Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 92 Entries. Sunday, January 4 View Page Happy new year! Please take a moment and check out the tremendous line up of seeds on offer in the team-pumpkin seed auction this Friday! There is something for everyone including. Tremendous orange lots, state records, world record tomatoes, world record field pumpkin, the Meier seeds, the Wallace freak, etc. Could be the best lineup ever offered by team-pumpkin? Thanks for the support and best wishes in 2015   Friday, January 9 View Page Team Pumpkin Auction is tonight at 8pm in the chat room! Please join us! Everyone gets team-pumpkin dollars to use in the first part of the auction (please read the rules). A lot of GREAT seeds up for auction including double sets of each of the Meier seeds and "The Freak" !   Friday, January 16 View Page Happy 2015 everyone. First, thanks to all who supported the Team Pumpkin auction! As for my 2015 Season; I am still planning on going forth with growing this year. If something arises by April; Ill figure it out. I have decided to switch it up a bit this year. Heading my patch will be the 2102 Meier 14. Why? Well to explain a little further it is the 1985 Miller x 1985 Miller which had orange color to it. The 1985 is an offspring of the 2009 Wallace which has produced some lovely, orange pumpkins when crossed to the right genetics. I am going to decide on the remainder of my lineup soon; which will be comprised of excellent orange genetics. The plan is to cross the 2102 Meier into the good orange genetics that I have in my stash. guess we will see how it goes?!   Monday, February 2 View Page #PATSNATION   Tuesday, February 10 View Page After yesterdays storm this is what our front door looks like. It is over my head and it is getting increasingly difficult to shovel. The snow banks are as tall as the cars and if you're pulling out of anywhere you might as well just say a prayer and go for it. Temps are expected to drop into the single digits and negatives through next week which only means one thing....snow will be around. It will be April before I can see my patch again   Monday, March 2 View Page Another 6 inches of snow last night. Over 37 inches for the month! They are forecasting 30s for this week, first time we have seen 30 degrees in WEEKS. Wednesday is going to be 48 degrees and A LOT of rain. Why do I have the feeling that I won't be able to plant in my patch anywhere near On-Time this year.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page I am going to have to start a new patch this year, unfortunately. The ground is so saturated and it just keeps raining; not sure if I will ever be able to till up a new area. By the end of April, if it looks like I will be able to start a new patch; I will start seeds the last week of April. I started 40 marigolds today.   Tuesday, April 14 View Page I regret to say this but I have made the decision not to grow pumpkins for the 2015 year. Due to the weather we have had in recent months and my tight schedule; I have decided to keep my focus on showing dairy cattle and training horses this year. In addition; my 2015 patch area has not been prepped yet due to the late spring and I am trying to save on some funds this year. I am going to miss those early mornings out in the pumpkin patch this year and watching the pretty orange mature every week and sharing my adventures in giant pumpkins with you all. I just don't think the cards would fall right for me this year if I did decide to grow. I still check this site daily and I will still be participating where I can. Best of luck to all who grow this year; grow them big and pretty :)   Friday, May 1 View Page change of plans; neighbors gave me an earful the other night about not growing this year so I walked back down the driveway and tilled the patch with Dad at 730 at night. Adding compost this weekend. Went in the house, picked 2 seeds out of the pile and started them. They are now in pots and should be coming up soon. Once I get compost in this weekend; the greenhouses will go out in the patch. No time for a soil test or to decide on what amendments to add; so its simply just for the fun this year. I started my 1059 vm x 754 schweigert seed from last year and I also started the 288 buglio. I lost 2 out of 4 pumpkins last year so here's hoping these 2 keep it going.   Monday, May 4 View Page and they're off....   Thursday, May 7 View Page I think my two seedlings are the healthiest I have ever raised in years past. Big, healthy leaves. Already in peat pots. Weather has been absolutely tremendous despite the lack of rain and the seedlings have enjoyed already spending their days outside. they will see dirt this weekend.   