Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 96 Entries. Saturday, January 16 View Page Its been a Long off season for me and there are two more months of decision making and planning. The picture is from 2014 when I grew my PB hitting 1068 pounds. the plant was a dream and the pumpkin just kept growing all season long. I will go back to that seed in the future but for now I want to build a new line of my own. 1300 pounds is in my future... not big for some but for my area, budget, family/ time constraint. That's as good as 2000 pounds ;) this picture is my field of dreams. on a little more than 400 Sqft of soil that i have build over the last 4 years. This picture brings me back to the days of pure joy, wounder, and excitement of what might be. Good luck to all in 2016, hope to see you at the scale!   Friday, February 5 View Page Started my tomatoes for the garden 5 days ago. I was able to use my new grow light setup i made on the seedings that germed this morning. I also have 6 cells of hot peppers and 6 cells of green peppers both that will be a few more day to germ.   Friday, February 5 View Page Tomatoes :)   Sunday, February 7 View Page Tomatoes are up and peppers are breaking the surface. Really like my SOY grow light setup.   Sunday, February 7 View Page DIY* not SOY ... Stupid auto correct   Friday, February 19 View Page These are my none competitive peppers and tomato seedlings.   Tuesday, March 8 View Page Soil test came back and looks pretty good. I'm thinking some sulfur and my normal Compost. Anything I'm missing let me know.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page I'd say the new grow setup is a success:) one month to seed starts on the GIANT pumpkins. These are just my garden tomatoes and peppers, no giants started for 3-5 weeks.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page Lettuce is about two weeks from harvest, yum garage lettuce.lol   Monday, March 28 View Page New bio come this year. I didn't glue the 3/4" PVC together so I can disassemble and store away each year. Soil cables have been turned in for a week now under plastic in the back. I'm hoping to till in a 12'x12' area with in a week. And will ammend as I go. I already all ended patch with sulfur. I will do borax and and other ammendments when I till to evenly distribute. Just need a bit of a dry spell to get things ready.   Wednesday, April 13 View Page This is where the hoop house and plastic sat the last two weeks. See the height difference in the grass and the soil is nice and dry. Unfortunately we have had lots of cool wet days so far. But soil cables were left in over winter so I could plug in once we needed the boost to the soil.   Wednesday, April 13 View Page After I tilled and added the last ammendments . The soil looks and feels the best it ever has. Plunty of activity from our soil food web buddies. Have to get more Compost for the other small patch but I'm that much closer to plant day.   Friday, April 15 View Page Let the fun begin! Here is the line up with back ups. I will start two more seeds on the 19th. I started these seeds on a 3 hour soak in diluted seaweed sokution, on a heat mat. I will start 3 in the bag/ paper towel method and the rest straight to potting mix. Good luck to all!   Friday, April 15 View Page Picked up a load of Compost before they closed for the weekend. And checked the germ chamber temp has been pretty consistent with minor spikes as house temp climbed.   Saturday, April 16 View Page Trying something new for temperature control in the hoop house...   Saturday, April 16 View Page Utilizing a fan at an upward angle so as the automatic opener lifts the hoop. The fan pulls in and circulates cooler outside air. Time will tell if this is a good setup.   Sunday, April 17 View Page I added the last of this load of Compost to the 150 patch. It adds 6" of organic black gold that will be tille d in after a few ammendments get added.   Sunday, April 17 View Page The compost tested right between 6.3 and 6.5 on two separate samples. My soil was 7.4 before I added elemental sulfur. This should help get my soil PH closer to 7 or even better 6.8   Sunday, April 17 View Page The 1998 is one of the first to come to life. I hope that is the trend for the year.   Wednesday, April 20 View Page Rough start for the 1998, it was the first to pop a root BUT, it only has one cot leaf. It has started the first true leaf so time will tell if it's got what it takes to battle for top spot.   Wednesday, April 20 View Page Everyone else is doing good, shed their shells on their own. Excited to see who has what it takes.   Sunday, April 24 View Page Brought the girls out at 10am this morning. Just before the sun comes over the top of the house. I'll give them an hour or two of sunshine. Then back to the garage window under the lights. Plants look good so far. The 1367 New has its second true leaf forming.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 1998 Jutras looking good for one cot leaf.   Monday, May 2 View Page Green sand, compost and peat moss in 150 patch. Light till to mix in.   Monday, May 2 View Page Hoop house up, plants go in this weekend.   Thursday, May 5 View Page 1367 doing great! Close up of side growth already :) both the 1367 and 1998 have very similar growth. The 1998 was out in the main patch and the 1367 was out in the 150sqft patch. Inoculated with mycos and soil mixed with diatimatious earth. Colars put on down to a depth of 6" to prevent corn seed maggot hatchings from reaching the seedlings.   