Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 265 Entries. Saturday, January 2 View Page Wind protection is on its away, no directions, hopefully all the pieces are there!   Sunday, January 3 View Page This should be interesting, got a good idea how its going to go together but think it's missing some pieces. Anybody got mcguyvers phone #   Thursday, January 7 View Page Getting its yearly TLC while I fix other crushing equipment   Sunday, January 24 View Page My wife+ beer+ Photoshop+ Facebook while iam watching a seed auction   Sunday, January 31 View Page So my patch is 60 x 65, my freebie greenhouse is 28 x 48, was out doing some pipe measurements, and think with a trip to Menard's I can add 20' through the middle with 13- 20' pipe s and then add some 4x4's for support. Can easily spread the 48 into the 65 for a 5 foot spacing of the cross members. Think my watermelon are going to be outside in the 10 x 65 remaining. My brain hurts and now its time to cash in some safety points for gift cards.   Sunday, February 7 View Page Well making the greenhouse structure wider is working, 28 ft to 58 ft, and 10-12 ft in height all the way across the patch. Should work well for a screen house. Spending money this year, but the future is looking better   Sunday, February 7 View Page Another view, get a lot more done but this white stuff with a frozen ground make it difficult. Little bit at a time, 3 months to git it done.   Saturday, February 13 View Page Another cold day, thinking about my future screenhouse   Sunday, February 28 View Page Little practice, experiment   Sunday, February 28 View Page Nice day to get some things done, not going to lie if my vehicles don't start cooperating, this is going to be a screen less screen house this year   Sunday, February 28 View Page Looking better, wind is just a whipping, hoping the screen will kill it enough   Friday, March 4 View Page Roughly 45 days till this gets real!, so far a success practice run   Saturday, March 5 View Page So true, except for snow outside   Saturday, March 5 View Page Got my dad started in this a few years ago, now he's promoting the Hobby   Sunday, March 6 View Page Got some pipe put together today, need to pick up another 18, 10 footers then all the screen supports are done except for the wood portion   Sunday, March 13 View Page All my supports are put together!   Sunday, March 13 View Page 2- 4x4's and a bunch of 2x6's short, but the Giant Giant Pumpkin Screen house is coming together right on schedule. Deadline is going to be May 1st, want it up before my plants move outside   Saturday, March 19 View Page Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers seminar, really informative   Saturday, March 19 View Page Josiah being honored on the club banner! Can't wait to grow the 2185 this year   Sunday, March 20 View Page Progress! Look from the end   Sunday, March 20 View Page Side view, going to make a expensive call to fruit shield this week probably.   Saturday, March 26 View Page 3 loads, got stuck on number 2. 18 yards total   Saturday, March 26 View Page More goodies!   Thursday, March 31 View Page More goodies! Wish everyone shipped as quickly as WOW & Hollands. Ron and Joel do a wonderful job for us growers   Friday, April 1 View Page Got a nice bubble from the EGVGA, via Eddy Z, and my Big Stem from Tanner! Really need to get some patch work done this weekend. Suppose to be windy tomorrow so me and Alba are going to Madison to check out a store the Wisconsin growers use   Saturday, April 2 View Page Holy s$%&, 50mph winds and just nasty outside. Suppose to be 70 tomorrow, that will just be wonderful   Saturday, April 2 View Page Great store   Sunday, April 3 View Page Now we are getting somewhere, really hating this wind.   Sunday, April 3 View Page Roughly 3900 sq ft all under a screen this year!   Sunday, April 3 View Page 18 yards of compost spread with shovel and wheelbarrel, cut up tree, finished arches all in 35 -50 mph winds. I smell like $&'+.! Thank goodness tomorrow is Monday, need to go to work to take a break!   Saturday, April 9 View Page Recipe for Success! Or recipe for disaster, several loads of ingredients on the patch today, find out in 6 months if it was a good or not   Sunday, April 10 View Page Cleaned up last year's mess, got the new 24" sun blaze T5 on the top shelf 85 degrees and climbing in my little starter house 63 degrees in the rest of the basement. You can find these little 2 shelf greenhouses at Menard's for around 17.00 really nice holding temps and humidity during the 1st couple weeks   Sunday, April 10 View Page Another view   Sunday, April 10 View Page Potential lineup, 6 plants will be in the patch, will pick out a couple more good seeds, for spares. And do a few out of my 1277.5, and maybe 726. Got 10 days to think it over more!   