Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 138 Entries. Friday, February 6 View Page This is the one to beat. Its going to be a hard task to accomplish because this was an extraordinary plant but I have a few good seeds and I am going to give it my best shot. I am going to start a week earlier this year because this guy was still growing 12 pounds a day when I harvested it at 82 days old. I am starting to think about soil tests and ordering amendments and ferts.   Monday, March 23 View Page Got the amendments tilled in on the main patch. My Puyallup fair pumpkin last year was still growing well and was 82 days old when I harvested it. This year I am going to start 10 days earlier and see how that works. The 1623 is going to see the dirt on Wednesday. In other news they are finally building a house on the lot next door. I am hoping that it doesn't end up blocking off too much light.   Monday, March 23 View Page I have started a couple of test germs. This is the 1223 Radach on the left and the 819.5 Radach on the right.   Monday, March 23 View Page Got the green house frame up.   Wednesday, March 25 View Page And we are off and running on this years pumpkin adventure. The 1623 Wallace in the center is intended for the prize spot in the Puyallup Fair patch. On either side of it are two of my 1223s from last years pumpkin which I will start as backups in case something goes awry with the Wallace Seed.   Monday, March 30 View Page Success! The 1623 Wallace and one of the 1223 Radachs are poking through the dirt and have been transplanted into 1 gallon pots.   Monday, March 30 View Page The Greenhouse is all ready for the plant.   Saturday, April 4 View Page I gave the second patch a preliminary tilling. The winter was warm and the Rye was way taller than last year.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page The 1623 Wallace is on the left and the 1223 Radach is on the right. Both are ding well with the second true leaves making their appearance. I think I will be setting the 1623 in the ground on Thursday.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page I have my time lapse camera up and running again. Here is last years if you missed it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-ZxzDp6xaU   Thursday, April 9 View Page The 1623 Wallace is in the Ground!   Thursday, April 9 View Page Thanks to the heating cables, the soil temp is around 80 degrees inside the greenhouse.   Tuesday, April 14 View Page Started the 1791 Holland which will be my plant for the Christianson's Nursery weigh off. Also started another 1223 Radach as a backup.   Saturday, April 18 View Page The 1623 Wallace in the green house.   Saturday, April 18 View Page The 1791 Holland and the 1223 Radach have sprouted and been transplanted into 1 gallon pots.   Monday, April 27 View Page The 1791 Holland is in the ground   Monday, April 27 View Page Kind of a rough start for the 1623 Wallace. We had some unseasonablly warm weather and the plant got a little too toasty. It should pull through though.   Monday, April 27 View Page Started my last batch of seeds. Hoping to get one of my 814.5 Radachs to germ for the Central Market/ 150 SF Contest plant. Also starting a couple of 575 Wolfs which I will co grow with my dad on the 10 x 10 patch at his house. He also wanted me to start some of the 452 Radachs that we grew on his patch last year. He wants to use it to pollinate. Also started one more 1223 Radach as a backup just in case.   Friday, May 1 View Page Several Seeds have popped including the 814.5 Radach and the 575 Wolf which are the two that I am intending to grow out of the final batch.   Friday, May 1 View Page Setting up the patch for the 150 SF Contest. I am using the same spot and configuration as last year. I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it! The patch is 10 feet wide and has an angle at the end sloping from 16' down to 14'.   Friday, May 1 View Page 150 SF Patch 10 feet wide on the north edge.   Friday, May 1 View Page 150 SF Patch. 10' wide at the south edge   Friday, May 1 View Page 150 SF Patch. 14 feet long on the West edge.   Friday, May 1 View Page 150 SF Patch. 16 feet long on East edge.   Friday, May 1 View Page Hoop house up on the 150 SF Patch   Friday, May 1 View Page Both the hoop houses up on my secondary patch.   Monday, May 4 View Page Unfortunately, Its looking like I am going to have to pull the 1623 Wallace. Something is definitely wrong with the Plant.   Monday, May 4 View Page I was hoping that it would pull out of its funk but the new leaves keep coming out yellow and shriveled. If I pull it, This will mean that the Puyallup fair will be out of the question for me this year.