Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 61 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page Happy New Year! Good Luck in 2016 ! The drawer is empty :)   Friday, January 8 View Page Trivia: Yesterday, I received this photo in the mail asking me to "Name the Growers in the Photo". I am still guessing ... I think I know two. Also, can you guess which Pumpkin? One hint MAY be that it was MAYBE a World Record.   Friday, January 8 View Page Some people know a LOT. Can you guess who ;)   Tuesday, January 12 View Page Alex Bogie had this answer for my January 8th Trivia: "Don Black, Howard Dill, Norm Gallagher, Gordon Thomson....I'm a true old schooler. They are all in big pumpkin book one, which was my bible in 1993...I was...13? They were my heroes! I named them in order...Don is the only survivor." Thank you Alex! -LL   Friday, February 19 View Page As the growing season approaches, I take some time at this tranquil place I enjoy so much.   Wednesday, February 24 View Page Hope to see you ALL In Big Pumpkins Auction Chat Room For the SCGA Seed Auction Friday, February 26 Starts @ 7:00 Central Time Zone Seed Auctions Are A Super Way To Support The Hobby! http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Default.asp   Tuesday, March 8 View Page Getting Things Ready   Wednesday, March 9 View Page Love This Stuff ... just ordered ... http://wallacewow.com/collections/all/products/essential-plus-1-0-1   Friday, March 11 View Page Spring is in the air!   Monday, March 14 View Page If There was one product you had to choose to use And nothing else What would it be? Me? My composted manure from the U/W River Falls !!! :)   Sunday, March 20 View Page This shows my four growing areas I am working on. Very excited for the new year after our SCGA Spring Meeting Today At Water Street Inn, Stillwater, Minnesota, Thank you everyone, especially Chris & Joe! It Was Fantastic!!! Growers Connecting With Growers :) ...Old Dog, Maggie ... Little Dog, Lucky ... Lucky is learning "stay OUT of THE garden!'   Monday, March 28 View Page Happy Easter Everyone !!! :)   Tuesday, March 29 View Page March 25th a soil test for each of my four growing areas was sent to Agri Energy's lab Midwest Laboratories. http://agrienergy.net/   Wednesday, April 6 View Page Best   Wednesday, April 6 View Page Sulfur Surprise   Wednesday, April 6 View Page New Area   Wednesday, April 6 View Page Copper Surprise   Friday, April 8 View Page I received two envelopes in the last few weeks from the GPC. This is today's mail ... the MOST important of the two :)   Tuesday, April 19 View Page Friday morning the winds settled down so I was able to get my amendments down. Kelp meal, gypsum, humic acid, boron, manganese sulfate, WOW Pumpkin Pro Mycorrhizal, Azos, and Sustane organic fertilizer 5-2-4. Friday and Saturday Dave came over and tilled leaving the growing areas perfect. The weather has been perfect as well and started the seeds Monday morning, April 18th, after filing and soaking them for six hours. 1781 backup 1781 2109 backup 2109 2230 backup 2109 2009 backup 2109 Joyful today!!!   Thursday, April 21 View Page Eight Bumps Third Day :)   Monday, April 25 View Page Looks like the 2009 will make it :) The 1781 (with back up 1781) The 2109 (with back up 2109) The 2230 (with back up 2109) (2109 back up to 2009) all made it IN THE GROUND yesterday, Sunday April 24th ... earliest ever me :)   Saturday, April 30 View Page With Faith and Nurturing the 2009 Made It In The Ground :)   Monday, May 9 View Page Plant on the left is back up, plant on the right is first choice. So far, I am going with the first choice :)   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Update on the pumpkin plants, out of the hoops Saturday May 28th. Nerve wracking!!! Mains about 5-6', still pending eliminating one plant per growing area. Update on me, Big Ring Flyer Biking Club :)   Wednesday, June 1 View Page Always a nice surprise to see the first pumpkin. This is on my backup 1781 and is approximately 4' out.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Approaching pollination here in The Patch.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page The 1781 is the easiest plant, very condensed and short to the ground. Love's the wind and the sun. Looking at pollinating on the 8th side vine.