Saturday, April 16 View Page Soil looking good! Screen will arrive on Monday, may start seeds tomorrow, if I can get some hoops up   Sunday, April 17 View Page And ready or not here we go!   Sunday, April 17 View Page Got the screen dome a little closer about 2 more hrs then should be ready for the screen. Started on hoops, down sizing from 3- 8' x 15' to 6 - 5' x 5', but ran out of PVC so back to Menard's tomorrow after work.   Tuesday, April 19 View Page Stressed out, moved my thermostat around and found my top shelf was around 100 degrees, instead of 89 for the first 24 hrs. Open a corner of the plastic and removed a bulb. Oh please let me see some Green tomorrow   Wednesday, April 20 View Page At least a 100#'s of screen material from fruit shield, 72.5' x 85.5'   Wednesday, April 20 View Page 1625.5 Gantner 1st pumpkin seed to show green   Wednesday, April 20 View Page 302 Kent, 1st to leave heat chamber, should be a full tray tomorrow, found one dud 2109, but quickly replaced it with another, most seeds feel like they are rooting!   Thursday, April 21 View Page Well line up is not going to be anything like I thought it would be, never buying purple cow seed starter ever again and need a better temperature control, for some reason seeds sprouted and that was it. Very irritating last few years have been great   Sunday, April 24 View Page Well got a little closer on the screen house, doors are framed, post cut off on the edges, and started putting the rails up to attach the fabric. Still number on my germination disaster   Monday, April 25 View Page Some of the survivors, doing good.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Well I do believe this is my lineup, a little different than anticipated, 1710 Stevens/Hopkins, 1734.5 Clementz, 1625.5 Gantner, 2109 Zywiec, 2145 McMullen and 1840 Bogie, and 2034 and 1756 on stand by   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Imagine that, planted 5 seeds out of my 3 pumpkins from last year on Mon morning and all 5 have risen in 2.5 days. Still kicking my ass for changing things up last minute. What might have been! Or Destiny my goal this year is 1700 and the state Record made 400# jumps last 2 years let's shoot for a 3rd 400# jump!   Friday, April 29 View Page Screen Doors! X 2   Sunday, May 1 View Page Was really hoping to get these guys outside today, but as I was hooking up heat lamps. It started pouring, and it was only 48 ° out, so maybe tomorrow after work.   Sunday, May 1 View Page Let it warm up a little more out there   Monday, May 2 View Page And out they go to grow!   Monday, May 2 View Page Root Keeper soil drench!   Monday, May 2 View Page The backups staying inside, and hopefully not needed   Friday, May 6 View Page 1625.5 Gantner, 40's at night, going to get in the low 80's today,cut a couple vents in the plastic this morning, and each plant has a shade stool.   Sunday, May 8 View Page 1710 Stevens/Hopkins may be a ribbon vine so he's getting a roommate   Sunday, May 8 View Page 2034 Barlow on deck and may get its chance!   Friday, May 13 View Page Going to be cold this weekend mid 30's at night 40's during the day   Saturday, May 14 View Page If only it were this easy   Sunday, May 15 View Page Frost on the car, 46° in hoops   Sunday, May 15 View Page Stupid wind will just not take a break, everything is ready for the screen, just don't want it to blow away. Today I got the last of my PVC pipes for the overhead misters in place. Hoping I don't have to use them but they are there if I need them   Sunday, May 15 View Page And now the wind is dead, wish I knew how long this screen is going to take to put on. Iam expecting 3hrs hopefully next weekend   Tuesday, May 17 View Page May 17th???   Friday, May 20 View Page 5mph wind in the morning, going to try to get this done!   Saturday, May 21 View Page Thats a whole lot of fabric!   Saturday, May 21 View Page Had to move the ladder around about 60 times but got it done   Saturday, May 21 View Page How iam holding it together, my fingers are sore, over 250 ft of these wires   Saturday, May 21 View Page Screen is so tight a gnat can't get through, had some 15 mph gust couldn't even tell inside   Saturday, May 21 View Page Inside view   Saturday, May 21 View Page Final outside view, 3900 sq ft completely covered!   