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page The 814.5 is in the ground. in the hoop house on the 150 SF patch.   Friday, May 15 View Page The 1623 Wallace. I came within a hairs breadth of pulling this plant out but it seems to have come through. Finally putting out normal looking leaves.   Friday, May 15 View Page The 814.5 Radach is looking pretty good so far on the 150 SF Patch.   Friday, May 15 View Page The 1791 Holland. Not as good as the 814.5 but should be fine.   Thursday, May 21 View Page The 1623 Wallace is at 8.5 feet long. There is a tiny female bud in the vine tip.   Thursday, May 21 View Page The 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF patch is nice and stout and very healthy.   Thursday, May 21 View Page The 1791 Holland. The main vine on this one has been trying to go the wrong way and it has needed a lot of direction with the stakes.   Friday, May 29 View Page The 1623 Wallace is at 12 feet long.   Friday, May 29 View Page The 1623 Wallace is out of the end of the green house. The Pumpkin is going to be growing on the driveway in just about the same spot that it did last year.   Friday, May 29 View Page Here is the future state record. This female is on the Main vine and should be at about 13 feet when everything grows out. It is on the correct side of the vine to grow in the driveway and curve the main vine back into the patch, rather than terminating the main vine like I had to do last year.   Friday, May 29 View Page The 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF patch. It is very green and robust......   Friday, May 29 View Page Unfortunately, the 814.5 has also developed a double vine.   Friday, May 29 View Page Hopefully the problem corrects itself. If not I will have to get creative.   Friday, May 29 View Page The 1791 Holland is on the ground and about ready to take off with rapid growth.   Monday, June 1 View Page Accidentally snapped the main vine on the 1623 this afternoon. I am really mad at myself. I know better than to try to position vines when its this cool out. Fortunately the snap occurred after the first Female so I will still have a pumpkin. There were two more coming in after it that it would have been nice to pollinate for options.   Saturday, June 6 View Page The 1623 Wallace has pretty much filled up the green house. I will be adding my 4' x 8' soil tray over the driveway on Monday so that the vines can keep growing.   Saturday, June 6 View Page The secondaries are coming down the leg on the south side of the patch   Saturday, June 6 View Page Here is the keeper on the 1623. Its at 13 feet on the main vine and the main has been terminated at the fruit due to my mishap last week. It should be ready to pollinate in 3-4 days. Hoping this takes otherwise I will have to grow something on a secondary.   Saturday, June 6 View Page Here is the 814.5 Radach in the 150 SF patch. The double vine split out into 2 separate vines. I terminated one and the other one appears to be progressing normally. The vine is about ready to take off.   Saturday, June 6 View Page The 1791 Holland is a little spindley I think because it is in shade most of the day. It is at 6' long.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page well the 1623 sort of bloomed this morning. The petals were pinched together and it really wasn't able to fully open.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page I self pollinated it anyway using 5 males. I am a little afraid that I may have been too late. I really thought it was going to bloom yesterday and the pumpkin portion is looking bigger than they usually are at pollination time. So it may have been supposed to bloom earlier and just wasn't able to open. I hope this one takes. because if it doesn't, my only other options are on secondaries.   Thursday, June 11 View Page Further investigation has revealed that the lobes on the 1623 are severely dis formed. This is probably why the petals wouldn't open correctly. Referring back to my disastrous 2012 season, my experience has been that blossoms like this almost never develop into a mature pumpkin. Looks like I am going to have to move to a fruit on a secondary vine. I don't think I will be setting a personal best this year.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Here is the 1623 Wallace. The Greenhouse is pretty much full at this point   Sunday, June 14 View Page Here is the first pollination on the 1623. I am not holding out too much hope because of the deformed lobes but it is growing. It grew from 7.5 inches to 8.25 inches in 24 hours. This is day 4. I should know for sure if it took by about day 15 or so.