Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 60 Entries. Saturday, February 11 View Page Our local weigh-off has decided to go GPC in 2017 and there will be additional categories to try and get more people interested in growing competitively. I've decided to grow a couple giant bell pepper early so I can have seeds by fair time for interested growers. I'll do the same a bit later with giant tomatoes, field pumpkins and marrows. I also got my hands on 9 varieties of tall corn. Six came Columbia, all Montana race. Two from Mexico, Tuxpen race. One from Cuba, Tuson race. All these seeds were collected in the 1980's. Only planted 1 from each since I have a VERY limited supply on 2/4 and seven have sprouted. Started a second on the 2 no shows today. I hope to have nice size plants to put out in late April to very early may. Going to tinker with a handful of giant onions. Got a late start on from what I'm finding out. If anyone has a lead on some real giant onion seeds I sure would appreciate it.   Sunday, March 19 View Page Mowed the rye for the 4th time as high as the mower will allow to keep it under control. Going with a much smaller line-up compared to previous years. 4 squash plants, 1445.5 Jutras, 2 - 1844.5 Holubs and a 1060 Holub. Pumpkins are 1585.5 Werner and 2075 Connoly. Will double plant all except 1060 where at least 8 will get started. Going to allow 900 square ft pet plant. Haven't gone with this few plants ever. I've found out I suck at grafting melons so I'm going 100% traditional. It doesn't break my heart as it will simplify my starting process, time and date. Melon line-up has changed just bit. Deleted the 199.5 Mudd but added the 290 Mudd and 305 Mudd. Both are 199.5 selfed from different years. 290 was traditional and 305 was grafted. Rest of the line-up if they sprout 157 Bright 04, 197 Leonard 07, 252 Neptune 10, 228 Carson 94,   Sunday, March 19 View Page Hit the wrong button. Line-up balance 207 Cantrell 11 and 165 Cantrell (B) 10. Backups for the very limited seeds are 144 Cantrell 11 and 272 Neptune(K) 14.   Saturday, April 1 View Page Went to the garden a couple days ago which consists of freshly planted broccoli, cabbage, and a variety of lettuce plants and the little devils were already out in numbers. Spotted cucumber beetles. Haven't even started competition seeds yet. Decided to start a few bait plants today that could possibly lead into me growing in the 150 sq ft challenge. Main purpose is to get them out there with a systemic well before competition plants go in. Started a couple 1545.5 Holubs which could lead to the next generation squash and several 123 Cantrells which should throw 50 squash plants.   Sunday, April 9 View Page Took the seeds out of the freezer to start and one of my enemies heard the freeze lid close. I put the foot to it before I got the camera. Started melon and AG seeds on the 7th. Only have one 1060 Holub left to pop but not complaining since I started 8 of them. Double planting nearly all seeds this year with the exception of the 1585.5 Werner which will be a single. Multiple melon seeds started for each. So far the 252 Neptune is a no show and my 165 B has only 1 of several to pop. To my surprise 3 of 5 228 Carsons have popped. They are from 1994! Also overjoyed that both 197 Leonards popped.   Monday, April 10 View Page Correction on the last post. The 228 Carson is from 19990 and 4 of 5 germinated. None of the 252 Neptunes will join the patch. They just didn't wake up. Plan now is to go with both 197 Leonards and possibly ad a second spot for another 228. I think it would be a great opportunity to get a comparison of some OLD to new genetics. With the exception of the Mudd seeds the plan is to self each plant. No idea at this time which direction I'll go with outcrossing the Mudds. First attempt at growing onions. A handful of tall corn seeds started yesterday. Three Montana varieties directly from the country of Columbia. Seeds are from the 1980's.   Friday, April 14 View Page This has been the best weather I can remember for starting seeds. Made a mini "greenhouse" inside a small hoop house where I could keep everything warm at night. Seventy at night and 85 day. Full sun equals stocky plants. I'll transplant these melon plants in a couple days to larger pots. Still all the prep work to do in the patch. No rush.   Friday, April 14 View Page AG seedlings not as uniform as the melons. Many seeds appeared to be a bit underdeveloped when started but some years that is what the fruit gives us. SEVERAL seedlings have ugly/damaged cots. I only started 1 1585.5 Werner, which I really want to grow, and it popped fine. Never broke ground. Dug it up and it's tip just stopped. Started my last one yesterday along with a 2008 Neptune as a backup.