Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 187 Entries. Sunday, January 1 View Page Be Happy... don't worry... its 2017. The Frozen Tundra of my pumpkin patch awaits the warmth of April for another year of growing. I'm bored...The off season is sooo long.   Friday, March 17 View Page Hangin' with Matt and Jim Debacco and Mike Fleming at Niagara Falls during a break from the seminar   Sunday, March 26 View Page Green House are up. Solar heating the planting area's. Two more weeks   Sunday, March 26 View Page Inside each greenhouse the soil is warm and there's a 3 ft diameter x 2 ft deep planting hole. I hope this hole helps to worm the soil deep down. Tilled under the winter rye cover crop already.   Saturday, April 1 View Page I'm starting to warm up the Soil/Peat mixture with Pumpkin pro/Azos in 1 gallon pots. Will plant the seeds in a week or so.   Saturday, April 1 View Page APRIL and its still snowing. Warm weather is hopefully around the corner   Sunday, April 2 View Page What a difference 1 day makes. Sunny and near 60F at the SNGPG Seminar   Sunday, April 2 View Page Thanks to our Sponsers, WOW, Neptune's Harvest, Don Langevin, Davidson Industries, The Flemings, and a few others we were able to give away a lot of Door Prizes to the 60 or so that showed up today.   Sunday, April 2 View Page Growers from all the local clubs were there today   Sunday, April 2 View Page Ronnie was doing a brisk business today at the WOW Van.   Sunday, April 2 View Page Multiple pallets of the good stuff was bought by the growers today.   Sunday, April 2 View Page Even the SNGPG Club Mascot was at the Seminar today.   Sunday, April 2 View Page It was good to see everyone, This is about 1/2 of the growers. Nice presentations by Gene Lariviere, Ron Wallace, Alex Noel, and I got a chance to talk about last year too.   Monday, April 3 View Page 2 days of heavy Rain coming up , so I temporarily removed the 6ftx 10ft greenhouses and spread out some Worm Castings., Kelp and ProMix, around each planting hole. Will till it in in a couple days   Sunday, April 9 View Page Grow lights are set up. What a lumen difference between the T5 Badboy grow-lights below, and the T8 grow-light bulbs above   Tuesday, April 11 View Page Filling the Pots with soil and some worm castings and Planting 10 pumpkins this evening   Saturday, April 15 View Page 3 plants popped this morning. Lots more cracking the soil and still in the incubator.   Monday, April 17 View Page Thanks Pap! I love the new Bird House.   Monday, April 17 View Page Almost Ready. Tilled the garden again added some mollasas and epsom salts Got my Soil test results back today. The new soil added last fall appears dialed in...But Calcium should be 1000-1500ppm, and its 3602ppm. Magnesium should be 50-120ppm and its at 867 ppm. Not too worried All that magnesium should really strengthen the cell walls of the Pumpkin and Vines so the plant can receive essential nutrients.   Thursday, April 20 View Page True Leafs are starting to show on the Pumpkins. Way to cold to plant outside today to plant. Maybe this coming Sunday will be planting day.   Thursday, April 20 View Page More plants are up. The 279.5 English and 200 Larivierre Bushel Gourd broke through the soil last night. Got some very Orange potential Gansert seeds up too.   Saturday, April 22 View Page The Plants are starting to outgrow their pots. I might move some out to the patch in the heated green houses tomorrow.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Finally!! Its planting day, as the 1944 Connolly hits dirt. Outside its 60F. I closed up the green house and it rose to 85F inside. Each plant was given a diluted drench of Humate, Azos, Root Shield, Pumpkin Pro, Neptunes Fish, Epsom Salts (magesium) and molassas.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Bottoms Up. The 2066 Geddes was tapped out of the pot upside down, but is now safely planted.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Getting the planting hole ready for the 2157 Paton. Next plant will be the 2307 Wallace   Sunday, April 23 View Page All tucked in for their first night out. Here come the electric bills for overnight heating   Thursday, April 27 View Page You are what you eat. The 2261.5 Wallace (on right) was fed a little too much nitrogen and the leaves turned a blue-ish color.   