Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 242 Entries. Friday, March 4 View Page New patch! New goals! Happy 2016 growing season! This year I have an exciting line up and my goals are: 1. Reach 1700+ pounds; 2. 4500 pound club; 3. Biggest squash ever grown in the state of Washington....and beyond.   Friday, March 4 View Page Here is the new patch. Its a rectangle, about 7000 square feet; enough room for 6 giants at 1000 square feet per plant plus walkways between plants. I have a crop of rye growing over about 2/3 of the patch. My naughty horses have been nibbling on the rye, so it's time to put up the electric fence and let that grow nice and thick with the coming warm days.   Friday, March 4 View Page Last fall I buried several salmon carcasses in the new patch. Here are some bones peeking up from the soil. I was out last night getting my soil samples to send into the lab and found a few salmon bones here and there.   Friday, March 4 View Page Before sending it into the lab, I checked the pH. A little low....I'll see what the lab says. I typically have to add more lime in the spring though.   Wednesday, March 9 View Page Yesterday I started 3 tomatoes and 3 Northern Giant cabbages. I'll also have 3 O/S Cross cabbages.   Wednesday, March 9 View Page My old patch will be planted in zinnias! It will be so PRETTY! And they'll help to colonize the mycorrhizae!   Monday, March 21 View Page Behold! The germination station/seedling nursery!   Monday, March 21 View Page The bank of T5 red and blue spectrum lights are shrouded in reflective survival blankets. When the lights are on, you can see in.   Monday, March 21 View Page The two heat mats are in place and connected to a thermostat.   Monday, March 21 View Page The controller is set to hold at 85 degrees: my preferred germination temperature.   Monday, March 21 View Page And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my 2016 lineup!!!!! First off will be the 1060 Holub! This pumpkin, affectionately known as "Big Orange" is what I'm hoping will grow me a big squash this year. But not just any big squash; I'm going for the Washington record of 1145 pounds, although it might be nice to grow one 1579 pounds....   Monday, March 21 View Page Next in my lineup is the personal best from the reining pumpkin queen herself: Lorelee Zywiec! I tried growing the 1781 last year, but it just didn't want to grow, so I'm excited to try again with fantastic cross!   Monday, March 21 View Page I met Quinn this time last year in PA at The Big Show; what a nice guy, and a great example of a GPC Hall of Famer. I am so excited and grateful to grow his 2020.5!   Monday, March 21 View Page Last year I grew some big pumpkins....but most went light to chart! I think I've figured out some cultural practices to grow heavier, but this seed from Don Barron will definitely help in my quest for HEAVY! BAM!   Monday, March 21 View Page Ooh la la! I'm so freaking excited to grow Ron's seed! Whenever I even LOOK at the seed, my heart races a little! Ron has been so generous with his advice (and seed), that I feel I'm on the edge of achieving a new personal best in 2016.   Monday, March 21 View Page Heavy. Heavy. Heavy. I held onto these seeds last year, and now they're ready to see the dirt! I hope to do some pollinating with this plant as well.   Friday, April 1 View Page This is how buff (and dirty) I am after hand spreading 600+ pounds of amendments via 5 gallon bucket.   Saturday, April 2 View Page Today the patch got a deep plowing. I wasn't planning on plowing, but.....I made a big mistake with a little bit too much boron. So, the Rx is deep plow, deep till and do some test germs with some boron-sensitive crops: beans and radishes....some pumpkins too of course, although they're boron tolerant. Another soil test is in order too most likely. Doh! I'm the boron moron! Fingers are crossed it'll be ok with some leaching and the deep cultivation. Worst case scenario, is I go back to my old patch for one more year.   Saturday, April 2 View Page Wrong picture in the previous entry. Here is the new patch all plowed up!   Sunday, April 3 View Page The old patch got plowed today.   Sunday, April 3 View Page The new patch got rototilled 2x.   Sunday, April 3 View Page Behold: the new patch! 6720 square feet for 6 plants.   Sunday, April 3 View Page I found my trusty patch shoes! I collected soil for a post-amendment analysis and a test to see how green beans (a boron sensitive crop) and field pumpkins (a boron tolerant crop) germinate. I filled 10 pots with new patch soil, half leached, half regular. I filled an additional 5 pots with my old patch soil. They're in the germination area staying warm. In a week, I'll know if I over did it with the micronutrients. I'm hoping that with the deep plow and deep tilling, the boron won't be so concentrated.   