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page My greenhouse in a greenhouse is nothing more than a bench flipped over on a bench with a heater under it. Pumpkin patch prep completed. Waiting on landscape cloth installation for melon patch completion. Second 1585.5 and 2008 both opened cots yesterday. Other AG's were not looking as green as I expected. May have overwatered. Letting them dry out and color is returning. Major seed corn maggot fly hatch is going on here. Safe to plant now but I'll wait till wind breaks are up and first drench of systemics are complete. No enemies sited recently!   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Only going with 6 tomatoes and they will be hydroponic again. Lineup 1-4.91 Brammer, 1-Slammer, 2-Mega Zac, 2-5.58 Nieuwenhoff. I'll move them to permanent site soon. Started sunflowers and long gourds yesterday.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page 6 lobed female found July 27,2014 on a 165(B) Cantrell. I don't have small hands.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page A bit out of focus but the best I have. I've outlined the lobes. One of the better seeds for producing fat melons that hasn't seen much dirt.   Thursday, April 27 View Page Modified my wind breaks for this year. May have gone overboard with the 4 ft ground cover. Probably should have been 3. I have enough panels to do a triangle around my 6 plants. Once they are in place I'll strategically leave the east end open in order to let the earliest rays of the sun to hit the plants.   Thursday, April 27 View Page AG's planted and looking at their first sunrise in their new home. They will only get a glimpse because thunder is at their back door. Windbreaks are going to get an early test. Main patch contestants are 2 - 1844.5 Holub, 1445.5 Jutras, 2075.5 Connoly, 1585.5 Werner and in the far left location I planted 8 -1060 Holub plants along with 1-1545.5 Holub just in case I don't get a squash from the 1060's. There is room for a plant in the same corner for the 150'challenge plant if I decide to grow one. Looking hard at my spare 2008 Neptune. Dues are paid. This photo is facing SE.   Thursday, April 27 View Page Looking back to the NW there is a bit of a rainbow. Wish I had been just a bit quicker as a lightning bolt flashed across the screen just before I hit the shutter button. Did put out the tall corn plants that were started. The best 2 are right at 12 inches tall at 5 leaves. No clue if that's good or sorry. Decided to wait on planting watermelons they are doing so well as a group in the greenhouse I don't want them to get cool feet after transplanting. Also have a good crop of crabgrass and weeds sprouting in the "melon patch". Not 100% sure if I'll till again or roundup the patch. We're talking huge numbers of seedlings. Sunflowers are up. Went with 27 Zappa, 23.25 Zappa, and a black seeded Brinkley but I didn't record the size. Two long gourds are just breaking the surface, 111.5 Martin and 126.5 May. My plate is nearly full.   Monday, May 1 View Page I suspect this is not good but I don't really know. Nearly all my onions are doing this. Some have 4 or 5 additions. Got the melons planted yesterday just in time for some unexpected wind and driving rain today. Increased to 10 plants. Planted sibs beside each other in separate plots but they will be on the same drip tapes. Going with 2-157 Bright, 2-228 Carson, 2-197 Leonard balance got 1 plant. Found a corner to put the 2008 Neptune. Not planning on growing in the 150 contest since there is about 600 ft available and maybe more if I don't get a green 1060 Holub on that side of it's plot.   Tuesday, May 2 View Page As the wind was picking up and between the first showers I ran out and put up my redneck wind breaks around my melons. There was no damage evident. Didn't get much rain but got a seasons worth of wind. Roof damage on the house and 2 1060 Holub loses before dark. Should be a spare to replace one with if the greenhouse is still there come daylight. Heaviest winds were recorded after dark.   Friday, May 12 View Page Granddaughter playing AAU ball this spring and traveling a bunch. She spotted Coach Butch Jones (Tennessee football)at a tournament. Super nice and very accommodating to all the fans that wanted to just say hi. Glad I'm not famous! Lost a 157 Bright and 290 Mudd to ???? Replaced the 290 with a spare and the 157 with a 207 Cantrell.   Friday, May 12 View Page I did replace a 1060 Holub after the wind storm. This sibling plant was the most aggressive of the lot but as you can see it's vine went yellow which is not good if your hoping for a squash. Pulled her. Probably a second in a couple days.   