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Here is one of several backups that I have on side vines on the 1623.None of these will likely be ready for pollination for another week or so.   Sunday, June 14 View Page The 1791 Holland is finally starting to fill in nicely.   Sunday, June 14 View Page The 1791 is about 11 feet long and has a tiny female in the tip that should be at about the 14- 15 foot mark when it grows out. Just about perfect.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Here is the 814.5 Radach   Sunday, June 14 View Page The original double vine split into two. I terminated one and let the other grow as the main. It grew normal for about 4 nodes but now that has turned into a double as well. Interesting plant.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Well its a pretty rough year all around for the Pumpkins. As I expected the first pollination on the 1623 Wallace aborted. Here it is shriveling away.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page I have these two going on the leg of the patch going down the side of the house. I didn't even really pay attention to what day I pollinated them because they are in an area where it will be almost impossible to get them out and I will only use these as an absolute last resort if nothing else sets on the plant. They do seem to be growing well though.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page This one is growing on the first side vine in the tray over the driveway. Not the perfect position but I could make it work if I had to. This one was pollinated on 6-17.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page This one is also on a side vine on the tray. It was pollinated yesterday.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page This is the one I am hoping to keep. It is on the defacto new main vine out toward the road. It was also pollinated yesterday.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Here is another one I pollinated today. You can see that it is deformed and has some seeds in the blossom. The majority of the blooms so far have had some degree of this in them. Reminds me a lot of my 2012 season. I do have 4 more in good position that will probably be blooming next week. Those will be backups if my keeper doesn't take.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page The 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF patch has had its issues with double vining but it seems to be coming on strong. It has the hoop house just about full. The plastic will likely be coming off this week as we are predicted to have some very warm weather.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page The vine has been alternating between a double node and a single node which is a little odd. Here is a little pumpkin out in the tip of the 814.5 Radach. It should end up just about in the same spot that its Mama was in the patch last year.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Here is the 1791 Holland. Its still very spindly with skinny side vines. I made the mistake of moving my planting location to the west side of the apple tree. Last year I grew on the East side of the apple tree which gave the plant more morning sun.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Here is the first pumpkin on the 1791 Holland. Its at about 15 feet out on the vine and should be ready to pollinate sometime next week.   Saturday, June 27 View Page This is the 575 wolf on the 10 X 10 patch at my dad's place. It's looking good and has a female bloom on the tip. The 452 Radach is on the right side of the picture.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1791 Holland X 814.5 Radach. Pollinated this morning.   Thursday, July 2 View Page I have 5 main candidates on the 1623 Wallace All of them are on secondary vines. This is the first one. It is at 35" Circ. on day 19. I like this Pumpkin but it is at a very bad spot where it would be hard to manage when it got big and close to impossible to harvest.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Here is the second at 26.5" Circ on day 15. I am leaning towards this one being the keeper at the moment. It will be 86 Days old for the Puyallup fair.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Here is the 3rd at 21.25" Circ on Day 11   Thursday, July 2 View Page Here is the fourth at 19" Circ also on Day 11. I am not liking the looks of this one I think it will be culled soon. There is one more nice one that is looking rally promising but it is very young and would likely mean missing the Puyallup Fair.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Here is the 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF Patch. The pumpkin should be ready to pollinate in 2-3 days   Thursday, July 2 View Page Here is the 1791 Holland. The Pumpkin is 4 days old.   