Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 127 Entries. Thursday, January 1 View Page Happy New Years!!! :)   Friday, January 9 View Page Today, I have started testing seeds. The ones I am testing are: 194 Chandler 14, 100 Chandler 14, 88.5 (est.) Chandler 14 [Gourdo], 671.5 Barenie 10, 403 (est.) Shewmaker 13, 308 (est.) Shewmaker 13, 666 Shewmaker 13, 312 (est.) Shewmaker 13, 769 Barenie 10, 860.5 Kopp 10, 39 (est.) Chandler 14, and 863 Kopp 10. Right now they are soaking for one hour in warm water with their sides lightly sanded. And so it begins! : )   Friday, January 9 View Page Just a few minutes ago, i planted the seeds that I am testing in individually labeled plastic yogurt containers that are in planting trays on heat mats under grow lights set on a timer. DAY: 0   Friday, January 9 View Page I win I win I win Lot 45: 1916 Barron (20% HEAVY)!!! : ) : ) : )   Friday, January 16 View Page Today, I checked on two or three of the testing pots to see if they were sprouting. They were, but I planted them too deep (about 1.5") in the potting soil, they were not watered enough, and it was cold inside my house for the past couple of days due to the weather. I will see how to goes and I might start over with a new set of seeds to be tested, if things do not turn out right. DAY: 7   Sunday, January 18 View Page Looks like the 666 is trying to go back into the soil. I might of planted this seed pointed end downward, but in the past I have seen pumpkin seeds sometimes sprout at the pointed end instead of the rounded end. It is a good idea to test seeds ahead of time. Also, not to plant them too deep. I will post more pictures to show what is sprouting.   Sunday, January 18 View Page 403 shewmaker 13   Sunday, January 18 View Page 100 Chandler 14   Sunday, January 18 View Page 860.5 Kopp 10   Sunday, January 18 View Page 863 kopp 10. Day: 9   Sunday, January 18 View Page This is one of my pumpkins that rotted at the blossom end. I hope to avoid this from happening again. This is the 39(est) 13 dmg, crossed with the 312 weibel x 695 Johnson. The white stuff is biomin calcium powder; tried to stop the rotting, but did not work. ??   Monday, January 19 View Page Oops, how did I do that. Could be drunk! lol ;)   Friday, February 6 View Page What's wrong with this pumpkin? Must know something very big will happen this year in 2015! ??   Friday, February 6 View Page That's better, I think? ??   Friday, April 3 View Page I received a package from No See Lee. I bought a 13" lifting ring with lifting straps. Lee had thrown in the Dori strap, May Travel strap, and a 10% discount including seeds. Lee does a very good job at making the lifting rings and straps. Now I will be able to lift my GOLD safely and easily. Thanks LEE! : ) : ) : )   Sunday, April 5 View Page Have a HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!! : )   Wednesday, April 15 View Page The Oakhurst Forest Preserve Garden Plots are open! I took a soil sample for plots: 6 and 19. Sowed in Buckwheat cover crop coated with Myco-Bact and raked in.   Thursday, April 16 View Page Lightly tilled in cover crop.   Friday, April 17 View Page Applied Root Shield + to plots: 6 and 19.   Friday, April 24 View Page Started giant pumpkin seeds: 1916 Barron and the 1513 Sherwood. Sanded the edges of the seeds and soaked the seeds in a seaweed solution for 4 hours. Planted the seeds in pots a little larger than 1 gallon, 1-1/4" deep. The planting mix is made up of: Burpee Seed Starting Mix, Pro Mix - Ultimate Organic Mix, Bio Grow Endo Plus, and Root Shield +. Covered the bottom of the pots with foil. Watered the pots with 1 cup each of the seaweed solution. Put the pots on a heat mat under grow lights with a timer. Let the season begin! : )   Monday, April 27 View Page Today, I sent my soil sample thru the mail to Western Labs. : )   Monday, April 27 View Page My soil sample has been mailed to Western Labs, today. : )   Monday, April 27 View Page Oops! lol   Sunday, May 3 View Page Today, Is my 26th Birthday! : ) : )   Friday, May 8 View Page Today, I started my back-ups. The 1546 Shenoha 13 and 860.5 Kopp 10, same as the first ones I started.   Friday, May 8 View Page My plants are looking good, a little leggy, but looking strong. I should have put the plants in the patch sooner. I think I sent in my soil sample in too late, it was sent in on the 27th of April and have not heard back from Western Labs. Next time I should take the sample at the end of the season instead, so I do not have to wait for the community garden plots to open on April 15th.   