Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 116 Entries. Monday, January 2 View Page Happy New Growing season.   Monday, February 20 View Page My OM was 1 percent   Monday, February 20 View Page Cover crop Rye and Oats   Monday, February 20 View Page Thinking 150 sq foot   Monday, February 20 View Page Mustard   Monday, February 20 View Page So over the last 18 months I have added 4 cover crops.. Oats, peas , rye and Mustard. Several truck loads of compost. 20 straw bales (For weeds..ugh) Patch size 3500 sq. I also used Kelp meal, Azos , soluble seaweed, cracked corn and managed to bring the OM up to 4 percent. I need to keep better notes.   Monday, February 20 View Page There are 3 stumps that still need to be dug out. Hope to get a mini track hoe early next week. Plan to dig them out and give this patch a till. Then fence, water tank and maybe time for a crop of rye.   Saturday, February 25 View Page Got the stumps dug out. Then I replaced our sewer line. Nothing like the smell of sewage to remind you where not to dig deep. Hoping to be more productive in the new patch tomorrow. The highlight of my day was when my kids friend asked my why I was playing in poo water and not growing pumpkins. LMAO.....   Saturday, February 25 View Page When your picking rocks out of the patch, help is scarce. When you have a life size Tonka toy...   Sunday, February 26 View Page Good job.   Sunday, February 26 View Page Stumps are gone.   Sunday, February 26 View Page 300 15x20 Future area for long gourds   Sunday, February 26 View Page 15x30 450.. I will use this area for the 150 SQ. Pumpkin contest. Still need to mark out the area. I'm really excited to finally have room for a few plants.   Tuesday, March 28 View Page Cloche houses. With 60 degree day soil temp went to 90 ambient 100 plus. Going to place blanket on at night to see what temps I can hold.   Tuesday, March 28 View Page Finished prep for pumpkin dug out a couple feet.   Tuesday, March 28 View Page My line up. Finally used my proven method. HAT...   Saturday, April 1 View Page Got these and the other seeds soaking. Have a few more to start later today. Found my happy place. ;)   Tuesday, April 4 View Page 36hrs   Tuesday, April 4 View Page All seeds germinated 36 to 48 hours. See which one pushes dirt first.   Tuesday, April 4 View Page this morning kins and sunflowers   Monday, April 10 View Page Still figuring out what go with. There is one late arrival pushed dirt this am. 1045   Monday, April 10 View Page Watered Patch   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Wind fence up.   Friday, April 28 View Page The 1971 Holland This was my best plant for growth. A rabbit enjoyed the stem for a snack. What is left is under lights to see if I can propagate some more roots. The 2096 Meier has one leaf left and a chunk of stem missing. Hoping to get some male flowers later. The 1970 Wallace did a wind dance and ran off.   Friday, April 28 View Page This years remaining line up. 1045 Zachkowsky 2016 Started out slow. 975.5 Gansert 2015 (x2) Both plants aggressive and getting ready to vine. 705 Debacco 2014 (x2) Both plants are aggressive slight wind damage. Gourd, Sunflower and tomatoes also in the ground pictures later.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page Whatever is chewing plants likes the heavy ones 2096 Meier. Done.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 1791 Holland 2013 Growing back some roots.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 1971 Holland returning to patch with new improved roots.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page Couldn't take it any longer started one more seed. Lost one of two Ganserts 975.5   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 46.60 Westfall best of two. The smaller plant didn't make it 2 hours in the ground and it got chewed. Trying to regrow the roots. Getting a lot of practice this year. Thinking maybe Quail.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 185 English 2015 Starting to vine.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page Planted a total of three Grey stripe Sunflowers all doing good.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 10 x 15 rectangle replaced the sticks with rebar. Should stay better for the 150 contest.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 150 contest   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 150 Contest Managed to walk into the rerod twice. Feels similar to walking into a trailer hitch with more blood.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page Drip tape in. Went with 15 on center pvc pipe. 12 inch on center for tape low flow. Only been in for a couple of days looks like it is going to work.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 975.5 Gansert   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 705 DeBacco 150 Foot contest. I really made some mistakes with the space and setting kin. Glad there are lots of warm days for vine bending.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page East 705 DeBacco vines starting to run.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 4 out of 5 of the 4.03 Shenoha 2015 Doing good. The 5th had cots only. Upload pics later   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 4.03 Shenoha 2015 The strongest growing from left to right. They have been in the ground for a week or so. (Trying to catch up my diary and notes today...) Plants seam to be still setting roots. Night soil temps around 62.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 1045.5 Zaychkowsky 2016 This plant started with the rest slow growing... Probably in shock from the warmth and sunshine.