Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 84 Entries. Tuesday, March 22 View Page Soil test results back, spring amendments ordered. Seeds are finalized and not far from start time. Gonna try a squash and a field kin to go along with pumpkins, maters, and watermelon.   Saturday, March 26 View Page So it begins. Started 3 of my 1473.5 this morning. The rest will start next weekend. Gonna start getting things out today and preparing for the insanity!!   Wednesday, March 30 View Page Gracie helping me get hoop houses up before rain. I love it when my girls get their hands dirty.   Wednesday, March 30 View Page Leah getting in on the action too.   Wednesday, March 30 View Page 50 lbs of Green Gro burying mix came today. I really like this stuff.   Wednesday, March 30 View Page New tee for new season! Hoops went up today. 2 - 1473.5 popped up today with one to go. Best one wins the spot. Rest of the lineup will start this weekend. Lineup includes 2096 Meier my brother is letting me grow, 1916 Barron, 1790 Wallace and 1692 Gehweiler. Lost 1916 last year to an animal so really excited to grow it. Always wanted to try a Wallace seed and was lucky enough to get one from Ron (thanks) and what can I say about Chad Gehweiler he has went way above and beyond to help me learn this great hobby. Thanks Jackson for the seed. Good luck to all!   Thursday, March 31 View Page Hoops ready, supplies almost in place, much needed rain today and dad went and picked up last of my amendments. Now get them tilled in and grow.   Thursday, March 31 View Page One of the two 1473.5. Getting close. Next batch will start Sunday night after we return from my daughters basketball tournament.   Sunday, April 10 View Page 1473.5 Terry places in his home today. Here we go.   Sunday, April 17 View Page We are full go. Lineup changes. 1790 Wallace didn't make it so had to go with 2059 Daletas that my brother started. It is a very strong looking plant so it makes it into the hoop. The good thing about having brothers and dad that grow also is always plenty of backups to choose from. Other plants include 1916 Barron, 2096 Meier, 1692 Gehweiler , and 1473.5 Terry. Weather looks good so should take off soon. Will start a Squash in couple more weeks.   Wednesday, April 20 View Page I had all but given up on the 1790 and back he came! So I spent evening adding amendments to patch and building a hoop to get it into ground. I placed it opposite of the 2059 so best plant wins spot.   Wednesday, April 20 View Page All tucked in. Worked till dark. We need rain bad. All plants are starting to take off with the weather we are having.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Dad came across a farmer that gave him some black gold. I wasn't gonna add but this was 5-6 year old compost that looks great....so spent this evening spreading it out.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page 7.05 Porkchop hit the dirt today. More to follow.   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Watermelon prep almost ready. It was great evening in the patch. Pumpkins got drink of fish/seaweed and watered down. Weather has really made them take off.   Friday, April 29 View Page Some of the kids at school wanted to try there hand at growing giant tomatoes so we started soaking a few for them to try.   Sunday, May 1 View Page Watermelons hit the ground today. Excited to try my hand at giant melons. My brother started all three of my melons. 2 graphed and 1 traditional. This is the 316 Edwards traditional.   Sunday, May 1 View Page 291 Kent graphed.   Sunday, May 1 View Page 272.5 K Neptune graphed. All kins got little taste of ferts today. Small dose. They are really starting to go. 1473.5 Terry will hit the ground running very soon.   Thursday, May 5 View Page Seeds for contest came today and wasted no time starting them!! Thanks Chris   Sunday, May 8 View Page 516 Cantrell squash are really liking this weather. One will be planted tomorrow and my brother will grow the second and I will up pot the third just in case. All 3 really close.   Sunday, May 8 View Page 6.88 MacCoy joins the game.   Saturday, May 21 View Page To wet to do much but sun and heat out today so hoping for growth. 1473 has first kin at 9 feet.   Monday, May 30 View Page 272.5 Neptune liking the heat.   Monday, May 30 View Page 291 Kent   Monday, May 30 View Page 7.05 Porkchop ready to go. Got a really nice mega bloom almost ready. We will see if it's the one.   Monday, May 30 View Page 1473.5 Terry in front. 1692 Gehweiler in back. Both picking up steam. 1473 will be pollinated in day or two.   Monday, May 30 View Page 2059 Daletas front. 516 Cantrell squash behind. It was started much later so just getting started.   Monday, May 30 View Page 1916 Barron   Monday, May 30 View Page My dad built me some new vine tip shade covers. Gonna be so much better.   Saturday, June 4 View Page Getting some rain today but was able to get out early and stake all plants and do some trim work. Plants really taking off. Pollinated second pumpkin plant today at 12 and half feet. Never had a 6 lobe before.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 1692 Gehwelier filling in nicely. Pollination in 7-8 days.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 1916 Barron. First pollination tomorrow but chosen one is 7-8 days away.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 2059 Daletas. 6 lobe set and looks to have taken but will pollinate next one in day or two.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 1473.5 Terry. 5 DAP looks good. Plants have really starting to fill area. Wanted bigger plants this year before pollination so started couple weeks earlier and seems to be working out.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 316 Edwards. Melons just now starting to get groove   Thursday, June 9 View Page 291 Kent   Thursday, June 9 View Page 272.5 Neptune. This has been fastest grower so far.