Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 54 Entries. Saturday, January 23 View Page View of the patch after the first tilling with my new TroyBilt Pony. Still getting accustomed to a tiller that tries to run away from me. Finally accomplishing the winterizing that I had intended for this past November.   Wednesday, February 17 View Page Our younger garden model finishes the new location for the 150 contest for 2016.   Wednesday, February 17 View Page Our elder garden model places orange flags to visualize delineations between plants, based on her blueprint.   Saturday, March 19 View Page Soil analysis from Western. Thoughts?   Saturday, March 19 View Page Soil recommendations from Western.   Saturday, March 19 View Page Well, here it is...   Friday, April 15 View Page Spread about five yards of 100% compost on the 1500 square feet on the west side of the drainage channel (yes, the dark stuff). Planning to order another five yards to finish out the other pumpkin plot in the foreground, as well as enriching a patch for field pumpkins on the other side of the property.   Sunday, April 24 View Page First two melons are up. Poked a bit in the peat pots, and found the 1734 Clementz should break soil within 24 hours. After six days, the 1912 Carter has not put down a root. It doesn't appear to be waterlogged, so I'll give it a few more days.   Saturday, April 30 View Page Oh, no! I missed the deadline! However will I cope with missing an opportunity to win almost nothing?   Friday, May 6 View Page 1734.5 Clementz is the first to go in the ground. Our elder patch model approves!   Friday, May 6 View Page Distant view of 1734.5 Clementz on planting day. Fill up that patch, baby!   Sunday, May 8 View Page Our elder patch model poses with one of two newly planted 302 Kent melons.   Sunday, May 8 View Page No patch models available for the other 302 Kent, but here it is.   Sunday, May 8 View Page Distant view of both 302 Kent (left and center), and 1734.5 Clementz (right). Two more melon plants will make the cut for the foreground, and one more pumpkin will be to the right of this photo.   Sunday, May 22 View Page Need to hit this 1734 Clementz with some Epsom salts. Amended the soil per recommendations of Western Labs and cntryboy, but I guess this one spot didn't receive the proper dosage. The rest of my plants nearby look great.   Sunday, May 22 View Page One of two 302 Kent melons. Looking great thus far, and we finally have some SUN and HEAT to make it blast off.   Sunday, May 22 View Page The other 302 Kent melon. Around here, we always have hail/wind helmets and a brick at the ready!   Thursday, June 9 View Page On a positive note, this is a 1734 Clementz, which is doing very well. Soil is balanced, and the white powder you see is Bonide Eight, to help control the squash bugs. First female showed itself today, but it's probably too early.   Thursday, June 9 View Page On a disastrous note, this is my other 1734 Clementz, which I pulled up just after taking this pic. Is this YVD, bacterial wilt, or something else? Please reply if you know. This plant had yellow vines for its entire life, but I assumed it was genetic.   Thursday, June 9 View Page On another positive note, here is my better of the 302 Kent melons. Haven't bothered to look for blooms yet.   Thursday, June 9 View Page Here is the other 302 Kent.   Saturday, June 11 View Page First female on one of my two 302 Kent plants. Didn't catch it until this afternoon, so we'll see what happens.   Sunday, June 12 View Page The remaining 1734 Clementz is moving along nicely, and has that "Crayola Green" thing going on. Two females in the past three days, but vine only out to eight feet. Will wait about a week to see what we have.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Managed to get the 40% shade tents up this evening, just in time for a string of days with highs of 95-97. 1734 Clementz displayed zero drooping today, even in full sun, and a high of 91.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Caught two patch spies eyeing my 1734 Clementz today. Maybe I need a better fence...   Thursday, June 23 View Page First prospect on the 1734 Clementz. Only 10 feet out on the main, but I feel obligated to pollinate it in the morning. Main is out to 15 feet, with two more females after this one. Overall, secondaries included, this plant is showing seven females at an acceptable distance at the moment.   Sunday, June 26 View Page The stump on the 1734 Clementz. Didn't realize the size until I placed the stump cover over it this evening.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Used some half pool noodles and some baling wire to add stability to the giant sunflowers.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Improv wind fence (6 mil) with a few gaps and holes for ventilation.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Keeping my 13-footer on the main of the 1734 Clementz shielded from rain, in prep for a morning pollination.   Wednesday, June 29 View Page At 15 feet on the main of the 1734 Clementz lies this lovely four-lober. Will pollinate the next two on the main before choosing a keeper.   Friday, July 1 View Page Not entirely content with the shape of the blossom end of this 302 Kent, but I'll allow it to keep growing. Seems to be filling out a bit in the blossom end. I don't have a DAP on this one, but the OTT on the past three 24-hour increments has been 68, 73, 80.   Monday, July 4 View Page Not sure of DAP, but this 302 Kent is on the chart now at 93 OTT, or about 30 pounds.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page A questionable start on the other 302 Kent has received a little boost as I watch it for a few days. Waiting to see if it fills out.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page At DAP 9, I'm finally confident enough in this 1734 Clementz to begin making diary entries. It will be receiving the proper setup later this week.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page At 120 OTT (DAP unknown), this 302 Kent is not growing as quickly as I would prefer, but it's still pretty. Moving along at about 3.5 pounds per day.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page Oh, you poor souls in the north who are enduring three or four days in the 90s.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page My keeper from the #2 302 Kent is in the foreground, and the previously featured melon is under the white tent in the background.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page Our elder garden model, who couldn't keep her eyes open, stands in front of a sunflower that has reached 10 feet, 7 inches, and still is growing.   Friday, July 15 View Page Successful transfer of 1734.5 Clementz to an oversize pallet. Just need to add some pool sand beneath, and some opaque shade on the 40% shade above it. DAP 12.   Friday, July 15 View Page Stem cracks on the 1734.5 Clementz. Treating them with peroxide, and hoping they don't prove fatal.   Sunday, July 17 View Page Pumpkin on pallet aborted. Going with these two pollinations under the styrofoam coolers, with frozen water bottles. My last-ditch effort at having something for Republic or Pawnee City.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page DAP 3 on the seventh secondary of the 1734.5. Looking big for DAP 3. Just needs NOT to abort.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Look who drew the short straw as Night Watchman on 302 Kent #1 !   Friday, July 22 View Page Don't abort this time, please.   Friday, July 22 View Page 257 Boyette looking pretty.   Friday, July 22 View Page   Saturday, July 23 View Page Some semi-generic sunflowers growing up to 11 feet. Started with some decent soil, but have fed them only with water.   Wednesday, July 27 View Page 302 Kent #1 is closing in on 100 pounds. Zachary is pushing 45.   Wednesday, July 27 View Page Lost another prospect on the 1734.5 Clementz today. This one really hurt, as it was in a great place both on the plant, and for eventual retrieval. Only two viable starts remaining that have a chance at making it to Republic or Pawnee City.   Sunday, July 31 View Page 99 OTT and DAP 16 on the 1734.5 Clementz. Going to wait one more day before going "whole hog" with setting it up. This plant has burned me twice already.   Wednesday, August 10 View Page Does this cow make my melon look big?   Sunday, August 14 View Page This apparent fungus (based on online research) has been spreading rapidly on all four of my melon plants. The evening light doesn't do justice to the yellow appearance seen in person. Just hit it with some Eagle 20. Seven days ago, there was no sign of this, as all plants were Green Machines.   Sunday, August 14 View Page Another pic of the condition.