Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 25 Entries. Thursday, April 13 View Page And we're off! Got 6 started in the warmer.   Thursday, April 13 View Page This should keep Bambi out!   Sunday, April 30 View Page Plan A for the round pen is my 564 Richard. Last year this plant was the most aggressive I have grown so I have high hopes on this one   Sunday, May 7 View Page One week in the hoop. 564 Richard is pretty weak looking but is still the most promising. ..   Sunday, May 7 View Page This is the top patch. 1642 Wallace, 1322 Hoffman 955 Richard.   Sunday, May 14 View Page Starting to wake up a bit. It's been really cold and wet. The forecast is not looking good for the week   Saturday, May 20 View Page Heavy frost this am. 25 degrees. Yuck. I hope the light bulbs kept the little plants warm.   Sunday, May 21 View Page 1322 Hoffman, 955 Richard on the right. 1864 Wallace in the rear. Only 2 get to stay. The Wallace is lagging so unless it picks up the decision is easy.   Sunday, May 28 View Page Slow growth. The 955 and 1322 are going to be the contenders. We have had frost almost every morning, it's hard to grow in cold temps. The plants are healthy, and it's time to start feeding them a it more.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Finally some heat! II took the plastic down, but left it nearby just in case! 1322 is growing nice and should lay down anyday. The 955 is looking good although it's heading the wrong way, one disadvantage to direct seeding but looks good. I started kelp and fish emulsion last week, just a taste of it though.   Sunday, June 11 View Page Nice growth this week as the temperature was around 90 and 50 at night. I have to remove one of these today as the backup plan has to go! Tough choice......   Monday, June 19 View Page A day late but there has been substantial growth this week. They are out around 7 to 8 feet and the first female is showing, too early on these though. Starting to bury vines and stepping up the food. This is a good comparison between direct seeding and transplanting, hard to tell which is which. The plant on the left was direct seeded in the soil while the 1322 on the right was transplanted   Sunday, June 25 View Page 955 Richard on the left, 1322 Hoffman on the right. Dead even on length. 1322 wilts In the heat but recovers. Hoping for around July 5th through the 10th to pollinate vines are around 10 feet today   Tuesday, June 27 View Page 60 plus mph winds.... arrrrgg. The windbreak, broke. They will survive. Major set back   Sunday, July 9 View Page 1322 pumpkin pollinated with my 955 on Saturday. Long stem and body like her mama.   Sunday, July 16 View Page 10 DAP 20 inch circumference. Not the number I wanted to see, however for all that we have been through, I'll take it! Seems to be a good pollination so far. We have had 100 + the last week so lots of heat stress   Sunday, July 23 View Page Here is the Hoffman 1322. She looks good although the plant is struggling. Measures 95 ott at 14 dap. No records here, but doing what we I can   Sunday, July 30 View Page The 955 is plugging along. She looks like her mama and is at nearly identical growth.   Monday, August 7 View Page Steady growth. It is like I'm growing it's mama again, she looks like her mama and is nearly identical in color,shape, and size. Right at 200 lbs at day 30.   Sunday, August 13 View Page Just like last year only about 19 days behind. Today she is at about 290 lbs 234 ott. Going to be a nice orange color and so far the blossom hasn't gone under. No record this year for sure but still having a great time!   Sunday, August 20 View Page Still holding it's own, 15 ish pounds a day. Measures about 375 lbs. All systems looks good, just not a giant...yet. maybe if fall goes till about Christmas!   Sunday, August 27 View Page Slow...slow....slow. still growing, average 10 lbs a day. 276 ott or 472 lbs. Looking more and more loke her mama everyday. I have figured out that my heavy clay soil in the patch is developing cracks and swallowing all the water I can give it..... about all I can do is water apply tons of water. Looks like I have fall patch work to do.   Monday, September 4 View Page The 955 Richard measures just over 600 lbs as of today. She is still holding the 10 lb per day pace. It is good, not great, but looks very healthy still. Looking at the forecast.... ugh... calling for 40, we might frost! The weigh off is on Sept 30, so there is still some time to push a few more pounds into it.   Sunday, September 10 View Page 3 weeks to go! The old girl keeps chugging along even in the diffused light from heavy smoke and a couple dips into the high thirties at night. Measures 308" ott somewhere in the 630 ish range and showing 9 lbs a day. Beautiful color having a blast!   Sunday, September 24 View Page Just about the end of the line. 5 days of rain, temps have been into the 20s. Hang on a fee more days