Saturday, July 4 View Page Born on the 4th of July. 814.5 Radach X 575 Wolf. Lots of Orange in this cross. the 814.5 is a 811 Gerhardt x 1495 Stelts and the 575 Wolf is a 811 Gerhardt x 1059 Vincent-Mcgill. Two Howard Dill award inning Parents and 3 Howard Dill award winning Grandparents with the 1495 Thrown in as wild card for size.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page I culled the two oldest Pumpkins off of the 1623 Wallace. The one on the right was just in a spot that I would never have been able to get it out If it got big. It killed me to do it because it was bigger than my Pumpkin from last year at the same age and has already had 2 days where it grew over 5 inches per day. I weighed it on the Bathroom Scale and it came in at 67 Pounds. The one on the left got culled because it got passed up in size by a younger Pumpkin   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This is the older of the two remaining contenders on the 1623 Wallace. It is at 40" Circumference on Day 16.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This is the younger of the two remaining contenders on the 1623 Wallace. It is at 29.75" Circumference on day 12.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Here is the first Pollination on the 1791 Holland at 21.5" Circumference on Day 10.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Here is the first on the 1623 Wallace. Its at 64.5" Circumference on Day 22   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 7-14: Here is the second on the 1623 Wallace. It is at 53.25" Circumference on Day 18.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page I am having a hard time deciding which to keep. The larger one is at a better spot on the plant and is obviously bigger but the smaller one has a better shape and is a little bit bigger than the first one was at 18 days.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page The 1814.5 Radach is at 20" Circumference on Day 10. Its a half inch bigger than its mother was at the same age. I am carefully trying to manipulate the pumpkin into a better position in relation to the vine. I really like the Barrel shape on this one and it looks like the color is going to be there as well.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page The 1791 Holland is at 41" Circumference on day 17.   Friday, July 17 View Page 7-17: This is the one I decided to keep on the 1623 Wallace. It is at Day 25 today and measures 74.25" circumference and 188.5" OTT for an estimated weight of 154.5 pounds. It is well ahead of where my 1223 pounder from last year was on day 25. It was at 62.0 Circ and 147 OTT. That one really took off from Day 25-35 though. In another 10 days or so I should have a pretty good idea if I have a shot at a new personal best or not. I would be feeling a lot better about it if it was on the Main Vine.   Saturday, July 18 View Page Here is the 1791 Holland on Day 20. The skin is really glossy and it looks like it has a shot to be orange. Circumference 54.5" OTT 133.5" Estimated weight 57 pounds.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Here is the 1623 Wallace on Day 30. Circumference = 90.5" OTT = 226.5" Estimated Weight = 263 Pounds 5 Day Average = 21.7 Pounds per Day   Wednesday, July 22 View Page For comparison, here is last years biggest pumpkin on Day 30. It was only 181 Pounds but it was growing a bit faster at 23 Pounds per Day.   Friday, July 24 View Page Day 20 for the 814.5 Radach. It's showing a bit of a sucked in middle like it's mother did early on. Hopefully it fills out like its mother did as well. The color looks like it's going to be great which is good because the 1495 Stelts that was the pollinator on the 814.5 was a white pumpkin that turned greenish after harvest.   Friday, July 24 View Page The 814.5 Radach has filled up the 150 SF patch. There sure are a lot of leaves packed in there. Now its just grow time.   Monday, July 27 View Page The weather the past few days has not been good for the pumpkin as growth really slowed down. Highs were in the 60's all five days with very little sun. Here is the 1623 Wallace at 35 days after pollination. Circ 101.5 OTT 249.5 Estimated weight 348 pounds 5 Day average 17 pounds per day. It's still bigger than last year's on Day 35 but that one grew 23 pounds per day from day 30-35 and kept increasing from there.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page Day 30 on the 1791 Holland. Circ. 83.5" OTT 193" Estimated weight 166 pounds 5 Day average 11.6 pounds per day. Should be well poised for some good gains with the forecasted good weather this week.   