Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 65 Entries. Saturday, April 18 View Page My daughter is more of a help each year. Its also nice that she takes interest in the earth part (worms and bugs) I explain the food web and she loves it.   Saturday, April 18 View Page The hoop house is up. I place a soil and air thermometer inside. Compost Monday and seeds get started on Sunday. I'm on a budget this year, we plan on selling our house for some larger land. Hoping for a new personal best still, but either way the scale goes I will have FUN :)   Sunday, April 19 View Page My daughter and I started the Giant Pumpkin seeds today. Main plant will be the 359 Foss (1048 Engel x 2009 Wallace) and the pollinator will be my 416 Bayuk ( 1048 Engel x 1354 Shenoha) from two years back. This is a genetic choice that I'm looking forward to adding to the 1791 Holland down the road and a few other goodies I have acquired. With a new house and patch next year, this seems like the most productive lineup for this year. "Let's Grow Pumpkin Boyz!"   Thursday, April 23 View Page First seeds to pop are my own seed from two seasons back. One actual has a double/ quadruple tap root. I marked the container and will watch this one for any signs of abnormality. It feels great to have roots in the dirt again! I will try and post more details and info this year. To help others and to also refer back to for next year since I will grow the cross and want to know the characteristics I may see the following year.   Friday, April 24 View Page The final batch of seeds germinated, 12 of 12! Good start ! All but 5 are on a seed heat mat with large clear Rubbermade tote as green house. The other five are in 4" pots under heat lamp. I'm testing the above heat versus the below heat. Soil cables go in tomorrow and some light soil amendments.   Friday, April 24 View Page Note: *all seeds are in 1 gallon pots except the ones in the 4" pots. *all are in Promix/ soil-less seed starter mix. *all have consistent 80-85 degree heat regardless of source.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Seeds are popping off the shells and enjoying some florescent goodness. Gave the 359 Foss an hour of Sun today. Hope to set them out in the hoop house for a few hours here and there.   Sunday, April 26 View Page 359 Foss   Monday, April 27 View Page 359 Foss on the left and 416 Bayuk on the middle/right all first round seeds were out side for 3 hours today.   Monday, April 27 View Page These are the backup plants in same order. They are two days behind the primary plants.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page Even with rain storm all night, soil cables are keeping the root zone toasty on the 359 Foss.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page The 359 Foss with soil cables, collar to help against cornseed maggots and fan circulating the air. I also used diatamatious earth, RTI, white shark and systemic drench.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page 416 Bayuk same treatment minus soil cables. hope to finish patch till and 3 yard of compost next weekend. I won't put the compost within 6 feet of planting holes. I'm hoping to allow the soil/compost to mellow before roots enter that zone.   Saturday, May 9 View Page The 359 Foss is doing well. Couldn't ask for much more from this plant. very consistent and is hardening off nicely since transplanted in the hoop house this is considering the rain the heat and the cool night time temps with only soil cables as heat source. Also it lost the fan in the last rain storm not sure how, but a new one has been place inside for circulation.   Saturday, May 9 View Page 416 Bayuk is mirroring what ever the Foss plant is doing and its second true leaf is actual larger. It has the same soil Prep however is on a lower elevation and sees about 1.5 to 2 hour less sun. No soil cables and no fan, with that being said I think great thing are going to come from this plant and or the cross.   Saturday, May 16 View Page The 359 Foss doing nicely with the cool nights. we have some warm weather in the forecast so I expect good growth this week. I also removed the collar today as soil temp has been at 80* with no flies and signs of corn seed maggots.   Saturday, May 16 View Page 416 Bayuk is growing just as good, although it is planted northerly and wants to lay toward the south. It will be interesting getting this one back on track. I also went back in my notes from when I grew its mother in 2013. She did the same thing... another week and both plants should be running.   Sunday, May 17 View Page Heavy winds doing damage to the 359 Foss hoop house. Braced the hoops and plant as much as possible. Fingers crossed...   