Sunday, May 8 View Page Watered both of the plants with 5 ML per gallon of each one of these. Also added 2 table spoon full of Epsom salt per gallon.   Sunday, May 15 View Page 1998 Jutras is chugging along nicely. Watered in some light 1/4 strength of seaweed/ kelp and voodoo juice.   Sunday, May 15 View Page 1367 New is also doing good. It has a nice straight stem. No soil cables for her but she is showing good progress since transplant day.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Nice thickness to the 1998 Jutras. Slowly lowering her to the ground. We've been having cool nights and mild days so I don't force anything. Just wiggle the support stacks and hold the stem. I also am using stakes along older leaf stalks for support and reduce the chance of vine rolling over. Roll over can cause splits or snaps, neither are desired.   Sunday, May 22 View Page Plants are doing good with a few warm days. Gave them a little cocktail since. Their thirst has picked up I want to make sure they are get what they need.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page I was able to Lay down the 1998 Jutras and cover the first two nodes with soil. Watered in well with biological. Been warm, mid 80's + the last three days.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Also watered in some biological into the 1367 New. Very solid plant that is sturdy, happy with growth so far. Should be able to Lay down this weekend. Forcast calls for storms so I will avoid getting in and compacting the wet soil. I want to keep as much of the oxygen in the soil as possible to promote a good balance for root growth.   Monday, May 30 View Page The 1998 was all good and cruising along until...   Tuesday, May 31 View Page A squirrel or skunk decided it wanted a snack. *€#$!   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Packed with captan and added a fan. I will cover and after I gather myself... Pray she heals good enough to still have enough energy from the rest of the plant to have a personal best.   Wednesday, June 1 View Page 1988 Jutras is hanging in there with no further animal attacks. Both this plant and the 1367 New received a few gallon French of fulvic and humate to feed my soul buddies and more biological will go on after a talstar spray tomorrow.   Wednesday, June 1 View Page 1367 New   Saturday, June 4 View Page Healthy big leafs on the 1367 New. Will be out of the 8' hoop tomorrow.   Sunday, June 5 View Page Hooked up the fertilizer injector to the drip irrigation. Not very expensive or high tech but it will do the job.   Monday, June 6 View Page Top watered with fert injector for 30 minutes. Then 30 minutes of water only with PH down to 6.0. I'm trying to get the secondaries to kick into gear. Dang things just stopped once stump damage occured. Main still growing 8"+ a day.   Monday, June 6 View Page Same treatment to the 150 patch. Solid plant, I have been picking off the secondaries on the left. She will be grown flag pattern toward the garage. 6" of growth a day on main. Not bad with only 6-7 hours of full sun.   Friday, June 10 View Page Timer hooked up to over head watering. On for 15 minutes every few hours. Still waiting on both plants secondaries to really kick in. 1998 is 15' long main and the 1367 is almost 12'.   Monday, June 13 View Page I got a yard of compost to top dress the patch with. Secondaries are starting to pick up now. It would be nice to have a good soaking rain. I seen a squash vine bore moth today. It flew around my traps for a minute and the when to the closest leaf. Where I decided I had seen enough of him. I will for go my fertilizer tonight and instead to a systemic drench. I'll pick up withe ferts tomorrow.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Their back....   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Upgraded the drip irrigation.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page No need to measure the length of the lines. Lol   Thursday, June 16 View Page Turned on the second stage of fertilizer. The injector and pump system I made is doing a good job of delivering the water where I want it to go. I'm I a bit behind where I planed to pollinate, however I have two nice ones out past 16' and I'm happy to get a bigger engine to drive the fruit growth.   Thursday, June 16 View Page 150 patch has hit it's second wind. Side vines are finally kick out. Its hard to say what it is but I like is plant. It doesn't look like much but I just like small things I'm seeing out of it. Hope to have something special from it in September.   Saturday, June 18 View Page This little guy has taken another side vine out with his chewing. I don't get it, plenty of bird feeders to rob but he chooses a 3 " section of vine.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 30% shade cloth is up for the season. Two females are looking good on the main.   Thursday, June 23 View Page Survived the storms last night and had this baby waiting in the morning. 1367 New X 1998 Jutras   Thursday, June 23 View Page Side view. I have one more down the line if it is in a better position, more lobes or faster growth I will have a tough decission.   Saturday, June 25 View Page For anyone wondering How to tell the night before a female opens. They will look like this long stem beauty. This is the 1998 Jutras that will be pollinated by the 2230.5 Wallace.   Saturday, June 25 View Page I will start terminating side vines this weekend.