Thursday, April 7 View Page The test seeds have sprouted! I germinated bean seeds (Boron intolerant) with some field pumpkins (boron tolerant) and a sprinkle of radish (for early sprouting). The seeds on the left are from my old patch. You can see the beans are tall with large leaves. Only one pumpkin looks good though. The seeds on the right are from the new patch where I went crazy adding boron. The beans are just ok looking, not showing boron toxicity on the true leaves, however the pumpkins all look fantastic! So perhaps the new patch is a bit too high for beans, but just right for pumpkins.   Friday, April 8 View Page O/S Cross cabbages   Friday, April 8 View Page Northern Giant cabbages   Friday, April 8 View Page Big Zac tomatoes   Friday, April 8 View Page Yay! The boron is fine! I just got the lab results today! I was lamenting to my friend about how stupid I was to accidentally put the whole 10 pounds on my patch, calling myself an idiot. He said, "Idiot....or pumpkin genius!?" That made me laugh. It looks like the new patch is a go. I'm excited. Lets hope that this was my last mistake of the year!   Saturday, April 9 View Page The patch got measured and divided into 6 sections with ample walkways between each plant. Total patch ares is 66 x 120'.   Saturday, April 9 View Page Each of the 6 planting sites are marked then 5 soil heating cables were installed.   Saturday, April 9 View Page This is me before digging trenches for soil heating cables: clean, smiling, happy....   Saturday, April 9 View Page Almost finished: sore, tired, dirty...but feeling accomplished!   Sunday, April 10 View Page Jack LaRue came over to teach me how to install a drip tape system!   Thursday, April 14 View Page The seeds are filed and will soak in a weak kelp solution for 8 hours overnight. Meanwhile, the pots are filled and warm. They'll get planted as soon as I wake up in the morning. Guess what else is very exciting?! Rosalyn came in before bedtime and asked if she could grow a giant pumpkin again! So she filed a 1985 Miller; you can't go wrong with that seed in my opinion. Her personal best is 1203 pounds in 2013.   Friday, April 15 View Page The seeds are in the dirt! Game on! Bring on the 2016 season; I'm ready! Half Moon Bay is written down on my calendar.....   Monday, April 18 View Page We're pushing up dirt as of 7 AM!   Monday, April 18 View Page The first bit of green showing on a 1060.   Monday, April 18 View Page As of 4:30 pm....yay!   Tuesday, April 19 View Page 100% germination success as of this morning!   Thursday, April 21 View Page They got repotted last night: Pot mix: potting soil, Pumpkin Pro michorrizae, Azos, Root Shield and worm castings. They also got a light dose of fertilizer last night.   Saturday, April 23 View Page This year's lineup going out in the sun.   Saturday, April 23 View Page I wheel them from the house to the sidewalk for 4 hours a day.   Sunday, April 24 View Page Greenhouses are built, and soil cables plugged in!   Sunday, April 24 View Page All tucked in for the night.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The starts will get a full day inside of the greenhouse with both ends open.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Everything got planted today! Each plant is with its sibling as a backup.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 2230...my weakest plant so far. It had some wavy indentations on the seed coat that seemed to make the cotyledons misshapen when it germinated.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Another 2230. This one looks a lot better than its sibling!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 1625 is robust.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The other 1625. This one is big and happy too!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The 2020.5 is a beauty!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The other 2020.5 is nice too!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 1916 was my most awesome looking plant until my dumb dog ate it's big leaf!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The other 1916 looks good.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 2109 is a bit puny.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page The other 2109 is also on the smallish side.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 1060'S are lovely.   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Rosalyn building her hut.   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Almost finished!   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Her 1985.   Saturday, April 30 View Page The heat wave is coming! Fans on thermostats set up.   Saturday, April 30 View Page It's been a bit of a learning curve to walk among my rows of t tape wearing my patch shoes! The key: stay parallel with the t tape.   