Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 123 Entries. Wednesday, February 10 View Page My first entry for 2016, and a friend of mine keeps a horse, so plenty of free manure...if I go and pick it up(and shovel it into bags) myself! So this is what 11 bags of manure looks like in the back of my small car :)   Wednesday, February 10 View Page The weather recently has been EXTREMELY wet (and windy) so it's quite muddy down at my allotment, although that makes for soft digging as it isn't too cold. Those 11 bags of manure did NOT go too far covering a strip 3 ft x 19ft...I've still got a lot of prep work to do to make my plot bigger (and better) than last year.   Friday, February 26 View Page Friday at the Pinetops Nursery in Lymington, Hants, UK. The stage is set ready for a panel of experts.   Friday, February 26 View Page Last minute hanging of the flags.   Friday, February 26 View Page The GPC flag is up.   Friday, February 26 View Page Outside and tending to the hog roast.   Friday, February 26 View Page Friday afternoon and Andy Wolf (president) hosts a Q&A session with Messrs Meier, Wallace, and Ghaye. All 3 happily sharing their experience and expertise...and all 3 have totally different theories.   Friday, February 26 View Page Enjoying a guided tour of the nursery and THIS is the pumpkin patch of the Paton brothers.   Saturday, February 27 View Page I don't often make it to the South coast of England, so Saturday morning I drove the 5 miles down to Barton-on-Sea, just to see the sea.   Saturday, February 27 View Page I spotted Flat Norm listening to Beni Meier's presentation.   Saturday, February 27 View Page This panoramic picture DOESN'T do the size of this greenhouse justice!   Saturday, February 27 View Page Roast spit lamb ready to carve for Saturday's dinner.   Saturday, February 27 View Page Kasterlee (in Belgium) had their flags on display.   Saturday, February 27 View Page The Team Pumpkin flag too.   Saturday, February 27 View Page This is the seed that was sold for £1250!!   Sunday, February 28 View Page The group from Kasterlee in Belgium singing their pumpkin song following their presentation.   Thursday, April 28 View Page The British weather is not being kind to me! It has been very slow going trying to dig over my patch (by hand!)in between all the rain showers (read stormy with the occasional snow/hail shower!)...oh the joys of growing outdoors! This is a picture of where I plan to grow 2 plants. My main plant will have the front half and hopefully an orange one will be planted near the back and it's vines will be allowed to roam :D I have now started to dig a second patch...but it may be a race to keep ahead of the growth...so it's vines may have to be free range too.   Thursday, April 28 View Page So here is this year's line up, all 5 now currently soaking ready to be started off in the airing cupboard. I am later starting my seeds, but the overnight temps on 3 nights this week has been below 0 Celsius.   Saturday, April 30 View Page ...and they're off; after 36 hours in the airing cupboard...both 1395.5 Luders have germinated and so has the Daletas seed. All 3 potted up onto the Front Bedroom windowsill. No sign of life yet from the 1840 Ghaye.   Sunday, May 1 View Page ...and this morning after 48 hours...one 1840 Ghaye has germinated and has now been potted up and placed into the bottom of the airing cupboard.   Thursday, May 5 View Page The 1395.5 Luders is up and currently enjoying the sunshine on the windowsill.   Friday, May 6 View Page Started a back up seed today, the 538 Mu Se.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page The 1395 Luders looking like she will get the main planting spot on my allotment.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page 1395.5 Luders planted out today.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Planted out the 538 Mu.Se today. None of the plants are doing much at the moment due to the temperatures! My 1395 Luders suffered a horrific slug attack, so bad I refused to take a picture...both plants are now fully dosed with the slug pellets, but I'm not sure the 1395 will make it :-(   Sunday, June 5 View Page Surviving the slug attack (just!!), here is the 1395 Luders.   Sunday, June 5 View Page ..and here is the 538 MuSe. She looks happier than the 1395.   Friday, June 10 View Page Today's view of the half eaten 1395 Luders. Well I just gave away my back up plant so she had better make some progress.   Friday, June 10 View Page Here is today's view of the 538 MuSe. My best plant at the moment :-) (but still small by everybody else's standards!!! )   Friday, June 10 View Page I gave some Paton seeds to a neighbouring allotment holder (a bit of local competition/support) :-D Unfortunately they didn't germinate so I gave her my back up plant today which is VERY ready for coming out of that pot. The 1676 Daletas.   