Saturday, April 29 View Page The wind was really bad today. But inside the anchored down green houses all is well.   Saturday, April 29 View Page These Giant Bushel Gourds and Pumpkins are getting used to the elements before planting in the other garden at Clover Valley Farm. I gave away a few other plants to some growers in need from Foxboro, MA that stopped by today.   Saturday, April 29 View Page My T5's have caught the attention of the neighbors. They want to know what I'm growing and if I'm under the 6 plant limit in Massachusetts. Yes I am!   Tuesday, May 2 View Page Here is the line up in Garden# 1.   Saturday, May 6 View Page 279.5 English and 200 Lariviere, Giant Bushel Gourds were planted today. These plants grow slower than the Pumpkins   Saturday, May 6 View Page My 1944.5 was lost because one of my heaters kicked out and the Frost got it. Thanks to Ron I'm back in business. He and Pap had a spare 1944.5 Connolly for me. Thanks Ron and Pap!!   Saturday, May 6 View Page I got to help Ron Wallace plant some of his pumpkins this morning. A 2145 McMullen and 2261 Wallace. It was an honor to help out the MAN.   Monday, May 8 View Page Its going to be in the 30's for the next 3-4 nights. These Quanset huts will pay off with dividends these cold evenings   Monday, May 8 View Page All tucked in. Nice and warm. See you in the morning....   Monday, May 8 View Page Its 29F outside. I have a Quanset hut inside my Quanset hut, and the thermometer says its 65F inside the inner one.   Saturday, May 13 View Page This is cool. I bought a sensor called SensorPush on Amazon. Downloaded the App, synced it up with my cell and now I can monitor the temps inside each of my Green Houses, Shown is a reading from in greenhouse #1 with the 2075.5 plant. And it has a high/low audio alert, for too temps to low or too high, like on a cold night if the heaters don't work.   Sunday, May 14 View Page 4 Pumpkins and a Bushel Gourd. Definitely not liking this weather. In the 40's and rain today. Every night last week was 38F-43F. Its cold outside. Plant leaves even have some powdery mildew...   Monday, May 15 View Page Touch Down! Finally.... they are all down and running.   Tuesday, May 16 View Page All the plants are tucked in for the night. Survived the 1st day (upper 80's) of the 3 day heat wave. Gonna be in the 90's tomorrow. Another tough day for thew plants. Will give the thena good watering in the morning.   Thursday, May 18 View Page Guttation is a great thing. The leaves on my 2075's were bleeding off too much of a good thing this morning. I Over-watered them last night. My 1944.5 and 1975 Wallace did not exhibit this, cause I did not water them last night.   Thursday, May 18 View Page Its going to be 100F today and looking at the 1944.5. These young plants with their shallow root systems may not survive that heat, So I clamped sheets in place to shade them from about 10am to 4pm. Both ends of the hoop houses are wide open. Will mist them at noon too.   Friday, May 19 View Page Nice! Got a pumpkin showing. 4ft out on the main on the 2075.5-2. Looks like a keeper to me!!   Saturday, May 20 View Page Drove over to Connecticut to visit Gene Lariviere today. He has the coolest Mastiff Puppy's. Gene Had an extra (200 Lariviere) Giant Bushel Gourd plant, which I desperately needed. They hit dirt in Sharon Mass, 1 hour after I got them.   Saturday, May 20 View Page Planted both of the 200 Lariviere Bushel Gourds this morning. Nancy is preparing the patch.   Sunday, May 21 View Page Putting some WOW Super Starter Paks in the soil near my 200 Lariviere Giant Bushel Gourds.   Sunday, May 21 View Page Loading the roots of the 1944.5 Connolly up with some High Octane WOW Super Starter Paks   Tuesday, May 23 View Page This is the 1944.5 plant. The mains on all my plants are about 7 ft. Side vines are starting to take off too.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page One of my 2075 plants is outgrowing its 8 ft green house...   