Monday, May 2 View Page A new weapon for my arsenal arrived today!   Monday, May 2 View Page My injector is all hooked up and tested.   Friday, May 6 View Page The plants are really growing! 1916's in foreground.   Friday, May 6 View Page A couple 1060 Holubs.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page A couple of 1916 Barrons. 2 weeks in the ground now.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2020.5 Werner; 2 weeks in the ground.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Another 2020.5 Werner.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 1625 Gantner   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Another 1625 Gantner.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2230 Wallace.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Another 2230 Wallace.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2109 Zywiec   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Another 2109 Zywiec.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 3 of 10 1060 Holub's. (2109's in the background.)   Monday, May 16 View Page Touchdown! We have multiple vines on the ground and running! Biggest plants: 2020.5 Werners with 3'+ mains.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 1916 Barron's   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 2020.5 Werner's   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 2020.5 Werner left plant running vine close up.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 2020.5 Werner right plant close up.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 1625 Gantner's are laying down some nice vines too!   Tuesday, May 17 View Page A couple 2230 Wallace plants.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 2109 Zywiec plants...moving slowly so far.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 3 1060 Holub plants. The main broke on the middle one, so I'll go with a side vine.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 2 more 1060 Holubs. (I'm growing ten of them and will keep the best and greenest one.)   Tuesday, May 17 View Page Yet another 1060 Holub!   Tuesday, May 17 View Page The last of my 1060 Holubs!   Thursday, May 19 View Page Vine burying begins today!   Friday, May 20 View Page This is one of my most aggressive plants: 1625 Gantner.   Friday, May 27 View Page Most plants have been culled to one. Here is the 2020.5 Werner.   Friday, May 27 View Page Here is the 1916 Barron. I have to train the main around since it decided to grow backwards.   Friday, May 27 View Page The 1625 Gantner is BIG and fast growing!   Friday, May 27 View Page 2323 Wallace is kicking into gear!   Friday, May 27 View Page 2109 Zywiec plants still battling it out and starting to hit their stride.   Friday, May 27 View Page Here is my biggest (and so far greenest)1060 Holub.   Friday, May 27 View Page Here is my biggest (and so far greenest)1060 Holub.   Friday, June 3 View Page First male open today: 1916 Barron. Female babies everywhere!   Monday, June 6 View Page 1916 Barron   Monday, June 6 View Page 2020.5 Werner with a bit of sunburn. The last 2 days have been scorchers, and I have 2 plants that aren't as tolerant of the heat.   Monday, June 6 View Page 2230 Wallace   Monday, June 6 View Page 2109 Zywiec   Monday, June 6 View Page 1060 Holub   Monday, June 6 View Page Baby squash are confirmed green!   Monday, June 6 View Page A second greenie on the 1060.   Monday, June 6 View Page Early mature male flowers are normal on the 1060 squash. This is a good sign to me, as it gives me confidence the plant isn't sterile. I've grown squash two other times and both times the plant was sterile and the fruit aborted. Rosalyn had a pumpkin plant like that too. The things I noticed about all three of those plants: 1. Late onset of males; 2. Males devoid of anthers; 3. The plant is markedly more vigorous than the others. So far, this 1060 Holub is passing the test for being fertile. I really hope I can get a super huge squash.   Tuesday, June 7 View Page 1625 Gantner   Friday, June 10 View Page The annual measuring of the vines: 1916 Barron 13'7" 2020.5 Werner 13'11" 1625 Gantner 14'3" 2323 Wallace 11'8" 2109 Zywiec 8'4" 1060 Holub 11'6" Females are showing on all, males are blooming on all.   Friday, June 10 View Page 1916 Barron doesn't look 13'7", but its main vine had to be retrained and turned since it was growing the wrong way.   Friday, June 10 View Page Female on 1916 at 13'2".   Friday, June 10 View Page 1060 Holub squash   Friday, June 10 View Page Female pretty green squash at 11'4"....I'll pollinate it to ensure the plant isn't sterile....but the female on the tip will likely be my contender.   