Home What's New Message Board
BigPumpkins.com
Select Destination Site Search
 
KeepCalmGrowBig - 2015 Grower Diary Point your RSS aggregator here to subscribe to this Grower Diary.

Show Entries in

Grower Diary Menu
  Back to Previous Page
List Other Grower's Diaries
Submit to Your Own Diary

 
Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 29 Entries.
Sunday, March 22 View Page
Just got back from the BIG Show. It's inspired me to do a diary for the first time. To Dave Stelts and the GPC Committee, the presenters, and everyone that I met and talked to there, thank you! The amount of information packed into that weekend was amazing. I will admit it was a bit intimidating meeting everyone but i felt very welcome none-the-less. Thanks again. See you in LIMEington. :)
 
Sunday, March 22 View Page
This will be my 3rd year growing. Last year I took one to the scale for the first time. That picture is a great example of what it's all about for me.....family and friends coming together to have some fun. I'll be growing 2 plants this year. Not 100% sure what seeds will be put in yet. Right now I'm more worried about the snow melting off my patch and getting my testing done.
 
Sunday, March 22 View Page
This will be my 3rd year growing. Last year I took one to the scale for the first time. That picture is a great example of what it's all about for me.....family and friends coming together to have some fun. I'll be growing 2 plants this year. Not 100% sure what seeds will be put in yet. Right now I'm more worried about the snow melting off my patch and getting my testing done.
 
Thursday, April 30 View Page
2015 patch. Expanded last years patch. 2 plants this year. 700 sf each
 
Thursday, April 30 View Page
This years line up coming along nicely. Nice assortment of PA grown kins and a couple MI state records. The ones with seed coats on all popped up over night. Moved them closer to the lights right after taking the pic.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
I'm a little behind on the diary so I'll catch up in the next few posts. Here's the lineup: 2 - 1947 Clementz 4 - 781 Beimel 1 - 1683 Fulk 1 - 1524 Fulk
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
Filed, soaked, and placed 8 seeds in baggies and put in 88 degree germ chamber on April 24th. Both 1947's popped on April 26th after about 40 hours and were planted in 6" peat pots. On April 27 the rest popped and were planted. All but 1 seed ended up germing as seen in the pic a couple posts back.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
I put 2 plants in the patch on May 4th. With the 10 day forecast looking amazing I couldn't resist. After much debate I went with the 1947 and a 781. I just couldn't resist planting my own seed. For the planting sites, I dug down 12"-15" inches and made a circle about 6' in diameter. I mixed the dirt with these things and made a mound about 1' high in the middle.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
Here's the patch last week after planting. Laundry baskets for rabbit protection (just in case), until I get the fence up.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
Spent the evening putting up perimeter fence. I also decided to go ahead and aim the headlights at the patch to get the silt fence up for a wind break. Big relief having those two things done. The fences are my least favorite patch activity.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
Note for next year. Don't file the seeds so much! The 1947's both have deformed cots and the first two true leave are brittle and black on portions of the edges. I filed these seeds first and after finishing them I realized I was being a bit over zealous. On another note...other than the 1947 issue, the plants are looking good. The ones in the patch are falling a bit behind (need soil cables next year) but I transplanted the others to 12" pots and I'm seriously considering replacing the ones in the patch with the 1524 Fulk and one of my other backups. Pictures of the current patch and deformed leaves will be posted tomorrow. If any one reads this and have opinions after seeing the pics I'd appreciate them
 
Thursday, May 14 View Page
35 F at daybreak. I wonder what's going on under there....
 
Tuesday, June 9 View Page
1947. 5 weeks in the ground. 7' long. Sides approaching 3'.
 
Tuesday, June 9 View Page
1524 Fulk replaced the 781 Beimel on 5/17. At just over 3 weeks in the ground it's looking good. Almost 5' long. A few 1' sides.
 
Tuesday, June 9 View Page
Female on the 1947 at about 6'. I'll keep it for pollination practice but I don't have high hopes for this one
 
Saturday, June 13 View Page
Somehow, we totally dodged the storms that came through the area yesterday. Rained most of the evening but no major wind or hail. Started burying vines today. Plants are growing like weeds.....but so are the weeds. I plan to hit them with the dragon breath torch this week sometime.
 
Monday, June 22 View Page
Was out of town all last week. Luckily, I have good friends and family that pumpkin-sat for me. I came home to find that the plants really took off. This is the 1947. Throwing females everywhere now. Should see a potential keep pollinated within the next 10 days on this one.
 
Monday, June 22 View Page
1524 Fulk. Main is longer than the 1947's but the sides are just starting to run now. There's a female near the sweet spot but I'm guessing over 2 weeks still before a potential keeper gets pollinated here
 
Monday, June 22 View Page
Just a few notes......cucumber beetles are all over the place. The plants got a treatment of sevin last week when I was gone but some damage was already done. Plants will be getting a shot of a systemic insecticide this week. Also, the weed burner works like a charm. I used a small piece of plywood to shield the plants and just touched each weed with some heat. They're 90% gone now. Final till and drip tape / injector installation on Wednesday. Then no more free-walking in the patch.
 
Friday, June 26 View Page
SVB is in central PA. hopefully the systemic insecticides I bought won't let me down. But boy am I nervous. Bugs are very very bad the last 2 weeks. To end on a positive note. Plants are big. Have been pollinating every morning for the last 3 days.
 
Friday, June 26 View Page
Here's a pic to go with that last post. Ken, I don't blame you if you don't approve it. That's a filthy nasty picture.
 
Monday, July 6 View Page
1524 has far surpassed the 1947. Planted later but seems to really like the growing conditions.
 
Monday, July 6 View Page
1947. The leaves on this one just aren't holding up like the 1524. Still a beast of a plant
 
Monday, July 6 View Page
Patch overview. 1947 is the closest with the 1524 in the back. Growing toward each other (won't be doing that again. ) Plan to have all pollinations done by Thursday. Getting sick of growing plastic chairs. Ready for these babies to break the canopy.
 
Wednesday, July 22 View Page
1947 on the right. 1524 on the left. This picture is from a week ago but it's the only one I have of the 1947. I'm not sure what was wrong with it, possibly yellow vine, but I pulled it yesterday. Secondaries were growing maybe 2 inches per day and every pollination aborted.
 
Wednesday, July 22 View Page
1947 stump. Seemed like decent roots
 
Wednesday, July 22 View Page
The tips of the vines on the 1947 were piinting towards the sky and the plant in general just didn't have the green look like the 1524. Hopefully we can get one from the 1524 to the scales. 14 DAP today. No measuring yet but the day to day growth is visible at first glance so I'm fine with just knowing it's still growing.
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
The good. Day 28. 226 OTT
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
The bad. Splitting has been occurring since day 10. Started with the stem and now is moving to the pumpkin. I guess I better back off the ferts and water. Part of me just wants to see how much it can handle tho.
 

 

Top of Page

Questions or comments? Send mail to Ken AT bigpumpkins.com.
Copyright © 1999-2024 BigPumpkins.com. All rights reserved.