Tuesday, May 23 View Page ...So I improvised and built a 10 ft green houses. cause a couple more cold days are coming, then I can be rid of these cages for the summer   Friday, May 26 View Page Weather has been terrible. In the 40's, with Rain and cloudy. Plants are still growing at a decent pace inspite of the weather, while in the mini heated greenhouses. But the lack of UV is not good.   Friday, May 26 View Page Cold and wet. Nothing to do in the garden today so I decided to do some plumbing and join my water tanks. Scott Marley would be proud of my efforts.   Friday, May 26 View Page Finished connecting two 300 Gallon Pumpkin water retention tanks together. Now I got to check for leaks   Friday, May 26 View Page Done! Thanks for the 2nd tank Mike Fleming. Now I can collect 600 gallons of rain water from our Drain Spouts. Mother Nature has foresaken us with the cold weather up here in New England. But all the rain water I can collect makes it not so bad.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Wow whats all this bright stuff. Have not seen the Sun for a week. The pumpkin plants and Bushel Gourd plants sure need it.   Saturday, May 27 View Page The 1975 Wallace, which Ronnie gave me was planted late. But it looks healthy and is catching up to the others.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Drying out the Silt Fences   Saturday, May 27 View Page These Bushel Gourds were plants on May 1st. Man they grow slow.   Sunday, May 28 View Page Mid 70's and sunny today. I'm out there Jerry. Took all the covering off the 1944.5 for the day, to let them get used to natural UV light. Then back into the 40's tonight   Sunday, May 28 View Page Uncovered the 2075's too. Letting the leaves Soak up the ray's.   Thursday, June 1 View Page The 2075's are back to back, uncovered, and running. Saw my first Cucumber beetles today. Plus a few male flowers will open tomorrow. Drenched with a solution of Humate, Fish, Seaweed and Urea Mate today.   Thursday, June 1 View Page The 1944.5 and 1975Wallace in the background look good. Bring on the Warm weather. They got the same drench as the other plants today, plus Pumpkin Pro and Azos under every leaf node.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Decision time. I only have room for 1 Giant Bushel Gourd. They are both 200 Lariviere offspring. The one on the left is growing faster, but its closer to the edge of the garden....Less root growth potential. Need to make the cull decision soon.   Sunday, June 4 View Page My 2075-2 plant is producing lots of male flowers. Its in the mid 70's and warm in the day, but these nights in the 40's are slowing things down a bit.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Here is the picture, I meant to attached with the last entry. Added some phosphorus last week to all my plants, and it really made the side vines grow a lot.   Monday, June 5 View Page Record Cold coming tonight for June 5th. Low 40's. Several days like this with wind and rain. Plants look bad. Leaves are all beat up from the wind. Oh well, nothing great happening here.   Friday, June 9 View Page Plants look terrible, but the survived 4 days in the cold and 4 inches of rain. Now we are getting ready for a heat wave. Added some boron. (Thanks for the reminder Ian). This is an essential element for nutrient and calcium uptake. I finally Set up all the sprinklers and have them hooked up to the manifold.   Sunday, June 11 View Page Daily Vine burying chore done again. Lots of Pumpkin Pro, Azos and Root shield under every leaf node. Burying extra deep with compost at every leaf node too. Takes 2 hours each morning now. Tiring!!   Sunday, June 11 View Page Hard to see from this picture, but I am slowly putting an "S" curve into each vine at 12-14ft. I need more bamboo......   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Used Merit last night, to kill maybe 100 cucumber beetles. Some died doing the deed.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Set a pumpkin on the 1944 at 12ft on June 13. There's another one flowering at 14 ft in a few days   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Gauntlet has been baited with apples and peanut butter, and set for another Woodchuck, that's been poking around.   