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 516 Cantrell. Down and running. It was started much later for late weigh-off. Looks good   Thursday, June 9 View Page Look what found. Little early but won't be long. 291 Kent   Friday, June 17 View Page Last start of the year. 132 Steil Field Kin. Weather was great today after many, many hot days. Need rain bad but keeping everything wet by hand. 3 Kins are set with 2 to go. They should both be in next day or two. Maters starting to take off. 2 really nice mega blooms on 6.88 MacCoy hope one of them takes. Everything else will be ready in next coupe weeks. Starting watermelon sets with few in place but I will pollinate everything for next 15-20 days. 516 Cantrell starting to move.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 1473.5 Terry in front. All in now with this kin at 15 feet. 1692 Gehwelier in back. One set on main At 14 1/2 feet and another in couple days.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 2059 Daletas. 2 kins set on main. First one growing well. Prob cut 2nd loose tomorrow.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 2096 Meier in front. 1 kin set with another in the morning. I will give these few days and go with the best. 1916 Barron in back. First kin set at 15 feet. Second one was this morning. Fist one has really taken off so we will see in a day or two. Plant seem to be doing very well. I worked really hard Last couple years to get ground right and I think it's beginning to pay off. Also started plants earlier this year to get bigger plants before pollination.   Sunday, June 19 View Page 272.5 Neptune almost full. Couple sets but not sure any have taken. Been really hot. Anyway plants looks great and been very aggressive.   Sunday, June 19 View Page 291 Kent starting to take off. Nothing yet but won't be long.   Sunday, June 19 View Page 316 Edwards. Set 3 this morning for total of 5 so far. We will see if anything sticks.   Sunday, June 19 View Page 1st of 2 really nice mega blooms on the 6.88 MacCoy.   Sunday, June 19 View Page 2 of 2. Hoping one of these takes.   Thursday, June 23 View Page Watered, trimmed and stem painting. Pollination on 2096 in morning and ready to roll!! 1473.5 Terry down to 1 DAP 20 1916 Barron down to 1 DAP 12 2059 Daletas down to 1 DAP 19 1692 Gehwelier down to 1 DAP 11 2096 Meier still up in air depending on tomorrow. 516 Cantrell bout 10 feet long now.   Monday, July 4 View Page 316 Edwards has its keeper. On in now with this one.   Monday, July 11 View Page Went out this morning and the 2059 Daletas had finally spit and rotted. I saw this coming for few days and hoped to fight it off but no luck. Final OTT 314 on day 37. Had a chance to be good but thats the bad part of this hobby.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 316 Edwards day 23. I really like these melons.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 1473.5 Terry front. Steady nothing great. And 1692 Gehweiler in back. It's got a chance.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 516 Cantrell. Couple set with one more to go then decision time. Open spot was 2059 Daletas. Pulled when kin split yesterday.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 2096 Meier up front. Day 30 tomorrow. 1916 Barron in back.   Thursday, July 21 View Page 316 Edwards. Kinda like this melon thing!!   Sunday, July 24 View Page Lost my 1692 Gehweiler this evening. 330 inches at day 40. Part of the game. It had a chance to be a good one.   Sunday, July 24 View Page Front view. She was wide   Sunday, July 24 View Page Top view. Circumference was 160 @ day 40. She was doing 39. 2 lbs average the last 10 days.   Saturday, July 30 View Page First entry. Nice mater but no record breakers here. Grown off Slammer seed.   Saturday, July 30 View Page Grown off 6.88 MacCoy. No new PB yet but got couple more that may get us there. Both plants were really great with no issues.   Tuesday, August 2 View Page 291 Kent moving a move. Not good at pics.   Tuesday, August 2 View Page 316 Edwards. Really liking these melons.   Sunday, August 7 View Page Megadom weight is 2.88 lbs.   Sunday, August 7 View Page 4.79 Terry came in today at 3.02 lbs. That makes 3 over 3 lbs and 1 just under. Not bad. Got a monster bloom on the Slammer plant. Hope it all takes.   Sunday, August 28 View Page Had a wonderful time in Cullman yesterday. Me with the 1337 (1916 Barron X 2230 Wallace). 15% Heavy   Sunday, August 28 View Page Dad and Jeremy with their 1136.   Sunday, August 28 View Page Here is my 236 lb melon. First year trying so I'm happy. Learned a lot from mistakes I made so excited about next season with these things.   Sunday, August 28 View Page Gracie, Leah and Briar checking out pumpkin at mom and dads today.   Sunday, August 28 View Page Briar riding melon like a horse.   Sunday, August 28 View Page Jeremy helping out yesterday at Cullman. Little hot!!   Sunday, August 28 View Page Rick and Toni's 1652. Very nice kin.   Monday, September 26 View Page Tomorrow is the day for my second slammer tomato. Weighed one from this same plant at 3.5 lbs earlier this year. Was about to pull plant when I saw a big mega bloom and plant was still in great shape so I decided to see what it would do. Glad I did!!   Thursday, September 29 View Page Loaded this evening for Saturday. Ballgame tomorrow.   Thursday, September 29 View Page I like this pic. Hope she goes heavy.   Saturday, October 1 View Page Dad with Remy and Briar and his second 250 lb melon this year at Allardt. Took 2nd place today.   Saturday, October 1 View Page Lucky enough to take first today at Allardt with 1472. Kids got to ride in parade!!   Saturday, October 1 View Page Kids waiting.   Saturday, October 1 View Page One of Briars favorite things right now......tractors. He was excited.   Saturday, October 1 View Page Leah holding the 5.24 Slammer tomato.   Sunday, October 2 View Page Sherri, Leah and myself just after on the scales. Really fun day. Weather was great.   Tuesday, November 1 View Page Seed harvest tonight. 1472 Terry pumpkin, watermelon 250 Terry and bushel gourd seed.   Tuesday, November 1 View Page Had to pay Leah to go in!! Remy was loving it but wouldn't go in.