Saturday, May 9 View Page I do not understand why my photos are being posted upside down! : (   Saturday, May 9 View Page I am glad I did not plant my pumpkins yet.   Saturday, May 9 View Page I need to fix the fence around the garden for the second time. : ( The recent storms are too much for the fence, broke two 6 foot wooden stakes right at the ground. I need to put up more stakes or use metal ones.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Here goes none!   Saturday, May 9 View Page What the $#@% is going on! My mistake.   Monday, May 11 View Page Received soil test results from Western Labs.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Applied Milorganite and Jersey Greensand to patch. Also, applied Spring Wake-up, Humic Acid at planting sites.   Friday, May 15 View Page Applied Bone Meal, Sulfur (fast acting), and Pumpkin Power at planting sites.   Thursday, May 21 View Page I finally planted the 1916 Barron 14 and the 1513 Sherwood 14! : )   Thursday, May 21 View Page Applied Mn, Cu, Zn, and B to the pumpkin patch before preparing the planting sites.   Friday, May 22 View Page Added Root Shield + and BioGrow Endo Plus sprinkled into the planted hole. Watered Kins with fish/seaweed comb, half strength liquid feed(1/2 gallon each).   Friday, May 22 View Page Put Grow Mats down around Kins, watered the same as before in the afternoon, and covered them with hot houses to keep warm over night.   Friday, May 22 View Page I really should have hardened off my Kins better. They do not like being out on the direct sun, but the plants stem and leaf stems are still ridged. They will recover, I did the same thing last year, great. :(   Sunday, May 24 View Page Working on making some pumpkin patch shoes so I can anywhere in the patch. : )   Monday, May 25 View Page I checked on my Kins this morning due to the strong wind, the 1513 Sherwood's stem was snapped halfway thru. The 1916 Barron was fine just had one of its primary leaves was twisted upside-down. I covered the plants with hot houses, but left some space for venting. I came back later to check on them, the Barron was fine and the Sherwood was still alive. I put about 2 Tbs of BioGrow Endo Plus over the broken part of the stem and covered it with some wet soil. I hope the Sherwood recovers, if not I have backups(1546 Shenoha and 860.5 Kopp).   Monday, June 1 View Page Earlier today, I fed my kins with a fish power at half strength(1/2 gallon each) and give them a fungicide spray. My 1916 is doing great, it has a vine that is about 10" long. The 1513 is doing a lot better, it has new growth and is growing a vine about 6" long. : ) I have been covering them with hot houses due to the cold temps at night.   Friday, June 12 View Page Yesterday, I checked my kins(1513 Sherwood, 1916 Barron) the new leaf growth on both of them are growing a bit deformed. I hope it is not Mosaic Virus.   Monday, June 15 View Page Yesterday, my kin patch received 1-7/10" of rain. I had a rain gauge put up a few weeks ago.   Monday, June 15 View Page A huge amount of rain this morning, I hate to look the rain gauge. :(   Monday, June 15 View Page Last Wednesday, I cut down the rest of the buckwheat in my patch and broad-forked the area. Then, I was going to till it in, but can not due to so much rain.   Monday, June 15 View Page I have not fertilized my kins since the first week of June, due to the rain. They growing well!   Monday, June 15 View Page Now it is raining again today! I saw the weather forecast and it calls for more rain today, no rain Tuesday thru Wednesday, but rain Thursday thru Sunday. Rain, rain go away due not come back for another day! For Now! :(   Monday, June 15 View Page HAWKS WIN HAWKS WIN HAWKS WIN!!!!!!! Hawks won the Stanley Cup, score: 2-0 :)   Tuesday, June 16 View Page Started, burying some of the leaf axils on the main and secondary on my kins.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Two or three days ago, 2.3" of rain fell and today about .4" of rain. Going to rain tomorrow. No more rain please. :( I have not fed them yet. On the other, my kins are keep on growing. Their secondary vines are starting to grow tertiary vines, which are only about 2' long. I plan to use root mass expanders on Friday.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Today, I pruned vines and leaves around each kin's stump. Working on stopping a leak in my 95 gallon tank.