Monday, May 18 View Page Made a tough choice today. Toughest one I have made since I started this hobby. I pulled my best plant, the 359 Foss. I replaced it with my second best plant... the 359 Foss. The winds were too much and the main developed a stress crack length wise. Probably would have healed and been fine. However I think it was best to spend that heal time in growth time on the back up that is in better shape,now. I have a feeling this is going to be the difficult season in a year that I just wanted to enjoy. Well enjoy more than normal :)   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 359 Foss backup plant is doing well. Starting to cine and has good color.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 359 Foss backup plant is doing well. Starting to vine and has good color.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 416 Bayuk is very strong plant for the growing conditions it is in. Overall I'm behind last year however I'm happy with where I'm at. Its all good!   Sunday, May 31 View Page The 359 Foss that was transplanted in from back up to primary.   Sunday, May 31 View Page The 416 Bayuk nice tthick vine, however she's reaching for the sky and it's too cool with temps in the 50s to train properly.   Monday, June 8 View Page The 416 Bayuk doing nicely. Out grow the hoop house last night. Really need to do a till on this patch but it's to wet.   Monday, June 8 View Page 359 Foss caught up quickly , minor leaf range with storms and Sun burn but still chugging along. About two weeks behind last year. We will see what happens.   Thursday, June 11 View Page 416 Bayuk is the first to have a female. The bad news, it appears right where the plant started to ribbon vine. I'm hoping it grows out of it. However I am not too concerned about as it is still a very strong plant overall.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page The 416 flat vine starts at 3 ' and stoped at 8 foot. Almost 3" wide.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page Plant looks good in rain packed, weed infested soil. Lol it's grow very well all things considered.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page The good news she did pull out now I have to make a chose in a few days with which main I pick or grow the second main as a strong secondary. We shall see. Its a different year with different challenges But that's what is fun about this hobby.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Although the 416 flat, double vine grew out the heavy rain and fast growth caused a split. I went ahead and trimed the main back to the last strongest secondary. And will retrain. The plant is still 8' with 4' secondaries.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Hot day today but both plants did remarkably in the heat. The 359 Foss is steady and very easy to maintain. It has a female at 12' hope to pollenate next weekend.   Monday, June 22 View Page Waiting for a front to move in. Had to adjust my stakes and apply some RTI to nodes then cover with dirt. This little beauty is on the 359 Foss @ 12' out. If it ends up being the keeper it will be in the same spot as last year. Hoping for similar results. 4 digits baby! This patch is going as plan besides being about two weeks behind. The 180sqft patch has its peaks and vallies. The plant is great beside a chopped main due to flat vine. Then I could not till in front of the plant due to rain and two wet soil. Lastly weeds and compaction are an issue so as like every year I am hope for 400 # mark for this pollenator plant but a genetic cross is a genetic cross.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page The 416 Bayuk looks great after the huge storm and tornado last night. Winds broke my tree but not this plant. New "main" or the first aggressive secondary is taking off.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page This is what's left of the 359 Foss on the primary patch... This many set back are making 4 digits look bleak. I am lucky to have a main and "some" foliage on this plant after the storm. I will limp this plant along to get the cross I wanted. I have never given up on a plant that doesn't quit. This year will be no exception. Sometimes the cards fall your way and sometimes mother nature is a tough old bird.   Monday, June 29 View Page The plants are running way behind this year. When the weather and luck don't go your way it makes for a rough year. The picture is the 416 Bayuk starting to take off again after a chopped main need after a flat double vine and tornadic winds range to leave and secondaries. Oh and rain storm after rain storm. I never could till the whole patch. If I bring two solid pumpkins of any size to the weight off I will be happy. The two postive things to come out of all of it is the experience and how greatfull I am for last season. It was even more rewarding after a tough start that I am having now.   Sunday, July 5 View Page 416 Bayuk crossed with the 359 Foss. Pretty pumpkin time.   Sunday, July 5 View Page 359 Foss should be ready in two days. Will cross with my 416 Bayuk ( 1048 Engle x 1354 Shenoha).   Sunday, July 5 View Page 416 Bayuk is a 3 lobe , if the next two that are in prime locations are more lobes I will cull. I am behind however plenty of time for some nice mature pumpkins.