Tuesday, June 21 View Page 538 Mu.Se beginning to vine :-) Still small by everyone else's standards though.   Tuesday, June 21 View Page ...and the 1395 Luders...larger leaves but she is still thinking about which way to lay down her vine!!   Monday, June 27 View Page Hard to tell which way the main vine on the 1395 Luders wants to grow...I'm giving her room to do her own thing   Monday, June 27 View Page Fortunately the 538 Mu.Se is giving me no such trouble :-)   Wednesday, July 13 View Page So this was an open pollination on the 538 Mu.Se ~ if it takes...I was away celebrating my friend's 40th so wasn't around for the flower opening to be pollinated on the 9th of July. I would prefer a fruit a bit further down the vine, but I shall try and see which other fruits take before getting rid of this one.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page This is the 1395 Luders...I added in some pollen from a 1395 male flower...but if it takes it will technically be an open pollination as the flower was already open when I got there at 7 o'clock this morning!   Friday, July 15 View Page The 538 MuSe 7 DAP Open pollination...a nice yellow so shows some good orange potential :-)   Monday, July 18 View Page This is the 538 at 10 DAP...now under the shade of a sheet.   Monday, July 18 View Page I much prefer the position of this baby pumpkin on the 538 Mu.Se as it is further down the main vine...an open pollination at 2 DAP...family events away from home means I missed this one too!!!   Monday, July 18 View Page The first potential fruit on the 1395 Luders...at 5 DAP (open).   Monday, July 18 View Page This flower on the 1395 is in a much better position on the main vine...so I am hoping to catch it first thing tomorrow morning.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Inside the 1395...pollinated today with the 538.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page This flower was on the 538....so I pollinated using the 1395.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page The 1395 Luders plant.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page The first cull..The DAP 12 is now smaller than the DAP 4 so had to go; although the DAP 4 does seem uneven in shape...I hope to get another pollinated on this 538 Mu.Se plant to give me a choice.   Monday, July 25 View Page Obligatory patch visit for the visiting 10 year old niece...first day of her school holidays...so I put her to work.   Monday, July 25 View Page This is still the best fruit on the 1395 (DAP 12) ...just not very far along the main vine meaning that once it starts to grow accessibility will be an issue RIGHT in the middle of the plant! I'm hoping to set one further out but no luck so far!   Monday, July 25 View Page This is a DAP 9 on the 538, growing a really odd shape though...again; I am waiting to set a fruit further down the plant...which will hopefully have a better shape.   Tuesday, July 26 View Page Here is a possible DAP 2 (open polln) on a secondary on the 538...it looks like a more even shape...but everything on this plant seems to be bullet shaped :-)   Friday, July 29 View Page The 10 year old niece with the 538 Mu.Se...at DAP 13 I'm not sure if it seems to be growing out of it's shape. I shall name her Septuagesima as she was pollinated on my Mother's 70th birthday.   Friday, July 29 View Page ..and the 1395 Luders at DAP 16.   Sunday, July 31 View Page DAP 18 on the 1395 Luders. I managed to move her on to some fine sand and a board today...then after a bit of maneouvreing and pruning gave her a drink of (out of date) beer.....with the can left in the pic for a reference of size. Today she officially got measured and is on the bottom rung being 25 lbs.   Sunday, July 31 View Page At DAP 15 this is Septuagesima; my younger pumpkin on the 538 Mu.Se and she measured 96 inches today so isn't quite big enough to estimate a weight on. A totally different shape and I would have preferred a fruit further down the main vine but nothing else seems to be taking. Oh well, looks like this is it, she also got given 6 cans of beer....hic!   Monday, August 1 View Page So I measured Septuagesima today on the 538 Mu.Se and she grew :-) at DAP 16 she estimates at 25 lbs as she was 101 inches ....unfortunately my camera screen broke so the picture was very much aim, point and hope the pumpkin is in the picture.   Monday, August 1 View Page The 1395 at DAP 19 measuring 102 inches, which I make 26 lbs. The rest of my visit was spent watering and taking all the female flowers off the plant to prevent further fruits...I left the ones the size of lemons in case they suddenly start to grow quickly and turn into a good back up.   