Saturday, May 21 View Page My help for the day   Saturday, May 21 View Page Half my spares going to a new home tomorrow   Monday, May 23 View Page Not going to lie walked into the screen house, and could barley feel the 20mph wind outside, did not see a single bug. Life is wonderful! This is the 1710 Stevens/Hopkins my most aggressive about 4ft long thought it was going to be a ribbon, think I was wrong, will probably pull the 2034 Barlow this weekend that I paired it up with.   Tuesday, May 24 View Page She just said "Don't talk to me, iam busy"   Thursday, May 26 View Page 1625.5 Gantner, took a 55mph wind this morning. Brush pile on the other side of screen house wall was all over. Think after this 1st test it received a A+   Thursday, May 26 View Page 1734 Clementz, still got plastic around the bottom edge safe to say coming off tomorrow. Laying down better than the other 5 plants and is almost a clone to the 1947.5 that grew in the same spot and gave me the 1033.5   Thursday, May 26 View Page 2145 McMullen really wanting to go west and I want him to go north   Monday, May 30 View Page Got something's done today, had less than thought in my role of drip tape, so off to farmtek on Saturday morning.   Monday, May 30 View Page Looking through screen   Monday, May 30 View Page Finally got my 3 watermelon plants in 258, 302, and 350 Kents. The 350 was the weakest not sure he will make it   Monday, May 30 View Page 44 valves   Friday, June 3 View Page 1710 Stevens/Hopkins   Friday, June 3 View Page 1840 Bogie   Friday, June 3 View Page 1734.5 Clementz   Friday, June 3 View Page 2145 McMullen   Friday, June 3 View Page 2109 Zywiec   Friday, June 3 View Page 1625 Gantner   Friday, June 3 View Page Not as fancy as others but seems to work, might do some upgrades and modification in the upcoming weeks   Saturday, June 4 View Page More drip tape, probably be adding every day the way they're growing   Saturday, June 4 View Page 1st 2 baby's, at 8ft on the 1625 Gantner. Getting excited!!!!   Sunday, June 5 View Page All plumed for the misters, tried them out, works great ordered a really good water timer yesterday, should be set for those 90 degree days we have coming at end of the week   Wednesday, June 8 View Page Everything I read said this was a good one. Twice last year I had cheap ones fail me. #1 on a top 10 list on Google I'll believe it when I see it   Saturday, June 11 View Page Soon no more rolling up hoses, or drop cords to mow. Should help with water pressure to. Been pretty hot and humid plants are way ahead of anything I've ever had. Pollinating the 1625.5 and the 1710 this upcoming few days. Got to try out the misters the past 2 days they work awesome. Barley any sign of heat stress.   Saturday, June 11 View Page Quick little shot, need to catch up on vines burying and weeds but to hot right now, few more drip tapes to put down and unload a yard of compost and iam done for today.   Saturday, June 11 View Page Super girl pulls the drip tape, saves some walking for me   Saturday, June 11 View Page June 20th 2015 after a storm. Stress level high   Saturday, June 11 View Page Today June 11th after similar storm 9 days ahead of last year's photo. Stress level low. Other than my wallet stress   Sunday, June 12 View Page Just polinated the 1625.5 x self. Was looking at couple other plants the 1710 would be ready tomorrow along with another 1625.5. the 1710 has a good crack in the main right at that pumpkin and the 1840 also almost broke it's main off must be a little extra in the soil on that end they look like cobras   Sunday, June 12 View Page Couple 1625.5 Gantner flowers for the morning. During the work week I have to do the deed around 4am need to be on the road by 4:25 one will be for a 1710, and one for 1625.5 #2. Should have a 2145 ready mid week   Tuesday, June 14 View Page 2" of rain so far tonight, screen house definitely keeps the leaves from getting destroyed but still way to saturated for my liking. Might be pollinating the 2145 in the morning with the 1734, was quick look might be one more day   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Have a feeling iam going to have some early aborts, thissounds like 4" + easily.   