Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 52 Entries. Friday, March 10 View Page An early entry for weigh off season, it should be ready for the scales around October 15th.   Friday, March 10 View Page Tyler and I are heading to Canfield, Ohio tomorrow morning for the OVGPG seminar. It's always nice seeing the MGPG greats and meeting more of the Ohio Valley guys. Looking forward to it.   Sunday, April 2 View Page Starting seeds within the week. I want a larger plant before transplanting this year, so I'm moving dates up about 2 weeks. Today I did the first mow on the winter rye I had planted last fall and spread 10lbs of humic acid and 5 lbs of blood meal across 1900ft sq.   Sunday, April 9 View Page Seed starts - 2145 McMullen and 1790.5 Wallace @ 9:45am 04/09/17. 1oz Essential in 16oz water for seed soak.   Sunday, April 9 View Page Air prune pots, we're going to start in 5" peat pots and transfer to these monsters. I feel like using a peat/soil mix for the larger pots to further acclimate the plants before transplant.   Tuesday, April 11 View Page 100% Germination using paper towel this year. Using Pro-mix ultimate organic as my media with 2 TBS pumpkin pro myco and 1Tsp green smiths humic. Each seed tip was dipped with i3ba.   Tuesday, April 11 View Page 2nd Mow.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page 1st till on 04/15/17 and 1st true leaf arrival on 04/17/17. A big thanks to Tyler Reinhard for babysitting the plants with his germination and grow set-up. 2145 on the left and 1790.5 on the right.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Transferred to air prune pots on 04/22/17. Media was mixed with 1/2 cup of myco each, powdered each rootball with 2 TBS Azos and drenched with Essential @ 1Oz/Qt. Starting to acclimate the plants outdoors. 1st day of full sun with a high of 68 and winds W-SW 5-8mph.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page Awaiting final transplant, Im behind on patch prep from weather. These should hit dirt by this weekend.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page The other plant pictured was taken on May 23rd of last year. I believe I am about 2 weeks ahead on plant growth vs 2016. This is going to be a tough year keeping up though.   Monday, June 5 View Page The 2145 is running at about 11' and the 1790 is at 7'. Side vine growth has been slow on both, I'll likely do tissue tests within the next week or two.   Saturday, July 22 View Page I'm happy with the size and growth rate of my 2145 So far. This picture was taken earlier this week and I imagine it's added 100lbs or so since. I haven't measured and doubt I will for awhile. DAP 29.   Saturday, July 22 View Page 2145 from side.   Sunday, July 23 View Page 1790 Wallace, I did some make shift measuring on this guy and it sits around 220+.   Sunday, July 23 View Page 2145. Michigan Giant Pumpkin Growers hat sitting atop.   Thursday, July 27 View Page 1 week later.   Thursday, August 3 View Page 2145. Humid/Warm week with Highs from 84-88 and lows in the mid to high 60's. Medallion,Terrazole,Ridomil, Specto 90, Manzate and Eagle applications rotated every 7-10 days. Safari, Talstar and Merit for insecticide. Fertilizer - 1st year applying granular organic underneath the leaf canopy.   Thursday, August 3 View Page Stem Ens on 2145   Thursday, August 3 View Page 2145 to the left. 1790 to the right. The 1790 is sitting around 500lbs.   Thursday, August 17 View Page 2145   Thursday, August 17 View Page Side View   Thursday, August 17 View Page Nieces first Photo Op.   Tuesday, August 22 View Page It's been a whirlwind year. New(to me) disk purchased for 2018 patch expansion.   Tuesday, August 29 View Page This job is coming to an end. A revitalized historic landmark in Toledo was renovated for Promedica corporate headquarters and will stand for at least another 100 years. Formerly the Old Toledo Steam Plant.   Tuesday, August 29 View Page Brought out the lights for an 18 hour day.   Tuesday, August 29 View Page Lighting on the stacks came out beautiful.   Tuesday, September 5 View Page Cold Nights and shorter days, we're nearing the end. We should get a solid fruit to weighing this year barring setbacks on lifting.if we can get another 100lbs this month I would be ecstatic.   Tuesday, September 5 View Page New House, new barns and 7 acres. Move in was this past weekend, I have a mess to clear in order to get production next year.   Tuesday, September 5 View Page We have a big hooter in our new residence. Field mice galore for the feathered freind.   Tuesday, September 5 View Page Nikki had an ultrasound after some worries on measuring late. The little guy is hiding his weight well and is about 7Lbs at 34 weeks. Same due date but is in the 90th % for her estimate. This Ezekiel will get the largest pumpkin his father has grown this year.   Saturday, September 9 View Page Stem End   Tuesday, September 26 View Page 2145 still gaining about 4" a week.   Thursday, October 5 View Page It wouldn't be Harnica Weighoff in Dundee, MI without a forecast that included rain. I think it's been 7-8 consecutive years. For tomorrow being harvest day, I'm unorganized and ill prepared. I've never been more nervous about lifting and transport as it's likely the first official weighing without a DMG ruling since 2014. She's one big fruit but I believe there are going to be some monsters up there. Very much looking forward to seeing everyone.   Friday, October 6 View Page Loaded Up in one piece.   Friday, October 6 View Page Lots of weight on the front end of the 4030. We towed both tractor and pumpkin out of patch with a 3/4 ton chevy.   Sunday, October 8 View Page Great time at Harnica Farms yesterday, it was a blast putting up a personal best at 1630.5 and getting to talk with the Michigan Growers. The biggest surprise happened this morning.   Sunday, October 8 View Page My wife on Oct. 7th around 2:30pm.   Sunday, October 8 View Page My wife on Oct. 8th at 2:30pm   Sunday, October 8 View Page My wife on Oct. 8th at 2:30pm   Sunday, October 8 View Page Ezekiel Hertzfeld born on October 8th at 11:36am. He went to chart!   Sunday, October 15 View Page The pumpkin patch had a visitor today. Lord knows what this man was on, but he drove about 1/4mile of cornfield after veering off the road. Needless to say, those 10' ditches aren't to forgiving.   Sunday, October 15 View Page Police figured the time of accident was around 2am. After my brother and the 1st policeman busted the rear window they found him sleeping on the roof of the vehicle without any major injuries. This was at 8:30am.   Saturday, October 21 View Page 1st Application after disking the field. The rosettes are small, this late spray should knock down the weed pressure this following spring. Lots of work to accomplish before winter, I'll be lucky to get a late rye cover in.   Monday, October 23 View Page 1222 Proctor. I saw a post wanting Howard Dill contestant pictures. These were the two that stood out at Harnica Farms.   Monday, October 23 View Page Next up. The 1335.5 Kurlich.   Saturday, October 28 View Page The family at our retail center in Sylvania. Will harvest seeds sometime this week.   Saturday, October 28 View Page Zeke found his favorite pillow.   Saturday, October 28 View Page Taking a nap   Saturday, October 28 View Page Dad and Zeke   Monday, November 13 View Page I heard a rumor that there is a vein of natural gas in these here parts.   Monday, November 13 View Page That notion was confirmed on Sunday. I hear pumpkins like having heated water, this should do the trick!