Friday, August 5 View Page 1395 at DAP23 measuring at 47 lbs. Doubling in size over the last 4 days...it has been raining.   Friday, August 5 View Page The best picture of my Septuagesima pumpkin as my camera is now broken so taking successful pictures is difficult. Looks like she will be a lovely orange, measuring 35 lbs on DAP20.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page The 538 at DAP 24. Measuring 67 lbs...which means bigger than my other when she was this age.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page The thing about a broken view screen means I sometimes zoom in too far...but end up with a GREAT photo like this of the 538 Mu.Se.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page 1395 Luders, DAP 24 measuring 86 lbs .   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Correction the 1395 is at DAP 26....   Thursday, August 11 View Page A picture of where the main vine is on the 1395..I've tried to loosen it today to make sure it's not pulling on pumpkin. Measuring 105 lb today.   Thursday, August 11 View Page The 538 Septuagesima, measuring at 75 lbs...hard to get a picture of the main vine with my broken camera..but I gave it some support today to raise it up.   Saturday, August 13 View Page My Big Girl on the 1395 Luders, DAP 31, measuring at 119lbs. a new PB for me :-D   Saturday, August 13 View Page Septuagesima makes 28 DAP today. 538 MuSe. 83lbs.   Monday, August 15 View Page DAP 33 on my 1395 and gaining 16 lbs in 2 days...slow for lot of growers but this is good for me. She measures 135 lbs.   Monday, August 15 View Page Septua is now DAP 30, measuring at 94 lb. Growing slightly unevenly.   Friday, August 19 View Page My Big Girl on DAP 37 at 181 lbs ~ 12st13 ~ 82 kg   Friday, August 19 View Page The smaller 538 MuSe known as Septua Pumpkin is on DAP 34 at 119 lbs ~ 8 1/2 st ~ 54kg.   Saturday, August 20 View Page A new milestone for me...my Big Girl on DAP 38 is today heavier than me...measuring 189 lb ~ 85kg.   Saturday, August 20 View Page The 538 is now 125lb, on DAP 35   Tuesday, August 23 View Page The 1395 Luders on DAP41 measuring at 208lb ~ 14 St 13 ~ 94 kg   Tuesday, August 23 View Page The 538 MuSe on DAP 38 142lb ~ 10st2 ~ 64kg. Slow but steady...slowing quicker than my Big Girl...but the plant looks like it is aging and is generally a smaller plant than the 1395.   Thursday, August 25 View Page The Big Girl on the 1395 Luders at DAP 43 226lb ~ 16 st 2 lb ~ 102kg.   Thursday, August 25 View Page Slower going on the 538 Mu.Se on DAP40 2 lbs gained in the last 2 days...lets hoping it's just my measuring technique!   Thursday, August 25 View Page ...and here's MatthewO with his baby Holub pumpkin in Essex. Glorious weather today and a lovely day out for me.   Friday, August 26 View Page DAP 41 on the 538 MuSe....and measuring up at 158 lbs ~ 11 Stone 4 ~ 71kg. Back on track with the measuring...who knows what I was doing yesterday!!!   Monday, August 29 View Page A first for me; trying to protect the fruit from getting too close to the vine...out comes the sponge.....1395 Luders on DAP 47 measuring at 265lb ~ 18st13 ~ 120kg   Monday, August 29 View Page The Septua pumpkin on the 538 plant is on DAP44 ~ 168lb ~ 12st ~ 76kg. Slowing down so this one will go to an earlier show...I'm not going to win any prizes..but this is still my best ever year :-)   Wednesday, August 31 View Page The 1395 Luders on DAP49 at 282lb ~ 20st2 ~ 127kg. 20 Stones up...another new milestone for me. She's doing over 9 lbs a day for the last week.   Wednesday, August 31 View Page The 538 MuSe on DAP46 at 178 lbs ~ 12st10 ~ 80kg. So this one is doing over 6lb a day for the last week.   Wednesday, September 7 View Page DAP 53 on the 538 MuSe, 207 lbs ~ 14St 7 ~ 93kg.   Wednesday, September 7 View Page The 1395 on DAP 56 at 307lbs ~ 21st11 ~ 139kg. However I think this is an 'undermeasurement' as I taped across the sunken 'dint'. I don't want to over measure her and then be disappointed when I get her onto the scales.   Sunday, September 11 View Page 538 MuSe Septua pumpkin on DAP57. Estimating at 220 lbs ~ 15 Stone 10 ~ 99kg   Sunday, September 11 View Page The 1395 Luders is on DAP60 measuring at 342 lbs ~ 24 St6 ~ 155kg. Now measuring too large to fit in my car.   Tuesday, September 13 View Page So on DAP 59 my 538 is measuring smaller than 2 days ago....I think I need to measure her more consistently.   Tuesday, September 13 View Page The 1395 on DAP63 estimating at 367lb ~ 26st3 ~ 166kg   Tuesday, September 13 View Page Correction the 1395 is on DAP 62   Saturday, September 17 View Page The 538 MuSe on DAP 63 229lb ~ 16st5 ~ 103kg. Still (slowly) growing.   Saturday, September 17 View Page My Big Girl from the 1395 Luders on DAP 66 371 lb ~ 26st7 ~ 168kg.   