Friday, May 12 View Page Finished the tomato hydroponic setup. Nothing too fancy. Removed the first set of blooms on all the plants and just now really able to push the plants. Was watering a couple times a day by hand but now on autopilot. Running behind as normal. Friend came in from MI so golf and camaraderie was more important this week. Forgot how much I like playing that game.   Friday, May 12 View Page Doing another experiment. Using a 305 Mudd as a test plant. Got the pool elevated where I can see when that watering is complete. I used a commercial mix. I may set up a second with 50% perlite.   Sunday, May 14 View Page Drip tape and ground cover in place on the melons today. Ordering a load of sand tomorrow for covering. Tapes on 16 in centers. Not going to use drip tape on AG's. Going to go overhead primarily. Set up a second watermelon pool with a commercial mix and no extra perlite. Did go with a 4.5 ft pool about a foot deep. Planted a 207 in it. 2 others in patch to compare to. Using a moisture probe to help with watering decisions. Pulled 2 more 1060 Holubs. One was yellow and one a stripey which would have gone pumpkin. I do have one that appears to be throwing a squash. Know more in a few days.   Sunday, May 21 View Page Nephew got married this weekend. Had one our their family friends and her family in attendance. Quite a voice and sweet kid. For you "The Voice" fans you may recognize her. Emily Ann Roberts. Insects seem to be at bay for the time being. Check previous years and we usually are overrun by now. Only killed a few spotted cuke beetles and no sighting of a striped one. Saw my first squash bug on a plant yesterday and have killed 6 others in various locations away from the patch. On was stupid enough to land on my leg while I was preparing to weed a plant. Not taking chances, already on a spray schedule.   Sunday, May 21 View Page The most aggressive plant in the patch is the 2075.5 Connoly. Others are just a day or two behind. They change a bunch in 48 hours. Down to 2 1060's. They are on opposite sides of their plot so if the last unproven one proves to be a squash I'll leave both for a spell and decide which to pull later.   Sunday, May 21 View Page This experimental 305 Mudd is out performing all the plants in the traditional patch. The 207 in experiment 2 has hit 2nd gear since transplant and it's accelerating. This may not be the answer to a world record but the growth rate is amazing. These 2 plants were 2 that got skipped over when the others went to the patch. They were behind the others but they weren't culls.   Monday, May 29 View Page Way too early for the plant size to be setting fruit yet but found a couple nice females today. Five and a half lobes on this small female that was on a 207 Cantrell. Hope she can do this or better when the time is right. Several fours and a couple of threes so far on other plants.   Monday, May 29 View Page Walked on down the line to a 228 Carson. How many lobes can you count? Sure hope one of these comes along in a couple weeks. I'll surely be selfing this plant even if it doesn't produce another.   Monday, May 29 View Page It was a fatty also! I dissected it and if you guessed 8 you were correct. I could not find a fault with the bloom. Everything was developed just the way you would hope. Fingers crossed for later. God please don't let me kill this plant. Amen.   Wednesday, June 7 View Page This is the 228 Carson that produced the 8 lobed female. She was about 4 leaves before the fork. The fork was/is not do to damage, it just forked. Does not have any flat vine appearances. Plant is in the middle of the pack as far as size. All plants are starting to pick up steam. By far the most aggressive plant is the experimental 305 Mudd swimming pool plant. Ready for a good female there but nothing in sight.   Wednesday, June 7 View Page This is my first try at tall corn. The first plants started in Feb were lost to freeze when the power went off at the greenhouse. These plants were started 4/15 and transplanted about May 1. The 2 tallest are from the same Montana "variety". The others are also Montana but from different areas of Columbia. Melon plant in the foreground is a 165(B) and is one of the more aggressive in the patch.   Wednesday, June 7 View Page Should have mentioned the tallest corn is over 6.5 feet tall. It will be interesting to see if it matures taller than the others. First squash pollination of the year! 14 feet out. 1844.5 Holub pollinated with the 2075.5 Connoly. Most other plants are close. Going to try and beat the heat that will surely be here. I'm afraid to mention that my insect issues are the lightest since my first year. I have had squash bugs on all plants but very few although it only takes 1 with YVD to stop the plant. Still spraying and praying!   