Monday, August 3 View Page Here is the 575 Wolf plant on the 10' X 10' patch at my dad's house.   Monday, August 3 View Page For some reason my Dad wants to grow this fruit with its stem up. He is going through elaborate steps to pull that off. The color on this pumpkin is going to be top notch.   Monday, August 3 View Page Day 30 on the 814.5 Radach in the 150 SF patch. Circ. 86.5" OTT 205" Estimated weight 197 pounds Average 5 day gain 17.2 pounds per day. It is pretty much exactly the same size as its mother was on day 30, the 814.5 was at 204" OTT. It's not filling in like it's motheer did though and seems to be keeping it's pear shape.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Day 45 for the 1623 Wallace. Circumference 118.5" OTT 291" Estimated weight 544 pounds 5 Day average 18.4 pounds per day 10 Day average 19.6 pounds per day. The weather got cold again which slowed the growth. I had a few days where it was doing mid 20s per day. It is still bigger than last year's at day 45 but the gap is closing. If the next 5 days are as poor as these past 5 days, last year's pumpkin will pass this year's up.   Friday, August 7 View Page Day 40 for the 1791 Holland. Circ 105" OTT 244.5" Estimated weight 328 pounds 5 Day average 15.4 pounds per day   Friday, August 7 View Page Day 40 for the 1791 Holland. Circ 105" OTT 244.5" Estimated weight 328 pounds 5 Day average 15.4 pounds per day   Tuesday, August 11 View Page Day 50 on the 1623 Wallace. Circ 124.5" OTT 304" Estimated weight 617 pounds 5 Day average 14.6 pounds. It is now smaller than last year's pumpkin was at the same age and with the trajectory it's on, it looking like I would be lucky to make 1000# by the Puyallup Fair. Over all its been a rather disappointing year with the 814.5 turning out ugly as well.   Friday, August 14 View Page Day 40 for the 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF patch. Circ 107" OTT 249" Estimated weight 346 pounds 5 Day average 13.8 pounds per day. I don't like the shape on this one at all. The size is decent though. It's measuring a hair smaller than its mother was on day 40 but with the 1495 Stelts genetics mixed in it should be able to go heavy to the charts.   Monday, August 17 View Page 8-17: Day 55 on the 1623 Wallace. Circ 128.5" OTT 315" Estimated weight 684 pounds 5 Day average 13.4 pounds per day. More disappointing numbers. The cooler weather and the rain was good for the drought conditions but not for pumpkin growth. It seems like every time it gets some momentum we have a cold snap and it slams on the brakes. It could really use a 2 week stretch of sun and upper 70s to low 80s.   Monday, August 17 View Page Here is a google earth shot of my growing area from earlier this spring while the cold frames were out. Area A is about 290 SF and is where the 1623 Wallace is growing. This is also the location where I grew my 1223 last year. Area B is about 300 SF and is where the 1791 Holland is growing and I grew my 819.5 Last year. Area C is my 150 SF patch and its where the 814.5 Radach is currently growing and also where the 814.5 Radach Grew last year.   Monday, August 17 View Page Day 50 on the 1791 Holland Circ 118.0" OTT 273" Estimated weight 452 pounds 5 Day average 12.4 pounds per day.   Friday, August 21 View Page Day 60 on the 1623 Wallace. Circ 132.5" OTT 325.5" Estimated weight 751 pounds 5 day average 13.4 pounds per day.   Monday, August 24 View Page Day 50 for the 814.5 Radach in the 150 SF patch. Circ 117.25" OTT 267" Estimated weight 424 pounds 5 day average 5.0 pounds per day All three pumpkins are slowing down to a crawl. The big one only did 7 pounds a day the last two days. I am pretty sure there is something amiss in the patch either disease wise or nutrition wise. I have neither the resources nor the desire to track it down at this point. There are too many other exciting things going on in my life right now to get bent out of shape over pumpkins.   Monday, August 24 View Page this is the 575 wolf on the 10 X 10 patch at my dad's place. It's taping at 191 pounds. This thing is going to have some stunning color and should win a Howard dill award if he takes it to a gpc sanctioned weigh off.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Day 65 on the 1623 Wallace. Circ 134.5" OTT 330.5" Estimated weight 785 pounds 5 day average 6.8 pounds per day. Pretty disheartening considering that last year my big one averaged 17.2 pounds per day from day 60-65.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Day 60 for the 1791 Holland 126" Circ 289.5" OTT 535 pounds estimated weight 7.4 pounds per day for the last 5 days.   Monday, August 31 View Page Day 70 on the 1623 Wallace Circ 136.5" OTT 335" Estimated weight 817 pounds 5 day avg. 6.4 pounds per day.   