Thursday, May 7 View Page I didn't have time to do a soil test on the patch this year as my choice to grow in 2015 was a last minute decision. Thanks to my Dad; we double tilled the patch this week adding composted manure. I put the hoop houses out about 2 days ago but its been so hot and sunny; the ground warmed up quickly this year. I spread some Potash and Bone Meal and a little Gypsum. I also put a very light additive of slow release Urea around the patch as we had so much snow and wetness over the winter; I was worried my nitrogen levels were wiped down. Where the hoop houses are; I tilled in some Triaczide to kill any corn seed maggots, etc that could go after my precious seedlings. They already tried to decimate my plants one year; not letting that happen again. Might need to till one more time after the next rain but other than that; we're ready to go   Friday, May 8 View Page picture at 4 days old. Already hardened off and have been spending the days out in full sun. By far the healthiest, most rigorous seedlings I have ever had. Temperatures have been high, in the 80's and sunny. These will go out in the patch this weekend. On the left is the 235 Arnold (1059 vm x 754 Schweigert). Others are growing this seed and from what I have seen in pictures and such; it is a VERY eager growing seed thus far On the right is the 288 Buglio.   Monday, May 11 View Page and they're out...   Monday, May 11 View Page roots at 6/7 days old.   Monday, May 18 View Page my plants have slowed a little. still chilly at night and not overly warm during the day. Checked the forecast for the week; not overly impressive. I have also slacked on watering as I don't want to over-water but I've added a littler fertilizer. . They are picking up some steam in the last few days. Adding more leaf growth. The 235 Arnold has caught up to the 288 Buglio in size and stature. It is extremely healthy and rigorous. I have seen photos of other grower's plants from this seed; very excited to see them so rigorous and healthy. Hopefully the pumpkins are big and round and orange!   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Tilled the entire patch by hand yesterday with a rake for weed control. looks real nice. We sure are lacking rain though. Also planted 6 rows of Silver King Sweet Corn at the top of the patch where my 2 other plants normally go. In the next week or two Ill plant another few rows of MIRAI sweet corn to finish out the patch. Excited to grow my own corn this year. I also put up all of the wind fence yesterday and finished the regular vegetable garden and drip lines. Plants are still small but very healthy. going to be a warm week so they look like they're getting ready to lay down. Going to increase my watering and add a little kelp/fish and hope it kicks them off   Friday, June 5 View Page both of my plants look great. By far the healthiest looking plants I've had. Both are still in their cold frames but are going to outgrow them soon. I buckled down and used roundup on all the weeds in the patch. I was losing the battle not matter how hard I tried to fight it. Plants wont be out of their cold frames before we get a few more rain storms so We should be OK. My first round of sweet corn is up and thriving. The nights have been cold and earlier this week we had record daytime lows and 7 inches of rain. Despite the weather troubles; all is well. My regular vegetable garden is thriving this year also. Forewarning to those growing this year; my squash plants already have a mildew problem this early in the season!! Had to spray with a fungicide yesterday. Also gave everything a nice dose of fish&kelp yesterday for the first time.   Monday, June 8 View Page The Bugglio plant is on the ground and going now. Barely fits in the hoop house at this point. Plants tripled in growth in the last 3 days. I always hate when they outgrow the hoop house because I can now longer control what affects them! grrr. My seed from last year is very healthy and has also started to vine out. Should be on the ground in another day or so. It is growing in the same spot as the last 2 year's biggest, healthiest plants that also started off small. Pictures to come this week   Wednesday, June 10 View Page here is the 235 Arnold a few days ago. As of last night it is now on the ground and ready to go. Expecting some very hot weather this week. I've been lucky and we've missed out on all the major storms and wind so far. Plants will be out of the greenhouse by the weekend   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Here is the Bugglio plant. Looks great. Both plants are very healthy.