Friday, June 10 View Page 1060 Holub back up plant with a green baby on the tip. Out of the 10 1060's I planted, 3 were green, a couple were light green with dark green stripes, and 5 totally yellow. All got pulled except my main plant and this one on the side. I will likely graft this main vine onto the secondary at the fruit of my big 1060 so I can have 2 stumps feeding my squash.   Friday, June 10 View Page Biggest plant so far: 1625 Gantner.   Saturday, June 11 View Page I've been very diligent with foliar sprays this year! I use my phone's camera to determine how much is left in my tank while the mister is on my back, ha!   Sunday, June 12 View Page 1625   Tuesday, June 21 View Page Patch tour!   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 1916   Tuesday, June 21 View Page This is actually 1060, aka Beast Boy   Tuesday, June 21 View Page The other side of Beast Boy   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 2109   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 1625   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 2230   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 1916   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 2020   Monday, June 27 View Page Heat wave is on the way! I sprayed with Calcarb and covered my vine tips with Remay or shade cloth.   Monday, June 27 View Page This guy was in my roll of Remay...freaked me out!   Monday, June 27 View Page 1625 is having some issues near the main growing tip. It's not heat related. The leaves are small, and scrunched along the edges.   Monday, June 27 View Page Compost tea brewed all night and day. I'll do a late afternoon drench/spray.   Saturday, July 2 View Page Me and the future WA state record cabbage!   Saturday, July 2 View Page Look how much bigger and awesomer my Northern Giant is compared to my O/S cross!   Saturday, July 2 View Page 1916 Barron   Saturday, July 2 View Page 1625 Gantner x 2230 Wallace   Saturday, July 2 View Page Beast Boy (1060 Holub x self)   Saturday, July 2 View Page 2230 x 1625 1st set....   Saturday, July 2 View Page 2230'S x 1625 2nd and 3rd sets.....I can't decide!!!   Saturday, July 2 View Page 2020.5 Werner x 1916 Barron. This was an experiment! The bundle got heat scorched a few weeks back, and it burnt the pea-sized femake's blossom petal tips, nearly exposing the stigma. I covered it and hoped it would pollinate, because it was my only female (at 18+feet!). I monitored it closely, and when the lower petal remnants looked open, I pollinated it. It seems to have worked!   Saturday, July 2 View Page I went out to get some Chinese food for lunch and this was my fortune. A good mantra for when I'm exhausted from burying vines and the other seemingly endless chores associated with caring for 6 pumpkin plants!   Sunday, July 3 View Page 1916 Barron in front, 2020.5 Werner in back.   Sunday, July 3 View Page The other 4 plants: neareat is 1625, and the 2230 behind it. On the far right is 2109, and behind it is Beast Boy. My one pollination on 2109 didn't take, so it'll be my latest one, a 4th of July baby, which will be 104 days until the Terminator weigh off, giving me plenty of time! Look how well I'm keeping the weeds at bay! My friend told me I basically sucked at weeding last year, so I've been working on improvement in that area.   Sunday, July 3 View Page I had a hard time deciding who will be my keeper on the 2230. I had this one at 12 feet, another at 15.5, and a final one at 17 feet. After talking with two friends, I had a good long look at the prospects, had a couple of drinks and got my pruners. I'm going with my second set, pollinated on 6/26.   Sunday, July 3 View Page So here is what I'm going with in 2016: 1616 x 2020.5 pol. 6/22 @17' 2020.5 x 1916 pol. 6/30 @18' 2230 x 1625 pol.6/27 @15' 1625 x 2230 pol. 6/19 @16' 2109 x 1060 pol. 7/4 @16' 1060 x self pol 6/26 @16' Rosalyn's 1985 x 1060 pol. 7/1 @12'   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1916 x 2020   Sunday, July 17 View Page 2020 x 1916   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1625 x 2230 This fruit is so dissapointingly ugly.   Sunday, July 17 View Page 2230 x 1625   Sunday, July 17 View Page My youngest fruit, 2109 x 1060   Sunday, July 17 View Page Beast Boy   Sunday, July 24 View Page July finally arrived today...only 23 days LATE! This has been the coolest, wettest July I remember, and the pumpkins haven't been too happy. Mid to upper 80's is the forecast through the beginning of August, so I'm hopeful the pumpkins come out of hibernation and put up some bigger numbers. For this reason, I'm favoring the younger pollinations, as they haven't had as much cool to endure.   Sunday, July 24 View Page Stopped by Jack LaRue's patch today and got the tour. Rosalyn was loving one of his hens.   Sunday, July 24 View Page Pumpkin selfie with the biggest in the patch this week: 1916 Barron.   Sunday, July 24 View Page 1916 Barron   Sunday, July 24 View Page 1625 Gantner   Sunday, July 24 View Page 2109 Zywiec, my youngest (July 4th pollination).   