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page The 2109 is a lot like her mother, but not as condensed. I believe there is something to be said in growing a seed from it's own climate. Looking at pollinating on 7th side, lost one side on both sides due to growth abnormalities.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page The 2009 has been difficult first to germinate and then to keep nailed to the ground the last two weeks on a couple mighty windy days. I lost two sides on the back right due to the wind. Looking at pollinating on the 8 side.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Thee 2230 is my largest plant. The sides have been a little slow this year waiting for sunny, warmer, humid weather. On those days everybody grows like crazy. The weeds and cuke beetles seem to be a smidge in excess this year, creating a battle I will win. The wind won a little causing some leaf depletion. The males have started to bloom, Mother Nature's way of pollination readiness. Looking to pollinate on the 9th side on this one.   Tuesday, June 21 View Page Yesterday I pollinated the 2109 x (2)1781, what a perfect way to start the first day of summer! This picture details the pollen. This morning I pollinated the 1781 x (4)2230. I should have been prepared to take a picture because I am sure this is the most perfect and best 4 lobe ever. I did cull my first pollination on the 1781 as it had a bulge on the pumpkin where the flower did not want to open. The 2230 is throwing a multitude of very large male flowers. The 2230 and 2009 should be pollinated yet this week.   Wednesday, June 22 View Page My Wallace Patch is filling in, 2230 in the foreground and 2009 in the background. If all the pollinations take, I have all four plants pollinated. Although I like self pollination, I followed some advice from Donald Black, a former WR holder. This is what I hope to grow into some world class pumpkins: June 20 2109 five lobes x 1781 June 21 1781 four lobes x 2230 June 21 2009 six lobes x 1781 June 22 2230 four lobes x 2109   Thursday, June 30 View Page Good Morning Everyone !!! The 2230 is getting ready for a third pollination, the second pollination on the same day as the first pollination was culled out this morning. This plant is so huge and amazing that it makes giant pumpkin growing extremely exciting. Last night all four plants received their first dose of Big Stem that Tanner Conway so kindly gave to me. This has got to be a great candidate for a world record.   Friday, July 8 View Page 1781 aka LL. As you can see, the weeds are a little tough.   Friday, July 8 View Page Me vs. The Weeds   Thursday, July 21 View Page A number of exciting things happening the last two days :) Most importantly, while reworking vine burying projects from last nights storm with tough winds; I hear a horn blaring me up from the patch. It is Mr. Fed-Ex with a delivery from Lee and Dori Perry with a 2.5K lifting ring. All I can say is WOW, I BETTER grow a WR :)   Saturday, July 23 View Page Numbers do not always indicate what will happen in the end. Moral of the story: Never Give Up ;) Really cool, ten days ago I was tempted to give the 2009 a little kick at 35 pounds. Then ten days later it grows quite a bit. Fun !!!   Sunday, July 24 View Page We had almost two inches of needed rain yesterday and this morning. With the high humidity and a little too much rain additional inspections are needed at the stump, stem, blossom and anywhere a previous cut has been made. Looking for any soft spots that can turn quickly into rot to get ride of. A knife, scissors or even a rag to rub with easily takes care of most issues. Sometimes I apply a light dust of fungicide dust with a Q-tip. All four of my kins have developed curable issues which if not caught and treated in time would have quickly caused their failure. They still make me nervous. Inspections is more important than vine bury at this point.   Thursday, July 28 View Page Wishing I could say this is my pumpkin https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1180752005310259&set=a.484708141581319.125040.100001264124950&type=3&theater My Friend Pete Midthun is growing this Giant :)   Thursday, July 28 View Page That last entry shows Pete Midthun's 1781x2230 (I believe) d35 874 pounds just wanted to share-LL   Monday, August 8 View Page 2109 379OTT D47 43# average per day the last 17 days. 2230 365OTT D46 36#/6day. 2009 358OTT D46 32#/6day. Some pretty happy numbers !!! :) 1781 350OTT D46 is just hanging on by a thread. Wish I would have dissected the foaming stump issue better.