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Here is some of my vegetable garden for this year. 3 varieties of tomatoes and 3 different peppers going. plants looks GREAT   Thursday, June 18 View Page This is the Buglio plant. very long but reluctant to put much effort into secondary vines. I am puzzled by this. Vines and leaves are very healthy and it is growing well but still weedy looking. There are shoots of secondaries coming off the main but they are small and not adding much growth per day. The 234 Arnold isn't quite as long as this plant and it already has secondaries on the ground. I'm scratching my head   Thursday, June 18 View Page Buglio picture   Thursday, June 18 View Page 235 Arnold. beautiful plant, big leaves, very healthy. Secondary vines are on the ground too. Can't wait to get a pumpkin on this one.   Thursday, June 18 View Page leaves on the 235 Arnold   Monday, June 22 View Page Plants growing well; not as big as some of the posters here but i'll get there. Have a baby kin on one of the plants but going to remove it. Plants need to get bigger. Look like it's going to be a wet week of rain   Tuesday, June 23 View Page potential for tornadoes here later today. golf ball size hail and 70+ mph winds. I put as many bamboo stakes on the plants that I could but I am prepared to end my season today LOL! The sky was eerily scary looking very early this morning   Wednesday, June 24 View Page Both plants survived the storms just fine. Both have little kins on them but I will pluck them off. A little too early yet. The 235 Arnold has surpassed the growth of the 288 Buglio now. The 288 is still reluctant to put much effort into secondary vines. It's still very healthy so I will wait it out. I've also been plucking off some of the early male flowers as they are not needed and the plants need to put more energy into plant growth. So far so good. Still feeding fish and kelp to help them along.   Monday, June 29 View Page I had a less than stellar weekend. the deer decided to chomp the growing tips of my main vines off both plants, and then they left. What a way to ruin my weekend. My secondary vines seem to be very slow growing. I could train a secondary to grow as a new main. Im not sure this will work for me considering how slow they are growing. Gave a strong dose of fish/kelp and some urea to the plants before the big rain yesterday. Hopefully the swift kick of nitrogen gets them going. The secondary vines are quicker growing and more aggressive on the 235 Plant so maybe that one has some hope. If I can't get the secondaries to kick into gear on the Buglio; I am considering pulling the plant as it will never catch up. VERY frustrating to say the least!   Wednesday, July 1 View Page Plants are slowly starting to come back to life after the deer damage. I have new vines growing on ends where the deer chomped the main off. They are slow going but hopefully they kick off in the next few days. the weather looks tremendous. Secondary vines added some good growth yesterday. Spotted my first Cuke beetles yesterday. Promptly sprayed the plants and sprayed every one of them I saw. At this rate I wont have a pumpkin set until about august hahaha!!   Wednesday, July 1 View Page Since there is nothing spectacular to share from my pumpkin patch; here are some photos of my garden. Plants are out of control this year. I've been feeding them like I feed the pumpkin plants! Already picked a few peppers!   Wednesday, July 1 View Page and a view of my squash and zucchini plants   Thursday, July 9 View Page plants are adding good growth now. still struggling to have the new main vines take off but they're working on it. I keep picking off the females as I want the plant to grow more. Frustrating to say the least. My 450 pounder was pollinated at the end of august last year so my hope is that despite my issues this year; I still get a decent sized pumpkin :)   Friday, July 10 View Page I have a female about 12 feet out on the 235 Arnold. The plant is adding tremendous growth lately. I think I am going to go for this one and see how it turns out. It might be my only chance at anything decent sized this year. My patch is absolutely LOADED with night crawlers and if I take a shovel full of dirt; it is rich in worm casings and now a dark black color because of this. By far the best looking soil I have had. 1 shovel full of dirt turns up about 10 worms. Ive never seen anything like it!   