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This a picture of the 359 Foss from a few days ago. It was pollinatas this morning by my sister inlaw since I'm in the Dell's On vacation. Hope she takes she 12-14' out. Pollinated with my 416 Bayuk (two males)   Saturday, July 11 View Page 359 Foss crossed with my 416 Bayuk   Saturday, July 11 View Page What a difference a week makes. The 359 is also recovering nicely.   Sunday, July 12 View Page I used this bueque of flowers for the next picture.   Sunday, July 12 View Page 4 lober on the 416 Bayuk, pollinated with the 359 Foss. I know have two on each plant may pollenat one more tomorrow for insurance and cull next week to final choices. Let the games begin.   Friday, July 17 View Page This is the 359 Foss at 10 days old. Plant is doing good some split vines with the wind and rain. I terminated the main about 5' after the pumpkin at 18' Where my back up is. With the heat and humidity I'm hanging on to it a little longer. Untill I'm sure this one won't abort.   Friday, July 17 View Page This is the one I had waiting for on my 416, Nice, round, 5 lobe, 14' out, in a area it has room to grow. Hope she takes on a HOT humid week. I have 3 back two back ups on this plant but this is the best of the best :) hope to bring the HD home this year with these beauties.   Sunday, July 19 View Page 359 Foss 12 DAP, mill fabric and tent over top. Did compost drench today full strength since we had so much rain this week. Also did fungicide and pesticide foaliar early this morning.   Friday, July 24 View Page Day 17 on the 359 Foss   Monday, July 27 View Page The 359 Foss on day 20. Not alot of plant behind this beauty but she is holding her own.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page The 416 Bayuk at 8 days old. 18 feet out on last secondary after I cut the main for flat vine. She's slow so far but this is one of the healthest and strongest plants I have had. Expect big things out of my 180 patch.   Thursday, July 30 View Page 416 Bayuk @ 10 days old. Picture doesn't do it justice in color. It's under a white tarp. Measures 28" in circumference best number I had at day ten. But it's way late and on my 180sqft plant. Next picture will reference plant size and health.   Thursday, July 30 View Page 416 Bayuk plant is in great shape and almost all terminated. I think I can push this to 500+ lbs in the next 57 days. And should be a looker ;-) long ways to go.   Monday, August 3 View Page 359 Foss at day 27. This plant has SVB that i have been manually removing every day. I also have been uping my systemic drenches. Not sure how long this plant will last, Its taking a beating. I will just hope for the best , hopefully viable seeds at the end of the season. She sure is pretty though. Front view is the best but im saving that for the end of the year :)   Monday, August 3 View Page The 416 Bayuk at 14 days. She is growing fast! Stem spits, skin seaps and minor cracks. If she holds and keeps this up I should have a a real looker.   Sunday, August 9 View Page This is my daughter with the 359 Foss. I have pulled 10 SVB out of the two plants this morning. I have been averaging 3 per plant the last few days. The systemic I have been using just has not been up to th pressure this year. No personal best this year, just hoping for two sound pumpkins at the end of September.   Saturday, August 15 View Page My daughter giving her pumpkin a hug. She loves to grow liker her daddy :)   Saturday, August 15 View Page Slow and steady on the 359 Foss. Turning more yellow by the day. Hope more of the 1048 Engel orange comes through before all is said and done.   Thursday, September 17 View Page The 359 Foss, just keeping her on the vine till the 27th. Patch prep has started. Rye has been down for a week and tillage ratish.   Thursday, September 17 View Page Great picture of the kids with the 416 Bayuk. This is my daughter and HD contender   Sunday, September 20 View Page Tillage radish in rows and winter rye grass after a week.   Saturday, September 26 View Page All loaded for tomorrow. I will strap and cover tonight. Not much for size this year but the kids are excited and Daddy is happy to see the smiles!   Saturday, September 26 View Page Getting there drink on. Lol see what the scale says tomorrow. Safe travels to all.   Monday, October 12 View Page Our home made compost is inviting the good guys to the patch.   Monday, October 12 View Page Half the patch has been growing rye and tillage ratish. The other half was tilled and seeded yesterday with rye and left over tillage radish. Five yards of compost comes next week. The 120sqft patch has been cleaned up layed a layer of clippings and leaves and water in with molasses and fish waste from the pond. I will till in next day or two. Then I'll add compost and cover with leaves.   Friday, November 13 View Page Went and picked up two yards of black gold. Sending in a soil test for both my current soil and a separate for just the compost. My PH is still high so ill apply sulfur now and check it again in the spring to see if further adjustments are needed.