Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 30 Entries. Sunday, March 15 View Page This is the area I have to do it in, a 2' wide bed along the window and staircase! The landlord is a difficult person and tearing up the front lawn may result in an eviction. (may be next year!?!?) I am pumped to have much space as is, will make it work. I plan on starting the pumpkin in the corner. The main shall travel along the wall to the end of the staircase and hopefully set fruit 5- 10 feet past. This should provide about 10' of bed to bury the main, and a 12' bed (under the widow) to bury the first and possibly the second secondaries. The remaining shall sprawl onto the lawn. The solid concrete steps creates some morning shade, however acts as an amazing thermal mass. On the 7th I hired a bin and removed about 3 yards of sand, broken blocks and some construction debris. No top soil at all, so it will be up to me to haul everything in. Disturbed a few mason bees that home in our sandy lawn. I am embracing and welcoming the madness! BRING IT!   Sunday, March 15 View Page This is pic for last entry.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page THE BATTLE FIELD: 1.5 yards of free fresh horse manure (shout out to southland farms) as a base. approximately 2' deep. 1 yard of local municipalities garden blend soil. about 12" deep THE ARSENAL: 2L of sea-corp, 2L liquid kelp, 1L EM with molasses, 2 kg of finely powdered egg shells, 4 bags of sea soil, 20 kg of mushroom manure, a few hand fulls of bone meal and one hard working 4 year old. I buried a hose about 18" from the bottom. I will try to water deep to encourage the roots to go down cause of restricted surface area. I should gain about 10" of vine burying depth as the manure collapses.   Thursday, April 16 View Page Lost some sleep last night thinking I wasn’t deep enough with the soil. So with 3/4 more yards of it and 2 more bags of sea soil, one of mushroom and a little more molasses, rest should come tonight. Perhaps I will be sleeping with one eye open for the next +/-160 days?!? Part of the big pumpkin madness? Thermometer read soil that I moved yesterday was 24 degrees 8” down. Should be no issues of keeping the little guy warm. Will closely monitor for heat stress.   Wednesday, April 22 View Page Did my 1040 chan germinate? you betcha! Did my 4 year old dig it up? uh-huh! so there it is if you were wondering how it looks under the earth before pushing through. Will observe the effects of root stress. Started the 1040 chan (thanx dave) on the 18th. Reasons for staring early: weather forecast appears favourable, new moon phase, gut instincts, and one can’t rule out the eagerness. lightly shaved edges, soaked for 4 hrs, add mychorizal fungi & heat pad at night and in south window during day when sunny. 1447 colbert (f:1630 colbert x m:1634 werner) started april 20th, heavy filling, soak for 5 hrs. This is primary back-up, and possible pollinator. soil is 26C to 29C in the mornings.   Saturday, April 25 View Page 1447 colberton left showed itself morning of 24th 1040 chan on right in the same afternoon.   Thursday, May 7 View Page Reasons why I am super excited about this transplant photo. 1)My first ever giant pumpkin transplant! 2)Soil temp was 27C @ 10” below surface - it was steaming! The steam appears as dry soil in the photo. I am relieved to know that the composting manure below the soil will keep this little guy cozy for the next few weeks 3)My jerry-rigged, slip transplant pot work amazing. The sharp top edge slightly damaged a leaf -protect time.4)Office desk is no longer a germination chamber.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Thanx to my wonderful wife for taking care while i was up at the cabin for 10 days. This is also a before pic - and i hope the after pic is the same once the roofers replace our shingles.   Sunday, June 14 View Page The bad news: brown, crisp, dead edges suspect hard and fast afternoon sun; remay. Yellowing leaves perhaps too much nitrogen and/or H2O; cut back water, little 20-20-20. And safer soap for the aphids. The good news: survived reroof, two little females about 12' and 14'out 8th, 10th respectively, saw first male flower open on 7th, 3 now opened. kids have yet to really destroy it and growing like mad. it is now exceeding the bed on the stair side. roots 6' away from stump! Shout out to local growers for helping with the bad.   Monday, June 22 View Page To my surprise the two females were open when i came home from work. apparently they don't open at half 5 in the am. I had my 4 year old help pollinate - it was so exciting I can't put it into words. first one has 5 and the second out 4 lobes. had 5 more females show up, only on the main.   Monday, June 29 View Page Big day today. firstly pollinated the third out on the main (6lober!)x 1447 colbert. my neighbor is having fun with the 1447. also brought in 1.25 yards of compost to mulch the bed with + 1.5kg finely powdered egg shells and other fine ocean products. started to terminate the secondaries by sticking them in a bucket soil in hopes of establishing some roots. pollinated a backup female off a secondary 2 days ago. plucking all females and terminating most secondaries. shifting focus to the fruit. when does one terminate the main? got a 4th out there buut running out of real estate, fast.