of rebar (I use 3/8" diameter 2' long) and pound them into the ground at equal intervals along the inside of the bottom board.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Slide your PVC over each rebar. Looking good!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Use some self tapping screws and a conduit clamp to fasten down the 4 corner pvc's to the bottom boards.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Fasten the front and back ribs to all three uprights.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Fastening the first and last rib to the center upright.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Next using conduit clips and self tapping screws, fasten down all 6ribs olong each short upright span.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Ooh la la! I'm ready for plastics!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page This is the one phase of building I like to get help with. I can do it alone...but it goes 10x faster with a helper. Yay! Almost finished with this 20x25 foot greenhouse!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Here is how the wiggle wire looks in its channel. I LOVE wiggle wire! You just "sew" it into the channel and Bam! The wind can't touch you!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Oh yeah, I forgot to mention to use many large binder clips on the ends to secure the plastic. If weather is going to be cool or wet, I also put plastic on the ends using binder clips.   Monday, May 4 View Page Pumpkins are all looking good...except for two which now sit with a back up plant...just in case.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Today my 2002 Hawkley has a 6'6" main with a tiny female on the tip. Yay! Burying vines on every plant now, with the 3 Napa pumpkin plants being ultra aggressive. One of my secret plants is also aggressive with a tiny female on its tip as well.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page The big guns are coming out!   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Almost ready. Will go live tomorrow.   Thursday, May 28 View Page Evening patch tour   Wednesday, June 3 View Page First male flowers opened on the 1985 and 1676.5.   Thursday, June 4 View Page Males flower opened on the 2002 and 2036. Females are everywhere, on all plants, and my first pollination will be on the 2002 within a week's time.   Saturday, June 6 View Page 2002 x 1985 ten feet out on main vine 5 lobes   Wednesday, June 10 View Page My secret plant has two pollinations so far! This is the second. This plant is AMAZING!!!!   Wednesday, June 10 View Page This is the 2036. It also got pollinated today. Lots of early pollinations in the Tobeck patch this year! Also I got my first tissue test results back on Monday. I amended the patch accordingly (only minor nutrients needed raised). I will re-test in a couple weeks to see how that helped. The plants look GREAT this year!   Thursday, June 11 View Page 1985 got pollinated today. I crossed it with the 2002 Hawkley.   Thursday, June 11 View Page In the annual measuring of the vines, I am quite pleased with the size of the plants this year: 1985. Is at 11'3". It's first set is at 8', so it won't be my keeper. 2002. Is at 14'6". It's first set is at 8', so it won't be my keeper. 2036. Is at 11'3". It's first set is at 7'; definitely not the keeper. 1381. Is at 10'4". It has it's first bud at 9'. Secret plant is at 12'8". It has two sets at 5', 6' and a bud at 9'8", with another about 2'down. 1381. Is at 9'6". It's first bud is at 8'6". Secret #2. 7'6" with its first set at 5'....not a keeper.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Well....this sounds like a good fortune for a pumpkin grower!   Saturday, August 1 View Page Patch update   Saturday, August 1 View Page Left to right: 1381 Tobeck, 2036 Glasier, 2002 Hawkley, 1985 Miller   Saturday, August 1 View Page 1381 Tobeck x 2036 Glasier 6/26 pollination. So far, this wide load is the biggest in my patch...just barely though!   Saturday, August 1 View Page Me and 1381   Saturday, August 1 View Page 2036 Glasier   Saturday, August 1 View Page 2036 naked!   Saturday, August 1 View Page Shout out to these two awesome guys! I did a road trip a few weeks ago and John Hawkley and Gary Miller were so gracious to give me patch tours! I had a graet time visiting them! I had two other tours lined up the following day with the Glasiers and Leonardo, but the husband wanted to hit the road (he's no fun). Now...here are their two pumpkins....   