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page These seeds came from the UK Heavy Cucumber and Heavy Beetroot. Not sure how the cucumbers are going to do when transplanted. Have a couple more just in case. The beetroot have stalled growing, giving them more time under t5s. 3 Giant carrots popped up today and yesterday. May try to grow these for seed. I have realized there is more to grow then I can handle BUT WHAT A LOT OF FUN !! Wonder if I could squeeze in a watermelon?   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 96.5 Hunt Rudabagga   Sunday, May 14 View Page 2145   Wednesday, May 31 View Page 185 English   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Patch   Thursday, June 1 View Page Two heavy cucumbers starting to vine. 96.5 Hunt Rudabaga in the background. I'm out of the 150 contest. Manage to kill the plant.   Sunday, June 4 View Page 705 DeBacco   Sunday, June 4 View Page 975 Has a baby on main   Wednesday, June 7 View Page 185 English This was in the early am Moth must have been busy, napping now. All I see are female flowers on this plant. Learning...   Thursday, June 8 View Page 705 DeBacco 2014 11 feet out. I was ready male flowers picked the night before covered kin.   Thursday, June 8 View Page 705 Seeds on the outside. Try again next week. What a let down to start the day. My son sat down with me and we cut up the kin turned into a mini science project. COOL!   Friday, June 9 View Page 46.60 Finally got this lope spread out. Using cardboard for weed suppression. I only see male flowers and basically am learning as I go.   Friday, June 9 View Page 185 English. Do not see any roots at the nodes. Trimmed up this am. Christmas tree pattern. Going to read a couple articles then may post a few Gourd ???   Friday, June 9 View Page See if its going to stay.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Cucumbers vines around 18 inches. Rutabaga getting bigger.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Rutabaga   Saturday, June 10 View Page Rutabaga   Saturday, June 10 View Page 4.3 Maters. I had to trim these hard ,let them get away from me. Gave them a dose of Dunkels.   Saturday, June 10 View Page 975.5 x 705 two male flowers was all that I had from the night before.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page 975.5 Gansert x 705 DeBacco on left 4dap 975.5 x self 3 males on the right. Pollinated this am.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page First Double. First real tomato attempt. COOL! Thinned out rutabaga 9 inch cir. on best plant 5 plants now. I did not give these plants enough room. Getting close to 100 here. shade/hail cover going up today. Monsoons start in July and it usually hails.   Thursday, June 15 View Page 975selfed on 6/14 pic taken on 13. who else is tired, sore and ready for more.   Friday, June 16 View Page Down to 4 plants Really annoyed with myself over watered and lost 2 plants. Bad thing about not using a timer its still on hours later. Out of the 150 contest. Pollinated this am the 975.5 x 705 three males.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page 10 DAP 975.5 x 705   Tuesday, June 20 View Page Half Full   Tuesday, June 20 View Page 975.5 plant Putting up more shade today. Pumpkin is at 90 degrees on the skin surface during the hottest part of the day at 100 plus. I'm working on bringing that temp down.   Saturday, June 24 View Page Decided with temps over 100 to cull early. Keeping my first pollination. There is a kin at 19ish feet may try next week. Plant is doing Great.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page 1791 Holland and the 2145 they are growing. May get something in a couple weeks. I applied copper fungicide incorrect and they are really mad at me.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page 17 Dap ON the 8th day a bird decided to sample.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page 975 plant is 87 days old.   Wednesday, June 28 View Page 2145   Wednesday, June 28 View Page 1791   Thursday, June 29 View Page Sent a leaf sample to the lab today.   Friday, June 30 View Page BIG day 20 dap. Got some help from my son. We have a 232 Mudd in a pot he is taking interest in (finally). Hoping someday to get to Half Moon Bay. Up until now the biggest kin my kids have seen in person is Deans 486 me too.   Friday, June 30 View Page From the Bird! Seams to be fine little scar.   Friday, June 30 View Page 975.5 Gansert x 705 DeBacco DAP 20 CC 57 SS 39 EE 40 OTT 136 EST. 60#   Friday, June 30 View Page So My Daughter likes the name Rosebud. My son likes the name Spike. I'm happy to have a pumpkin.   Sunday, July 2 View Page The temps are starting to get back to mid 90s Night temps running low low 70s . Probably have one more period of triple digits. Increasing spray Aphids are a daily battle. This part of the run has been my biggest challenge . Plant is starting to show stress me too. I have to say I'm done being nice. I stopped companion before pollination. Think that's where I stumbled with the fungicide. Ordered what seams to work for most of you. Eagle, Bifen and Merit. Diagonal helps but when monsoons hit (anytime) this grey mold or pm spreads like crazy.   Sunday, July 2 View Page The shade ,tarp, fan and sheet are working pumpkin is staying cool. Est 100 lbs. Sure would like to add a zero or 2 that. Looks like a nice day to RELAX.   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Not sure dap plants got away from me. 4.3 Shanoha 15 1/2 Biggest one. Lots of double blooms.   Tuesday, July 4 View Page If they are on the same stem it counts as one.... Better read those rules again.   