Thursday, June 15 View Page I can't believe it. I caught Speedy Gonzales the grey squirrel, Got lucky this time. But there is still a big woodchuck who I've seen as close as 10 feet away from the Pumpkin Patch. Got all my traps out and baited, to try and catch him before he causes too much damage.   Saturday, June 17 View Page My 200 Lariviere BUSHEL GOURD plant is about ready to hit ground. Got 3" of rain last night. Pumpkin plant leaves turned a light green color after all the water saturated the soil.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Hello 2075F. Meet the 1961M's.   Saturday, June 24 View Page The 2075-1 is growing very fast. Shown are the 2nd and 3rd pollinated pumpkins n the plant at 14 and 15 ft out on the main. The 1st pollination was set at 12 ft and is much larger, but I'll cull it off tonight.   Saturday, June 24 View Page This is the 1944 plant. Shown is the 2nd pumpkin set at 12 ft out on the Main, (5) days ago. I already culled off another pumpkin which was pollinated on this plant 10 days ago. It was the size of a basketball. The pumpkin under the table is the keeper. It is 15ft out on the Main and was pollinated on 6/21/17. Its tough getting rid of these culls, but have more plant behind the plants help compensate for the late start.   Saturday, June 24 View Page Main Vine if the Bushel Gourd plant (200 Lariviere) is running. Main vine is about 4 ft. I'm   Sunday, June 25 View Page The Bushel Gourd really likes this hot weather. Its growing about 10" per day now.   Sunday, June 25 View Page I counted 11 side vines per side before the pumpkin, on the 2075 which was set at about 15 ft on June 22nd. I'll start swooping the secondaries forward in a spider vine pattern now.   Sunday, June 25 View Page The keeper on the 1944 is set at 14.5 or 15ft feet and was pollinated on June 21st. It has a real stubby stem. It will take a lot of work to keep the vine stress off this one. The 2 previous culls on this plant looked the same.   Thursday, June 29 View Page Got my pumpkins set on the Mill Cloths. I hate cutting all the roots, , and trimming the secondaries, while setting them on the mill cloths, but it must be done, to prevent future problems like Vine Stress, and Pumpkin Rot. Pumpkins were all spritzed with Zero Tol and Abound fungicide. Then covered with a white towel. The next time these pumpkins see sunlight will hopefully be in late September or early July, since they will be covered 24/7.   Friday, June 30 View Page Side vines are reaching the end of the garden, so I started to swoop them forward to create the spider vine pattern. Most of the Pumpkins energy comes from before the pumpkin, so longer sides means more energy....and less of a chance of blowing the stump from deadened sides.   Saturday, July 1 View Page Looks like I have some Downey Mildew on the pumpkin plants, I've been going a little like on the fungicides will need to increase the fungicide spray.   Sunday, July 2 View Page The 1944x2075 is chugging along. I'm adjusting twice per day, because the blossom is trying to plow under.   Sunday, July 2 View Page This is the 2075x1944 cross. Its going to be a bullet shaped pumpkin.   Sunday, July 2 View Page Rise and Shine. I woke up to see a bunch of over watered over fertilized Cobra's this morning, on all my plants. Not good. I need to back off and stay away from the patch today.   Sunday, July 2 View Page The 200 Lariviere Bushel Gourd is on a tear. Not use to seeing a plant grow so fast. and those flowers at sunset are cool. Hopefully I get decent sized fruit from this plant.   Monday, July 3 View Page Mixing up my Brew for todays feeding of the plants   Tuesday, July 4 View Page This is the 1944x2075. Put a little sand under all the pumpkins, to help them slide of the mill fabric. Thanks Scott M.   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Pollinated the 1975 Wallace today with a 2075 today at 15ft. This plant is incredible. Its flowering pumpkins are ready for pollination before the vine even hits the ground. This one is a back up to the 1944 that I pollinated with a 2075 at 12 ft.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Lots of Bushel Gourds are flowering. I keep forgetting to pollinate them at night. I am so used to morning pollinations, I won't keep any of these. They are only 7 ft out on secondary vines. Plan is to set the "keepers" near the end of July.