Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 38 Entries. Thursday, February 18 View Page This will be my second year of trying to grow a big one so we will see how it goes with a 853.5 Nieuwenhoff, 1381 Tingley and a 1734 Clementz which will be arriving in early March!!!   Sunday, February 21 View Page After 3 weeks of cold treatment in the freezer the 925's are germinating pretty good in the greenhouses at K-State.   Thursday, February 25 View Page The sun shades arrived this morning, I guess we will have to see how they hold up to the northwest kansas wind and hail.   Tuesday, March 1 View Page Hey everyone, I was just looking for some advice from growers that have grown giant pumpkins in hotter more arid environments such as western Kansas. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips to keeping these plants cool as they can get stressed out easily since they are normally grown in cooler climates in the north, Thanks!!!   Friday, March 4 View Page Nothing like taking a little compaction out with the ripper.   Sunday, March 6 View Page Guess will have to see how she works this summer.   Sunday, March 13 View Page Soil Test is back, looks like we will have to add some sulfur to decrease the pH and add a little nitrogen.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page Draft for the sunshade support system, dots are T-post and the lines are support rope.   Thursday, March 17 View Page The holes are dug for the giant pumpkins, this one measured 3 foot across and 3 feet deep. It took 25 gallons of manure and around 150 gallons of top soil to fill it back up!!   Thursday, March 17 View Page The patch is measured and marked at this point, 20 pounds of elemental sulfur and 2 pounds of urea have been added to each plant space (25'x25'). This should decrease the pH and add a little N to help break down all the corn residue from last year. At the end of the day everything was tilled in.   Friday, March 25 View Page Here is the vine placement that I am thinking about this year.   Friday, April 8 View Page Decided to go ahead and get things started so I can be around to help them get out of their seed coats. I will be on a soil judging trip starting the middle of next week but they should be up before I leave.   Tuesday, April 12 View Page The 1734 Clementz was just starting to show this morning, can't wait to get the season started!!   Monday, April 18 View Page The pumpkins had a slightly rough start due to heat but their second true leaves are looking good so I think they will be just fine.   Tuesday, April 19 View Page Here is one of the 925's that came from the pumpkin I grew last year. It looks like this one could be the plant for my third and final plant that I will be growing this year.   Friday, April 22 View Page The pumpkins are ready for the trip home to be transplanted!   Friday, April 29 View Page The pumpkins were transplanted this past weekend but I wasn't able to take any pictures but here is a 1381 Tingley that I am sending to northeast Kansas.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page The pumpkins are slowly getting started this year, I put a light in with the 1734 and the 853 to warm them up. Hopefully things will warm up soon!!   Monday, May 23 View Page Here are the 925's as of this morning. They are just starting to vine out and are a little behind the 1734 and a head of the 853. The 853 will take the place of the 2185 that has issues developing its leaves.   Tuesday, May 24 View Page The 1734 is just starting to vine out. The root system isn't quite big enough to support the plant due to the cold conditions so the leaves are still showing some deficiencies. Overall I think they will out grow it this week with the warmer temperatures.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Here is the 1734, I can tell it needs to develop its roots better because of the yellow leaves, but i'm sure it will come out of it just fine.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Here is the 853. It definitely surprised me at how fast it caught back up as its just starting to set out the main vine.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Here are the 925 twins. They are definelty trucking along the fastest and its going to be a hard decision on which to keep.   Friday, May 27 View Page Overview of the patch, hopefully the bales will provide enough protection from the Kansas winds.   Wednesday, June 1 View Page An unexpected storm came through a couple days ago while I was gone and damaged some of the plants. Both the 925's have damaged main vines and the 1734 has a decent number of leaves busted off of it. I guess we will see how the summer progresses from here.   Sunday, June 5 View Page Was able to get the sunshade put up on the 1734 today. The plants are starting to take off and I am working on training a secondary on the 925 to be the new main vine. Also the 853 couldn't handle the harsh weather and will be replaced with sweet corn.   Monday, June 6 View Page Heres the 1734 as of this morning, it has mostly recovered from the wind storm.   Monday, June 6 View Page Heres the 1734 as of this morning, it has mostly recovered from the wind storm.   Monday, June 6 View Page 925 this morning, I think its my healthiest plant even with the main vine broke.   Friday, June 10 View Page 1734 as of this afternoon, the spare 853 is at the bottom of the picture. I will probably let it grow a little so I can get flowers off of it to pollinate the 1734 since the other plant didn't turn out. The tubs are there for wind protection.   Friday, June 10 View Page 925 is slowly gettimg going, the replacement main vine is doing well and has small vines getting ready to shoot off of it. It doesn't look to shabby for being 100 degrees out!!   Friday, June 17 View Page 1734 yesterday morning, the main vine is close to 8 feet now.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 925 yesterday morning, it seems to be doing alright with its replacement main vine.   Sunday, June 19 View Page The 1734 is putting out one heck of a root system!!   Sunday, June 26 View Page The 1734 is looking good and will have its first female flower open up on the main vine tomorrow.   Monday, June 27 View Page Female flower opens up on the 1734 today and was around 6-7 inches in diameter. It was pollinated with the 853, I will pollinate the next one down the line and pick the best   Monday, July 4 View Page 1734 is doing well, the fruit is just starting to take off, hope it does not abort. The 925 was pollinated 2 days ago and looks like its doing well   Thursday, July 14 View Page DAP 17 and its estimated a little over 40 pounds.