Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 39 Entries. Friday, April 14 View Page And a few others just In case   Friday, April 14 View Page Seeds started this morning. Tilling this afternoon when the soil is the warmest. Adding a ton of peat moss, gypsum and perlite. I'll do one more till tomorrow and as hoop house.   Saturday, April 15 View Page Finished the third till, Hoop is 90% done, Cables are in. I'm sore and tired but feel good about the patch prep.   Sunday, April 16 View Page All seeds germinated, the most aggressive root came out of the 1824 Shazzy 16'. These will go against the 1317 and the 2145 for top spot in both patches. I hope to have two personal best in both patches.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Doing good so far. Patch is ready. Cables are warming the soil and hoop houses are killing the corn seed maggot flies.   Thursday, April 20 View Page Plants are getting some natural sun light. I have been doing this on the overcast days and small time periods on sunny days. The 1824 and 2145 are looking the strongest so far.   Sunday, April 30 View Page Too cold and too wet to put out. I decided to roll the dice and pot up to the 2 gal pots cut in half, bottoms cut out and slide inside of another. Hope to be in the ground next weekend. It was also good to see how the roots are progressing and I found out I was over watering. Good to know for sure.   Sunday, April 30 View Page All potted up and back cozy in the garage window under lights and on top of heat mat.   Thursday, May 4 View Page Runing out of room in the window. Plants will go out in the hoop houses Saturday. Wet and cold spring so far.   Saturday, May 6 View Page Transplated the 2145 (picture)and the 1824. Added DE, Azos, Mykos and watered in with seaweed mixed in warm rain water.   Saturday, May 6 View Page Transplanting went well, this is 4 hours after transplant and low amount of shock. Now I just need warmer night time temps. Been in mid to upper 40s at night.   Wednesday, May 17 View Page 2145 McMullen decided it wants to make a turn instead of going straight. Luckily we have warm days and the hoop hits 90 degrees. So adjusting has been although slow, a steady process. Anyone who faces this, don't rush it. She will come down it's simple gravity, use the bamboo stakes at the angle you need. The plants weight will do the work for you.   Friday, May 26 View Page 1824 Shenoha growing nicely in the small patch. Between the cloudy days and shade tree it's a little slow but it is healthy and easy to maintain so far.   Friday, May 26 View Page 2145 McMullen is doing great. Its kicking out secondary vines and almost to the end of the 8' hoop house. Will extend tomorrow and the remove next week.   Sunday, May 28 View Page Too early for this girl but, it's good to see mine the less.   Sunday, May 28 View Page Circus shade canopy is up. Just have to do my final till and put wind fence up this week and hoop house will be good to completely take down.   Tuesday, May 30 View Page Peeking out of the hoop house time to come out side... (2145 McMullen)   Tuesday, May 30 View Page Ahh much better :)   Saturday, June 10 View Page 2145 McMullen still doing great It has to Rubin vine side vines 8 feet out across from each other. The main has two female flowers at 10 and 12 '. One will be the one. Hopefully the heat doesn't cause any pollination issues.   Monday, June 12 View Page Warning what you are about to see is graphic carnage of a squirrel or rabbit. My main vine has been severed in two places and chewed in half in another. No main fine sets this year as the one at ten feet has not grown at all in this heat. I will have to train a strong side vine as a new main. Although this does not fix the problem and he will be back for more late night snacks :(   Monday, June 12 View Page Another picture of the damage.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page It was a possum. It has been relocated to a forest preserve a few miles away. I'll continue to set the trap until I'm sure all threats are gone.   Friday, June 23 View Page Pollinated the 2145 today with the 1824 @ 10' out on the third secondary vine. It was a pretty symmetric 5 lobe. The wife pollinated a none symmetric 3 lobe yesterday that almost doubled in size. And I should have two more to do this weekend. I will pollinate through the 30th of this month and make my choice by July 1st.   Friday, June 23 View Page 2145 McMullen with severed main @12' two pollination made on side vines with one more to be made tomorrow.   Friday, June 23 View Page 2145 McMullen x 1824 Shenoha 1 DAP. 3 lobe   Friday, June 23 View Page 2145 McMullen x 1824 Shenoha pollinated today. 5 lobe.   Saturday, June 24 View Page 2145 McMullen x 1824 Shenoha pollinated this morning. 5 lobe with one twisted lobe.   Saturday, June 24 View Page 2145 McMullen x 1824 Shenoha 1 DAP. Symmetric 5 lobe. One or two more to do this week and then it's battle royal for who to keep. Temps have been more favorable in the morning at least starting in the 70s and moving to the mid to upper 80's.   Sunday, July 2 View Page 2145 McMullen @ 15 DAP. I'm still having trouble with a rabbit or something terminating secondary vines for me. I needed a new trail cam any way so I ordered one yesterday. Maybe I will see what is really going on and when it is happening so I can once and for all put an end to it. Until then just protecting the stump and fruit as best as I can.   Monday, July 3 View Page So after catching and releasing several different critters in and around the patch. One final ended the one I had hoped would be the keeper on the 2145. Frustrated beyond comprehension this morning. I cut it lose, buried some vines, pulled up the mill fabric and sat on the dirt just mapping out vines, thinking about what I could do next. I will go on and I always have a backup plan. I'll post next at day 20 if I ever get there...   Tuesday, July 4 View Page 10 DAP on the 2145 x 1824   Thursday, July 6 View Page I culled the last back up today. All my eggs are in one basket. This one here almost looks like a root was growing out of the stem split.... Never have seen this before.   Sunday, July 9 View Page Not sure why this posted as on july 22nd. Should have posted for July 9th. 2145 McMullen @ 15 DAP. I'm still having trouble with a rabbit or something terminating secondary vines for me. I needed a new trail cam any way so I ordered one yesterday. Maybe I will see what is really going on and when it is happening so I can once and for all put an end to it. Until then just protecting the stump and fruit as best as I can.   Friday, July 14 View Page The first two pictures are of "Sally" today @ 20 DAP. She is 80" in circumference and a new personal best at this time. The next two are of "Jack" today @ 13 DAP. Jack is 45" in circumference. If you do the math these two are only 1 week apart in growth. The amount of change that happens in a short period of time is just amazing to watch.   Monday, July 17 View Page Now that I know what I'm up against. He/she is going down.   Sunday, September 10 View Page UOW / DMG 372 Bayuk (1824 Shenoha x 2145 McMullen) Harvested due to soft surface spots. Over 300 seed and solid walls and small cavity.   Sunday, September 10 View Page Roots   Sunday, September 10 View Page Stem side thickness   Sunday, September 10 View Page Seeds! Anyone interested in this cross, feel free to email me.