Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 104 Entries. Saturday, January 10 View Page Lacey Jane & I are ready for another year!!! Patch View.The winter rye and wheat was seeded early November but it has been colder than normal here just like last year. I have BIG plans! Best Wishes and may God Bless you & your patch in 2015!   Saturday, January 10 View Page I plan on giving watermelons and field pumpkins a go here in this old hog lot. A few weeks back I was fortunate enough to get a visit from a "legend" melon grower here in Va in Davis Wells so I hope I can do him proud. My number #1 goal this year is to qualify for Master Gardener points. I also enjoyed growing the long gourds. I know I need to raise my long gourd setup because last year they grew so fast they drove into the ground and it was a pain to dig em out to take to a weigh-off.   Saturday, February 7 View Page I finally found something to take my mind off of giant pumpkins... Long Gourds!!!lol This time of year work slows for me and last week I prepared most of my LG setup. I loaded up the three foot high raised bed on the south side with everything but the kitchen sink including my hog manure compost and store bought Black Kow compost. I made a catwalk to be able to get to the plants by extending the water tower floor. I'm hoping it won't get in the way or break some gourds on windy days late in the season. I will try to adjust the vines to have the gourds hang in the large openings. I plan to grow 4 plants of the same genetics(probably 136.5 or 125.5 Kline) so all the gourds will be selfed/sib. My #1 goal is to break the WR but to finish in the top ten for the final 2015 standings would be excellent. Lofty goals I know but I'm going for it. Go Long or go home!!   Wednesday, March 18 View Page It sure feels like spring here with the Maples turning red with new buds and the Daffodils soon to bloom. We had some 70 degree days this week to kick the rye into gear. About a month ago I put down round two of my patch amendments between the snowstorms. I'm trying to raise my ppm levels another notch to go bigger this year.   Friday, March 20 View Page The MG Garden spot. I caught a day in mid January before winter arrived to be able to till under the patch for the second time. I had spent time in the previous weeks adding compost,calcium,and everything else while shoveling the soil around because it was either no topsoil or too much from it being a hog pen for many years previously. I graded the spot and above it and made two catch ponds to catch all the runoff that had been going into my AG patch.   Friday, March 20 View Page Lake Long Gourd is almost full. The old gourds hanging in the picture were 100 inchers to show that I have plenty of room now.   Friday, March 20 View Page All of the rainwater runoff from here and toward the patch now ends up in Lake Long Gourd. The two ponds have contained the runoff much better than expected and had enough volume and drained well even in the wet conditions so far this year. Last year I regraded the gravel area behind me to divert runoff away from the hog lot toward the ballfield which misses the patch on the other side so I'm 90% covered I guess. It's funny to think that one reason I put the patch in this spot was thinking the runoff would help me. This improvement will help the LG's to have water on either side for roots to reach for. It helps the AG's ...I can keep the overall patch soil moisture lower and be able to add more ferts, etc through irrigation.   Sunday, March 22 View Page Patch View from the porch. We have had below normal in temps this spring so everything is about 2-3 weeks behind in getting going.   Friday, April 3 View Page MG patch is coming along. I'm still leveling it by hauling in some bottomland from the farm and adding the rest of my compost.I added a drain for Lake LG and drilled holes in the top of it for a french drain beside the walk.   Sunday, April 5 View Page I finished with my hauling and grading. I added amendments heavily and will be tilling this weekend if the land is right after this weeks rain. I haven't done a soil sample and won't until fall. This soil needs to marinate plenty more before I can trust a soil test. I just winged it with amendments and used my experience from the pumpkin patch to take a swing at it. It was fun to calculate them and will be even better if something grows! I would like to thank Steve Geddes for helping me out last year and taking the time to answer my questions, mostly about soil. I remember looking at my first soil test and thinking this is all great but now what do I do with it. lol. I couldn't have broken 1000 without the help of great people on BP like Steve.   