Thursday, June 16 View Page To much nitrogen caused my main to brake on the 1710 and 1840 this is the 1710. I have a look in pollinated 12" and 36" up from it still might do a secondary vine on both plants   Thursday, June 16 View Page Earliest baby ever 1710 x 1625.5 pollinated on the 11th   Sunday, June 19 View Page Pollinated the 2145 McMullen with the 1734 Clementz. Hoping the next one has better lobe pattern. Also pollinated the 258 Kent x self, but thinking I need more plant. More of a practice session with watermelons   Sunday, June 19 View Page Wanted to get a little more done than I did, but plants are looking good. Pollinating the 1625, and the 1734 tomorrow morning. Screen house seems to get leaf scorch a little easier, but the other 99 problems aren't there any more   Sunday, June 19 View Page Going to be fairly hot this week so iam ready, rotation between drip tape and misters and thanks to that 4th budlite last night I have a better injector coming this week   Sunday, June 19 View Page Tomorrow's session 2145 on the left meeting the 1734, and 1625 going to self   Tuesday, June 21 View Page Can't wait till pollinating is done be nice to sleep till 4 instead of in patch at 4 am   Wednesday, June 22 View Page Hated doing this, was the 1st one of the year 1710 Stevens Hopkins x 1625 Gantner about 11 DAP but only a foot up from a decent break, next 2 are pollinated so should be alright, 1840 x2145 and 2109. X 2145 in the morning   Thursday, June 23 View Page No cat scratch fever in the patch this year   Thursday, June 23 View Page Previous picture were cat tracks on the roof of the screen house last year one dug it's claws in my 2009. Here's a picture from the other end of the screen house   Friday, June 24 View Page Something with this 1625 Gantner, #3 not a keeper, 1st 2 got too wet, one tomorrow will be the one!   Friday, June 24 View Page Both my main vine breaks healed up so iam going to go with some main vine pollinations just had to skip a couple and get at least 5ft past to allow room for stem stretch   Friday, June 24 View Page 1st new toy hooked up and working awesome,   Saturday, June 25 View Page Pollinated a beautiful 5 lobe 1734.5 Clementz x 2145 McMullen, makes 2 of these crosses on this plant, both beautiful. Selfed the 1625 Gantner again finally a little better looking lobes. And also pollinated the 2145 McMullen x 1734.5 Clementz. Doing these crosses for big and orange. Probably go with the one this morning 4 lobes is better than 3   Sunday, June 26 View Page Turning into a all day project, water line and electrical to the patch, good thing we had a 3/4" rain this morning to muddy in the patch   Sunday, June 26 View Page Well I am trying big stem, my experimental pumpkins are the 2109, 1710, and 1840 for this season. Hoping Tanner is on to something and see the results in October   Tuesday, June 28 View Page I have seen spiders, and a few house in the screen house until today, this guy just had a horrible death. Merritt Bayer mix in the morning   Tuesday, June 28 View Page If this guy isn't pollinated, my 2145 is sterile on the male side of things 0-3 not counting this one yet   Thursday, June 30 View Page This is what standing in a hard Down pour that gave me 2/10 ths of a inch in 20 minutes looks like   Saturday, July 2 View Page Sneak peak, got a lot done today all walkways pruned and weeded, and officially have water and electricity running to the patch under ground   Sunday, July 3 View Page Hopefully just did the last pumpkin pollination 2109 x 1625 only the 2nd female on the main and its pushing 20' have a side vine hopefully pollinated on it to. Still got to get a couple more watermelons going   Sunday, July 3 View Page Culled the 1710 x 1625 closest to main break, same cross half the size still on, blossom end is sitting higher and little bit better vine position   Sunday, July 3 View Page Might be the biggest stump I have ever had, 2109   Sunday, July 3 View Page A hour ago I was taking vines out of the screen house and a vine borer flew in, I lost track of him when I went for the spray, just got lucky and found him   Sunday, July 3 View Page Alba is 43" tall, this is how big of a plant the 2109 is. Praying todays pollination takes or its going to be a waste   Sunday, July 3 View Page Pulled a bunch of weeds and probably a whole extra plants worth of growth today. My legs are butchered from wearing shorts but things are looking good. Hopefully snag the neighbors tomorrow to slide a couple boards under 3 of the pumpkins before the window closes.   Monday, July 4 View Page Tough decision, 3 lober to the left, 4 lober to the right   Monday, July 4 View Page 1st keeper 1840 Bogie x 1625 Gantner wasn't originally going to keep but it's go time about 20 DAP   Monday, July 4 View Page 1734.5 Clementz x 2145 McMullen 9DAP, roasted the tip of the Main and only male flower from the 2145 to have some seed   Monday, July 4 View Page 1710 Stevens Hopkins x 1625 Gantner 13 DAP culled the 3 before him love his shape   Friday, July 8 View Page Vacation day yeah, this guy is getting bigger, they all are having a good week, fruit set on all plants   Friday, July 8 View Page Roots are trying to escape!   