Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 43 Entries. Monday, March 27 View Page My first seed has germinated, a storebought butternut squash. So far, I have also planted five Big Max Heirloom pumpkins.   Wednesday, March 29 View Page The first Big Max seed has surfaced and is looking healthy. Two more are on the way. The butternut continues to grow well and will likely need a transplant from its small pot.   Tuesday, April 4 View Page Third Big Max looking pretty good.   Wednesday, April 5 View Page One current setup with 2 Big Max and honeydew.   Thursday, April 6 View Page Hello, I am a new member on this site. I am a fairly new grower with a general interest in pumpkins, squash, and gourds. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, definitely email me at penedubois21@gmail.com , as any advice is helpful..   Thursday, April 6 View Page The 3 Big Max plants are all growing well, though 2 of them had a problem with secondary leaves which I think had to do with too small of a pot, which I have fixed.   Thursday, April 6 View Page The butternut, which is the oldest of my plants, continues to grow impressively with two healthy secondary leaves.   Thursday, April 6 View Page I had also planted four honeydew seeds, all of which germinated and are growing smoothly so far. They are in very small pots, so a transplant will likely be necessary soon.   Thursday, April 6 View Page About a week ago, I planted 3 seeds (the other is sitting outdoors) from an old jar that came from what I believe was an experimental hybrid I made at about age 10 between a butternut squash and a regular pumpkin. I really don't know what to expect with these, but they are growing well so far, if a bit leggy.   Friday, April 7 View Page All my plants seem to be growing well, including the giant butternut, Big Max heirloom hybrids (I figured this variety would be a good starting point, and would be a little better suited to Floridian climate), and four honeydew plants I planted about 2 weeks ago.   Friday, April 7 View Page "Bumpkins" looking a bit leggy this afternoon.   Sunday, April 9 View Page I have moved everything outside for a day or so. I am probably getting ready to put the pumpkins and the butternut in the ground, we'll see. Melons and "bumpkins" doing well, a couple more different kinds of squash hopefully on the way along with some long handled dipper and dinosaur gourds.   Monday, April 10 View Page So tired. Really hoping my plants do well despite the less than ideal location.   Tuesday, April 11 View Page Big max and honeydews looking healthy. Plants have just been moved to a new house, so I will be digging a garden in the coming days. Any suggestions on size/depth/soil type for pumpkins & squash would be appreciated (email is penedubois21@gmail.com)   Wednesday, April 12 View Page Progress on my pit I'm digging for the plants. Won't be super big but should be enough if I train the plants in different directions. I used a mixture of garden soil with fertilizer, cow manure, and mushroom compost.   Thursday, April 13 View Page So far I have transplanted 3 Big Max, 1 butternut, and 2 honeydews into my garden.   Saturday, April 15 View Page I have now also transplanted the bumpkins into my garden. Everything is looking healthy for now.   Saturday, April 15 View Page Since I needed more room, I have also made a smaller pit. I transplanted 2 melons and a bumpkin into it yesterday.   Saturday, April 15 View Page Just ordered some extra long handle dipper gourd and giant zucca gourd seeds. I hope to be able to grow some interesting gourds this summer in edition to the pumpkins and squash.   Saturday, April 15 View Page I recently found a small carved gourd that my dad brought back from Africa some years back. It is the original wild variety of the species lageneria siceraria, which is the species that includes gourds like the birdhouse, bottle, bushel, dipper, dinosaur, long gourds, etc. I was able to get some seeds out of it and have planted them this morning. I have no idea how viable they will be, but it will be interesting to see how this goes. If anyone else is interested, feel free to contact me at penedubois21@gmail.com.   Sunday, April 16 View Page This guy finally germinated after well over 2 weeks! It is some kind of squash, but is currently unidentified because I found the seed in a mixed bag. I was almost ready to throw this pot out, but I guess I gotta be patient. All the other plants are doing well.   Monday, April 17 View Page My last transplant into this garden, a healthy burgess buttercup squash. I will need to dig another small garden soon for my remaining seedlings.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Big maxes and butternut looking healthy, will hopefully begin vining soon.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page I transplanted a volunteer Lageneria Siceraria gourd plant from the other house. I plan to put it in the ground when there is room.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Another brand new mystery squash seedling. Definitely gonna need more room.   Thursday, April 20 View Page Garden looking pretty great today.   Monday, April 24 View Page I have soaked and planted some giant zucca gourd seeds I ordered online.   Monday, April 24 View Page My first lageneria seed that has actually germinated (as opposed to being transplanted). I believe it is a long handle dipper gourd.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page One of the Big Max plants has just started vining. Very happy with the way everything is looking.   Sunday, April 30 View Page Current lineup of potted plants. Left to Right: Long handled dipper gourd, unknown lageneria gourd transplant, honeydew melon, and two unknown mixed squash. I will try to get another garden ready early next week.   Sunday, April 30 View Page I also have some giant eggplant and red peppers going.   Monday, May 1 View Page All of the Big Maxes, as well as the Butternut, are now healthy and vining.   Monday, May 1 View Page The small garden is growing a bit more slowly, but is still looking healthy.   Friday, May 5 View Page I have finally made another pit for my remaining seedlings. I had to dig this one deeper since the surrounding soil was pretty much just solid clay. Right now I have the two unknown squash, the unknown lageneria gourd, and the long handle dipper gourd planted in it, with room for a few more.   Friday, May 5 View Page I have rigged up a small makeshift trellis for the unknown gourd that has already started vining. I will try to rig up something better soon, probably with chicken wire.   Monday, May 15 View Page I've been away from the house for a few days, and boy are things doing well. Bumpkins are now vining in addition to the rest of the plants.   Monday, May 15 View Page All three of my Big Max vines now each have one female flower.   Monday, May 15 View Page The butternut also has a small female flower.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page Had to pollinate the first female flower in the rain, but I hope it pulls through and sets.   Sunday, May 28 View Page New garden looking healthy. I have just transplanted two more gourd plants, including a giant zucca gourd.   Monday, May 29 View Page Squash vines in the new garden are healthy and vining, one even has a female flower already. It is shaped like a butternut, but butternut was not one of the varieties in the mix and my actual butternut plant has noticeable different leaves.   Monday, May 29 View Page Pollinated this butternut squash flower this morning. There were no open male butternut squash flowers, so I used a Burgess Buttercup flower, and hopefully the fruit sets.   Monday, May 29 View Page My first BM pumpkin seems to be looking healthy so far. Hopefully it will be able to withstand the temperatures. If anyone has any advice on taking care of this thing, please email me at penedubois21@gmail.com