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Dang. My 1975x2075 pollinated on July 4th, decided to grow straight up. I'll need to twist the vine a bit to help her settle down on the ground   Saturday, July 8 View Page Finally the 2075-1 x 1944 is starting to grow. The plant growth slows the initial pumpkin growth. The 900 alloted sq ft should be full in 1 1/2 weeks, then hopefully she will kick into gear.   Saturday, July 8 View Page My 2075-2x1944 if a little bigger than the other one. Its long stem and bullet shape is what I prefer.   Saturday, July 8 View Page I don't like the balloon shape of my 1944x2075. Scary when they are this round and growing so fast. Especially since we got 1 inch of rain yesterday, just after I drenched with Fish, Seaweed, and Urea Mate 2 days ago. I have a backup on this plant just incase...   Tuesday, July 11 View Page Drenching downpours coming in today, but at leat the pumpkins and most importantly the pedicle is dry.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Lots of tap roots on only the buried vines on my Bushel Gourd plant. I bury the vines a very shallow depth I uncovered one leaf node, to show the tap root for the picture.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Dark and raining all day today. 2" of rain so far today. Yikes! That's a lot of water. plus drenched with Urea Mate and Brew yesterday. Sprayed with Merit 75wsp last night. Major cucumber beetle kill. The 1944, 21 DAP, is just starting hit her stride. Hopes she holds together.   Friday, July 14 View Page Bushel Gourd plant is on the run. 6-10 inches per day all directions. Busy trimming off all the tertiaries   Friday, July 14 View Page The 1975x2075 pollinated July 4th, has hit ground and is starting to grow. 3 days of drenching rain caused mud to splatter all over this pumpkin.   Friday, July 14 View Page The 2075-2 x 1944 is long and well behaved. Blossom and Stem are at the same height off the ground. Pumpkin growth is way behind last year. Last 3 days we averaged 1-3 inches of rain per day. Everything including the roots, is soaked which slows the pumpkin down.   Friday, July 14 View Page The 20175-1 x1944 is doing OK. Its the smallest of my biggest 3. Foliar Drenched last night with Fish, Seaweed, Humic Acid, Urea Mate and Subdue Maxx Fungicide. Mixed everything together...   Saturday, July 15 View Page Looking at the 1944, under wraps. Things have really slowed down in the last 3 days. Cold, Rain, cloudy. Heard its nice and sunny up north, May go climb a mountain in NH.   Saturday, July 15 View Page Uncovered all the pumpkins today. Will try to dry them out. This is the 1944.   Saturday, July 15 View Page Headed up to Mt Manadnock in New Hampshire with my son Scott. Great to get away rom the pumkins for a day.   Saturday, July 15 View Page Looks like the 2075-2 is sporting a new shoulder on the right side.   Saturday, July 15 View Page Close up of the new shoulder on my 2075-2 pumpkin. Gave all my plants their annual feed of 0-0-60 potash to promote plant vigor and more root growth.   Saturday, July 15 View Page I think I found a keeper on the Bushel Gourd Plant. We'll see how she does after pollination   Sunday, July 16 View Page The patch is almost full in places. AND....Finally a bright and warm sunny day.... after a week of clouds and rain. These pumpkins should really start growing now.   Sunday, July 16 View Page The Giant Bushel Gourd is soaking up the sun too. There are little bushel Gourds on the secondary vines EVERYWHERE. When they start blooming next week, I'll need get busy selfing them.   Monday, July 17 View Page All my main vines have been uncovered. Used a hose to blow the dirt off. The stumps are never covered or sheltered from the rain all year, unless I have a problem with the stump..   Monday, July 17 View Page The 1944 is looking OK. I fought to prevent the blossom end from going under. Will have to watch it all year. So far it has not gone under though.   Monday, July 17 View Page This is the 2075-1 today. Still chugging along. Can't wait for the patch to fill and all the vine growth to be terminated, so this pumpkin can really take off.   