Sunday, July 10 View Page Think I will use he-man and battle cat this is the 1840 x 1625 roughly 24 DAP   Sunday, July 10 View Page 1710 x 1625 19 DAP   Sunday, July 10 View Page 1734.5 x 2145 15DAP   Sunday, July 10 View Page My keeper, 2145 x 1734.5 15DAP. He was a 4 lober   Sunday, July 10 View Page Eliminating due to 3 lobes and shorter stem, 2145 x 1734.5 21DAP   Sunday, July 10 View Page 2109 x 1625, 7 DAP   Sunday, July 10 View Page 1625 x 1625, 15DAP   Saturday, July 16 View Page Seen 1st cucumber beetle today, luckily it was in my dads patch and not mine   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1840 x 1625, somewhere around 32 days old and over 400#   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1710 x 1625, 22 days old 300#   Sunday, July 17 View Page Correction last pic 26 days old, 1734.5 x 2145 22 days old just shy of 200   Sunday, July 17 View Page 2145 x 1734.5 22 days old 150ish   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1625 x self 15 days old 132#   Sunday, July 17 View Page 2109 x 1625 14 days old no tape yet   Sunday, July 17 View Page 350 Kent x self   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Well got a few problems, the 1625 is probably going to get a foot cut out of the main 5ft from the stump due to a squishy main section. The 2109 has been battling stump issues but that probably doesn't matter anymore had to cut the main off at the stem due to not going to cooperate, and found ozze coming from the 1st secondary back and discovered the 8" back from the stem is wet and soft. So down to 5   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Had to separate the 1625 tonight should have did the 2109 10 days ago, may still have a pumpkin on it   Thursday, July 21 View Page Well the 2109 thanks to a failed attempt to save a foaming stump officially is done came home tonight, and the main was split and leafs withered. Down to 5   Friday, July 22 View Page Been wet, hot, humid, as of July 22nd all 5 remaining pumpkins are on pace to shatter my personal best by A LOT   Saturday, July 23 View Page Well reason the 2109, foaming spread up the main,. And did it in. Getting rid of grass and shooting fans up the mains this weekend   Saturday, July 23 View Page Getting nailed again, what's a pumpkin grower got to do to get some dry out time, this could be a quick 4" of rain haven't ran the injector in a week. Way to wet out there   Sunday, July 24 View Page Was cleaning up the mains and added bigger fans for increased airflow. Pretty sure the 1625 is going to bite the dust soon still gaining but had to cut another 4ft off the main. Rest of the plants seemed good and drying up. Patch was still way damp, hopefully get back on a regular feeding schedule tomorrow   Tuesday, July 26 View Page I don't live to far from the field of dreams(20 min) but its true "If you build it they will come" had some of Iowa's best growers stop by for a little tour of the screen Dome. I think they liked it. Great talking to other growers about different experiences   Thursday, July 28 View Page Well after a phone call from a friend tonight I decided I better slide my 1840, went pretty easy got it moved about 4" probably going to try the 2145 and 1734.5 tomorrow the 1625 and 1710 look alright but watching closely on stem pressure against the pumpkin on the 1710   Friday, July 29 View Page Get to demo a john Deere 944K at work, not a bad machine might give the cat 988F a early retirement   Friday, July 29 View Page So pretty   Friday, July 29 View Page Got orange?   Friday, July 29 View Page Moved a couple more, should relieve a little future kinking   Friday, July 29 View Page The color on my 1710 is pretty cool   Saturday, July 30 View Page So this is what happens when you got a very watered down pumpkin and a 4 year old who didn't understand on what not hitting the pumpkins meant, so much for flawless and pretty, last pumpkin that cracked on a small hit went 25% heavy, but it cracked while getting loaded. Hopefully it heals up and just goes down as a growing crack   Sunday, July 31 View Page Out working in the patch, this season keeps going from bad to worse, 1710 just lost half its plant, found another wet spot on the main of the 1840 Bogie. Going to be real happy if I can get one decent out of 6   Sunday, July 31 View Page 1840 Bogie x 1625 45DAP roughly   Sunday, July 31 View Page 1710 sevens/Hopkins x 1625 Gantner 40 DAP   Sunday, July 31 View Page 2145 x 1734.5 35-40 DAP   Sunday, July 31 