Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 77 Entries. Wednesday, April 19 View Page Patch tilled and ready.   Wednesday, April 19 View Page Hoop Houses up and warming the soil.   Wednesday, April 19 View Page Seeds up in 5 days. So far so good.   Monday, April 24 View Page Put the 1985 Miller, the 1998 Jutras and the 2066 Geddes in the ground yesterday. Fingers crossed.   Monday, April 24 View Page The 1998 Jutras.   Monday, April 24 View Page And the 2066 Geddes.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page The 1985 Miller .   Tuesday, May 9 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras looking good enjoying a bit of sun.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page And the 2066 Geddes. All 3 plants are waiting patiently for the warm weather. 2 nights of low 30'S and they were warmed in the huts. Cmon now spring let's go....   Tuesday, May 9 View Page I wonder if Orange With Sandbags will post a diary this year........Let's see how it's going James ! Don't be shy buddy.   Friday, May 19 View Page The 1985 Miller just about to land and get things started. Loves the heat we've been having.   Friday, May 19 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras keeping pace.   Friday, May 19 View Page And the 2066 Geddes. All 3 plants are pretty much at the same pace. Got a good feeling about this season. Still on the look out for Orange With Sandbags. My goal is to join the same club he did last season.   Monday, May 22 View Page The 1985 Miller. Trying to lay down. Big kick stand in front of it. Will snip the leaf off and ease it down when it's a bit warmer today.   Monday, May 22 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras standing straight up ( of course lol ). Could use a bit of greening up.   Monday, May 22 View Page The 2066 Geddes, doing exactly what the Jutras is. Going to have to coax them down slowly.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page Drip tape up and running.   Monday, May 29 View Page The 1985 Miller finally getting some sun after a week of clouds and rain.   Monday, May 29 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras keeps pretending it's a Cobra snake. Starting down some but still a ways to go. Plant looks great though.   Monday, May 29 View Page The 2066 Geddes, a very steady plant so far.   Thursday, June 1 View Page The 1985 Miller a strong looking plant. All 3 plants in a little over 5 weeks now.   Thursday, June 1 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras finally laid down a couple days ago, it's on the move now.   Thursday, June 1 View Page And the 2066 Geddes. Seems slightly a bit more aggressive then the other two but they are all pretty much the same. Things look great so far in The Cope Patch.   Thursday, June 1 View Page YES !   Thursday, June 8 View Page The 1985 Miller growing along. Secondaries are a bit slow but they are coming. This plant is like a giant, slow moving but as it moves things get bigger. Hope this is a sign of things to come. Warm weather is back...again.   Thursday, June 8 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras growing nice. With this warm weather things should pick up some. Secondaries are coming right along. Plant is looking good.   Thursday, June 8 View Page The 2066 Geddes plant has been aggressive putting out secondaries nicely. Plant has some yellowing on a few leaves. This plant is on the downhill end and I think it gets too much water. I will hold off watering to see if this is the problem. Other then that things couldn't be better. The WOW Wonder Tea is just great. If you haven't used it you should. I can totally see the difference it makes. Glad I tried it !   Monday, June 12 View Page The 1985 Miller coming right along at its own pace. The secondaries are there but slow to lay down and I don't want to try helping them down. Everything is so big on this plant. Really like it.   Monday, June 12 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras growing nice. No problems at all with these 3 plants. Can't wait to get a few pumpkins started.   Monday, June 12 View Page The 2066 Geddes is really taking off. 6 secondaries on each side and the plant is a little over 10 feet long now. Clearly the leader of the bunch. Anyone growing this one having some yellowing on the leaves ? If so let me know if you can ?   Monday, June 12 View Page One of the players from girls softball team I coach. They are at 10-0 and having a fun summer being together. They are like family to me. I really enjoy coaching them.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page The 1985 Miller filling out nice. Should have one at 13 feet to pollunate this week soon.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras. Coming right along. Has one to pollunate tomorrow but not far enough for me yet. Will wait for the next one. Plant is doing well.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page And the 2066 Geddes leading the way. It has one to pollunate in a couple days that will be 12-14 feet out. Will try it and hope it takes. A very agressive plant. And thank you Steve Geddes for taking the time to email me about the early yellow blotches. It put my mind at ease.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page The boys are back !!   Wednesday, June 28 View Page The 1985 Miller chugging along getting alot of plant behind it at its own pace. Pollunated one on it at 14.5 ft on Monday. Thanks to my buddy Mark Smitley for pollunating it while I was with my wife at the hospital for some minor surgery.   Wednesday, June 28 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras filling out really nice. Pollunated one at 10 ft and have one to open possibly tomorrow. Kind of wish I hadn't pollunated the one at 10 feet because it's gotten to a decent size in 7 days.I guess time will tell on which one to choose. 14 feet does sound better though.   Wednesday, June 28 View Page The 2066 Geddes is the most agressive plant I have ever grown. Low to the ground and medium sized to small leaves on it with 28-30 secondaries. Pollunated first one June 27th at 14 ft and a 2nd one today at 17 ft. One heck of a plant ! And yes...it's weeding day !!   Wednesday, June 28 View Page Orange with Sandbags. Just saw your post. Hmm..   Friday, July 14 View Page The 1985 Miller with a nice start. Not at day 20 yet.   Friday, July 14 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras. On its 3rd try at getting one started. 1st was at 10 feet so I cut it off. 2nd had seeds in the blossom, so I waited for this one. It's slow out of the gate. A ton of plant behind it. Hopefully it's kicks into a higher gear soon.   