Monday, July 17 View Page The 2075-2, same issue as the last entry. waiting for the patch to fill and terminate all the secondary vines in the allotted 900 sq ft.   Monday, July 17 View Page This is fun. I finished pollinating all the pumpkins about 3 weeks ago, now the Bushel Gourds are blooming at night. The plants telling me its time. I counted about 10 Giant Bushel Gourds that will all flower in 3-5 days. This plant is very prolific.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page Went over to check out Russ Klowans patch to check out his 6 plants. And he gave me a Tomato plant and a Fig Tree. Thanks Russ   Saturday, July 22 View Page Went on a road trip this morning. Visited a bunch of Growers. Stopped at Henry Swensons patch in Topsfield, MA. (Henry the giant pumpkin grower) on BP. He has a very nice pumpkin growing on the 1223.5 Gansert. Looks like it will be a tall and very orange.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Got to see Woody Lancasters patch in Topsfield too. Always a contender, he has a nice one going set on his 2009 plant   Saturday, July 22 View Page ...then trekked over to Armand Michauds patch in Ipswich, MA. He's a great guy and grower, that I have known over the years.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Every year at this time I get a mid season onslaught of Woodchucks. They come out of the State Park behind my house. Caught this guy this morning. I have a gauntlet of Hava-Heart Traps, set up. No bait needed. They just go in to the traps looking for a dark sheltered area I guess.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Got to see George Hoomis' pumpkin in Ipswich, MA, grown from the 2075. I think it was pollinated July 26.   Sunday, July 23 View Page Caught another one. I hope none of these pesky varmints will not make it by my gauntlet of traps . No bait needed. They just go in.   Sunday, July 23 View Page The 2075-1 patch area is almost full   Sunday, July 23 View Page I like the shape of the 2075-1 pumpkin. Took my first measurement. It has a cir of 112 inches. Added some Urea Mate and Subdue Max today as a foliar drench.   Sunday, July 23 View Page The 1944 is a slower growing plant and will take a little longer to fill its allotted 900 sq ft area.   Sunday, July 23 View Page The 1944 is a bit bigger with a 114 inch Cir. But the blossom has gone down under. Will need to get a fan on this till to keep the blossom end dry. Darn.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Drove 2 hours, up to Farmington, NH to visit Hiram Watson for a NHGPGA Twilight Tour. He has a very large one growing as shown in the picture.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Here are some of the Growers who went on the Twilight Tour yesterday. Love that evening sun. In the background are some of Hirams Tree's. He's Got all kinds of Apple Trees, Plums Peaches, Pears etc. There is a smorgasbord of Fruit growing on his 10 plus acres.   Friday, July 28 View Page It took me 5 minutes to collect these Squash bug Eggs and Larve on this strip of tape. This is one of 5 strips of Duct Tape I filled up with eggs. No damage to the leaves.   Sunday, July 30 View Page Had to do a reset on my Giant Bushel Gourds, from the 200 Lariviere. All that were pollinate around July 17th were culled. They were pollinated too early for Frerichs. These are some new ones that were pollinated July 25th. Seems late, but I'm still learning   Sunday, July 30 View Page The 2075x1944 is still chugging along. I Like the shape of this pumpkin. Looks like an innie is forming   Sunday, August 6 View Page Keeping the 2075 covered 24/7. Its Taping at 900 pounds by the Wolf Chart. Averaging 34 per day for the last 7 days. The 1944 is taping at 675 pounds and growing only 24 pounds per day over the last 7 days.   Sunday, August 6 View Page Visited Eddy G. out on Prudence Island, for his birthday party. His Patch of pumpkins was great to see.   Sunday, August 6 View Page A lot of Growers showed up onPrudence Island to see the two patches of Pumpkins One belongs to Scott Marley and on belongs to Eddy Giarrusso   Sunday, August 6 View Page We had so much food! Lobsters Clams, Fish, Shrimp Salads soda of all kinds. Everyone was heavier than a Giant Pumpkin when we finished.   