View Page 1734.5 x 2145 35 DAP. Probably last picture   Sunday, July 31 View Page 1625 x self 30DAP   Monday, August 1 View Page And now a bad spot on the 2145 main just like I called it. Going to be a miracle if I get one to scale   Thursday, August 4 View Page 1st time measuring since Monday, all 5 are still growing, 2145 has the best potential and gains even with a weak spot in the main. Cracked pumpkin has put on 100# since Sat. Right under 600 and seems to be healing. Happy seeing inches! All felt like ticking time lately   Friday, August 5 View Page Well the Gantner made it 2 weeks with no stump, cut it off on 7-21, @ 230# today the leafs were sagging and the vine was soft. Estimated weight at time of death is 548# he was 33 days old. Hopefully the 2 left he pollinated can win their similar battles   Saturday, August 6 View Page Wisconsin Giant pumpkin growers patch tour today, seen some good ones. This is the one thing I need for next year, besides big fans   Sunday, August 7 View Page 2 or 3 of these a month ago might have gave me a dream season, measure today and pretty sure I will be down to 3 left out of 6. Getting a little depressed   Sunday, August 7 View Page Mustard has been ordered   Sunday, August 7 View Page Going to get 9 more of these fans for next year!   Sunday, August 7 View Page All that's left of the 1710 still chugging along over 800 now   Sunday, August 7 View Page The 1625 all by itself, roughly 550. Ordered mustard from Ron today, going to plant it in every spot I lose a pumpkin   Monday, August 8 View Page I kind of neglected my watermelons with all my Pumpkin drama, but these guys really love the screen house. Would love to see what they could have done attention. Should pass my personal best this week   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Been watching this stem for a couple weeks now, finally started to make contact with the fruit so I spooned out some of the skin so it didn't put pressure on anything. Thanks Dan for the idea Glad to see it's still growing.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Since I stealing fans I had on the plants and putting them on the living things are starting to look healthy! But alot of damage has been done (like 3pulled plants and multiple main vine damage on the living) so airflow is officially the reason for my crappy season. Can't wait for next year!   Wednesday, August 10 View Page Probably one of my best shaped pumpkins ever, he's getting 6" long cracks in the main up near the stem hopefully I can heal them enough to keep a heart beat! All 3 survivors gave inches the last 3 days   Thursday, August 11 View Page Starting to look bare, don't need the 3" they're predicting tonight, going to have the neighbors check on my fans why iam on vacation till Monday. Don't get me wrong iam coming home on Saturday just to check on them, only going a couple hrs away   Thursday, August 11 View Page Escaped just in time, now the vacation stress just kicked in   Friday, August 12 View Page Getting closer!   Saturday, August 13 View Page Just drove home from vacation to check on things, 2" of rain was better than the 5" I thought we had. Pumpkins had small gains and all 3 are getting close to the 900# range. My 2145 main continues to fall apart on me. I have been teary eyed thinking what might have been   Saturday, August 13 View Page The only true positive thing on my quick visit was my watermelon has surpassed my PB   Monday, August 15 View Page Have been very depressed on how my season has gone downhill, then I see on Facebook that one of my college roommates lost his wife, and the mother of their 2 young sons at the age of 33 to cancer they had been a couple since Jr high. Puts things into perspective, this is just a hobby, family is 1st.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Umm so yeah, I have a watermelon in the corner that likes everything the pumpkins don't and um it's getting Big   Wednesday, August 17 View Page Ron's mustard is pretty quick, raked it around Monday and showing signs of life today   Thursday, August 18 View Page Where's the restart button? Got 2 beautiful pumpkins that are only going to see 50% of there true potential. I just want to scream   Friday, August 19 View Page Got hit with a good storm last night and ripped a seam out of my screen, of course it was right down the middle lengthwise, just when I thought it couldn't get worse   Friday, August 19 View Page Not good   Friday, August 19 View Page Son of a bitch, had to be pushing 75mph wind gust   Friday, August 19 View Page Here we go again   Sunday, August 21 View Page Apparently 400 zip ties spread out over 80ft every 1.5 inches wasn't enough, need to pick up 200 more   Sunday, August 21 View Page 1710 x 1625 done growing at 903#   Sunday, August 21 View Page 2145 x 1734 still has a pulse   Sunday, August 21 View Page 1840 x 1625 might as well be done to   Sunday, August 21 View Page 302 Kent not state record pace, but could be a winner   Wednesday, August 24 View Page #1 candidate to take one of my 4 spots for next year   Thursday, August 25 View Page And they gave me some inches! Happy feeling!   