Wednesday, April 8 View Page Patch view. Ready to till, its almost time. I think of the movie with Mel Gibson "Hold...Hold...Hold" lol   Saturday, April 18 View Page I finished the LG trellis and added my final amendments to the soil. I also finished prepping and tilled the watermelon,field pumpkin and tomato patch. Finally done and can grow stuff and play in the dirt! It is very wet here ...no telling when I can till again with heavy rain coming in tonight. I have 2 tomato's a couple weeks old 4.61 Finders and 4.78 Fulk and have a couple 7.10 Foss and a 4.5 Evans in the germ box. My first watermelons are up; both 297 Kents were up in 3 days. Still waiting on 2-251.1 Kents and a 350 Kent that had roller damage that I tried anyway.   Saturday, May 2 View Page Started my largest batch ever today. I have not been to worried about it because the ground temps are about 2 weeks behind this year. Then I go on BP and see all these plants in the ground! The forecast is for mid 80's this week and dry so hopefully I can final till and get them in the ground in about a week. I really like this lineup and I will grow 5 this year. A bunch of "H's"... 1203 Houston,2058 Hawkley,1969 Haist,1725 Haist,1865 Harnica,1756 Lancaster,1821 Checkon,1779 J Werner   Sunday, May 3 View Page At first glance you would not think this picture has anything to do with giant vegetables. My entire season is riding on getting this fence up with a smile on my face...and "ON TIME"! So when I get it done I should be free and clear to let dust gather on the honey-do list until at least after pollination time! In other news on the homefront we have negotiated a 8:30 supper time for the season.   Saturday, May 9 View Page I spent almost all my free time here this week. I got some help from a friend Saturday to pull the wire and run most of the rails. This year has been trying on us. Both of my elderly in-laws are having health problems so my wife Sharon has been gone a lot taking care of them. I want to get it done to maybe pick her up a little. May 12th is our 31st wedding anniversary. Man time flys In my other spare time this week I spread Rootshield, final tilled and got 5 AGs in the patch.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Introducing...(cue the Olympic Games song)....."The Partlow Dream Team" with patch security Lacey Jane on the job. They are 7 days since seeding and most were re-potted at 4. Both 1821 Checkon, both 1865 Harnica, a 1203 Houston, a 2058 Hawkley and 1969 Haist are the top dogs. The 1725 Haist is very aggressive but the first 2 true leaves aren't right so it will stay in the pot for a backup. The 1821 is a keeper and had filled it's 5" peat pot with roots in 4 days!! Zero starter soil fell off when repotting and was almost looking rootbound. Needless to say, she got one of the center spots in the patch.   Monday, May 18 View Page Yeah the fence is done! We also put in a raised bed for her herbs in the corner. I need to catch this diary up. My early thoughts on this Master-Gardener thing is its not going to be easy   Friday, May 29 View Page My fledgling watermelon program managed to get 4 plants in the patch, 3 of which are still alive. (2) young 231 Kents and a 198 Wells at 5th leaf stage. I messed up every plant I had and think I need good grow lights to get them started right. I planted 6 giant tomato plants on 5/24 (3) 7.10 Foss, 4.02 Finders,4.78 Fulk,4.5 Evans. A racoon dug up one of the Foss plants that night but I trapped him and he is in the next county now.   Friday, May 29 View Page On a positive note the early LG's are doing great.   Friday, May 29 View Page Patch View. The 1203 is the plant you can see and is my best plant right now. It should be down in a day or so ...down and running by June 1st is checked off the list for this plant. I planted (2) 888 Grande Squash on 5/25 in the 6 & 7 holes in the patch to fill it up. We also planted a lot Scherber and Rocky Mtn Sunflowers around the farm.   Friday, May 29 View Page 1865 Harnica and 2058 Hawkley are starting to get better color and get going now. They are leggy because it was overcast and cloudy the first week I put them out and I'm not home during the day to unshade them.   