Sunday, August 6 View Page Actually there were two birthday's Sue B and Eddy G   Saturday, August 12 View Page Took this picture of the 2075x1944. It's going to be a tall one. Still very young looking. I hope that means she will keep growing. Long way to go. Need to add some epsom salts tonight. The Mag.. should help the leaves green up....   Saturday, August 12 View Page The 1944x2075 is going to be a blossom under low long table top. Pump some sulphur dust under the pumpkin, to help protect the blossom from bacteria and mildew., with an air gun.   Saturday, August 12 View Page On the road again..... This time drove to RI to see Steve Sperry. He had a nice on growing from my 1944.   Saturday, August 12 View Page ....Then we drove over to visit Joe Jutras and helped him move some very large Squash and some Pumpkins to relieve stem stress.   Sunday, August 13 View Page On the CT tour today. Stopped at Matt Debacco's patch and got sto see his 1/2 dozen pumpkins. This photos shows Matt with a pumpkin grown off my 2075. So cool to see a few of my seeds plants.   Sunday, August 13 View Page Our final stop on the CT Team Pumpkin tour was at Gene Laviere's house. He had some impressive Watermelons and Bushel Gourds. Here he is showing his Koi Fish.   Saturday, August 19 View Page Visited Gene Lariviere in CT today. 2 cu ft Got a fill up of Leaf Compost   Saturday, August 19 View Page Went over to Ron's house to steal some (peaches and Figs, (which were great). The he gave me a nice tour of the patch. Said he wasn't having a great year. Very busy. But I saw some decent pumpkins Not his best but good sized. Thanks for the tour. Had a good time   Monday, August 21 View Page Went over to visit Mike Fleming in Hanson. Hes got a nice one going.   Tuesday, August 22 View Page The 2075x1944 is still packing on the pounds. Not my best but I will do my best to bring her to the finish line. Still packing on 25 pounds per day Per the OTT measurements it tapes about 1300. WE will see what happens in a month or so. Added lots of Fish Seaweed and Sollers Urea Mate and some ABOUND fungicide. Foliar spray then drenched.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page My Giant Bushel Gourd plant is growing in a XMas tree Vine Pattern. Man this plant loves to throw secondaries 2 or 3 times per leaf node. Hard to keep up with all the needed trimming. Must have culled about 100 Bushel Gourds so far. Main vine is over 35 ft long Side Vine are grown out about 12 ft in both directions. No problems with Stink Bugs, SVB or CYVD on this plant. It seems healthy. Got a small gourd on this plant finally.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Here's my little Giant Bushel Gourd. Way behind. Will need to push this one to catch up to the local competition for the Frerichs Farm or Topsfield Fair Weigh-offs.   Friday, August 25 View Page Feed Me!! Pumpkins Bushel Gourds are getting a foliar feed of 150 gallons of water mixed with Fish, and Stollers Urea Mate   Sunday, August 27 View Page My 200 Lariviere Bushel Gourd is set and in its 45 day growth period. I guess its worthy of its 1st Can Shot   Sunday, August 27 View Page Got my Bushel Gourd side vines growing in X-Mas tree pattern. Keeping this plant trimmed to just a primary vine with only Side vines is a chore. Each leaf node will throw 2 secondary vines, if you trim the first one. another one appears a week later.   Thursday, August 31 View Page My Little Big Bushel Gourd is 18 days old. Pollinated Aug 13, Its growing slower than I wanted. But late in the season that happens, with the cold, shorter days and all. Next Year I hope to set one by August 1st   Thursday, August 31 View Page My 2075 is Healthy and still growing. about 16lbs per day.   Thursday, August 31 View Page I meant to include this picture   Thursday, August 31 View Page Here is my 1944x2075. Still putting on 10 lbs per day. Slow and steady. Cold wet season   Sunday, September 3 View Page Its a Green Bushel Gourd and decent size. 154OTT. But there are a lot of bigger ones out there. Could the WR fall this year....   Monday, September 4 View Page 3 days of Rain are coming so I put up the pup tents.   