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page This morning around 7:30am, 1513 Sherwood x Shelf at 10'3" from stump and the main vine is 15' long. Used 4 male flowers and the female flower had 5 lobes. I was trying to put up a small wood shelter over the flower. Tried to secure it and the top fell straight down on the flower and bounced off! :( I hope the flower will survive. The only damage I saw was to the pedals, the stem did not brake off. If it takes the kin will be named, "MISHAP".   Tuesday, June 30 View Page The 1513 Sherwood has about 4 more females, one on the main and 3 on secondaries. The 1916 Barron has female that should open in 2 days, could be 10' to 12' out from base.   Saturday, July 11 View Page Shelf pollinated the 1916 Barron 14 on the 2nd of July with 3 males. It was 10'5" out from stump, but it was aborted on the 8th. The plant is another female on the main vine. :)   Saturday, July 11 View Page On the 10th of July, the 1513 Sherwood x shelf was named, Mishap. Do to an accident at pollination, but now be named, "ROCKY"!!! It was the DAP 10 at 20"cc(morning) and 20.5"cc(evening)!   Saturday, July 11 View Page Rocky has a big shelter over her to shield from the sun and rain, but has a nice breezeway to keep it cool inside. She is on a smooth sheet of 1/4" plywood. Rocky is perfectly round with a greenish/yellowish color.   Monday, July 13 View Page Today at 5:30am, I shelf pollinated a female on the 1916 Barron. Has 4 nicely shaped lobes, baby pumpkin is a whiteish cream color, 4 males were used, and the flower is 17' out from the stump on the main.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Oops, I mean to say self pollination NOT shelf pollination. That would be a first, a pumpkin crossed with shelf! lol ; )   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Hereeessss ROCKY!!!   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Today, Rocky's DAP 15: 42" cc!!! :)   Wednesday, July 15 View Page I am not sure if the female I selfed on the 1916 Barron will take. It looks like it might abort. :(   Saturday, July 18 View Page Rocky's Dap 18: 56"cc. Started to pull more on the main vine, so I put foam under the blossom end to raise this end up to release the stress on the vine. I will need to adjust the main vine again pretty soon.   Saturday, July 18 View Page The 1916 Barron x self has grown some and it looks like it might take! :)   Monday, July 20 View Page Rocky's Dap 20: 66"cc, 46"ee, 47.5"ss, and OTT: 159.5" Est. Lbs. 95   Monday, July 20 View Page Rocky's Dap 20   Monday, July 20 View Page 1916 Barron x self will be called, "TERMINATOR" Dap 7   Tuesday, July 21 View Page Rocky's cc is 71"!!! :)   Thursday, July 23 View Page Terminator's Dap 10: 27.5"cc!!!   Thursday, July 23 View Page Rocky is 78"cc!   Saturday, July 25 View Page Rocky's Dap25: (7:55am) 83.5"cc, 56"ee, 56"ss, OTT:195.5" Est. Lbs 172.   Saturday, July 25 View Page Terminator's Dap12: 36"cc! :)   Saturday, July 25 View Page Rocky's stem end.   Thursday, July 30 View Page Rocky's Dap 30: 95.5"cc, 62"ee, 61"ss, OTT: 218.5" Est. Lbs: 237 (Team-Pumpkin 2013 Standard OTT Chart), 215-255 (Team-Pumpkin 2013 Enhanced OTT Chart)   Thursday, July 30 View Page Rocky's Dap 30: 95.5"cc, 62"ee, 61"ss, OTT: 218.5" : )   Thursday, July 30 View Page Another picture of Rocky!   Thursday, July 30 View Page Here is Terminator, Dap 17 : )   Thursday, July 30 View Page Rocky's Dap30.   Friday, July 31 View Page Today, Rocky is 97.5" cc for Dap: 31 and Terminator is 61" cc for Dap: 18! : )   Saturday, August 1 View Page Rocky's is now 98.5"cc! Need some rain badly. Kins are slowing down in grow and having a hard time keeping them watered. Big cracks forming in the patch, due to lack of water.   Sunday, August 2 View Page Terminator's Dap 20: 66.5"cc, 46"ee, 45"ss, and OTT: 157.5". Need rain badly!   Sunday, August 2 View Page Rocky's Dap 33: 100"cc Est. Lbs:282 Where is the RAIN!!!   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Rocky's Dap35: 102.5"cc, 66"ee, 64"ss, and OTT: 232.5"   Thursday, August 6 View Page Rocky is now 104.5"cc.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Rocky's Dap40: 107.5"cc, 69"ee, 66.5"ss, and OTT: 243"!!! 322 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 294-350 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart) Rocky is starting to cantaloupe by the stem and blossom end. May go heavy to the chart. ; )   Wednesday, August 12 View Page Terminator's Dap30: 85.5"cc, 57"ee, 57.5"ss, OTT: 200" 183 Lbs.(Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 167-199 Lbs.(Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart).   