Sunday, July 24 View Page Beast Boy should be renamed Bust Boy! Very, very slow growth. The WA squash record is only 1145 pounds, but he's going to have to pour on the coals if we're going to have a shot at the record. Slow and steady I suppose! I won't give up hope on him. The plant is super healthy, so the pounds ought to come now that our weather has taken a turn for the better!   Sunday, July 24 View Page 2230 Wallace. This one will be big and PRETTY!   Sunday, July 24 View Page 2020.5 Werner   Monday, July 25 View Page RIP Beast Boy. I've been let down by the squash once again.   Thursday, July 28 View Page Who ya gonna call!? GHOST BUSTERS! Whenever I get ready to foliar spray, Rosalyn and her friends yell this.   Saturday, July 30 View Page 1916 Barron   Saturday, July 30 View Page 1916 selfie since it's the biggest in the patch....for now. My 2230 and 2020 are catching up FAST!   Saturday, July 30 View Page 1625 Gantner   Saturday, July 30 View Page 2109 Zywiec   Saturday, July 30 View Page 2230 Wallace   Saturday, July 30 View Page 2020 Werner   Sunday, August 7 View Page Biggest in the patch the last couple weeks: 2230 Wallace!   Sunday, August 14 View Page South side of the patch: 2020 and 2230   Sunday, August 14 View Page North side of the patch: 1916, 1625, 2109   Sunday, August 14 View Page 1916   Sunday, August 14 View Page 1625   Sunday, August 14 View Page 2109   Sunday, August 14 View Page 2230   Sunday, August 14 View Page 2020   Thursday, August 25 View Page The patch is looking great, and the pumpkins are getting big!   Friday, August 26 View Page I was singing this Beastie Boys song today as I did my foliar spray...no complacency in the home stretch!   Friday, September 2 View Page My 1625 Gantner has been creeping along, only doing 7 pounds a day. With so many pumpkins growing g strong still, I decided to cut it early for the Washington State Fair. Since it's bar far the smallest pumpkin in my patch, my only expectation was to get an official weight on it.   Friday, September 2 View Page I was SO excited when I made the Top 3 for a podium finish! AND, it went 19% HEAVY! A very fun time with lots of pumpkin friends!   Sunday, September 4 View Page My coveted sign on the 989 Tobeck!   Sunday, September 4 View Page This is my view as I work at the PNWGPG seed booth at the Fair.   Sunday, September 4 View Page 2020 Werner is BIG! it's the second largest in the patch, only behind by 6 inches.   Sunday, September 4 View Page Another view of 2020.   Sunday, September 4 View Page 2230 Wallace is my largest! I really like this pumpkin: beautiful color, tall, long, and wide! In one month I'll find out its weight. I hope it goes HEAVY!   Sunday, September 4 View Page Another view of 2230.   Sunday, September 4 View Page 1060 aka Beast Boy Jr. It's a month old now!   Sunday, September 4 View Page 2109 Zywiec wants to hide its blossom end.   Sunday, September 4 View Page Another view of the 2109.   Sunday, September 4 View Page 1916 Barron   Sunday, September 4 View Page Another view of the 1916.   Sunday, September 11 View Page 1060 Holub....Using my 3 wood.   Sunday, September 11 View Page Rustling me up a wild 2020 Werner!   Sunday, September 11 View Page Dressage superstar: 1916 Barron!   Sunday, September 11 View Page Skiing down the mountain at 2230' elevation!   Sunday, September 11 View Page Surfing the big kahuna: 2109 Zywiec!   Thursday, September 15 View Page Jack came over for a patch tour tonight.   Saturday, September 17 View Page I caught myself a real lunker today! I need a bigger net for the 2020!   Saturday, September 17 View Page Hunting season: Bagged myself a big bull 2230 that'll fill the freezer! It took 3 shots to bring it down!   Saturday, September 17 View Page There was so much rain overnight, I went out to the soggy patch and lo and behold: a mermaid had washed ashore and was sunning herself on the 2109!   Saturday, September 17 View Page 2020 has some serious stretch marks showing me there's still plenty of gas left in the tank!   Saturday, September 17 View Page More 2020 stretch marks! And 2230 was unbelievably sappy today! I can't wait to measure tomorrow!   Saturday, September 17 View Page 1916 is a Seahawks fan like me! I predict it'll go 12% heavy since it's a dedicated 12th Man!   Wednesday, September 28 View Page I've been in Nampa, Idaho all last week for the National Championship Horse Show with my horse, Agate. Guess what?! We were National Champions! Thanks to Jack LaRue for keeping an eye on the patch while I was off making my dreams come true!   Friday, September 30 View Page 2020 Werner at Baumans!   Saturday, October 1 View Page There's a 437" squash here at Bauman's today! My BPF grew it! (Best pumpkin friend)   Saturday, October 1 View Page Scott Holub and his 437" greenie!