Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 95 Entries. Friday, January 22 View Page Time to get started. First, a little review. After adding tons of composted manure and leaves, the garden was tilled.   Friday, January 22 View Page Winter rye cover crop planted and came up well.   Friday, January 22 View Page After another disappointing yr. I've decided to waste more time building a larger hoop for my early competition plants. Built almost entirely out of reclaimed lumber it will be 1200sqft with room for another 200 outside hoop if needed.   Friday, January 29 View Page Ribs on hoop. Next up is to trim boards with the chainsaw.   Friday, January 29 View Page Other side of hoop frame. Spring is just around the corner.   Sunday, January 31 View Page Worked on hoop Sat. and got the ends started.   Sunday, January 31 View Page Today we were able to secure the ends and add some more braces. It was very windy today and not a very friendly day to put plastic on ,but.......   Sunday, January 31 View Page Finally, it was secured this evening, when the wind luckily died down a bit and switched directions. Need to secure a few more areas and put the door in tomorrow.   Monday, February 1 View Page Worked a little on vacation home today and put in door.   Monday, February 1 View Page Light in for evenings. Also, tightened up some loose ends and moved in supplies.   Tuesday, February 2 View Page Tapped a few trees today, hopefully I can get a few gallons of tasty syrup:)   Wednesday, February 10 View Page Inside the O-Zone looking ok.   Wednesday, February 10 View Page Maple goodness:)   Wednesday, February 17 View Page Sent out soil test today. Hopefully it hasn't changed much from last yrs.   Thursday, February 18 View Page Soil cables going in.   Thursday, February 18 View Page Got cables in.   Sunday, February 21 View Page rye is starting to grow well. Soil temp today with cables was 74, not bad for 3days. The rest of the soil ranges from 45-58 @ 6in.   Monday, February 29 View Page We've had some nice days and sunshine and winter rye is doing well. Won't be long.   Friday, March 4 View Page Getting close, I better do some test germinations. about 1 week from liftoff.   Friday, March 4 View Page Soil test for 2016 season. Very interesting to see and compare soil test over the last 3 yrs.   Sunday, March 6 View Page With extended forecast calling for warmer temps and some arm twisting from (you know who you are), I've filed seeds and started the germination process. had some of the test seeds germinate, so I'll use them for backups. Also, I started some tobacco seeds, hibiscus, tomatoes and rutabagas.   Sunday, March 6 View Page 1676.5Daletas12(1381Checkon10 x 1495Stelst10) and 1017Hodge15(1985Miller13 x 2323Meier14) for AG's and 3.30 May14 (4.57 MacCoy x open) and 7.05P0rkchop15(5.30Big zac MacCoy x open). The rutabaga is 96.5Hunt14.   Sunday, March 6 View Page Rye will need a shave soon.   Tuesday, March 8 View Page Got a couple of windows in and will put other windows in later. It was a beautiful 85degrees today, the little gals loved the sun today.   Friday, March 11 View Page The rye outside is looking good and beginning to grow.   Friday, March 11 View Page Cut rye inside yesterday. Won't be long and I'll cut again and till in amends.   Friday, March 11 View Page 1676.5Daletas and 1017Hodge enjoying the sunshine and 80's.   Friday, March 11 View Page Well the deed is done. 1676.5Daletas planted in the ground 3/11/16   Friday, March 11 View Page 1017Hodge planted in the ground 3/11/16. Both plants had great roots.   Sunday, March 13 View Page Here is the trap I use for moles. Took me awhile, but once I figured it out they work pretty good. Had to get it deeper in the soil and make sure soil was packed under it so when the mole tunneled under it would trip the trap. WARNING the next picture is the results.   Sunday, March 13 View Page This mole measure 6.5" not including tail. They do so much damage. this is the 12th mole since last June and first for this yr. Hopefully not many more.   Sunday, March 13 View Page I was concerned when the other test germination seeds didn't germ, so germed some others. Waylens 240 and my 569.5 soaked for a few hours in kelp. not worried anymore. first set were soaked in water only.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page My beautiful wife mowed down rye today, I found its easier to manage when cut at 8". Very nice day today sunny and 75.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page Added some N, Mn, Mg, and B and watered the O-Zone with 70gallon of rain water. early tomatoes are up(3.3May and 7.05Marley)   Friday, March 18 View Page Tomatoes are up and looking well.   Friday, March 18 View Page 1676.5 doing ok after 1week in the ground.   Friday, March 18 View Page 1017 doing a little better than 1676.6 after 1week in the ground.   Wednesday, March 23 View Page Today 3/23/16 giant rutabagas were planted.   Friday, March 25 View Page Tomatoes are doing well about a week after coming up. Fertilized with kelp, humic/fulvic acid and chelated iron. Also, the AG plants were fertilized with this on 3/24/16.   Friday, March 25 View Page 1676.5 not far from laying down and has evened up to 1017, but wants to grow south.   