Friday, July 14 View Page The 2066 Geddes. The 1st one one was kind of slow starting so I went with this one. It's on day 15. Decent start so far. The rainy weather is getting old here.   Monday, July 17 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 20. Looking great ! The 2066 Geddes hits the 20 day mark tomorrow. Hope it keeps up with this one, it looks like it could be a good race. Ran into a problem with a foamy stump on the 1998.5 Jutras. It's now running the race one legged now. We'll see what happens with it in time.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 20. Only 9 lbs behind the 1985 Miller. Should be fun watching these two grow the next few months. Hopefully luck is on my side. Shooting for my first 1000 pounder. Fingers crossed !!   Saturday, July 22 View Page Day 25 for the 1985 Miller. Getting a wild shape to it. It seems safe from any possible splits from its crazy shape. A solid 30 lbs daily. I'll take it. Tomorrow is day 25 for the 2066 Geddes, it's really picking up speed. 2 great plants. Having alot of fun this year.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Day 25 for the 1985 Miller. Getting a wild shape to it. It seems safe from any possible splits from its crazy shape. A solid 30 lbs daily. I'll take it. Tomorrow is day 25 for the 2066 Geddes, it's really picking up speed. 2 great plants. Having alot of fun this year.   Sunday, July 23 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 25. Growing nice and steady daily. Back to the rainy days again. Things are going really good in the patch.   Sunday, July 23 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras trying to join in on the race on day 18. 7 foot of plant missing. Who's knows what she will do, but she isn't quitting so neither will I. Let's do this !!   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Yes, It was chilly last night. The 2066 asked for its favorite blankie.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page The 1985 Miller a big Ole blob ! Putting on the pounds nice.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page The 2066 Geddes staying real close to the 1985 Miller. They are neck and neck. I hope they keep it up !   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Hi James Carson Show us an update brother !   Sunday, July 30 View Page The 1998.5 minus 7 feet of main gaining 19 lbs daily. It keeps trying to get in the game with the other two pumpkins in the patch. 500 lbs is the goal for this one. I think it has a good chance.   Sunday, July 30 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 33 chugging along. It's halfway to the goal I set for it. The blossom end is in no danger, I can reach in under it and things are fine there. It's keeps it's daily gains at 27-28 lbs. A very steady daily gain. But getting a bit hard to get a good tape on it. Not a bad problem though !!   Sunday, July 30 View Page And the new leader in the patch by 1 pound lol. The 2066 Geddes on day 32. A very pretty pumpkin, that may go orange. Best looking pumpkin I have had since the 1240 Rea a few years back. Daily gains of 27-30 pounds. I hope all 3 make it to the finish line. Now back to weeding lol....Hi James !   Friday, August 4 View Page The 1998.5 Jutras minus 7 feet of main putting on 24 lbs a day latley. Not too shabby.   Friday, August 4 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 37 putting on 27 lbs daily still.   Friday, August 4 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 36 staying at 30 lbs strong daily. Beautiful pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 15 View Page The 1998 5 on day 40 with half a plant behind it slowly growing at 387 lbs. Will look good on the porch.   Tuesday, August 15 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 49 having a stem split issue. Watching it very close. Scraped it clean, and sprayed peroxide and dusted with sulphur and have a fan on it constantly. Still at its 28 lbs per day. Kind of hard to measure, but that's a good thing, right ?   Tuesday, August 15 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 48. No problems yet. Hitting around 30 lbs still daily. A great looking pumpkin, starting to show some orange. Getting close to my 1000 lb goal on both of these. Having a great season so far. Almost there...   Monday, August 21 View Page The 2066 Geddes trying not to go blind.   Thursday, August 24 View Page Good Morning !!!   Saturday, August 26 View Page Day 60 for the 1985 Miller. Est weight at 978 lbs. Daily gains at 13 lbs. Crawling, but gaining.   Saturday, August 26 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 59. Est weight at 1002 lbs !! Daily gains at 10 lbs daily. My goal has landed. Now to keep it gaining. It's a good day......   Thursday, August 31 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 65 at an est weight of 1002 lbs !!   Thursday, August 31 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 64 at 1060 lbs. Pretty cool having two 1000 lb pumpkins in my back yard. 37 days to Altoona ! Let's keep it going ladies !   Wednesday, September 6 View Page The (Blob) 1985 Miller on day 70 yesterday. Hasn't stopped but is gaining slowly. Getting a nice orange to it. It's hard as a rock all over. Hoping to take to a weigh off Oct 14th and finally meet a good friend and eat a lot of cookies !!   Wednesday, September 6 View Page Day 69 yesterday for the 2066 Geddes. Ripping it's skin up daily, I guess it's growing pains. But she is still putting pounds on so I'm happy. Not long until Altoona.   Saturday, September 16 View Page The 1985 Miller on day 81. Super slow gains, but it's gaining. It sure has a big nose !   Saturday, September 16 View Page The 2066 Geddes on day 80 had a gain of 5 inches for the past five days. Not quite has pretty as she used to be, but it's been a long summer. 21 days till Altoona. She gave me a cold hard stare today.   Thursday, October 5 View Page Now, now...Take it easy here now. Just 2 more days till the Altoona weighoff. Let's not have any blow ups or anything like that !   Friday, October 6 View Page Loading day for the 2066 Geddes. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Altoona tomorrow. Even you too James.   Tuesday, October 24 View Page Here's the HD winner from our Altoona weighoff.   Tuesday, October 24 View Page And here's my 2066 Geddes, Now the 1253 Cope.   Tuesday, October 24 View Page And my 1985 Miller. Now the 1060 Cope. My best year so far. Had a great time at both weighoffs. Can't wait for next season already ! Thank you to Steve Geddes for being so nice and giving me this seed. I will grow this again.   Tuesday, October 24 View Page Let me try this once more lol. The 1253 Cope.