Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 19 Entries. Sunday, January 10 View Page Happy New Year to everyone. I had a job only 5 mins away from Rondriso farms in surrey. I stopped in and couldn't turn down a load of manure. So in my t-shirt on a glorious Jan Vancouver Sunday, out came the soil, in went the manure. Aside from the stem, last years pumpkin was completely composted, leaves about 50% composted. Good luck to all the growers in 2016!   Monday, March 7 View Page Proper growing light this year, check. Next project is the watering system. Kids are pumped, I am pumped, and my fiance is bracing herself!   Sunday, April 17 View Page 2016 pre-season set-back: the manure i put in early this year failed to break down. too much moisture. Lesson: be mindful of manure saturation during the rainy season. also means i will need to bring in some more garden blend for my vegetable garden, as i intended to use some of the cow compost there. Remedy: i got half a yard of unsaturated horse manure (yo,yo, south land farms!) and layered it with the clumpy soaked cow manure (meticulously breaking clumps apart), powdered egg shells & molasses. back in the pit it goes about 20" base, then the soil can go back on top This dryer and fluffier manure mix should cook up a beautiful hot bed.   Sunday, April 17 View Page A volunteer squash of some type coming out of the flower pot. It will quickly learn the value of vancouver real estate, especially with it's atlantic neighbor!   Sunday, April 17 View Page so the manure is in. a pierced hose on top so i have the option of watering deep. soon to have 18-20" of soil back on top. The 2x4's serve 2 purposes. 1- hold the cold frame up. 2 - when pulled out, i can train the secondaries to travel 3' down the hollow cavity, obtaining super deep root growth. Also, you'll notice the plywood divide on the left. This one cubic yard cavity will be home to the second plant this year. it will run along the property line, having 12" max secondaries. On far left is a mud cake decorated with blue bell candles!   Tuesday, April 26 View Page Round one, there they are, thanx Scott. Planted 2 and will cull the the slacker. The left was up and out 2 days before the one on the right. Righty boy has some catching up to do.   Thursday, May 5 View Page harden off = eaten off! i have been putting this guy outside during the day to harden off and something had it's way with the seed leaves and put a hole in the first true leaf. any guesses as to the culprit so i can take some offence? perhaps the 1040 chan will be the main keeper?   Monday, May 9 View Page Transplanted #2 today - 1040chan. a little early with no hardening off, but thems the breaks when the plan is to leave tonight for a 2 week cabin retreat. Covered both plants with remay with intentions of keeping them warmer at night(s) and the critters off. warm nightly wishes. Bringing 2 of my backups to the cabin. Will be planted in the compost pile and let nature run its coarse.   Sunday, June 12 View Page My two little helpers yanking the garlic (far right) a little prematurely to allow the roots of the 1427 carley to forge ahead. A few leaves suffered some damage and twisting as it out grew they remay when i was on vacation middle of may. On far left is the 1040 chan which seems to be going for it as well. No females yet. I am holding back on water. sprayed for aphids 4 days ago when they showed up   Sunday, July 10 View Page I sures hells hopes this entry doesn't produce that error code!!!!!!!! Summary of the last 3 entries which i couldn't get to post. June 22, critter ate the lead off the 1040 chan, an inch in front of the 1st female flower on both plants. it was open pollinated on june 30th. Strong secondaries are jostling for the new lead. The Carley pollinated first female on the 9th in the rain, 9' out. don't know if one should pollinate in the rain? time will tell. another one showing up around 12' out. Terminated the first secondary on the 9th as well. Dear diary; please, please, please, please, post this entry and eternally keep your error codes for pumpkin haters   Wednesday, July 20 View Page My 5 year old pollinated with aposing plants two females today while at work. Carley, on the right is in prime position. Terminated most secondaries and trained into earth buckets. The 1st pollinated on the chan is about basketball size, it is tucked behind the far left bucket. Aphids, please leave.   Monday, July 25 View Page 100 even!!!! ott, 25 DAP   Wednesday, July 27 View Page 117 Ott. 14lbs in two days! Looks like the chan is enjoying the hot weather. I cut it all back and that is the only one growing on that plant.   Monday, August 1 View Page 141ott, chan. Big one back left. Culled the one in the foreground cause he was off the carley secondary. The 2 hopefuls on the right got till Friday before there will be one. A bit late in the season to be deciding but gotta give the last guy a shot. He seems to be coming on strong.   Friday, August 12 View Page Happy 40th to myself??????. Chan is at 167ott. The carley has first confirmed pumpkin (in foreground) what a ride trying to get one to take. 99 0tt. It has great shape. Having some fun training the vines. Accidentally cut the back one growing up the wall as I was trimming the dead leaves. Ahhhhh the lessons. Speaking of lessons, very challenging to train the vine to go downwards - nylons for next year.   Saturday, August 20 View Page Cancel that confirmed pollination on the Carly. Final pumpkin aborted about 19 to 21 DAP, 117OTT. Uncertain of dates because was on the coast all last week. Heartbroken. It had awesome shape and vigor. Thankfully I used Richmond Dave's seed for backup. The 10:40 is slowly gaining. Don't think will beat my personal best. It only has four square feet of soil and very little salad. Lessons: culled other pumpkins too early, and used unproven seed for main plant, to big of a gamble.   Tuesday, August 23 View Page This is the plywood barrier. I removed it so the roots can spread even though it's late late late late in the game. 177 Ott 4.5 square feet of rootable soil and 55 square feet of green and about 2 hours of sunlight/ day. I ain't got nothing to loose.   Tuesday, August 23 View Page What was behind door number 2.   Thursday, October 13 View Page 163 pounds unofficially weighed bathroom scale. Unfortunately I had to retreat during the weigh off couldn't make it. This one has a beautiful color. Always learning and will apply next year.