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page this little one is SOFT SPOT. It had the knife to it's stem 3 times now but held off for some reason or other (it had a small soft spot but since has toughened up). 113ott approx 49 pounds; 15 days in. two other females i thought were gold - well one aborted and the other i knocked the flower off! done learned a few good lessons. i positioned the 2 goners idealistically so Soft Spot got benched and as a result is not in the most ideal position, but it will work. 4 more females ready to pollinate in the next few days as back up. shout out to other local experienced growers helping me along the way. thanx   Tuesday, July 14 View Page I had my first pumpkin dream. The flower end was rotten, I was devastated. Needless to say I checked and hugged the real one when I awoke. I still claim non-attachment! ha... OTT 168.5 DAP 22. Pollinated one on the main on the 12th as back-up. And figured out the equidistant thing - in order for that to be effective - the ground must level. So the ground is level and the stem and flower are parallel. The markings on it are from my four year old. she demonstrated to her younger sister how tender the skin is. Who knew giant pumpkin growing is a constant non-attachment practice?   Wednesday, July 22 View Page There it is, the stair pumpkin, the wife's pumpkin, the why the hell not pumpkin!?!? 137 ott. The family loves it too much to cull. Perhaps it will be the one that goes the distance? I'll need to bring a stair master to the weigh off. It definitely has slowed the big one currently at 199ott. The big guy is averaging about 6.5lbs a day over the last 2 weeks. fingers crossed we don't get level 4 water restrictions.   Saturday, July 25 View Page The stair pumpkin is severed! After reading glens impressive daily weight gains, my wife slit this poor buggers throat without hesitation. ott 144 est weight 71lbs actual 76.4lbs. 7.5% heavy. will be interesting to see how the only one left fairs. soft spot measured 208ott.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page Disappointing on 2 fronts. firstly still consistent at 6.5lbs a day - nothing over the norm since the sever. Secondly and most worrisome is what looks like decay happening on the leaves. it is on 30% of the plant. what looked like "light" spots only 3 days ago has turned into this. any help or ideas greatly appreciated. 214 ott 36dap   Monday, August 3 View Page My plant is sick! It is exhibiting all the signs of cubit mosaic virus. Nothing can be done expect to watch it run its coarse. And perhaps shed a tear and be thankful it is my plant that is unhealthy and not my family. I will not rule out soil imbalance or other deseases and will solve that inquiry with soil test. I have been reactionary this year with regards to insects and disease. Much experience has been gained for next year. ott 223, a 6 lb gain in 4 days. This means I am still in the game. The neighborhood and kids love it. Still open to any advice.   Monday, August 24 View Page Haven't reported much here, well, cause there is not much to report... besides the slow gradual death of my plant. It has grown 0 inches since last entry. the leaves taking on whatever and slowly succumbing.   Monday, August 24 View Page Stage 1 - visible spots are noticeable "in" the leaf. looking from the underside into the light highlights the problem spots.   Monday, August 24 View Page Stage 2 - these spots then start to turn yellow, along with some of the leaf edges.   Monday, August 24 View Page Stage 3 - The yellow takes over much of the leaf and initial spots and edges turn brown.   Monday, August 24 View Page Stage 4 - Wilting death - it doesn't take more than a day to have it shriveled and on the ground. I threw everything at it, sprayed milk, potassium, sprayed black tea, leach the soil, dry the soil, safers, tears....... even the new growth takes on this disease. it growths as consistent as the plant does. i truly understand the importance of maintaining a healthy plant!!!   Monday, August 24 View Page The good news is that the fruit is still on the vine. approx 260lbs, i hope it goes the distance and can get it to the scales. There is some mould forming on the front shoulders, should i be concerned of this? And in case you are wondering, when i terminated the secondaries and put the last node into white pails of earth with hopes of encouraging root growth.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page no size gain - at all, removed all foliage expect whats shown   Sunday, October 4 View Page My 2 little ones cutting the cord of my other little one.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Here's mine in the line up. Thanx to grandma for taking care of my healing wife and napping ray-lynn so i could get my first pumpkin officially weighed.   Sunday, October 4 View Page 316 Reid!! Not bad considering 90-95% of the growth was all in july! Was great to finally meet the other local growers. Looking forward to apply the 2015 experience to 2016! The giant pumpkin hook has been set.   Sunday, October 4 View Page it taped 240 inches, estimated 307lbs - weighed 316 - 3% heavy. 1 was taping 228 - but was on rough terrain.   Wednesday, November 11 View Page Here I dug up the "plot" the roots went down as deep as the soil. will dig deeper for next year. after carving the pumpkin for halloween, i happily smashed it and buried along with a bunch of leaves.   Wednesday, November 11 View Page The snowman pumpkin with interchangeable heads!