Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 21 Entries. Monday, April 11 View Page Just setting up my diary to participate this year   Monday, April 18 View Page I will start the germination today for the 150 patch. I will use the 1518 Kline DMG 1985 Miller x 2009 Wallace and use the same for a backup. Let's see what happens.   Monday, April 18 View Page I'm with Linus Van Pelt on the BigNOrange. I'll also throw in the 1750 Martin and the 1143 Engel, 1533 Haist, and several others from the 359 Foss strain. Thanks Iowegian you'll be in there and the Wiz.Good Luck out there with Big N Orange. T   Thursday, April 21 View Page 1518 popped this morning. 60 hrs? Must have done sumthin' rite.   Friday, April 22 View Page Started 1912 Carter today, hope I have better luck than Linus with it. Also started 1750 Martin, hopefully we'll have somethin' for BigNOrange   Monday, April 25 View Page Agteacher fired me up today. Got my bubble and found a hidden monster...312 House..1317 Clementzx359Foss. Filed an soaking as we speak. BigNOrange Mix. The 1750 Martin popped today..again 60 hrs.. It looks like the 1920 Martin is right behind, scary cause the seed was cracked. We'll See. The" House" collection looks great..commercial patch for some ...BigNOrange for others. Thanks Joe.   Wednesday, April 27 View Page The 1920 didn't pop..pulled it and wrapped in moist paper towel yesterday, 100% germ on everything else. 1920 was cracked point to crown both sides? Still haven't given up hope. 20 Big N Orange all germinated. My 1518 might go the the BIG PATCH and the backup will go to the 150 Patch. Already 10" Cots and transplanted after a week with roots everywhere (2 quart container to start) I guess I need to update and buy a smartphone. The Hick From Hadley, T   Saturday, April 30 View Page Tyler with last years pumpkin. Wait till this year.   Saturday, June 25 View Page I had a great learning experience this spring with Mother Nature. More heat needed when it hits the low 20's. Don't ever believe the weatherman, although I should know this after having my own Stamped Concrete Business for 35 years. Then Low 40's forecast and I had 30..got to love the Adironandacks. Still had low 30's last week and frost ten miles north. Cut worms can still chew thru a good size plant. Crows like to pull young plants and turkeys shred the leaves and dig around the root system and plants hit with frost are stunted That being said things are looking good now with a late start. I am skipping the 150 sq ft area and sticking with my BigNOrange. The 1912 Carter, 1295 Ansems and 681 Dill McDonald are all doing well with the 681 HD 1374 Engel X 1561 Reeb doing the best. Vines growing 6 inches a day. I have about 50 other AG,s that I will keep an eye on and see if somebody takes off. Veggie garden and field pumpkins all looking good. About 4000 plants going. So much for retirement.   Monday, July 11 View Page This 681 Dill McDonald HD 1374 Engel X 1561 Reeb is by far my most aggressive plant. The first secondary is almost as big as the main vine. Had to wrap the other side secondary around behind the plant and out the other side. Every secondary has fruit, some 2 or 3. I've already culled 3 off the main and started keeping them at 10' out. This plant didn't see dirt until June first. Will be pollinating later this week. Probably will self it or pollinate with my 1912 Carter. Will be using this to pollinate my 1912. Nice red/orange color on the 1561 and the Engel Orange speaks for itself.   Monday, July 11 View Page The 1912 Carter 1750 Martin selfed will be pollinated today or tomorrow. Again an early June planting. Three fruit on main starting at 9'.   Monday, July 11 View Page Last but not least great Orange...504 House..840 Young X 811 Gerhardt. Planted as a backup in the 150 patch.. The 1518 Kline didn't like the low 20's. Was supposed to run the other way but ran it under the fence into main garden and I abandoned the 150 patch. Fruit set at 8' waiting for more fruit. Will start pollinating soon. Thanks for the seeds Joe!! Also want to thank Tracy for the backup seeds on the 1912. Without them I wouldn't have this one going.   Monday, July 11 View Page Might as well throw in veggie patch and 400 tomatoes to the right which you can't see.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page Finished today with pollinations on BigNOrange. Selfed 3 kins on the main vine of the 861 and tried to pollinate a secondary with the 1912 Carter but the bees are pretty fast so it's open and tried another secondary with the 1374 Engel and found later in the day the blossom split and a bee came out so another open but should be good to go with 3 on the main. Pollinated the 1912 with the 681. Pollinated 823 House 811 Gerhardt X 359 Foss with the 1912. Waiting on the 1374 Engel..should be ready in a few days. Waiting on fruit for the 504 House 840 Young X 811 Gerhardt. 15' of vine and no fruit.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Tyler a year older and the kin 2 months younger!!   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Definite destinction between ORANGE and Big.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Is there a category for UGLY! Sorry Joe but it's your 504 House. Doing great and great genetics. Your 823 is bell shaped. Also doing well..crossed it with the 1912 Carter?? More to come soon..   Thursday, September 1 View Page Tyler happier than ever...me to!! 400 lbs on a secondary and a nice looker. 681 Dill McDonald X Open...pollinated with 1374 Engel and found later in the day that the blossom expanded big time after It was tied shut and split the blossom and a bee came out when I was there..covered other pollinations with a styrafoam cup after tying off. Awful problem with aborts on mains at my patch. 1912 aborted on every kin and 681 had a nice start on main and aborted..full of seeds..then the secondary grew like crazy. Blew a couple apart with to much water and the 681 greww bigtime after a lot of rain and was happy with progress for my first year. Plant looks extremely healthy and has slowed growth wise. Looking forward to next year with some of these seeds.   Thursday, September 1 View Page The House 504 taking on some character and weight. Not as ugly and looking pretty good. Lots of compliments. Just over 200 lbs est.   Monday, September 5 View Page Think I found out why the 681 slowed down. Found out a late bloomer was attached on a secondary..guessing around a 100 lbs. Cut the secondary near the main. It was the first secondary and about 25' long. Got over into the 504 and was hiding. Hope the 681 picks up. Want to reach 500 lbs.   Wednesday, September 14 View Page 681 Still growing at 5 lbs a day. The low 40's for the past three weeks has slowed growth considerably. Will be close to freezing for next couple days. 435 lbs as of yesterday. Hope to be near 500 for the weighoff. Not bad for a secondary and only fed it water all year.