Friday, August 14 View Page Rocky's Dap45: 111.5"cc, 71.5"ee, 68.5ss, and OTT:251.5" 356 Lbs.(Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 323-385 Lbs.(Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart). Grow'em BIG!   Monday, August 17 View Page Terminator's Dap35: 91"cc 61"ee, 61"ss, OTT: 213".   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Rocky's Dap50: 115"cc, 73.5"ee, 70.5"ss, and OTT: 259.5".   Saturday, August 22 View Page Terminator's Dap40: 97"cc, 64.5"ee, 64"ss, and OTT: 225.5".   Monday, August 24 View Page Rocky's Dap55: 117"cc, 75"ee, 72.5"ss, and OTT: 264.5".   Tuesday, August 25 View Page Rocky's Dap56.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Terminator's Dap45: 100"cc, 66.5"ss, 66"ee, and OTT: 232.5".   Sunday, August 30 View Page Rocky's Dap61: 119.5"cc, 76.5"ee, 74"ss, OTT: 270".   Wednesday, September 2 View Page Terminator's Dap51: 104"cc, 69.5"ee, 68.5"ss, and OTT: 242".   Thursday, September 3 View Page Rocky's Dap65: 121"cc, 77"ee, 75.5"ss, and OTT: 273.5".   Monday, September 7 View Page Terminator's Dap57: 107.5"cc, 72"ee, 69.5"ss, and OTT: 249".   Wednesday, September 9 View Page Rocky's Dap71: 121"cc, 78"ee, 75.5"ss, and OTT: 274.5".   Saturday, September 12 View Page Terminator's Dap60: 108.5"cc, 72.5"ee, 70"ss, and OTT: 251".   Sunday, September 13 View Page Rocky's Dap75: 121.5"cc, 78.5"ee, 76"ss, and OTT: 276" 466 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart) 425-506 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Thursday, September 17 View Page Terminator's Dap65: 110.5"cc, 73"ee, 70.5"ss, and OTT: 254". 367 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart) 334-398 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Saturday, September 19 View Page Rocky's Dap81: 123"cc, 77"ss, 78.5"ee, and OTT: 278.5". 479 Lbs.(Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 434-517 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Monday, September 21 View Page Picture of Rocky. :)   Monday, September 21 View Page Picture of Terminator. :)   Monday, September 21 View Page Rocky's Dap83.   Tuesday, September 22 View Page Terminator's Dap70: 111"cc, 74"ee, 71"ss, and OTT: 256". 375 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 342-407 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Wednesday, September 23 View Page Rocky's Dap85: 123"cc, 79"ee, 77"ss, and OTT: 279". 481 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart), 439-522 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin)   Sunday, September 27 View Page Terminator's Dap75: 112"cc, 74.5"ee, 71.5"ss, and OTT: 258". 384 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart) 350-416 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Monday, September 28 View Page Rocky's Dap90: 124"cc, 79.5"ee, 78"ss, and OTT:281.5". 494 Lbs. (Standard Team-Pumpkin Chart) 448-533 Lbs. (Enhanced Team-Pumpkin Chart)   Friday, October 2 View Page Rocky's bottom.   Sunday, October 4 View Page My brother, Benjamin helped me bring my kins home from the patch. I built a gantry crane with a hanging crane scale to lift my gold. The one on the right is Terminator, weighs: 438 Lbs. 13% heavy, Est. was 388 Lbs, OTT: 259". The one on the left is Rocky, weighs: 504 Lbs. 1% heavy, Est. 499 Lbs, OTT: 282.75". These kins are my very personal best. I wonder what next year will bring! : )   Sunday, October 4 View Page Rocky's front.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Rocky's BUTT end.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Terminator's Dap82, blossom end.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Oops, missed the photo.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Terminator's stem end.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Terminator's bottom.   Tuesday, October 13 View Page Rocky and me. Some PUMPKIN!   Sunday, October 25 View Page Time to harvest Rocky's seeds.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Rocky's access door.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Wall thickness near Rocky's left shoulder.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Rocky's wall thickness.   Sunday, October 25 View Page The Doctor is finished with Rocky.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Terminator's left side.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Terminator's right side.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Terminator's top view.   Saturday, November 7 View Page My pumpkins are now resting in pieces in the patch. : )