Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 33 Entries. Sunday, May 14 View Page In February it was really warm and I cleared out a new patch. Here's a diagram of the layout. I've got two 2157 Paton in a heated greenhouse with 48' soil cables. The patch is around 1000 SQ ft and had a nice sunny exposure. The soil is about 12" deep until you reach sand. Soil test showed a pH of 5.8 so I added a bag of rapid lime. Also added 50lb of Northeast Organics 5-3-4 Pro Grow across the whole patch. Some 2-3-3 Pro Start closer to the planting holes. 8lb kelp. A little borax.   Sunday, May 14 View Page Here's a photo of Patch 1   Sunday, May 14 View Page The 2157s   Sunday, May 14 View Page Patch 2a has a 1949 Paton and 2252 Paton. This patch will be grown Christmas tree. They're in a greenhouse with soil cables. Patch 2b has a 2066 Geddes and a 1694 Geddes. It'll be grown in a flag pattern.   Sunday, May 14 View Page Here's a photo of Patch 2 a couple of weeks ago. Patch 2 had a cover crop of winter rye planted in the fall, and was amended with leaf compost and lime.   Sunday, May 14 View Page Seeds were started April 15th, germinated April 18th through 20th, and we're planted outside on April 30th. Everything got Pumpkin Pro and Azos from seed starting, and a lot in the planting holes. The 2157s also got WOW starter packs that came as samples with the Azos. I've been watering sparingly with reverse-osmosis water, humic acid, Neptune's Fish&Seaweed, Fox Farm Big Bloom, and Companion. I had also started a 1944 Connolly but unfortunately it had quadruple cots and the first true leaf didn't seem to have the space to come out properly. Thanks to the generous growers that provided me with seeds for this year: Ian and Stuart Paton, Steve Geddes, and Steve Connolly. Good luck to everyone!   Monday, May 15 View Page Tomorrow it'll be in the high 70s so I'll be leaving the greenhouse doors open. There also could be some wind so I quickly put up some silt fence as some protection. Just in case. Photo is Patch 1   Monday, May 15 View Page Patch 2   Tuesday, May 30 View Page One of my 2157 in Patch 1 got a split. So it was an easy choice about which one to keep. I haven't pulled it yet but I reoriented the greenhouse so that it's only over the better plant - giving it space to grow.   Tuesday, May 30 View Page Reoriented greenhouse in Patch 1.   Tuesday, May 30 View Page Reoriented greenhouse in Patch 1.   Monday, June 26 View Page This is Patch 2b. I added some extra area to it and installed drip tapes. Each node has been buried with WOW Pumpkin Pro and Azos. The plant is a 2066 Geddes. Tomorrow it'll be the first pollination: Main vine at 11ft. Cross will be 2157 Paton.   Monday, June 26 View Page Patch 2a has the 2252 Paton. Secondaries have been a little slow. The drip tape goes across both Patch 2a and 2b.   Monday, June 26 View Page This Patch 1 with a 2157 Paton in it. I had two 2157 in there and both developed some splits on the main vine, and they also kind of folded. Should have supported them better before they lay down, I think. On the keeper I cut the main before the split/fold, and retained a secondary to become a main. Another secondary was also growing aggressively so I reminded that one to put the focus on the main. The plant is a putting out strong secondaries on one side, but less on the other, so I may train some tertiaries to fill in the space.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page First pollination today. 2066 Geddes x 2157 Paton. 11ft on the main. Lobes are malformed.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page On the first few nodes on the main of the 2066 I tried the Paton Pot Method. I took a pot off to take a look and in this photo you can see the root growth into the pot.   Sunday, July 2 View Page This morning I pollinated another 2066x2157 @~14ft.   Sunday, July 2 View Page The 2066 plant   Sunday, July 2 View Page The 2252 plant. Secondaries are starting to grow faster   Tuesday, July 4 View Page Trapped 4 SVBs this morning. First ones of the ywar   Tuesday, July 4 View Page 2157 plant   Tuesday, July 4 View Page 2157 Paton x 2066 Geddes, @~14ft. 6 lobes   Wednesday, July 12 View Page This is the 2252 Paton in Patch 2A. I set a Pumpkin on the main vine a couple of days ago and I hope it's going to stick. The plant is my weakest out of the three. It's main is pretty long, but the secondaries just haven't set off.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page This is the 2066 Geddes in Patch 2B. I've been having trouble getting pumpkins set. I had one set on the main vine at around 11ft, but the lobes were deformed. It was growing weirdly so I cut it off. I tried setting 4 more on the main but they all aborted with the hot weather. The main vine growing tip is shriving up and the new leaves are yellowish. The plant is my biggest and has been growing awesomely. I do have some pumpkins on side vines that I think will stick. You can see one that's around 1.5 weeks old at the bottom of the photo that's on the first or second secondary. Some are pollinated on more advanced side vines - all 2066x2157 crosses.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page This is the 2157 Paton in Patch 1. This is the plant that I had to retrain a secondary as a main, but it's doing really well. Big dark leaves. Secondaries are growing fast. 4 pumpkins set - 2 on the main vine with a good s-curve set, 2 on the first secondaries. I'm going to cull them off gradually.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Here's another view of the 2157 looking backwards. The primary main pumpkin is in the foreground, with the main going to the left of the photo.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page This is the main pumpkin on the 2157. Everything on the 2157 is 2156x2066. This photo was taken on July 11th, and is DAP 7.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Heres the stump of the 2157   Thursday, July 13 View Page 2157x2066 DAP 9   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Got the 2156 set on a board at the weekend.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page 2157x2066 --- DAP 14 --- 107 OTT --- 30lbs   Monday, July 24 View Page Today is DAP 20 for the 2157x2066. Unfortunately I think that it's aborted or something. Since DAP 14 the circumference went: 44", 50", 53", 56.5", 58", 58", 57". Estimated weight is around 60lbs, but it's obviously not growing, and the walls have some 'give' to them. I'll give it a few more days. Self pollinated another one on the main this morning, and there's an open pollination on a secondary from yesterday. Very disappointing.   Monday, July 24 View Page This is a 2252x2066 on the main vine. Pollinated July 9th, so DAP 15 today. It has a butternut squash shape, and not too much plant behind it, but it's my best pumpkin at the moment!!