Tuesday, September 20 View Page This is the 1395on DAP 69 ~ 388lb ~ 27st10 ~176kg. I found the local slugs and snails enjoying themselves a little bit too much. On looking at the stem there is now a soft spot where one of the slugs was!!! Grrrr. Oh, and the following picture of my smaller pumpkin should be dated the 20th Sept!!   Thursday, September 22 View Page DAP66 on the 538 and my sister comes to visit the pumpkins.   Thursday, September 22 View Page Yesterday I returned to the patch armed with a sharp knife and the yellow sulphur! I gave the stem on the 1395 a good scrape around it's small soft spot...which was maybe a cm across...and then dusted liberally with the sulphur. Dusted the other pumpkin's stem too as conditions are now getting quite grey and dank down at my allotment! I also spread a LOT of slug pellets around as well!   Monday, September 26 View Page Today's picture of the 1395 and her skin is beginning to age.   Tuesday, September 27 View Page Todays' picture of both pumpkins together.   Tuesday, October 4 View Page Here's a picture of the stem of my smaller pumpkin, the 538 MuSe...hoping to take this one to Peterborough this Sunday.   Tuesday, October 4 View Page ...and the stem of the larger 1395 Luders. Hoping to get this one onto the scales on the 15th October. No measurements as we are away from home and my pumpkin sitters are kind enough to send me regular picture updates.   Wednesday, October 5 View Page My pumpkin sitters took their puppet (known as Brother James!!) to visit the patch today. Here with the 538 MuSe.   Wednesday, October 5 View Page Brother James with the 1395 Luders. Some people have too much time on their hands!!   Saturday, October 8 View Page Returning home from France at 8:30 pm. First priority (!!!!) is getting down to my allotment to load my smaller 538 Mu.Se pumpkin into the car ready for Peterborough show the next morning.   Saturday, October 8 View Page The lifting team. It took 3 of us and 2 torch bearers to load her.   Saturday, October 8 View Page My Inlaws acted as torch bearers. I was wondering if a neighbour might call the police to the allotment site as we were flashing the torches all over the place. My inlaws were also my pumpkin sitters whilst we were away from home...my Father inlaw decided to film the lift!!   Sunday, October 9 View Page Only 40 miles up the Motorway for me, many people had several more hours of travelling. I was driving very carefully to avoid any heavy breaking, but I arrived at 06:45am at the Peterborough Arena for the East of England (Agricultural Society) Autumn Food and Country Fair ...the team were all there ready to help unload and weigh. With many thanks to Clive.   Sunday, October 9 View Page Officially weighed in at 125.6 kg ~ 278 lbs ~ 19 Stone 10. The (F) 538 Mu.Se x (M) 1395.5 Lüders.   Sunday, October 9 View Page The room with giant pumpkins and some of the other giant vegetables.   Sunday, October 9 View Page My 278 in the foreground in fourth place. The winning pumpkin was the orange one in the middle grown by Tim Saint at 388 lbs.   Sunday, October 9 View Page Here are the pumpkins from the back.   Sunday, October 9 View Page Here I am with the 278 Croot '16. A new PB for me.   Saturday, October 15 View Page The day of the show. I decided to take her to Pirton, a small village show approximately 8 miles from me. The other option would have been York, about 160 miles from me.   Saturday, October 15 View Page We rolled her onto the tarpaulin.   Saturday, October 15 View Page ...and this is what we found underneath her. She may not be as heavy as I hoped.   Saturday, October 15 View Page 4 people on each corner of the pallet.   Saturday, October 15 View Page (Slowly) wheeling her downhill towards the car park.   Saturday, October 15 View Page Loading her into a friend's van using the allotment shop's fork lift.   Saturday, October 15 View Page Not so easy unloading without a fork lift!!   Saturday, October 15 View Page Using the tarpaulin to go inside.   Saturday, October 15 View Page ...and onto the scales.   Saturday, October 15 View Page Posing for a quick photo...otherwise known as trying to hide behind the pumpkin.   Saturday, October 15 View Page Then Fred arrived with his pumpkin. Hovering while 7 of us carefully unload.   Saturday, October 15 View Page I think this is his PB of 45 years...and maybe even breaking this competition's record. Pirton have had a show for 52 years. He weighed in at 635 lbs ~ 45 Stones 5 ~ 285 kg.   Saturday, October 15 View Page A pumpkin child sitting on the pumpkins.   Saturday, October 15 View Page 407 Croot (2016) 1395.5 Luders x open. She actually came up 6% light, not surprising when we saw underneath her.   Monday, October 31 View Page Started to dig over the main patch ready for winter. Green manure sown, crimson clover, alfalfa and caliente mustard.