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page My "Wallace Way" is growing well. The 2230 x 2109 "Scarface" is pictured in the foreground and the 2009 x 2109 "Pretty Sneaky" in the background. 2230 day 55 395.5 ott 1317 pounds 32 last 3 day average 2009 day 55 398.0 ott 1338 pounds 34 last 3 day average My 1781 348 ott day 49 and 2109 402 ott day 54 both melted away. I was able to harvest some seeds that were plenty mature from both. This lower patch may have had too much moisture and humidity. Wishing everyone well with everything! Have a great day !!! :)   Monday, August 29 View Page I have been very busy chewing on my fingernails worrying about pumpkins. Hoping to make it to the scale when so many will not. These pumpkins seem very solid and very heavy :) 2230 day 65 415.5OTT 1488# 18#/last 5 day average 2009 day 65 422.5OTT 1549# 23#/last 5 day average Had to say "See you later!" to my Maggie girl on Thursday; she would have been eleven in October.   Friday, September 2 View Page Two giants: 2230 426ott est1580pounds 18.4/5day up from 18/5day 2009 433ott est1641pounds 18.4/5day down from 23/5day Pruning a LOT anything that I do not like as fast as I can. I learned how to chew on my fingernails. :)   Friday, September 2 View Page Day 70 that was :)   Wednesday, September 7 View Page It would be nice to feel confident at day 75 but the rain and humidity persists. Here is the back and front side views of the 2230 and 2009 today. Both stems have some minor deterioration issues I have cleaned and put a fan on and will babysit several times a day. The 2230 has absolutely no powdery mildew but the 2009 has A LOT even though both have been aggressively treated the same. The 2009 leaves are huge elephant ears which overlap considerably causing the problem. I will continue to eliminate poor leaves. The 2230 @ 430.5 ott 1618# seems to have finally figured out I cut it's base/stump out over three weeks ago due to rot, but is still growing. The 2009 @ 439.5 ott 1697 seems to keep going well enough. The flower is a "Pumpkin Sunflower" seeds I grew this year :) My little dog Lucky (see him?) figured out how to get in the garden.   Tuesday, September 13 View Page Bragging about our friend first time Ironman Chris Stevens :) This is amazing! Congrats Chris! September 12 My Day 80 2230 435.5 ott 2009 442 ott Hopefully I am sandbagging!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Lifting Day! Nekoosa bound! The nerves have settled down now that Chris, Joe, Pete, Mark, Dean and Jenni successfully lifted Scareface out of The Patch. I still could not sleep last night. Good luck to everyone this weekend!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Happy Girl!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Correction: Scarface is still in the patch, it is Pretty Sneaky that snuck out :)   Monday, October 3 View Page 1864 Zywiec 2016. My first First :) A sweet, unexpected win in Nekoosa. Fun day with great friends. Hope to see everyone in Stillwater!   Saturday, October 8 View Page Have you ever had a day you wish would never end?   Sunday, October 9 View Page Congrats to both Rookies 1st Place Mike Schmit @2106 and 3rd Place and MN State Record Chris Qualley @1918. 2nd place @1938 is feeling fine. Fun experience one again!   Thursday, October 20 View Page Still living this dream ;) fyi: genuine smile   Tuesday, November 15 View Page This is one of those days I could relive forever. It is so much fun living in the land of HarvestFest :)   Tuesday, November 15 View Page The art of pumpkin spectating :)   Tuesday, November 15 View Page Talking about how to grow 'em bigger :)   Saturday, December 3 View Page Here you may be able to see my chicken wings as I try to stand on the 1938.   Friday, December 16 View Page Ms. Clause needs to clean the Workshop to get ready for tonight's SCGA Seed Auction :) Hope to see you there !!!   Sunday, December 25 View Page Merry Christmas from Wisconsin ... he will bring us so much goodness and light !!! :)   Friday, December 30 View Page Please do NOT sit on the pumpkins. I ran across this picture I captured after the Stillwater weigh off in 2015, this is a fun picture, a lot going on :) Fun for me, the young man is relaxing in the big dip of the 2109. That thing was solid!