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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 32 Entries.
Saturday, February 11 View Page
A shot of my patch today. What's been missing this winter? Snow. Crazy abnormally warm weather this winter with multiple consecutive days in the 40s and 50s during Jan and Feb
 
Saturday, February 11 View Page
Winter Indoor Tomato Challenge. Not going so well a second year in a row with weird Leaf formation where the petiole grows curving downward. Growing in the basement. Finally I thought to put a thermometer down there and found the temperature only 63 to 67°. Will try again next winter growing in warmer location
 
Thursday, February 16 View Page
I'm out in California this week at the NorCal Landscape & Nursery Show. Was glad to run into the folks from Xtreme Gardening. Their reps were very knowledgeable and I could tell they are really dialed into the world of giant pumpkin growing
 
Monday, April 3 View Page
Spring 2017 Soil Test
 
Monday, April 10 View Page
Got patch rototilled today. It's almost go time!
 
Friday, April 14 View Page
Got soil heating cables installed yesterday, as this will be a fair pumpkin will hopefully have a plant the ground next week
 
Friday, April 14 View Page
1235 Davis is the first one to push through. Also germinated 1872 Wallace and 989 Tobeck
 
Thursday, May 4 View Page
Finally have some plants in the ground. 1392 C/P X2 in the foreground and a 1235 Davis in the back.
 
Saturday, June 10 View Page
First pollination of the year. 1392 C/P (1625 X 2009) X 989 Tobeck (1625 x 2230). It's going to be hot as hell today so hopefully it takes!
 
Saturday, June 10 View Page
First SVB of the year spotted today
 
Thursday, June 15 View Page
Stormy sunset over the my patch
 
Friday, June 23 View Page
Tip of main vine, a casualty of the storm last night. A bummer, but glad that at least I have two good pollinations already done
 
Wednesday, June 28 View Page
Patch is almost filled in :-)
 
Monday, July 10 View Page
Day 30-ish
 
Tuesday, July 25 View Page
After spending a week in West Virginia for work, I was glad to come home to a plant that was still alive & growing despite the heat wave. Very grateful for a kid in my neighborhood who is interested in Big Pumpkins and does watering for me when I'm out of town
 
Tuesday, July 25 View Page
Tall sunflowers up to the second floor
 
Friday, August 11 View Page
Today was a Great Day! 1st Place Iowa State Fair weigh-off
 
Friday, August 11 View Page
 
Friday, August 11 View Page
 
Friday, August 11 View Page
758 Boelman the cross is: 1392 C/P (1625 Gantner X 2009 Wallace) X 989 Tobeck (1625 Gantner X 2230 Wallace)
 
Friday, August 18 View Page
It's not very often that we get visitors here at Zanfel, let alone another Iowa pumpkin grower. Thank you for stopping in Pete!
 
Sunday, September 3 View Page
Tall Corn -Tehua and Jala-penno. Tassels appeared a few days ago, hopefully ears will too and will be able to get some seeds from these
 
Saturday, September 16 View Page
Good luck to everybody as weigh-off season is underway! Few days ago I spotted when I've been waiting for all summer – some ears developing on my tall corn. Even though it's late in the season, with the weather forecast I think they have a chance of producing some viable seeds.
 
Saturday, October 28 View Page
With our first hard frost of the season coming tonight decided to pick and measure the remaining tall corn
 
Saturday, October 28 View Page
We had a number of 15, 16, and 17+ foot tall stalks, so the 18'8" stall that I measured a couple weeks ago is still my PB
 
Saturday, October 28 View Page
One positive note, I end up getting a nice supply of my own Tehua tall corn seeds, which is something I was really hoping for. Peeling back the layers of the ears to reveal the cob is kind of like opening a box of chocolates – you never know what you're going to get. Had many super large ears with underdeveloped seeds inside of them. Other small ears and had a good number of viable seeds
 
Sunday, October 29 View Page
Halloween 2017 Display
 
Sunday, October 29 View Page
 
Tuesday, October 31 View Page
Happy Halloween from the wizard, Cinderella, and Princess Belle
 
Sunday, November 12 View Page
That's a wrap! Rototilled the patch today. Worked on the cover crop along with several yards of well composted manure, and some fall leaves
 
Tuesday, November 21 View Page
Just put together a new 8' grow tent. I've been wanting one of these for a long time, no more growing plants on a crappy table in the basement. Now I can get some seeds started for the winter tomato challenge
 
Wednesday, December 20 View Page
I've transitioned most of my winter tomatoes from 3" starter pots to large or intermediate containers. Wasn't super impressed with the root growth that I saw when I transplanted them. At least now in larger containers they'll be healthier and plenty of room to grow. So far the 5.xx Porkchop and the heirloom German Pink are the most vigorous plants.
 

 

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