Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 227 Entries. Saturday, February 24 View Page Happy 2018 growing season! I'm feeling motivated after getting my pumpkin on at the GPC Big Show in Portland, Oregon.   Sunday, February 25 View Page One of my goals last season was to improve my standing in the Grower of the Year; I was so happy to achieve the 5400 pound club! I'm rubbing elbows with some amazing and dedicated growers in this group and am very honored.   Sunday, February 25 View Page I moved up from #9 to #7 in a year! Next year, my goal will be to make it into the Top 5.   Sunday, February 25 View Page Yay!   Sunday, February 25 View Page 2002 pounds and #13 overall! This season, I'm going for 2100+ and a Top 10 finish.   Sunday, February 25 View Page I was pretty stoked to get this!   Tuesday, February 27 View Page Soil sample is taken and ready to mail. The line up and back ups have been finalized after procuring some additional seeds at the Big Show and are my best collection yet. My theme this year: "Fortune follows the bold."   Tuesday, February 27 View Page Because I am planning on growing some monsters this year, I made myself a new lifting ring with adjustable straps. Check out these straps! Everyone will know it's mine!   Wednesday, February 28 View Page Future growers of the 2002 Tobeck: In order to encourage people to grow seeds from Death Star, aka, 2002 Tobeck (2145 x self), I will be organizing a Death Star Futurity Jackpot. You need to declare to me your intention to grow the 2002 by April 1st and pay $20 into the jackpot. I am growing the 2002 also, but will not partake in the jackpot since I will be managing it. I will publish a list of entrants on BP after May 15th along with the projected payouts. All fruit must be sound and officially weighed at a GPC event in 2018 to be eligible. The Champion (heaviest 2002 entered in the Futurity) will receive 70% of the jackpot; the Reserve Champion (Second heaviest 2002 entered in the futurity) will receive 30%. World record bonus added $500 (no additional State/Country/Province record bonus). State/Country/Province record bonus $100 added regardless of Futurity placing. If you don't have a 2002, please go to PGVG's (www.pgvg.org) or PNWGPG's (www.pnwgpg.com) websites for club promo packs. They will also be featured in upcoming auctions. You can also contact me and get a 2002 for entry, but my supply is getting quite limited. Send me your name and address to: Cindytobeck@gmail.com to receive payment information.   Sunday, March 18 View Page The winter rye is looking great!   Sunday, March 18 View Page Right side up?   Monday, March 19 View Page Patch all plowed up...and I added a 7th area!   Monday, March 19 View Page Right side up?   Tuesday, March 20 View Page Let's try this again...   Wednesday, March 28 View Page I hand-spread the first 1000 pounds of amendments tonight and got finished just before dark. I'm hoping to rototill Sunday or Monday.   Saturday, March 31 View Page All rototilled! The soil looks so goooooood!!!   Saturday, March 31 View Page Here is the whole patch with the 7th area. I was going to grow 2 squash...but now Rosalyn wants to grow a Fair pumpkin, so she will take over that spot with a couple 1937 Urena's.   Saturday, April 14 View Page Rosalyn's 1937's are up!   Saturday, April 14 View Page 15 seeds are filed for 6 patches and will do an 8-hour soak overnight: Patch 1: 2002 Tobeck vs 2002 Patch 2: 2269 Paton vs 2269 Patch 3: 2118 Jutras x 4 Patch 4: 2150 Skinner vs 2112 Skinner Patch 5: 2145 McMullen vs 1937 Urena Patch 6: 1810 Werner vs 2112 Skinner Let the marathon begin!   Saturday, April 14 View Page They will be soaking in a special mixture on their heat mat for 8 hours.   Saturday, April 14 View Page Here they are, all arranged ready for their bath! 11:44 pm until 7:45 AM. Then they will go into their warmed pots.   Sunday, April 15 View Page They're all in their 4 inch starter pots with my special mix of awesomeness!   Sunday, April 15 View Page The cover is on and I wait.   Sunday, April 15 View Page She did a good job!   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Rosalyn's 1937's just got repotted tonight. My 4 cabbages are looking robust!   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Tonight I laid out all of the lumber I use to build greenhouses. Tomorrow I will start to dig holes for the uprights. Meanwhile, on the heat mat, my seeds are doing secret things in the dirt. It's so hard to wait!   Wednesday, April 18 View Page Rosalyn is installing a soil heating cables in her patch. This is the first time for her to use one.   Thursday, April 19 View Page Sun's out.....guns out!   Saturday, April 21 View Page I got the hoop house frames up and pvc ribs in place. I'm not going to set them in the ground until tomorrow after I run all 10,000 feet of t-tape. Tonight I got my mainline in place and installed all of my valves. Meanwhile, back in the house, the seedlings are growing nicely under their t5 light bank. Also on tomorrow's agenda is to prepare my planting sites with some special goodies, pound rebar, and cover the greenhouses with my new plastic.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Rosalyn and her friend helped with the t tape today. I walked back and forth across the patch 50 million times I think.   Sunday, April 22 View Page And done!   Sunday, April 22 View Page This is my 150 square foot patch. It fits inside the hoop house and is 9 feet x 16.7 feet.   Monday, April 23 View Page Today I got the greenhouses mostly finished. I've got new plastic this year too. These ones are 25 x 20 feet each.   Monday, April 23 View Page I have two of these smaller 16 x 16 hoop houses. This one will be home to my 150 square foot plant.   Monday, April 23 View Page And this one is on my newly tilled area I call Patch 7.   Monday, April 23 View Page The babies got a little sun today.   Monday, April 23 View Page Looking at my seedlings, I'd say the two 2269 Patons look most amazing. Other beauties include (in order of prettiness) 2112, 1937, 2002 or 2145 and 1810. The 2150 is quite the runt so far and hasn't even left it's 4" starter pot yet, and the four 2118's are quite ugly: leggy, curly cotyledons, kind of curly and small true leaves. As long as one of them grows me a green giant, I don't care how ugly they are though! I may end of changing my line up plans and just go with the best looking plants. If that's the case, I may plant both 2269s and ditch the 2150 which is failing to thrive. I'll give them more time to impress me before I make any big decisions.   