Friday, May 29 View Page 1821 Checkon and 1969 Haist. This setup has really worked well for me the past two years. The 1821 is a beast! The 1969 doubled vined on me this week. I'll end one as soon as it hits the ground this weekend I guess. The double got her to lay down quicker thats for sure.   Saturday, June 13 View Page I seeded (14) 127.56 EATON on May 24th and 9 germed. What a great grower to give 20 seeds in his packs along with the genetic tree. There is at least six world records in this seed so I have high hopes for the six that I planted at the trellis today. Everything will be selfed/sibbed and I'll grow my own seed next year off a gourd from the best plant. I'm very happy to finally get them in. Thats 5 out of 6 for MGardener....I have to seed my field pumpkins soon (104 House)   Saturday, June 13 View Page Patch View. Things are looking up after a rough weather spell the week before last. Its not good to have PM on 4 of 7 plants the first week of June! But we have been between 90-98 the last 10 days and that has really helped the plants get back going. Since I used my old albums to mark my plants I thought now is a great time to reveal my 2015 patch song.....Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" I think Bruno is half Michael Jackson and half Elvis lol   Sunday, June 21 View Page Patch View. It's been hot and humid here(mid 90's-low 70's at night) and we dodged the brunt of a big storm yesterday and got another .5" of rain. It is great growing weather and the plants love it. The ones I burried the night before look like I missed them. The 1969 grew 10"" in 13 hrs on a 1st side last night. The only problem is with the conditions my first females aren't getting close to blooming before quitting. I've had this problem before so I'm not to concerned yet but....   Sunday, June 21 View Page 1821   Thursday, June 25 View Page Patch View. Pollinated 4 of 5 plants in the last two days. Hot and wet here with thunderstorms but all is good its summertime in Virginia.   Thursday, June 25 View Page 1969 Haist. seeded 5/2...as were all my AG's. A very good one here. I hope I get a kin out of her. pollinated with my 1203 this am.   Thursday, June 25 View Page 1203 Houston. I used my only two 1969 males on the 2nd female at 17' yesterday 6/24. These are my two best plants so I crossed them together and are my pollinators. It was tough to pollinate 3 females in one morning with very few males....I picked all my males and went from there for my crossing decisions   Thursday, June 25 View Page The Long Gourds are doing ok. I think my new spot is pretty hot but have (5) 127.56 Eaton that I hope should decide to take off soon. They were hardened off for a week or more but we hit 95+ recently and I'm taking the cautious side with the shading. The downside with overshading is moisture and bugs so the shade has to come off soon. Then we will see who the best plant is.   Thursday, June 25 View Page This picture is about a week old of my field pumpkins. Look at those roots! I started (5) total...104 House,61 House and 128 Werner. I planted a 104 and 128 in the patch today and have ALL SIX for MG going!!! It is a LOT harder than it sounds... woot woot   Saturday, June 27 View Page Patch View. All 5 AG's are recently pollinated. We got 4.5 inches of rain this week and were already wet. But the plus is the temperatures have dropped to the low 80's since the first pollination day so the man upstairs is looking out for me. To the right are my (2) 888 Grande greenies... front to back are the 1969 Haist, 1821 Checkon, 1203 Houston   Saturday, June 27 View Page 1821 Checkon. Great grower from day 1. This one had filled a 5 inch peat pot with roots by day 4 when I repotted it. It has the largest diameter stump and vines of all my plants. The only drawback is the very floppy leaves it has may not do well in the humid conditions here. The other problem it has is me...broke the main just past the 1st set so the pressure is on the little on e#@*#^&#! I hardly touched it. What makes it worse is about an hour before I broke the main on my 1203 and had just calmed down from that #@%^&^%#@ great soil, great growth, too much rain, 20 degree/24hr temperature drop means stay away from the mains!   