Thursday, June 8 View Page Went through my stash of seeds which is not very big and found a few things to throw in the dirt. Long gourds running: 126.5 May, 111.5 Martin. Field pumpkins planted 2 - 150 Risi and trying marrows for the first time 2 - 105 Risi, 83 Risi. Contacted Mr Kent and he delivered 2 - 270 Kent bushel gourds which also are in. I think 2 lope plants will finish me up this year and they are just peeking through the dirt this morning. Going with my own 8.0 seed lope from several years back (64.8 Robb x sib).   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Only have 1 decent tomato going and it's on a slammer. The other 5 plants may get pulled and replaced with the late plants. Still time to decide as those seedlings are only a couple inches tall. First melon pollinations today. I'm pollinating anything more than a 3 lober. Threes are getting pulled. The 207 plants are throwing some FAT females. Four AG's with pollinations. Vine burying and termination carrying on, terminating at 14-15 ft. Squash bugs have arrived in force. Spraying every 2-3 days. Finding dead bugs and burned leaves with more bugs arriving daily. Oddly I haven't seen the first striped cuke beetle and very few spotted.   Thursday, June 22 View Page Got a few fruit set. Out of 8 1060 Holub plants this is the only squash producer. I struggled which way to go for a pollinator but decided on the 1585.5 Werner. 11 DAP   Thursday, June 22 View Page 14 DAP gives me this 2075.5 Connoly. Pollinated it with the 1060 Holub   Thursday, June 22 View Page Going around the patch one finds a 1844.5 Holub at 16 DAP. Pollinated by the 2075.5 Connoly. She's ramping up.   Thursday, June 22 View Page 1445.5 Jutras here at 13 DAP. The fastest growing fruit for it's age but it's still way early. Pollinated by the 1844.5 Holub. One of 2 squash/squash crosses in the patch. All others will by squash/pumpkin hybrids. Not counting on any to get to the finish line as squash bugs are out in force. At this point I'm hoping they get to the 45 day mark for seeds before YVD sets in.   Thursday, June 22 View Page Females are just not showing up on the melons! I was fortunate to get the 2 females to stick on the 207 plants. 8 DAP   Thursday, June 22 View Page 8 DAP for this 207 also. Both 207's were selfed and both plants are producing clean females with no male parts. Hydroponic plants are huge. Still waiting on females there also. Did have a 5 lobed female there that didn't stick.   Friday, June 30 View Page Four fruit have hit the chart this week. The first of which is the 1060 Holub. day 19, ott 169   Friday, June 30 View Page Picking up steam is the 2075.5 Connoly. day 22, ott 203. Did 32 pounds overnight. Cut off a couple leaves 2 days ago that looked suspicious for YVD. Removing them has never worked for me before but did it anyhow. So far no other signs. I could have been wrong about the leaves. I'm paranoid about the bugs. Sprayer was down for a week but fixed now.   Friday, June 30 View Page 1445.5 Jutras at day 21 with ott of 200. She's slipped into 2nd place for the same age ott but still did 32 pounds overnight.   Friday, June 30 View Page This weeks star is the older 1844.5 Holub. Day 24 with ott of 236. She did 40 since yesterday. Last time I had one do 40 in her location it did it for 2 days then BOOM!! BES. Fingers crossed, expecting rain over the next 48 hrs.   Sunday, July 2 View Page Found a SVB hole in the 1060 18 inches from the fruit. Decided not to do surgery but instead I injected 5ml of admire solution directly into vine both above and below the hole. Drenched the area in the vicinity. Thought the plants were protected from previous drenches and repeated sprayings. First time in years I've had to deal with them. All ag's still intact but battered after the heaviest rain I can ever remember. 2.5 inches in 45 minutes. Wind snapped one sunflower, flattened the sweet corn but the tall corn escaped unscathed. Tall corn is not going to be as tall as I hoped. Plants do look good. Melons as a group suck. Can't seem to get the plants dialed in. Probably set both 207's too early. Fat but short and the gains are not there. The 207 hydro looks great and is producing nice females but so far all pears after pollination. Have a surprise open pollinated melon about 45ish pounds that appeared under its bench but hoping to replace it with a new one with known data. 305 hydro producing deformed females and may get pulled this week. Still have 3 other melon plants with no pollinations. More gravel to be ordered for the driveway Monday.   