Monday, July 20 View Page a kin opened up on the Buglio plant. Unfortunately I was away showing cows when it did, so it is open pollinated. Hopefully it does not abort as we are having some very hot and humid weather. Hopefully it keeps going as I am late to the game.... again.... this year   Monday, July 20 View Page Here is what the patch looks like. Foreground is the 235 Arnold and in the rear next to the corn is the Buglio. Both have recovered from their traumatic deer attack. I returned home from 3 days at a cattle show and both plants added at least 3 feet of growth on secondaries with no watering while I was away. Yesterday I spent the day burying the new growth and terminating a lot of secondaries and watering. They are big enough and the plants need to put effort into pumpkins now. While watering I saw a SVB fly around the plants and immediately sprayed it with the hose. After I watered I sprayed the plants. There will be a kin opening on the 235 Arnold in a few days. The Sweet corn in the background is beginning to tassle and will have corn in a week or two.   Monday, July 20 View Page garden is in full swing. yesterdays harvest. tomato plants are LOADED this year.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Here is a picture from 7/22. First kin about to open on the 235 Arnold. Very excited.   Thursday, July 23 View Page View of the patch last night. Foreground is the 235 Arnold and then the 288 Buglio. In the far back is Silver King Sweet Corn which is just starting to tassel out. the pumpkin plants are a little wonky shaped since the deer ate off my main vines and I had to train a secondary but they are doing well. Very dry this past week so I have been watering like crazy. Not much for rain in the forecast either. I will take it as it means less moisture for disease.   Thursday, July 23 View Page Up early to pollinate this morning. Crossed the 235 Arnold with the 288 Buglio. Should make a very interesting cross for Orange   Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is the 288 Buglio at 1 week old. Starting to more than double in size everyday now. It has been very very dry here; so I have been watering like crazy everyday. This week it is supposed to be over 90 everyday so the plants should really love it. So far this one has a super long stem and great shape. Also hints of bright yellow on the skin so should be very orange!   Sunday, July 26 View Page 235 Arnold at only a few days old. Nice long, thick stem on this one too. I am fortunate for long stems on my kins this year. I did see another grower growing this in his diary. He is significantly ahead of me on size but looks to be very pretty! excited!   Monday, July 27 View Page Spent the day yesterday burying vines, picking weeds, watering.... and moving pallets into place. I grew on the ground last year and it made it difficult for me to move the big one around safely and get it loaded for the weigh off. I decided to go back to using my pallets this year. It is a little nerve-wrecking to get them in place but once they're in place it's pretty simple. I use a heavy duty pallet with a rubber stall mat on top and then some sand on the mat. If the pumpkin is put directly on the mat; it will sweat between the 2 and you will have risk for rot. The sand acts for a nice barrier like growing on the ground. The pallets also make it very easy to cover with a tarp in the threat of rain. the most difficult part is stabilizing the main on either side of the pallet so the entire thing doesn't twist and turn over.   Monday, July 27 View Page growing growing growing! Going to be in the 90's for the foreseeable future. Something New England pumpkins needed! The bad news is the extreme lack of rain. I am having to spend 1 hour watering every night just to keep the soil moist enough to make it to the next day. The lawn is now brown and crispy.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page Stem end of the 288 Buglio, if it keeps this up it's going to be quite pretty. It is loving this 95 degree weather too, significantly bigger by the day. Here's hoping for a new PB by mid September   Tuesday, July 28 View Page another view of it.   Friday, July 31 View Page This picture was from a few days ago but I forgot to post. This is the stem-end of the 288 Buglio. Beautiful, uniform shape.   