Saturday, June 27 View Page 1865 Harnica with 2058 Hawkley behind. They are catching up after I messed up this spot in patch prep. I think there is a plus too all this rain. Pollinated the 1865 in the rain today with my 1203   Saturday, June 27 View Page 231 Kent and 198 Wells. My tomatoes are growing well with very little care and have been blooming. Still haven't seen a megabloom   Saturday, June 27 View Page 127.56 EATON's are ready too go. Come on sun! Lake Long Gourd really has saved my AG patch   Saturday, June 27 View Page 2058 baby on day 2 by far the largest female in the patch on my smallest plant. Nice and long 3 lober. Guess where I spend more time now?? lol It could be another "worst to first" year in the patch. . Look at the cluster of roots on the mill fabric. I use Holland's Biogrow and have roots jumping out of the ground everywhere. great stuff   Saturday, July 4 View Page 2058 X 1969 day 9.   Saturday, July 4 View Page 1821 X 1203 day 9. Keeping my fingers crossed this one is my only shot cause I broke the main. It's growing great so far. This is the most evenly round kin I've had so I'm not sure whats in store for me on this one?? What do ya'll think??? It doesn't look like a wheel yet. I think it looks like a good pickup truck pumpkin.   Saturday, July 4 View Page 1969 X 1203 day 9. The 1969 hasn't slowed down and appears to like growing vine more than fruit right now. The 1969has been throwing really small females. The first set is a little slower growing than the others and maybe #2 or #3 set will show more early growth....or the plant will start to sinking @ #1 set soon by maturing and by ending vines. I also gave her a shot of P a few days ago so maybe this will help.   Monday, July 6 View Page Patch View   Monday, July 6 View Page Opps. That was Thelma the patch hog. Patch is about full now. I should be pollinating squash soon and the melons are blooming like crazy. I'm going to leave the pollinating work for the bees.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page 1865 Harnica X 2058 Hawkley . I guess its like sibbing since both these plants both have the same great genetics. Very promising looking little fellow.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page 2058 X 1969 day 12.   Monday, July 13 View Page I'm excited to have my first 3 melons on!   Monday, July 13 View Page 888 Grande squash is in the middle of the picture. It's 1st female will open tomorrow. Very nice plant. The 888 plant thats closest doubled and will be pulled as soon as I don't need any males.   Monday, July 13 View Page The first Eaton has reached the top... yeah!! I am guessing it grew about 7 to 8 ft in the last 10-12 days to get there.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page The 127.56 Eaton LG's are doing well. Four of the five have hit the top. No females but they have to be close because a few males have bloomed.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Patch View   Tuesday, July 21 View Page God has been very good to me again this year!   Tuesday, July 21 View Page 1865 & 2058   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Melons,Fields,& Maters   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Scherber and Rocky Mtn Sunflowers...between 8-12ft tall and rolling!   Tuesday, July 21 View Page One more for tonight. There is a lot of work in this picture thats been done since July of 1998. Good times, some not easy but its worth it in the end.   Saturday, July 25 View Page 1865 Harnica Day 23 *new PB* 108 62 65 = 235ott   Saturday, July 25 View Page 2058 Hawkley Day 30 117 72 72 = 261 ott   Saturday, July 25 View Page 1969 Haist Day 30 111 73 71 = 255 ott   Saturday, July 25 View Page 1969 plant. I have finally have removed all the culls and pruned this plant way back and the kin is doing 28.1 lb/avg since day 20. It was a very fast grower through and past the pumpkin set and with very wet and hot conditions I let it go some.   Saturday, July 25 View Page 1821 Checkon Day 30. *new PB* 129 77 77 = 283 ott A beast. Has gained a steady 36 lbs/day since day 20   Saturday, July 25 View Page Melon culls....well when I found some large ones in the middle I culled 2 of my 3 keepers...lol I can't believe how they can hide and that I didn't find them sooner. I taped my first melon(ever) and all three are around 40lbs.(unless I find a larger one today.lol Also, the 127.56 EATON LG's are blooming in both the early am and in the evening so I have some little ones just starting.   Friday, July 31 View Page The Long Gourds are filling the trellis up. Thats one of my tallest sunflowers beside Lacey Jane   Friday, July 31 View Page Another pic. (5) 127.56 EATON. This should be an exciting next 30 days!   