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Moving to a half sheet. Happy Independence Day!   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Since I'm going bananas waiting for a tissue sample (should get it tomorrow). I got this Cavendish dwarf banana tree this year.   Wednesday, July 5 View Page Plants got some sunburn before I could get the shade up. I used a copper fungicide before the sun came up but it was not enough time annoyed with myself. The older one bounced back a little better. See how it goes by the end of July.   Wednesday, July 5 View Page Who centered this pumpkin? 25 Dap 181 ott 77 cc 52 ss 52 ee Upped the water some today.   Monday, July 10 View Page 30 DAP 215 OTT 93cc 61ss 61ee adjusted ferts per test and bumped up the water. Funny I'm trying to get this big 500 and some people get that in a week.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page What can I say I just wanted to show a picture off my 975.5 x 705   Saturday, July 15 View Page Decided to ask her what she needs. Time to switch it up,   Saturday, July 15 View Page Been getting storms last few days. Decided to take down shade and prep for a lighter one. Time to expand kin cave.   Saturday, July 15 View Page DAP 35 239 ott 103 cc 68 ss 68 ee Squash bugs and all the rest are gaining numbers. Found some dead. Trying to keep the leaves happy is becoming more difficult.   Monday, July 17 View Page My biggest tomato so far. This had two the culled one was 1.3 . Yesterday morning my other mater had a rot spot it was 1pound 11 oz. Starting to see red two days ago. Trying to figure out the best time to pick them for weight. Been reading remember the discussion just haven't found it. All plants are 4.3 Shanoha Rumor has it there is a guy secretly growing the 8 pound tomato seeds in phx. 486 Baker wonder if he is starting to feel a little heat on the bulls eye..   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Picked today. Out of 4 plants this one was the runt. Double on right is on the most aggressive plant couple more days. Both these tomatoes are from first tier blooms. One foot off the ground.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page 2.3 Personal Best.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page Pulled my cucumbers. They were in with the Rutabaga. Cuc plants got hammered with aphids. I didn't give myself room to get behind them.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page Getting close to two foot.   Thursday, July 20 View Page DAP 40 258 ott 112 cc 73 ss 73 cc   Thursday, July 20 View Page I have measured daily for my records. I'm trying to make reasonable records for future use. I have a lot to improve. It is my understanding if I used and mixed the Anthesis correctly that this next week I should start to see the results. I plan to forward all info to Matt at the end of my season. The plant growth stalled when the pumpkin set for awhile and has started to vine again. This plant is currently 600 square feet. I did not use cables or a hoop house for plant. I may try to go earlier next year for bigger plant before pollination.   Thursday, July 20 View Page 185 English. I have trimmed this plant.Then decide to let it go wild. I was not prepared to bury vines. I am going to continue to trim out the dead debris and see how much room this plant wants. The plant keeps aborting gourds so giving it some time and less love.   Saturday, July 22 View Page 2.9 Getting closer to three.   Tuesday, July 25 View Page Sun Flowers with wow packs and mycorrhiza. DAP 45 272 ott   Friday, July 28 View Page Very excited.... I'm going to put it out there I think I have passed me personal best. My Dad agreed looks bigger. He helped me load my 454 15 years ago..   Saturday, August 5 View Page 975.5 DAP 55 280.5 ott 122.5 cc 78 ss 80 ee   Saturday, August 5 View Page I think, from the coloring in the deeper ribs this could get a deeper color.   Friday, August 11 View Page Plants hanging in there. I'm letting the lady bugs mow down the aphids. Found some eggs on the kin. They have taken over. Thank You Mother Nature!   Friday, August 11 View Page Dap 61 Ott 282.5 CC 123.5 SS 80 EE 79   Thursday, August 24 View Page Got all the stuff ready for the lift.   Thursday, August 24 View Page LEE your ring worked AWESOME!!!!! I have been waiting a few years to use this lifting ring.   Thursday, August 24 View Page Bottom looks good.   Thursday, August 24 View Page Ready to be weighed tomorrow. 975.5 Gansert x 705 DeBacco For Az. its a Big Pumpkin. Big Thank You to Dean for all the work you have put into our club AZGPG. KUDOS!!   Friday, August 25 View Page 450 Culp Great Day Personal Best for me with an orange pumpkin. Heavy missed by 5 pounds. I think RosebudSpike will make a lot of people smile this year.   Friday, August 25 View Page Looking forward to seeing the HEAVIES that are coming. Good Luck! I think I still have the heaviest Rutabaga in AZ. :)   Monday, October 9 View Page May have to Watch Star Wars after the HMB weigh off. Congratulations to all this season! Proud to be part of such a Great community of growers.   Saturday, December 9 View Page A lot of the seeds sprouted inside this kin. Test germed ten of the ones that we recovered, they all sprouted. My kids and I are getting the rest ready for their school. Hopefully some will get planted.   Saturday, December 9 View Page Just got in the low thirties here 2 days ago. Waiting out this carrot hoping to get it to seed before pulling it. Planted the beets and carrot late. The rutabaga got a root rot. Found squash bugs, it weighed 10 pounds. I have a smaller one still growing. Rethinking my veg location. Winter solace is not cooperating. To hot here to cut down the shade.