Friday, July 31 View Page Here are my two plants. Foreground is 235 Arnold, middle is 288 Buglio and then my Silver King Sweet Corn. Plants are just beautiful this year considering the damage they overcame. The leaves on the 235 Arnold, especially on the earliest secondaries are MASSIVE and tall. Some of the leaves on this plant are approaching shoulder high on me; it is a very vigorous plant. The 288 buglio has lower set and smaller leaves but another vigorous and health plant. The secondary vines on both plants are now so thick I'm worried about trying to stake down the new growth without breaking it. I have kept foliar feeding to a minimum, about 1x or 2x a week. I foliar fed a lot last year and thought that it just fueled the powdery mildew. My Foliar feed is now mixed in with a fungicide. Main vine growth has virtually stopped on both plants but secondary vine growth is still in full force. Very content with where things are at   Friday, July 31 View Page What a difference only 24 hours can make. This is the 288 Buglio x open as of last night. I apologize it looks white in this photo; it is definitely going to be orange!! This thing is putting on impressive growth now for such a young kin. It was 12 days old yesterday when this photo was taken. It will be officially 2 weeks old on Saturday. Last year I pollinated one on the last week of August and it was 430 pounds by the Durham weigh off. I am hoping this one is a new PB for me by weigh off in september   Saturday, August 1 View Page 8/1/15 here is the 235 Arnold. Still excited about this one even though it might be late in the game. Maybe I can take this one to one of the late weigh offs? Nice shiney, smooth skin   Sunday, August 2 View Page 288 Buglio at Day 15 on Sunday. Looks great and perhaps one of the fastest growing pumpkins I've ever had in the patch. Hoping it holds together for Durham   Sunday, August 2 View Page Day 15 from the stem end. This thing is growing so fast I'm worried about a stem split on this but so far so good   Monday, August 3 View Page Came home to find my pumpkin split in 2 spots on the blossom end. Beyond frustrated   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Split on the 288 Buglio. There is another one under the blossom. appears the walls on the blossom-end of this pumpkin are PAPER thin. the thinnest I've seen compared to the 1059 that split last year   Tuesday, August 4 View Page patched up 288 buglio   Tuesday, August 4 View Page stem end of the buglio. too bad; was going to be pretty   Tuesday, August 4 View Page 235 Arnold. this one is my last hope   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Here is the 235 Arnold. Getting excited about this one, nice shiny and smooth orange skin. so far the shape looks great. We will see in a few weeks. Taking it easy on this one; making sure Im not overwatering, no extra ferts,, just letting it go. This is my last hope to get a pretty one to the scale   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Here is the split 288 Buglio. Still doing incredible daily gains. Did almost 20 pounds in 24 hours at day 17. Now at 90 pounds. So far the glue is holding it together and I keep adding more around the suspect area just in case   Thursday, August 6 View Page 288 Buglio continues to grow despite its ever-growing blossom end split. Did 24 pounds on day 18. Now at 113 pounds as of last night. It will get cut off in a few days so that I can set another pumpkin. Still going to give it a try. the 235 Arnold looks beautiful and is measuring about 25 pounds and picking up steam now   Thursday, August 6 View Page 235 Arnold. Going to be a beautiful one. Starting to pick up some steam now.   Thursday, August 6 View Page 288 Buglio 8/6/15. Another 20 lb gain to 133 pounds in 24 hours. The Split is continuing to grow. This pumpkin will be removed this weekend. Very frustrated over it. Will try and set one more on this plant. Not giving up yet.   Thursday, August 6 View Page View of the 235 Arnold Plant. I always manage to have awesome plants but no impressive pumpkins haha!   Monday, August 10 View Page My 235 Arnold pumpkin is starting to take an odd shape. I hope its not a virus or something. I grew a plant in this same spot last year and could never get a pumpkin set on the plant, and when I did; it started to grow very very oddly at about this point in maturity and then just stopped. The shape of the pumpkin looked like something was suddenly affecting it (like an infected plant or something). I have my fingers crossed that this is just an odd part of its growth as it gets bigger and I hope it continues to grow and fill out. fingers crossed The 288 Buglio has now completely split its blossom in half and has a giant hole in the blossom end. It is still packing on the pounds. It was measuring at 206 pounds yesterday 8/9/15. I did take my phone and get a picture of the inside and so far, no rot. It doesn't smell yet either. Maybe it will keep going like last years. Time will tell. The other issue is none of the new kins are maturing on the plant in order to set another. I think im giving up on setting another and just going to see how big this one will get   Monday, August 10 View Page The 288 Buglio stem-end. Doing about 25 pounds a day right now at day 22. Adding to those numbers daily. It did a little over 50 pounds in two days. Shame about the hole in the other end, pretty pumpkin   Monday, August 10 View Page Here is the hole. Cant think of any reason why this would do this other than the blossom end walls being very, very thin.   