Saturday, August 1 View Page 2002 Hawkley   Saturday, August 1 View Page Selfie with the 2002   Saturday, August 1 View Page 1985 Miller   Saturday, August 1 View Page 1985 selfie!   Saturday, August 1 View Page The new fertigation system is running like a champ! Big thanks to my buddy, Jack LaRue who spent a whole afternoon with me installing electric ball valves! Also I owe a ton of thanks to my friend Scott Holub who is helping me with all of my tissue test results!   Saturday, August 1 View Page Boo. One of my plants got pulled for being sterile. The male flowers came late, and when the did come, they had no anthers. Every set turned white, then to mush. Lame. It was one of my secret plants....still a secret, since I'm growing it's sibling.   Saturday, August 1 View Page A second 1381 Tobeck   Saturday, August 1 View Page This one is really slow growing, but it may turn out really orange. Perhaps a Howard Dill winner....   Saturday, August 1 View Page Secret plant!!!!!!   Saturday, August 1 View Page Shhh! It's a secret! No peeking!   Sunday, August 9 View Page The view from my front yard!   Sunday, August 9 View Page 1885 Miller   Sunday, August 9 View Page Oops...Previous pic should've read 1985. Anyhow, this one is the 2002 Hawkley.   Sunday, August 9 View Page 2036 Glasier   Sunday, August 9 View Page 1381 Tobeck   Sunday, August 9 View Page Another 1381 Tobeck. Small, but solid...like a brick.   Sunday, August 9 View Page 1973 Tobeck. Solid. Heavy to chart. Ha!   Thursday, August 20 View Page Today's view from the front yard. They're getting BIG!   Thursday, August 20 View Page 1381 Tobeck 28 lbs a day still.   Thursday, August 20 View Page 2036 Glasier. 24 lbs a day.   Thursday, August 20 View Page 2002 Hawkley...25 lbs a day for the last 5 days.   Thursday, August 20 View Page 1985 Miller. Biggest of the patch...for now...33 lbs a day for the last 5 days!   Thursday, August 20 View Page Another 1381 Tobeck....tiny...16 lbs a day for the last 5 days...which is a huge improvement believe it or not!   Thursday, August 20 View Page My secret pumpkin!! 26 pounds a day for the last five days!   Thursday, August 27 View Page I had a little luau party the other day, a few of my grower friends showed up!   Thursday, August 27 View Page The day AFTER my luau, my secret pumpkin got a hole! Boo!!!!   Thursday, August 27 View Page Dill ring coupled with a rib crease....trouble! Well, as you can see, my secret pumpkin wasn't a pumpkin at all! It was a squash! I've tried growing 3 squash, and I've been burned all three times! Never again! Ha!   Thursday, August 27 View Page My buddy Jack came over to help me weigh it. It measured 362". It was light....860 lbs.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Taking it to its final resting place.   Thursday, August 27 View Page It was pretty! Nice and green! 1578 Holub x self.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Oh well! The end of the line for El Verde Grande!   Saturday, September 5 View Page 1381 Tobeck   Saturday, September 5 View Page I love it when I run out of measuring tape!   Saturday, September 5 View Page 2036 Glasier ....biggest of the patch, barely!   Saturday, September 5 View Page 2002 Hawkley   Saturday, September 5 View Page 1985 Miller   Saturday, September 5 View Page The other 1381 Tobeck. This one will be my little speed boat in the Terminator regatta!   Saturday, September 5 View Page Big dahlia in my patch.   Saturday, September 5 View Page One of many big sunflowers in the patch.   Monday, September 28 View Page Last Saturday I took my smallest competition pumpkin to Christenson's Skagit Valley Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off. There were 20 giants there. I got to wear my new GPC coat for the first time since it was chilly that morning during registration.   Monday, September 28 View Page Rosalyn only grew cabbages this year, but she came along to cheer me on. She's 12 now!   Monday, September 28 View Page Waiting....my turn is next! I was second from last based on OTT measurements. This is my 2002 Hawkley x Self.   Monday, September 28 View Page 1301 pounds! I was hoping it would go a bit heavy and get in the 1300's! 4% over the chart, yay!   Monday, September 28 View Page There are the results: 2nd place! (Pay no attention to the estimated weight...it was incorrect.)   Monday, September 28 View Page $800 richer!   