Friday, July 31 View Page Patch View. 1969 Haist; 1821 Checkon on the left; 888 Grande top. It's been very humid here like always. Wednesday I checked during an ac break in the truck at work and it was 86 at 11:30 am with 92% humidity. We got 3 good storms this week totaling 3.5 inches with temps around 90 day and 72 nights and the plants are thriving as are the cuc beetles.   Friday, July 31 View Page 1865 Harnica in the front and 2058 Hawkley. The Hawkley took some leaf damage this week but all in all the plants are very well.   Friday, July 31 View Page 1865 X 2058 Day 19. Would ya'll believe me if I told you I beat Benji by August 1st? I'm at 2378lbs and that doesn't count my three melons lol   Friday, July 31 View Page or this 888 Grande Day 18. I worked on this plant last Sunday after it had been neglected. I also pulled the other 888 and finished pulling my 1203. It has pretty good shape and size and growing well. Sunday is day 20 and first tape day.   Friday, July 31 View Page The first males on the FP just bloomed today with a nice orange color. This is #6 of 6 for the MG gauntlet if I can get one set. I think there should be a bonus point for that lol Melons...melons...melons..Ever since I got some on I find myself checking the melons first every evening at the garden. Very cool to see these green monsters take off!   Thursday, August 6 View Page 231 Kent   Thursday, August 6 View Page Loads of LGs now...last week I was worried with way too many cuc beetles as they were in every bloom. I sprayed Bifen,Chlorosel 720 and Quintec and will need to spray again soon but the bifen did the trick to get some on. Wet and humid here   Thursday, August 6 View Page Patch View. 12' 4'' on my best sunflower, 3 inches from a pb.   Friday, August 7 View Page 2058 day 43. 152cc   Friday, August 7 View Page 1821 day 43 166cc   Saturday, August 15 View Page 2058 Hawkley day 51. Has slowed to 14lb/day   Saturday, August 15 View Page 1865 Harnica day 44. 160cc 843lb   Saturday, August 15 View Page 1969 Haist day 51. 165cc 1000lbs! This was a Pa club giveaway seed this spring...Thanks   Saturday, August 15 View Page 1821 Checkon day 51. 176cc This was also in the Pa club seed giveaway. Thanks folks and I hope to see ya'll at Altoona.   Friday, August 21 View Page Not a good week here to say the least. 1821 Checkon new personal bests for me on days 30,40,50. The way the pumpkin grew it created a bowl around the stem that held water. I found it barely got soft at the stem/fruit junction Tuesday but couldn't stop it.gone in 2 days. Day 51 176, 96, 97, 370 1104lbs   Friday, August 21 View Page This shows the bowl. For you 1821 growers out there this was a sound fruit. blossom was 3" thick, stem side 7", and a very even 5-6" everywhere else. The good news is I have a new patch leader   Sunday, August 23 View Page 887 Houston est. I had to pull most of the plant due to my mistake of over-watering in early August. I don't think it will hold on for a month especially with this heat we have been having here. Great cross: 2058 Hawkley X 1969 Haist   Sunday, August 30 View Page Weighed in my first tomato a ho hum 1.81. It was off a 7.10 Foss   Monday, August 31 View Page My longest gourd fell and ended up 94". It is a fat dude and weighed 27 lbs. Just too heavy for the stem and I will have to do better at tying them up. I have some late ones growing fast now that I hope to get over 100 inches.   Thursday, September 10 View Page I have plenty of long gourds ....   Thursday, September 10 View Page but not where they are supposed to be. I only got a couple early ones on for whatever reason. Possible fast growth but the weather and cuc beetles are a more likely reason. I will put a box fan up there next year to help with the many I lost at pollination due too brown tip from humid conditions. Also I need to spray more often up to the point of seeing male flowers to control the bugs.   Thursday, September 10 View Page These guys barely made it on. All are 127.56 Eaton. Young gourds and growing fast.I will need to leave a good one on and miss the weigh off so I will get some good seeds for next year. A few weeks ago I thought my pb of 113.75 was not possible but I have a chance. I harvested the seeds on the 94"er that fell yesterday after leaving it rest in the garage for a while to prepare/age the seeds. They looked ok and I guess I got 80 good seeds. A little greenish on the edges and time will tell.   