Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 13 Entries. Thursday, January 4 View Page Here is my giant veg short list for 2018. I only have 4.5 allotment plots this year, which is about 6500 sq ft in total. This year I'll try a few crops in barrels so I can start them in the greenhouse and wheel them outside when the weather gets better. Hoping to grow about 20 different varieties of (rare) potatoes as well as regular fruit and veg and ornamental flowers and pumpkins. SQUASH (1) – large greenhouse 2118 Jutras 17* FIELD PUMPKIN (4) 133.4 Wursten 16 103.2 Wagler 14 176.4 Wursten 17 158.7 Horde 16 CUCUMBER (2) 17.6 Wursten 17 81.5 Wursten 17 FODDER BEET (7) Brigadier TOMATO (6) 6.23 Konieczny 16 (MegaZac) 5.95 Konieczny 16 (Domingo) Big Zac (6.83 Boudyo strain) 5.75 Timm 16 (BigZac) 6.06 Sproule 14 (BigZac) 4.80 Lyons 16 (BigZac) 4.01 Bobej 16 (BigZac) PEPPER (3) 695 Nieuwenhoff 17 650 Budzisz 16 563 Van Raalte 17 RUNNERBEAN (8-10) BUSHELGOURD (1) – small greenhouse 108 Nieuwenhoff 16 POT CORN (1) – Jalapeno POT PARSNIP (1) – Picador POT CARROT (1) – Bangor POT BEET (1) - Brigadier LONG GOURD (1) 122 Casarotto 14   Wednesday, April 18 View Page Some of the sweet pepper plants: 563 Van Raalte (Frazier) and 650 Budzisz (unknown but probably Colossal). 695 Nieuwenhoff seeds failed to germinate. Had hoped to grow the 2118 Jutras*, but one failed to germinate and the other was so mutilated that there doesn't seem to be a growing tip. Started a 2269 Paton and 1706 Horde as replacements. Fodderbeets and table beets are outside. Carrot and parsnip are in barrels, temporarily in the greenhouse. Tall corn is waiting inside. 108 Nieuwenhoff bushelgourds have germinated. LGs failed to germinate so have started 127.5 Lyons 16 seeds to replace them. Just field pumpkins, runner beans, tomatoes and cucumbers to start in about a month's time. Planted 30 varieties of (rare) potatoes.   Monday, May 28 View Page The sowing season is finally over. Today I put in the long and heavy cucumbers, the field pumpkins and runner beans. We have been having very warm weather for Dutch standards. The 2269 Paton in the greenhouse was a late start but is doing well. Slugs took out several of my fodderbeets but I have four that are still doing okay. Several tomato seeds didn't germinate so I ended up with: 5.95 Konieczny 16 (Domingo) 5.75 Timm 16 (BigZac) 6.06 Sproule 14 (BigZac) 4.80 Lyons 16 (BigZac) 4.01 Bobej 16 (BigZac) 5.03 Hunt 17 The 108 Nieuwenhoff bushelgourd in my other greenhouse (not pictured) is doing well. I planted quite a few field pumpkin seeds today. Multiples of: 133.4 Wursten 16 103.0 Wagler 15 176.4 Wursten 17 158.7 Horde 16 Other than that, some giant corn, peppers, carrots, table beets, parsnips and a long gourd.   Thursday, June 21 View Page 108 Nieuwenhoff bushel gourd. Not sure if anybody has ever tried growing these indoors.   Friday, August 10 View Page 2269 Paton - day 44 This is the hottest and driest summer on record with temperatures soring to almost 100°F. Day 20 on the Paton was 59 lbs, the smallest pumpkin I have ever grown. Was hoping to make a bang on my last year growing AGs, but that won't be happening.   Friday, August 10 View Page I planted a bushel gourd, but I got a pear gourd. Grown half indoors, half outdoors.   Friday, August 10 View Page Most of the other giant veg has failed due to the extreme heat. The runner beans actually wither away right after pollination. I have three field pumpkins pollinated with one to go tomorrow. Hoping the cooler weather in the forecast will prevent them from ripening too soon. Most of the 36 potato varieties I grew did okay. Several were quite a bit smaller than normal. Still a few more varieties to add to the picture. I hope to show these at the Dutch pumpkin weigh-off on September 29.   Friday, August 17 View Page Day 0 for the 133 Wursten field pumpkin. In comparison a culled day 1 and a culled day -1 of a normal competition field pumpkin (158 Horde). The 133 flowers look like they will open the next day, but then stay closed for 3-4 additional days before opening.   Monday, August 27 View Page Quite a year. We went from 100F to 41F in just a few weeks time. The 2269 Paton pretty much stopped growing. It measures about 800 lbs+ and I won't be taking it to the weigh-off. I lost all the early pollinations on the FPs. Here is the 133 Wursten (day 10). Probably the largest day 10 ever recorded, but it won't make it due to its odd rings. Already lost one on that plant.   Monday, August 27 View Page 103 Wagler (day 16) - way too small and I don't like the shape.   Monday, August 27 View Page 176 Wursten (day 11) - oozing at the blossom end - not looking good   Monday, August 27 View Page 158 Horde (open pollinated, unknown date) - nice shape but really light colour.   Tuesday, October 2 View Page We had a great weigh-off this year in Holland, with Ian Paton coming all the way from England with his 2070lb pumpkin. The Dutch growers had a very challenging year and although I won several first places with some giant veg, only the kettle gourd is worth mentioning. It weighed in at 164.2 lbs, probably making it the heaviest kettle gourd ever officially weighed at a weigh-off.