Saturday, August 27 View Page Screen house is back together! 700 zip ties!   Saturday, August 27 View Page Look from the top down, mustard is growing great and looking forward to next year. Bought a 16" broad fork from meadow creatures earlier today can't wait to make my ground better in all aspects   Sunday, August 28 View Page Getting closer, my 2 biggest gave me some inches, should have been this big a month ago. 1710 I believe is done growing but still has juices flowing. My 302 Kent is growing a inch a day as well!   Thursday, September 1 View Page Watermelon seems to be going strong 3 more inches since Sunday, 2 more inches on the 2145, and the 1840 gave me 1   Friday, September 2 View Page This should help! 16" broad fork from meadow creatures   Friday, September 2 View Page Mustard is coming up beautiful, these 2 pumpkins are still solid after a month   Friday, September 2 View Page This is the only real happiness in the screen house, yes that is a gallon, and yes I wear size 13" work boots. And yes the state record is within reach!   Saturday, September 3 View Page Sun bathing today, want to see it get a little brighter   Sunday, September 4 View Page The Bee's were busy that week the screen house was ripped open, alba with our first culls of the year   Monday, September 5 View Page This is my 1625 x self, been sitting in the patch plant less since Aug 4th and was half plant for 2 weeks before that. Can't believe how thick he was. More incentive to register for the Iowa state fair. It's been in alot if high temperatures since I picked him to   Monday, September 5 View Page Bucket shows how thick his floor was, hoping he passed this trait in my other 2   Monday, September 5 View Page On another bright note got inches on all 3 pumpkins, including that 1710 I thought was done. Apparently pumping sulphur in the main helped. 2 out of 3 are in 4 digits   Monday, September 5 View Page So I took the bathroom scale out and weighed every chunk of the Gantner, taped 548 when I pulled the plant, actual weight was 599, after a month of sitting. Not bad, damnit   Thursday, September 15 View Page Stem to my 2145, still gaining   Thursday, September 15 View Page My 2145, wonder what it would have looked like with 700 more pounds. Hopefully Anamosa bound   Thursday, September 15 View Page The 1840, holding steady hopefully stillwater bound   Thursday, September 15 View Page 1710 Madison bound on Sunday as long as I can get the lifting lined up with the neighbors, bumped are hours up at work today, I will have 70 come 2:30 on Saturday, not including my 2hr drive round trip   Thursday, September 15 View Page My 302, Anamosa bound 181"   Saturday, September 17 View Page Opened it up, went back together pretty easy to. Thank goodness!   Saturday, September 17 View Page Loaded for the Willy St weighoff in Madison. She looks pretty outside the screen house   Sunday, September 18 View Page Took 5th at Willy St. 939# taped 933   Sunday, September 18 View Page Took 5th at Willy St. 939# taped 933   Sunday, September 18 View Page Howard Dill Award! Woohoo   Monday, September 19 View Page Take your pumpkin to work day! I was the only one that participated. Thanks to a garage door that would not open   Monday, September 19 View Page 3 more inches on the 302! 5" on the 2145 in the past 6 days( don't know how), and 1 more inch on the 1840. Forgot that my 258 Kent is now the heaviest weighed Iowa watermelon so far this year at a whopping 87#   Saturday, September 24 View Page I am a casual beer drinker, but these bottles are pretty cool   Saturday, September 24 View Page Mustard is ready, hopefully next Sunday chop and till, last 2 pumpkins come out this Friday. Way to wet in Iowa right now major flooding all around us   Sunday, September 25 View Page Wet mustard plants on wet walking boards, equals wet sore body. Good thing were nearing the end pretty sure I just killed some roots to the 1840   Sunday, September 25 View Page Plants are starting to show there age, and I found a state record robbing watermelon hidden in the