Thursday, September 10 View Page First time melon grower. Is it time to pull this melon?? I probably am soon. I have a couple other melons looking much better and I'll leave them on.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Patch view. We are beat up and in the 4th quarter but have two good ones still growing.   Thursday, September 10 View Page 887 Houston 2058 Hawkley X 1969 Haist(used only 1 large male) long female 3 lobe This was a very thick pumpkin. 8 to 9" on the entire pumpkin except the blossom which was 3.5 to 4. I messed this plant up beginning, middle and end; still got to 887 middle of August. Next year I am going to give her a shot. Anyone who wants seeds let me know   Saturday, September 12 View Page Picked my first melon today. 231 Kent. One in the cellar is better than 3 in the patch...or something like that lol.   Sunday, September 27 View Page 1969 Haist which is now the 1340 Houston. Yeah!!! New pb and Blue Ribbon winner at the State Fair. Check out my new 27" lifter from Lee getting the job done.   Thursday, October 1 View Page This pic is from Wednesday. I loaded for Altoona on Tuesday in the rain. It started raining during loading the 1340 last Friday for the State Fair and hasn't stopped. The Fair shut down from this nor-easter and I had to go right back and pick it up in this mess lol. I was fortunate to get these two on the trailer. The ground was slick but with the help of weeds for traction we didn't get stuck. A few minutes later very heavy rain came down for the rest of the night. 3.5 inches   Saturday, October 3 View Page Altoona had a bunch of nice kins.   Saturday, October 3 View Page More kins. Mine is on the right here. It was not a good day for pictures but it was a great day for a weigh-off. A bad day for a weigh-off is better than a good day at work! We had a great time with a bunch of good folks.   Saturday, October 3 View Page I am so far behind on my diary.....I hope that all is good with everyone, your weigh-offs went well and you had as nice a time as we did at ours. 1083 Houston 1865 Harnica X 2058 Hawkley 3% Heavy   Saturday, October 3 View Page I squeaked out a victory over Cory & James as the 888 Grande went 7% heavy. That was a huge surprise!   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1969 Haist loading pictures...now the 1340 Houston new Virginia State record   Thursday, October 8 View Page rear view   Thursday, October 8 View Page Thanks Ray for loading everything this year again without a scratch   Thursday, October 8 View Page In the trailer safely, that's a good feeling!   Friday, October 9 View Page I pulled everything out of the patch. Quite the job but very important   Saturday, October 10 View Page Added some gypsum and 50 lbs 19-19-19 because I know the soil needs a boost. Tilled and then seeded wheat. I didn't take a soil sample yet but will in a month or so. I feel there was too much green matter (weeds and such)to fool with it and also it might be inaccurate due too fertilizing throughout the year. Going to get 1500 next year!   Wednesday, October 28 View Page Patch view. The wheat is coming up thanks to the nice fall weather we have had here. I have been making lists and accumulating my spring amendments so after 4 full years I still have the fever and can't shake it lol   Wednesday, October 28 View Page The Watermelon patch is 8" of fluff and the soil should be better next year. I now have a year of growing them under my belt and look forward to trying to break 200 next year. I still need to clean up the LG's. I had about a dozen between 88-103" so I had a good year for the new spot. I need to keep learning and I hope to break 120"+ next year.   Wednesday, October 28 View Page Patch view with Lacey Jane. I plan on kicking my feet up and resting the patch now. I hope ya'll do the same and have a wonderful winter.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page I harvested seeds today. It had a lot of sprouters, mainly the seeds at or near the top of the kin. It was on display outside for 6 weeks and that must be about the limit here. I ended up with 160 solid seeds from this thick pumpkin. It was a three lobe pollinated with one large male my best plant. The 1969 plant was excellent to grow. The dog days of August hurt the plant some with only 30lbs of gain in September there is more in this one. Free seeds available. 1340 Houston 15 3%heavy 1969 Haist 14 X 1203 Houston 14 Virginia State record