Friday, July 7 View Page Some things are more important than pumpkins! Granddaughter and her partner competed in the national FCCLA high school championship this weekend in Nashville. They did a presentation on the "Dangers of Tobacco Use". She was a little bummed that she didn't get to travel to somewhere new like nearly all the other students but winning the GOLD MEDAL made that go away. She also got to experience crow surfing at a concert. Oh to be young again.   Friday, July 7 View Page Three fruit made the chart this week. This is the 1585.5 Werner. the plant has been a bit susceptible to burn but is doing ok. day 22 est wt 173   Friday, July 7 View Page The second 1844.5 Holub is going to be light green. Large plant with smallish leaves. Very long sections between leaves. day 22 est wt 208   Friday, July 7 View Page 1060 Holub has really slowed. I assume the SVB has done its damage. day 26 est wt 208. May try to set a second fruit since the plant is in good shape.   Friday, July 7 View Page Here is the 1445.5 Jutras and doing fine at est 387 on day 28. The 2075.5 day 29 est 480 and the other 1844.5 Holub at day 31 est wt 623. Going to pull the 2008 Neptune. Trouble getting one going. Huge plant.   Tuesday, July 25 View Page Losing stumps and mains all over the place. My best 1844 shut down. Finished at 760 uow. Started showing leakage at ground level below the stem. Cut it loose and opened her up. Blossom end had rot also. Most all AG plants showing signs of YVD or are already pulled. Not planning on AG's next year. Melons are behind targets substantially. On target for 190-220 for most if I don't kill them before harvest. Best for it's age is 157 Bright. First long gourd slowing drastically at 90 in. Several bushel gourds pollinated and will start culling soon. No females on field kins at all and marrows at about 5 lbs.   Saturday, August 5 View Page Been one of those years. Long gourd split at 103 inches. Both field pumpkin were barren and are now tilled under. One bushel gourd ditto. All Ag's done with YVD but 2 are still on the plant. Trying to hold them till Sept 7 weigh-off.   Saturday, August 5 View Page Not everything is a total bust. Melons are plodding along. Plants are coming around but too late for good weights. Got a few young lopes set. 1 bushel gourd and a pair of marrows still kicking. Pulled a couple of tall corn plants that tasseled out earlier. The one on the left was the most aggressive early but it appears the other 2 will pass it up. The older one is at about 13 feet.   Tuesday, November 7 View Page Took this in mid Aug. This is what's left of the smaller pool watermelon plant. Experiment was abandoned and the stump died and dried up.   Tuesday, November 7 View Page For years I've underestimated how much the side vines contribute to the melons. Totally dead stump yet the sides continue to set fruit and grow them. The plant set roots wherever there was sand. Some penetrated the woven fabric others seemed to stay on top in the sand wicking the nutrients from below. Harvested a 30+ pound melon from one of those sides that set after the plant died.   Tuesday, November 7 View Page I'm trying to save a year by growing a couple plants in the pool scavenged from the melon project. Got a couple sets selfed from my 760 dmg UOW (1844.5* Holub x 2075.5 Connoly). With a bit of luck I'll get seeds for next spring that should ad some new genes for even bigger squash. Both the 1844 and the 2075 had just topped 48 pounds a day when the plants shut down due to YVD. They were smoking!   Tuesday, November 7 View Page Two plants in a 4 ft pool isn't much room but both fruit are doing ok. They might would have contended for a HD award if grown traditionally. I really like the color of both at this time. They should make for some darker squash providing I get good seeds. I need about 2 more weeks assuming all is progressing as hoped. I'd love to use them to cross with Joe's world record.   Saturday, November 25 View Page Been a struggle keeping these plants alive with freezing temps. I let them stay on the vine longer than normal just in case the cool night temps delay seed development. Harvest day for the smaller one will be today. If solid seeds are found I'll cut the second   Sunday, November 26 View Page 49 pounds unofficially. Seeds are underdeveloped. Cut into a few and there is a possibility some will germinate. Cut the second pumpkin free and decided to put it in the garage where she will stay for a while longer. Don't know if it helps or not maturing seeds. She came in at 104 pounds.   Tuesday, December 12 View Page 6 lobes outlined   Tuesday, December 12 View Page Same female as previous post side view. July 27, 2014 on a 165 Cantrell(B) 10