Friday, March 25 View Page 1017 a little closer to laying down and doing great as well.   Monday, March 28 View Page Cut cots off plants today. very large.   Friday, April 15 View Page Well after losing the main to a bend then bend/split, I was able to get the 1st side to lay down a and trained to about 5feet. I chose to keep it because of the root system it had, which at the time was larger than the 1017.   Friday, April 15 View Page The 1017 doing good at about 9feet. I have already pinched off 1st baby kin and it is putting out more on the main and sides. Won't be long and we'll try to set 1 at about 15feet.   Friday, April 15 View Page Put shade on today.   Friday, April 15 View Page Started melon seeds, still waiting on the Mudd seeds to germinate.   Friday, April 15 View Page Also, started tilling rye in and getting ready to plant soon.   Tuesday, April 19 View Page seeds started 4-17.   Friday, April 29 View Page The 1676Daletas is coming around @ better than 13'.   Friday, April 29 View Page A possible contender to be pollinated soon on the 1676.   Friday, April 29 View Page 1017Hodge looking good @ better than 16'.   Friday, April 29 View Page This is a maybe as the plant is very stiff, there is a small kin at about 15-16' that I'm trying to get "S" curve for, but she may snap at any time. I've already snapped 2 sides trying to get them down.   Friday, April 29 View Page Tobacco is looking good, it will be transplanted in a couple weeks. Also, have 3 nice mega blooms I will post tomorrow.   Saturday, April 30 View Page 7.05MarleyA   Saturday, April 30 View Page 7.05MarleyB.   Saturday, April 30 View Page 3.30MayA.   Monday, May 9 View Page Got plants in the ground on May 3rd. this is the 1218*Morris squash.   Monday, May 9 View Page 800*Neilly   Monday, May 9 View Page 1676Daletas   Monday, May 9 View Page 500O'Brien est   Monday, May 9 View Page 240O'Brien est   Monday, May 9 View Page 186lindley melon   Monday, May 9 View Page 192.5Reinhard melon   Monday, May 9 View Page 1017 The one I've been waiting for.   Monday, May 9 View Page Pollinated 1017 x 1676   Monday, May 9 View Page I cut off 1st pollination on 1017 as it wasn't the 1.   Monday, May 9 View Page 800*neilly had a close call. no storm just fell from about 30' up.   Monday, May 9 View Page Got ROOTS?   Wednesday, May 11 View Page And as expected the 1676.5 Daletas was pollinated today. It was a self pollination. replanted melons due to corn seed maggots, but AGs are doing well.   Saturday, May 14 View Page 1017Hodge15 still growing.   Saturday, May 14 View Page 1676.5Daletas Ok. It has developed an issue with the stump.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Finally, planted the tobacco. Why, I don't know, it just looks neat.   Friday, May 20 View Page Field pumpkins started.   Saturday, May 21 View Page 10DAP for 1676.5 x self = 21.5". A little small, but cool temps on days 1-5 slowed her a bit plus plant is full throttle with no vines terminated until day 10. plant is over 500sqft and a root freak.   Saturday, May 21 View Page Front view of 1676.5 x self.   Saturday, May 21 View Page 10DAP for the 1017 x 1676.5 = 26". this also was slowed by cool temps, but has really picked up in the last few days.   Saturday, May 21 View Page Overhead view of 1017 x 1676.5.   Sunday, May 29 View Page Finally planted Long Gourds, Tomatoes and Field pumpkins. AG's and Squash are doing well.   Thursday, June 2 View Page 1676 Daletas x 1017Hodge @ 22dap =169.5   Thursday, June 2 View Page 1017hodge x 1676daletas @ 26dap = 225ott Edit previous post- 1676 Daletas x self Need to adjust watering by using less:)   Thursday, June 2 View Page 500est O'Brien about 40days old and over 9', is best plant at the time.   Thursday, June 2 View Page 1676Daletas about day 40 and over 9'.   Thursday, June 2 View Page 800*Neily at about 40days.   Thursday, June 2 View Page 1218*Morris at about 40days.   Thursday, June 2 View Page 240est O'Brien looking good, just need to choose one at about day 40.   Saturday, June 4 View Page Tissue sample set in 6/03/16. Got to get dialed in and better gains. 9 & 10 weeks to go.   Monday, June 6 View Page 1017x1676-30DAP 109-72-70 = 251ott = not enough 1676xself-26DAP 83-60-59 = 202ott = not enough   Friday, June 10 View Page plants trimmed up and ready to bury vines in the morning. 1676daletas and 500est O'Brien are 15-16 feet. 240est O'Brien is 10-11 feet. Squash plants are slow going.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page About time to tap out, I'm guessing to much N.   Thursday, July 21 View Page This plant is crazy, wait till you see the pumpkin!   Monday, October 3 View Page Test   Monday, October 3 View Page Pb for kin from 1676daletas weighed 886#. With such a disappointing season, I'm still fortunate to get a pb for squash and melon. Also, I was able to grow several nice kins to sell and decorate.   Monday, October 3 View Page Tried some different things and through observation I believe next yr will be the best yet. Here's pic of extra kins.   Friday, October 7 View Page Half loaded. Nothing much, but a little of everything.   Saturday, October 15 View Page Last weekends weighoff. Nothing special, but will make for a good display once spread out.