Monday, August 10 View Page If anyone wants to see what the inside looks like, here it is. Still looking mighty healthy in there. I'm not going to complain. if it keeps growing, im happy   Monday, August 10 View Page Day 23 and the split 288 Buglio is up to 233 pounds and crankin. Took another picture of the inside and it is still beautiful inside. No smell, no rot, no soft bottom. This will be the 2nd one in a row that has continued to grow despite being completely open to the inside cavity. I didn't give up on the one last year and in 3 weeks it made it to 453 pounds very late in the season, a new PB. I even survived a truck ride to the scales and was solid as a rock. They say to never give up; and I'm not giving up on this one quite yet   Tuesday, August 11 View Page I do have a kin coming on the plant of 288 Buglio on a massive secondary vine that is thicker than my main vine. This kin is maturing and I do expect it to open in a few days. I am going to set it and wait a few days to see if it sticks. If it does, I will cut the split one from the plant. My fingers are crossed wither way. We are getting 3 inches of rain today which does worry me for the 235 Arnold that is over 50 pounds now.   Tuesday, August 11 View Page this is what its all about for me   Thursday, August 13 View Page Day 26 on the 288 Buglio and it is now up to 40 pound gains in 24 hours. I can't complain on this one even if it is split. It is beautiful; such a shame. It is now at 310 pounds   Friday, August 14 View Page Pollinated a female on the 288 Buglio this morning. It may be late in the year but It has a shot at making it to a weigh off this year if it stays together. Going to spread some bone meal tonight for some added calcium to hopefully avoid splits. I Crossed this one with my 235 Arnold which is as orange as I've ever seen   Sunday, August 16 View Page 288 Now over 380 pounds. Still going at about 30 pounds a day now. No rot inside, yet. I Did set another kin on Friday morning. Waiting for that one to get a little bigger before I consider chopping this one off   Sunday, August 16 View Page 235 Arnold now approaching the 145 pound mark   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Just not my year this year. 235 Arnold split on the stem end. No clue what is causing this issue 2 years in a row but I will not be growing in this area next year. I do have one small kin pollinated on 8/14 that is my last hope. On a lighter note; the 288 Buglio in all of its holy glory did 44 pounds in 24 hours and is now up to 420+ pounds.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page 288 now has a hole big enough in the blossom end to stick my entire arm inside (although I haven't). No rot or brownness inside so far. The only thing that is happening with the inside is it is drying out a bit. It is still packing on the pounds and is now over 450 pounds by measurement and a new PB for me. It is starting to grow over the side of the skid. Unfortunately I don't think we'll be able to move the pumpkin on the skid so it just might be cut off soon. The one set on Friday is already laying down on the ground and growing. I think this one has the potential to be over 400 by Durham Fair. fingers crossed. The 235 Arnold continues to grow, now over 200 pounds and moving right a long. Beautiful orange skin on this pumpkin. if anyone is interested in seeds for the 235 Arnold; please send me an email. I got a TON of seeds out of this pumpkin last year and I'd like to see them planted rather than in the trash can in a year or two :)   Friday, August 21 View Page 288 at 501 pounds yesterday. you can see the measuring tape rolled up on top to show 1 inch for comparison. Still trucking right along despite being split wide open   Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the big one measuring at 605 pounds last night. It continues to push 30 pounds per day and defy the odds of a split pumpkin continuing to grow. There is a 2nd pumpkin on this plant that Is looking great and growing on a massive secondary that is the size of the main. I have decided to leave both on the plant for now and see how it goes. I have 4 weeks left until the Durham weigh off and I'd like to take something there. This plant is considerably smaller and less healthy than the 235 Arnold plant. The oldest leaves are dying off fast but it still ads new growth to the newest secondary vines and the younger leaves are very healthy. Despite my aging leaf loss, the roots must be healthy to continue to pack on 30 pounds a day. I have backed off my watering as I am trying to avoid powdery mildew. Watering just a little every other day. My one issue with this pumpkin is it is growing on a pallet and I need to move the pallet so the pumpkin doesn't fall off the edge as it grows. Unfortunately there is no moving this pumpkin. I am going to have to get crafty.   Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the 235 Arnold with a big split in the front. still growing but I am going to remove this pumpkin and this plant very soon. A shame as I think this one is going to have the prettiest skin and color I've ever grown. The skin is so shiney and smooth and the orange is really starting to turn vibrant. maybe next year?   Wednesday, August 26 View Page 235 Arnold is no more. ripped out of the patch last night. unfortunately it was starting to rot. I can say one thing about this pumpkin, it had some serious wall thickness on it and the wall thickness was very uniform. I tried using a large knife to cut it up but couldn't get the knife to cut all the way through. so I resulted to rolling it into the woods with all my strength. Roots were very white and healthy all the way around   Tuesday, September 1 View Page Pictures don't really do it's size justice. it's very hard trying to push leaves out of the way and get a photo LOL! I do have some bad news to share. The 288 with the giant hole is slowly taking a turn and going down hill. It is finally starting to rot after about 4 weeks of growing with a hole in it. It is still putting on gains but they are very very slow. It is now measuring at 709 pounds. I do have a second on the plant but I don't think it will get big enough to take anywhere. My season is pretty much done now   Wednesday, September 9 View Page Still have one growing on the 288 Buglio. expected to get very heavy downpours over the next few days. We are -5 inches of rain at this point. I am hoping it does not split. It is growing well. It has exactly 2 weeks to grow. I do not think it will be very big but I think it will be over 250 pounds. I did send an entry into durham but it will likely just end up being a porch decoration :) I am losing my patch for next year and have not decided if I want to grow again in 2016. It took me 3 years to get my patch to where it is today and I'm not quite sure I want to dedicate so much time and efforts into establishing a new patch. It's hard as giant pumpkins are only one hobby of mine along with living on a farm and having a full time job, show cows, training horses, etc. Time will tell.   Friday, September 11 View Page i didn't give up this year. picture is from 9-11-15.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page the "Last Hope". It's not overly big but it's going pretty good considering how late it was set on the plant. approaching the 300 lb mark according to measurement. Trying to get it to turn Orange by full exposure to the sun. It's slow going. Continuing to foliar feed calcium to prevent splits. So far so good; knock on wood. I can no longer see the blossom end so I have to stick my cell phone under it and take a picture to make sure it's still holding together. It won't be very big if I take it to Durham but I will be happy if it stays together   Thursday, September 17 View Page Here is the last hope from last night. There is not photo editing here. It is turning orange. I am not sure it will reach it's full orange potential by next Wednesday but we will see. It is a beautiful pumpkin. Measuring between 280 and 300 now but it is a hard measured with it's shape. I do think it is over 300 at this point. Maybe an HD contender but we will see how it looks next week.   Saturday, September 19 View Page got orange?   Monday, September 21 View Page got orange?   Tuesday, September 22 View Page I am bummed that I don't think my pumpkin will reach its full orange potential in time for Durham tomorrow but it certainly is pretty. No complaints. It's been a tough growing year for me but If I have a pumpkin that makes it to the scale at the end of the season; I am happy.   Tuesday, September 22 View Page Tomorrow is going to be a bit hectic with the Durham Weigh Off. I'm exhibiting jersey cattle at Eastern States in the morning then have to run home mid afternoon, cut the pumpkin from the vine, get it on a pallet and into the truck then drive to Durham. Durham will be the only weigh off I make it to this year and I'm excited to see everyone and what shows up for entries!!   Wednesday, October 14 View Page Here she is on the porch   Friday, December 18 View Page I will be MIA off the internet for the next week so MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!