corner, he tapes 103#, the other one on the plant is 180#, this sucks wonder how many inches it robbed? Big one is on the main, the corner one was on a side vine   Sunday, September 25 View Page My 1734.5 Clementz x 2145 McMullen, cracked back in July, healed the crack. Loss the main next to the stem 1st week of August. Should have took this reddish orange pumpkin to a weighoff. Other than the stem barley getting soft she was in great shap. Lots of seeds to   Monday, September 26 View Page Well caught the first one that entered the yard, pretty sure the bottom is going to fall out of the 1840 when I pick it up on Friday, no stillwater pumpkin yet again, maybe I'll take a watermelon   Tuesday, September 27 View Page 4 more days, 2145 x 1734.5, totally shouldn't have made it, but just call me a miracle worker on 2nd thought this is a magical seed   Wednesday, September 28 View Page As expected I can't see the hole, but the odor and pool of Milky water says she's done, no stillwater pumpkin   Friday, September 30 View Page Loaded for Anamosa!   Friday, September 30 View Page Screen up I can finally get a better picture   Friday, September 30 View Page Picture with 1840 which is leaking out the bottom   Friday, September 30 View Page This is all the energy it got the past 2 months, just call me dr Pete, amazing I was able to save it   Saturday, October 1 View Page 4th place! 1,137.5 pounds, 2nd best and just went a hair heavy   Saturday, October 1 View Page Largest watermelon in the state of Iowa this year! Took 2nd and went extremely lite. Iam blaming the camo leech I found the other day   Saturday, October 1 View Page Had a bigger trailer this year and tickled me to death to finally get to be in the parade! Normally just top 3, Alba and I had a blast!   Saturday, October 1 View Page She insisted on helping me load the watermelon   Saturday, October 1 View Page Alba with our pumpkin   Sunday, October 2 View Page 1840 what a mess   Sunday, October 2 View Page And that's a wrap for 2016, the one in the garage is going to spend a couple weeks at a grocery store the one in the truck is going in front of the house, here in a day or 2, may still take a melon to stillwater, there all picked just have to see what shape they're in on Friday   Friday, October 7 View Page Wind was vicious today should have strapped the screen back in, (more zip ties). Calm tonight so I took it down. Hopefully get patch done on Sunday. Heading to Stillwater in the morning   Friday, October 7 View Page $20 says iam the only one unloading my entry in the morning out of a Chevy Cruze   Saturday, October 8 View Page Not huge by far but it did pay to put it in trunk and haul it to stillwater 3rd place!, next year something huge and orange beside me with a larger number   Saturday, October 8 View Page The top 3! Right to left   Sunday, October 9 View Page Do you want to build a screen house, this better than a snow man   Sunday, October 9 View Page For reference next year so I know where to start to unroll.   Sunday, October 9 View Page Mustard chopped and tilled and watered, not going to lie that tiller did not like that   Sunday, October 9 View Page Watermelon collection, top left to right 152.5, it's Leach 103 est, 95# , then 87# bottom are all culls off the 87# plant. Maybe take the year off from pumpkins and just do watermelons. Nah   Saturday, October 22 View Page This broad fork is a beast, bringing the ground up 16 inches deepest I could get before was 7, hopefully this will help with some moisture issues   Sunday, October 23 View Page Got my pretty one back from the grocery store this week!   Sunday, October 23 View Page 939   Sunday, October 23 View Page 1137.5   Sunday, October 23 View Page Another angle   Sunday, November 6 View Page Gathered seeds today this is the 939, (1710 s/h x 1625 Gantner) beautiful shape , great seed count   Sunday, November 6 View Page 1137.5, (2145 x 1734.5) not so great seed count lots of undeveloped seeds, the reverse cross had a really good and healthy seed count   Sunday, November 6 View Page 939 on left, 1137.5 on right, any interest email me ,going to let them dry a couple weeks and test a few   Thursday, November 10 View Page Room is reserved for the big show, can't wait!   Saturday, November 19 View Page 3900 sqft broad forked at 16" worms the size of small snakes that deep. Done just in time 20° tonight   Sunday, December 25 View Page Merry Christmas to me! Thanks Ron!   Sunday, December 25 View Page Research   Sunday, December 25 View Page Going to have to figure out why this new Samsung 7 phone is rotating my pictures on here