Monday, September 28 View Page Skagit Top Ten growers   Monday, September 28 View Page On our way home Rosalyn and I found an ice cream shop to buy our celebratory ice cream cones. It was a good day!   Monday, October 5 View Page I've always wanted to ride my pumpkin on the forklift!   Monday, October 5 View Page Bauman Farms Weigh off, Gervais, OR. This is my 2936 Glasier. 426 inches....11% light. Weighing in at 1402 lbs. I was hoping for 1500+, but at least I bested my Bauman's pb of 1381 lbs from last year.   Friday, October 9 View Page Driving to Bauman Farms with the 2036 Glasier and Rosalyn!   Friday, October 9 View Page Getting ready to unload!   Friday, October 9 View Page Bauman Farms Top 10 growers!   Friday, October 9 View Page Winners!   Sunday, October 11 View Page My friend Scott lifting up my 1985 Miller for Central Market while I get ready to back up the truck and trailer.   Sunday, October 11 View Page Here it comes! Last to be weighed!   Sunday, October 11 View Page I made the guy stop and take a pumpkin selfie with me!   Sunday, October 11 View Page I'm rubbing it and hugging it before it takes the stage!   Sunday, October 11 View Page Lots of nervous pacing...   Sunday, October 11 View Page Yay! 1519.5 pounds! A new PB, and the winner!   Sunday, October 11 View Page My first win! I've had a few seconds, so it's nice to finally have the heaviest pumpkin!   Sunday, October 11 View Page Ooh la la! I love my pumpkin! I was sopping wet and my jeans were dirty and ripped from harnessing pumpkins into the lifting rings all day, but I didn't care how grubby I looked!   Sunday, October 11 View Page Guess what else? The Top 3 growers: ALL LADIES! Hats off to the ladies!   Sunday, October 11 View Page Bam! Guess who is going to Hawaii!? ME! Guess who is going to get a few dump truck loads of compost!? ME!   Sunday, October 11 View Page Central Market Top 10 growers   Sunday, October 11 View Page 1519.5 Tobeck (1985 Miller x 2002 Hawkley)   Sunday, October 11 View Page One more weigh off! I'll be at Terminator in Tualatin, OR next weekend with my 1381 Tobeck. Afterwards, I'll dress up as a mermaid and race my pumpkin in the regatta! I can't wait!!!   Wednesday, October 14 View Page Top 10 at Central Market   Saturday, October 17 View Page Fueling up for our trip to Tualatin, OR. This was from the 1381 Tobeck seed.   Saturday, October 17 View Page It was big! 421", second only to Steve Daletas in inches.   Saturday, October 17 View Page My friend Scott posing with his pumpkin. I ended up racing this one in the regatta.   Saturday, October 17 View Page So excited it hit 1400+   Saturday, October 17 View Page Good pumpkin....light, but it still made me happy. This was the first time growing my own seed too.   Saturday, October 17 View Page Leader board! Two more were weighed: Jack LaRue and Steve Daletas. I'm in some pretty good company!   Saturday, October 17 View Page Jack with another heavy to chart one!   Saturday, October 17 View Page Steve's big one!   Saturday, October 17 View Page At the starting line. I was a mermaid!   Saturday, October 17 View Page The field of racers.   Saturday, October 17 View Page Jacks LaRue won Best Sport Award, and I won for Best Costume.   Saturday, October 17 View Page Top Growers at Terminator.   Saturday, October 17 View Page 3rd place, 1410.5 pounds of awesomeness and a thousand bucks richer! Yay! It was a good weighoff, lots of FUN!   Friday, October 23 View Page Ive been growing on my trusty old patch for 6 years. It's time to give it a few years off. I'm starting a new patch for 5 plants.   Friday, October 23 View Page First I gathered up a bunch of maple leaves...   Friday, October 23 View Page A whole truck full of maple leaves to add some OM to my sandy virgin ground. More to come!   Friday, October 23 View Page Then I ordered 10 yards of chicken manure and 20 yards of dairy solids for the new patch.   Friday, October 23 View Page Then I spread it all over nice and evenly with my tractor bucket.   Friday, October 23 View Page The chicken manure I spread all over in neat piles that I will hand-rake.   Friday, October 23 View Page Then I spread lime until my arms just about fell off! Half for old patch, half for new.   Friday, October 23 View Page Then I ordered 2 dump truck loads of mushroom compost: 45 yards!   Friday, October 23 View Page Meanwhile, I'm cleaning out the old patch and getting ready to lime it and seed it with rye.   Friday, October 23 View Page Meanwhile, I'm cleaning out the old patch and getting ready to lime it and seed it with rye.