Wednesday, September 2 View Page Day 60 for the 814.5 Radach on the 150 SF patch. Circ 121" OTT 274" Estimated weight 457 pounds 5 day average 3.0 pounds per day Between the powdery mildew and the wind damage, I think this plant has about had it. It doesn't look like I will be repeating as the 150 contest champ. I am leaning towards pulling the plug on this one and taking it to Puyallup and letting the 1623 go a couple more weeks to see if It can make it to 1000 pounds.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Day 75 for the 1623 Wallace. Circ 138" OTT 338.5" Estimated weight 842 pounds 5 day average 5 pounds per day.   Friday, September 11 View Page All loaded up and ready to head to the Puyallup Fair. I decided to take the 1791 Holland because of the three it is the one that is growing the least. It's estimating at 563 pounds. I am hoping for a top ten finish and I think it may have a chance for a Howard dill award. We shall see.   Saturday, September 12 View Page Introducing the 540.5 Radach. It took 5th Place for Giant Pumpkins at the Puyallup Fair   Saturday, September 12 View Page I got edged out for the Howard Dill by Ryan Joyner's Pumpkin. I think mine had better color and shine but his was bigger and nicer shaped.   Saturday, September 12 View Page Joel Holland set a new fair record with 1621. The pollinator on this one was the 2323 Meyer   Saturday, September 12 View Page One last shot of my 540.5 Radach   Saturday, September 26 View Page Rolling out to the Christianson's weighoff.   Saturday, September 26 View Page My Dad brought his straggler pumpkin. This Pumpkin literally had one vine and only the stump was in soil. 157.5 pounds   Saturday, September 26 View Page My 1623 Wallace is now officially the 899.5 Radach 2015. She went 5% heavy to the chart and took 7th place   Saturday, September 26 View Page The Canadians absconded with the first prize trophy.   Saturday, September 26 View Page The Leader Board   Saturday, September 26 View Page The top ten   Wednesday, September 30 View Page I have got to admit its fun to see other people growing your seeds. Under Joe Scherbers skillful hand, My seed beat out a 2009 Wallace, a 1947.5 Clementz, a 2002 Hawkley, an 1821 Checkon and a Bryson seed as well. Rafeal did well with my 1223 as well going 8% heavy.   Wednesday, September 30 View Page Jorg also came in with one heavy on my 1223 seed. It really looks a lot like its mother.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Here is a pic of Joe Scherber's 1404 while it was still in the patch.   Friday, October 2 View Page Getting ready to harvest the 575 Wolf off the 10' X 10' patch at my dad's house.   Friday, October 2 View Page All loaded up and ready to head to oregon. I have heard a lot about Bauman Farms. I have heard a lot of good things about it and we decided to go experience it for ourselves. The pumpkin is not huge but it might be in the running for a Howard Dill award for prettiest pumpkin.   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Took the 575 Wolf from the 10' x 10' patch at my Dads house to Bauman's in Oregon and weighed in at exactly 300 Pounds. finished in 29th place but still won prize money. You have to love a weigh off that gives money to the top 30 pumpkins. :)   Monday, October 12 View Page Here is my entry for the 150 SF contest. The 814.5 Radach is now the 444 Radach. I made some mistakes with this plant this year most notably not staying on top of my spray program the plant succumbed to powdery mildew and has been dead for a month. It also went 5% light.   Monday, October 12 View Page Over all it was a pretty disappointing year. After producing 2857 pounds of pumpkin on my 3 plants last year This year I only achieved 1884 pounds. There were several factors for this. On my main plant, I broke the main vine and had to set one on a side vine. I had disease problems on all 3 plants but especially on my 150 SF plant. On my third plant I made a poor choice in planting location and it did not receive enough sun early on in the year.   Sunday, October 25 View Page I carved My 899.5 into a VW Bus.   Sunday, October 25 View Page It would have probablly looked a little better if the pumpkin was more Orange but I am pretty happy with how it turned out.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Now I just need to find a toddler to put inside to pose for pictures.   Sunday, October 25 View Page From the Side   Sunday, October 25 View Page I got 260 seeds out of the 899.5.   Tuesday, December 29 View Page A couple of new Monster Seeds that I have received. Its going to be tough deciding what to grow this year.