Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 29 Entries. Saturday, February 18 View Page Consistent temps in the 60-70's means fine tuning, but not for the soil yet. Happy growing to all in 2017.   Wednesday, March 15 View Page Hanging out in Florida with my boys catching some good eating Pompano and Whiting. Going to start turning the soil once the cold spell ends this weekend.   Tuesday, March 21 View Page Digging in the patch tonight and I find 3 deer 50 feet behind the garden (2 seen in pic between fence boards laying down). I assume they are just moving at night to avoid the bigger roads and get to more open land a mile north of me. Hopefully not regulars as I have read on here they are a nuisance.   Saturday, April 1 View Page Patch is hand tilled and amended a foot down (1 plant), Blues secured a playoff spot, Cardinal baseball starts tomorrow, Dogwoods are starting to bloom, and I got a cooler full of beer....   Friday, April 7 View Page   Friday, April 7 View Page Missississipi Riber yusterdy   Thursday, April 20 View Page My current soil test.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Transplant day, thanks to Kevin Snyder for the seeds (1146 and 1495 with one 450 sq foot spot). On the side, growing a Steil field pkn and some other varieties for the kids.   Saturday, April 29 View Page After 3 inches of rain facing my pumpkin tool shed, wasn't a creek yesterday. Emergency swale dug (Andy H, lol). Expecting 5 inches more   Saturday, April 29 View Page Opposite view after 5 inches of rain mid day. I will not let this shed flood, water is 1/2" below the door. Second swale dug. Pumpkin patch is flooded, but I grow on mounds and transplanted pkn plants are still high and dry.   Saturday, May 6 View Page Built a toad\frog pond 3 years ago right next to my pumpkin patch so they could breed and help control the insects. I usually let nature run its course, but wouldn't let this snake eat 1 of 2 Leopard Frogs left(seen in its mouth). Snake was let go too probably to come back Monday when I'm at work. On the plus side, there are probably at least 800 toad tadpoles ready to emerge and take out some Cuke Beetles.   Friday, June 2 View Page Help and opinions needed, this is my 1495 Snyder that should be much bigger but is stalling due to triples and doubles at each node. Weather has been perfect, but the main only does a couple inches a day when it should be at least 6. Should I give this main a chance or cut back and try a secondary?   Friday, June 2 View Page Help and opinions needed, this is my 1495 Snyder that should be much nigger but is stalling due to triples and doubles at each node. Weather has been perfect, but the main only does a couple inches a day when it should be at least 6. Should I give this main a chance or cut back and try a secondary?   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Happy 4th of July! I have 4 pollinated on my 1495 Snyder (2 on main and 2 on sides)... all very young under 5 DAP so will post pics when I see who makes the cut.   Saturday, July 15 View Page I'm 6 for 6 with aborts with 4 on the main. I was in Northern Arkansas last week fishing and it was cool compared to up here by St Louis. Southern Midwest is tough to grow in. I'm now trying to set on secondaries and this is my forecast next week (heat index over 108 each day). LOL   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Although no pkn, for my own records I thought I'd show my plant. There are a few potentials left on side vines. Next few days are going to be 100 F up to 106 F now on Saturday. Cold snap in the mid 90's will arrive Sunday.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Although no pkn, for my own records I thought I'd show my plant. There are a few potentials left on side vines. Next few days are going to be 100 F up to 106 F now on Saturday. Cold snap in the mid 90's will arrive Sunday.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page It was 101 degrees today with an index of 105 and this little trooper looks ready to go in the morning. Temps tomorrow are supposed to be 103 moving up to 105 by Saturday, so it will be an uphill battle, but here's to hope.... and beer, and maybe a little whiskey.   Sunday, July 23 View Page We hit 108 yesterday, but I was home all day to cool off the plant every half hour. Two of three potential pollinations made it and will both open tomorrow. One blossom literally shriveled up. We are low 90s now and tomorrow so temps look great. If neither takes, that would be 10/10 with aborts and I'm going to assume something is wrong with the plant and it'll be pulled. Fingers crossed!   Monday, July 31 View Page 7 DAP growing on a sidevine extended beyond the designated patch in the yard after many, many aborts from heat. I have 3 others and need to start culling soon. Just happy to have something!   Saturday, August 5 View Page This one is for Mr. Ciesielski aka Big Moon. A little different than 04/29, no floods, and about to be filled with all the pkn growing gear till next spring.   Saturday, August 5 View Page Took this right out of Porkchops book, growing side pkns on old Xmas trees I pick up to throw in lakes for bass. I kept a couple and the tree holds up pretty well in the ground while looking better than treated wood.   Saturday, August 5 View Page LOL! growing 2 inches a day, wrinkled as all hell and so far out on a side vine I can see Arkansas. 13 others have aborted and this looks to give in any day. Already thinking about next year!   Saturday, August 12 View Page After exchanging a recent email with Andy H over the unidentified fish he posted, we agree it was most likely a Smallmouth. Some were questioning the tail which IMO it was most likely compromised due to predator or a lost catch\gig. Another example, this poor fella was caught by me last night and he had these deep gashes on both sides of the back... either from a predatory bird or a dumb redneck gigging for suckers illegally (quite common on nights in SoMo). Good thing was he had enough fortitude to hit a topwater popper yesterday evening, so I believe he'll be okay.   Saturday, August 12 View Page Here's a cross section of a dried up root cut from my AG plant. Sorry not better detail, but here's the tiny canals that do so much work.   Monday, August 21 View Page Total eclipse over what's left of the pumpkin patch phase 1   Monday, August 21 View Page Total eclipse over what's left of the pumpkin patch phase 2   Monday, August 21 View Page Total eclipse over what's left of the pumpkin patch final phase   Monday, August 21 View Page Total eclipse over what's left of the pumpkin patch final phase at around 120pm south west of Saint Louis. Crap pick, but it was dark.