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Pollinated the 1998 Jutras with male flowers from a 2230.5 Wallace. This 3 lober is at 22' and was pollinated at 7:50. The flowers took longer to open with the over fast sky and mixed rain. I have another female at 25'. Then I'll choose the best between the two.   Monday, June 27 View Page First time on giant tomatoes, hope she take so I can steal Shazzy's unofficial record :) lol ! Thanks again for the plant.   Monday, June 27 View Page 1 DAP 1998 X 1367. I'll have another one ready hopefully by the 30th for both plants. I'll feel a little better if both plant have June pollination going.   Monday, June 27 View Page Picture for last post   Tuesday, June 28 View Page I have what I think is a mouse terminating side vines on the 1998 Jutras. Time to stick up on traps. Can't afford any more setbacks at this point.   Thursday, June 30 View Page The 1998 played a joke on me and opened a day early. So my wife jumped into action a self pollinated it. Nice five lober, if all goes well she will be the keeper.   Thursday, June 30 View Page Plant was attacked by a opposume but I have that fixed. And growth looks strong. And main vine is still intact except the early stump that had been chewed on.   Friday, July 1 View Page 1998 Jutras 1 DAP   Monday, July 4 View Page 1367 New will be pollinated tomorrow with the 1998 Jutras. Very nice shape and hopefully color. I try to avoid July pollination but this year has been mild. Low 80s as high with night time temps in the upper 60s.   Monday, July 4 View Page 1998 Jutras 4 DAP. Looking good so far, hope she takes as she is a nice five lobe with great vine position and in a good spot in the patch to access .   Monday, July 4 View Page Keeping the 3 lobe, 8 DAP, 1998 X 2230 just until I'm sure the 5 lobe has taken. So fare the 1998 has thrown long fruit. So I'm hoping this will give me some bigger gains.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 1367 New X 1998 Jutras pollinated this morning.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 1367 New X 1998 Jutras, side view.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page 1 DAP on the 1367 New   Wednesday, July 6 View Page 6 DAP on the 1998 Jutras   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Hope the cross this 1998 with the 2230.5 Wallace tomorrow.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Best shot I have at a GIANT tomato. I had what I thought was a triple bloom but it wasn't fused. So I'm going to push this double. We'll see what happens.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Big thank you to Shazzy for the flowers!   Thursday, July 7 View Page Plant has almost filled in the entire patch. Pumpkin updates will be on day 10. Little hot but the rain was needed.   Friday, July 8 View Page Culled the 1998 at 22'. Still have two on. Will cull the last one next week.   Saturday, July 9 View Page Tomorrow will be day 10 for the 1998 Jutras. This plant is really doing well. It has some heat issues on the edges with the last few hot, humid days but is still closing up bare spots. I will post the 10 DAP picture and circumference tomorrow.   Sunday, July 10 View Page 1998 @ 10 DAP   Saturday, July 16 View Page 1998 at 16 DAP. Plant went crazy while I was away, so I have a full day of patch work ahead of me.   Saturday, July 16 View Page Try again.   Saturday, July 16 View Page Too view.   Saturday, July 16 View Page 1367 New at 13 DAP. Great shape and color!   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1367 New   Sunday, July 17 View Page 1998 Jutras   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Day 20 for the 1998 Jutras. She has great color and has had a consistent growth rate. The taller stalls did get damged in the storms. So I will be keepng a few more vines growing before terminating this weekend. This weekend the patch should be filled and mostly terminated.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page 1367 New @ 15 days old has been doing great. The color gets better and better. The shape is perfect and the plant is healthy. The leaves are low in height but huge.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page 1367 New @ 15 days old has been doing great. The color gets better and better. The shape is perfect and the plant is healthy. The leaves are low in height but huge.   Sunday, July 24 View Page 1367 New. Last picture is at 19 DAP   Sunday, July 24 View Page 1998 Jutras. Last picture is at 24 DAP   Thursday, July 28 View Page Day 28 on the 1998 Jutras. Not moving as much as I had hoped. Might have an imbalance in something. Not quite sure. Hope I figure it out soon.   Saturday, July 30 View Page 1998 Jutras @ 30 DAP. Taping 251 OTT .   Monday, August 15 View Page 1998 Jutras has is first 30 lb night two nights back. Not sure if I'll have a PB this year. She still his holding on to half a stump. Steady gains and a solid fruit is all I can ask for.   Monday, August 15 View Page Another view.   Sunday, August 21 View Page Four weeks till harvest.   Sunday, September 4 View Page Not much growth happening but she is solid. 3 weeks till weigh off.   Monday, October 31 View Page The 979 on display for the neighborhood. I carved a scull this year. Not bad for a rush job. I have to work tonight.   Sunday, November 6 View Page My 979 Bayuk ( 1998 Jutras x self) had good wall thickness. And decent seed count. Had a tough year but like always more experience and lessons learned. Till next year