Thursday, September 7 View Page My little Bushel Gourd is having a blast in the Patch and putting on about 15 pounds per day. OTT=174. Which=151 pounds, per the GPC melon chart. This fruit is so new to the game, that it doesn't even have its own chart yet. That's OK. I like venturing into uncharted waters.   Friday, September 8 View Page The 2075x1944 is putting on 17 lbs per day. I think the recent rain and warm weather from the Hurricane helped the growth surge.   Sunday, September 10 View Page Took the covers off today. Warming up the pumpkins with sun and solar effect   Sunday, September 10 View Page My Bushel Gourd taped at 168 pounds today. No sign of ripening yet   Wednesday, September 13 View Page My Bushel Gourd has 27 days to go. Its putting on 8 lbs per day. Praying for warm weather to keep her growing   Friday, September 15 View Page Looks like a pumpkin Ghetto   Saturday, September 16 View Page Crawling around to inspect the pumpkins. It a daily thing. cleaning out soft spots, Repositioning the fans, dusting with fungicides, getting rid of tertiaries, pulling weeds etc..   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Loaded up and ready for Durham Fair later today.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Getting the 2075x1944 cross to the Scales at the Durham Fair   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Got the weight of my pumpkin at Durham, CT . What a relief!! Its official 1624 pounds.   Thursday, September 21 View Page Just chillin at the Durham Fair with Dick Wallace and Scott Marley. The 3 amigo's   Sunday, September 24 View Page This morning I added compost to the patch, tilled it in, then seeded with mustard. It was good to get the rogue weeds out before they went to seed. Only one plant remains   Saturday, September 30 View Page Lots of little Mustard plants are up. Should mature in 3 weeks then I'll till it under wait a week and plant winter rye.   Saturday, September 30 View Page My Bushel Gourd averaged 9.6lbs per day for the last week. Been pushing her with a few doses of WOW Wonder Brew for the last month. But cold weather yesterday might put a stop to the late season growth surge. If it makes it this is my Frerichs entry.   Saturday, September 30 View Page Here is pic I meant to attach to last entry.   Saturday, September 30 View Page Went to Topsfield, MA last night. Got to see Woody Lancaster's 2003.5 pound entry win the Topsfield Fair. Amazing   Sunday, October 1 View Page Keeping my Bushel Gourd Warm, in a mini greenhouse trying to coax a few more pounds into it.. Was 40F last night. 63F inside when fully closed, with aid of a heater.   Thursday, October 5 View Page The Bushel Gourd is still putting on 5 pounds per day. Keeping her shaded in the heat. Took the mini green house down, because two days in the 80's are here. Picking it tomorrow night for weighoff at Frerichs. Gene Thanks for the 200 Lariviere Seedling in May.   Friday, October 6 View Page Loading up the Bushel Gourd for Frerichs weigh-off tomorrow   Saturday, October 7 View Page Loaded onto the Trailer, with some help. Ready to go to Frerichs for the Weigh-off   Saturday, October 7 View Page There were a lot more Bushel Gourd entries than I expected.   Saturday, October 7 View Page Meant to attached this picture with previous diary entry.   Sunday, October 8 View Page Worked like crazy to get the last area of my garden amended, tilled and planted with a Mustard Cover crop. Then it started to pour. Perfect!!   Sunday, October 8 View Page My Bushel Gourd weighed 245.5 pounds at Frerichs Farm   Saturday, October 14 View Page We got to meet Stuart and Ian Paton and family in Lymington UK. Very good people and provided us some wonderful hospitality.   Saturday, October 14 View Page I am really amazed at the size of Ian and Stuarts Pumpkin in the UK. Its huge!   Sunday, November 12 View Page Mustard was mowed down and tilled under today.   Friday, December 8 View Page Went to Little Rhody Farms this morning to get 2 yds of Chicken Manure Compost for 2019,...thats right 2019. 2 more Little Rhody trips and I'll be all set for composting. Will mix with Leaf Compost this weekend, depending on how bad the snow is. Two year old compost for the 2018 patch was added a month ago. Already grew a mustard cover crop into it.