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Riding the 2020 to the staging area!   Saturday, October 1 View Page The 2230 gets to stay on the vine! Still growing relatively strong!   Saturday, October 1 View Page My best pumpkin friend Scott Holub and his new world record! So proud and excited!!!!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Baumans...I got 2nd place and a new PB!   Saturday, October 1 View Page You! Went a bit heavy!   Monday, October 3 View Page I'm trying to get Scott to not be so serious. It's a start!   Monday, October 3 View Page Opps...here is the picture for the previous post!   Saturday, October 8 View Page Central Market: 1398.5 Tobeck (1916 Barron x 2020.5 Werner)   Saturday, October 8 View Page Beast Boy weighed 622 pounds! My first squash to the scale!   Saturday, October 8 View Page Loaded for Half Moon Bay!   Sunday, October 9 View Page Almost there!   Sunday, October 9 View Page We have arrived!   Monday, October 10 View Page Half Moon Bay winner!   Monday, October 10 View Page Winner! 1910 pounds!   Monday, October 10 View Page Feeling like a rock star!   Monday, October 10 View Page Ooh la la! The coveted jacket!   Monday, October 10 View Page Dream come true!   Saturday, October 15 View Page Half Moon Bay Pumpkin and Art Festival: I got to lead the parade!   Saturday, October 15 View Page I got to be Queen for a day!   Saturday, October 15 View Page Yay!   Sunday, October 16 View Page I got to stay at the Ritz all weekend!   Sunday, October 16 View Page Ritz in the fog...   Sunday, October 16 View Page I found myself on the front page of their newspaper!   Sunday, October 16 View Page And a big spread inside.....   Sunday, October 16 View Page I was even surprised to find a cartoon inside! (My pumpkin was A LOT BIGGER than that though...ha!) The guy on the right looks like Jim Sherwood...who is the guy on the left?   Saturday, October 22 View Page My last pumpkin to weigh for 2016: 2109 Zywiec. It went 16% heavy and weighed in at 1540 pounds.   Saturday, October 22 View Page The season is over and it ended in an ugly way. I was subject to demeaning unsportsmanlike behavior today as I served my club as a weigh off judge. All I wanted was for the shallow rot removed along with the thick fungicide per the rules so the competitor's pumpkin would be in compliance and safe for public display. I got yelled at in front of my fellow growers, my integrity was questioned, and nobody else in my club stood up for me, or more importantly, the rule. It was a sad day for me to realize a very small pittance of a prize would make people throw away friendships and their own self respect. I have been competing in horse shows for 35 years and pumpkin weigh offs for 7, and I've never personally experienced anything like this before. Yes apologies were made later, but I can't shake the feeling.   Saturday, October 22 View Page So, at the beginning of the season I set some goals: 1700+ pound pumpkin; 4500 pound club; and to grow a new WA state squash record. I did pretty well I think. I grew a 1910 pound pumpkin; made the 4800 pound club with 5052.5 pounds for my top 3, and although I didn't set a new WA state squash record, I managed to break the WA state pumpkin record, which is pretty darn cool.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Nothing cheers a girl up like a big load of manure!   Sunday, October 23 View Page I spread all of that then got ANOTHER load of a different kind of manure! Then I spread that out too.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Can you see my cover crop seeds? I got a nice, even coverage.   Sunday, October 23 View Page Viola! The seeds got raked in, and the patch is ready for the fall/winter.   Sunday, October 23 View Page See you in 2017!   Wednesday, November 2 View Page Cavity of the 989 Tobeck (1625 Gantner x 2230 Wallace). This one had a small cavity, and was 10-11" thick. The 1625 pollinated the 2230, which produced my 1910.   Wednesday, November 2 View Page Here is the 1910 Tobeck (2230 Wallace x 1625 Gantner) all carved up! Thanks to Gary Miller and his crew for getting my seeds! It has seeds; how many, I still don't know yet.   Thursday, November 3 View Page The winter rye is coming in nicely. All pumpkins have beenot opened up. Seed counts are a bit low this year. The 1602 actually had NO seeds. Fortunately, the 1910 had a decent amount: 195 good ones (about 200 more were hollow). The rest of the pumpkins, 989, 1398.5, and 1540 have a small amount, but I will be able to help all inquiring clubs and individuals.   Wednesday, November 16 View Page The rye is coming in beautifully! I've got a few other secret amendments I'll be adding on Sunday. I'm already thinking about how to grow a 2000-pounder for 2017!   Friday, December 9 View Page Sorry Mathias, but there's a new sheriff in town.