Saturday, April 28 View Page I got a new favorite hoodie in the mail today! Thanks Ron!   Saturday, April 28 View Page I made some blanket forts for night time in each hoop house. Today I planted in Hoop1 the 2118s on the North side, and the 2002s on the south side. I'll plant hoop 2 tomorrow. I still haven't decided who is goung where, so I need to take the time to think. But I was committed to Joe's squash and my own Death Stars, so that decision was easy enough.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Well, here is my line up. Everyone is planted except the 150 square foot patch. I started Steve's 2075 and 1944 seeds tonight for that. The poor 2112 is by itself because the other 2112 failed to thrive and is still miniscule. At least the one in the dirt is robust. I'll just have to be extra careful with it since it doesn't have a backup.   Sunday, April 29 View Page 2150 on left, 1810 on right.   Sunday, April 29 View Page My hoop house helper; he's so cute!   Sunday, April 29 View Page The 2002's.   Sunday, April 29 View Page The 2118's   Sunday, April 29 View Page 2145 on the left, and 1937 on the right.   Monday, April 30 View Page Giant cabbages are planted!   Monday, April 30 View Page The lone 2112...   Monday, April 30 View Page 2269's   Monday, April 30 View Page This was my other 2112; it's crazy slow! It was started along with my other seeds, but looks 4 days old. Maybe it'll surprise me.   Monday, April 30 View Page I found out Q Tip drafted me, so I busted out the heat lamps so he can win again! I need to do my part!   Thursday, May 3 View Page Today I installed my watering system and ran my pump to test it out. It's working great!   Thursday, May 3 View Page Look at those nice straight drip lines! They were all twisted from today's wind. So I fixed them all as the water ran through them.   Thursday, May 3 View Page South side before...   Thursday, May 3 View Page South side after!   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2118's are looking good finally!   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2002's   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2145 and 1937   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2269s...they are a bit sensitive to the sun and aren't looking their best, but they'll good in no time.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2112s   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1810 and 2150   Sunday, May 6 View Page The 2075 and 1944 both germinated last night, so I moved their pots into a hoop house to acclimate. They'll go in my 150 square foot patch.   Tuesday, May 8 View Page Well, we thought it would be fun to hold our own draft like Q Tip and Mike! So this is my team, and this is Holub's. It should be exciting! Go team Tobeck! And, go team Holub....either way I'll be part of a winning team!   Sunday, May 13 View Page A great way to start off mothers day was spending time weeding with Rosalyn!   Sunday, May 13 View Page The 2118s are looking pretty good.   Sunday, May 13 View Page My 2002s are robust.   Sunday, May 13 View Page The 2145 and 1937 are both beauties.   Sunday, May 13 View Page The 2269s are quite humongous.   Sunday, May 13 View Page The 2112 is looking very nice.   Sunday, May 13 View Page The 1810 and 2150 are nice.   Sunday, May 13 View Page My 150 square foot plant ended up being the little 2112. There was no way it was going to compete with the big one, so it gets it's own patch. With some luck Im going to try being the first to grow a 1000 pounder in 150 sq. feet.   Saturday, May 19 View Page I culled a few plants today; all plants are on the ground running, most with 5 foot vines.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2118 Jutras   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2145 McMullen   Sunday, May 20 View Page Rosalyn's 1937 Urena's. She hasn't culled yet. Both plants are equally nice.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2269 Paton   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2112 Skinner   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2112 in the 150 square foot patch.   Sunday, May 20 View Page This will be a tough call. On the left is the 2150 Skinner; on the right is the 1810 Werner. The 1810 is 1 leaf ahead, and is proven. The 2150 is 2624 selfed, which appeals to me....it started out VERY slow, but has nearly caught up. Both have touched down without issue. The 2150's stump beyond the cots got a little twisted since it was so leggy and has a parallel split. I wonder if that can cause me issues down the road with premature rotting stump. I just don't know what to do with these two. I have about a week I think before I must decide.   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2118s. I have 3 of them going different directions. The middle one had a flat vine so I chopped it back.   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2145   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2269   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2112   Sunday, May 27 View Page 1937   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2002   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2150   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2112 in the 150 sq foot patch   Sunday, May 27 View Page Rebar showing width of 150 sq foot patch: 9 feet   Sunday, May 27 View Page And rebar corners near plant for a length of 16.5 feet.   Sunday, June 3 View Page This weekend was the Region 5 Sport Horse Championship show. Annie and I did very well!   Sunday, June 3 View Page I'm down to two 2118s now. They both have little green babies on the tip, but I'm waiting to see which one will be the most green.   Sunday, June 3 View Page 2269   Sunday, June 3 View Page 2112   Sunday, June 3 View Page Rosalyn's 1937   Sunday, June 3 View Page 2002   Sunday, June 3 View Page 2112 in the 150 square foot patch has finally laid down.   Sunday, June 3 View Page 2150   Sunday, June 3 View Page See you next Sunday!   Monday, June 4 View Page 2145   Sunday, June 10 View Page This weekend I was out of town at at jumper clinic, but managed to get a few pics upon my return.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Green baby on 2118.   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2145 baby!   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2269 baby; nice stem!   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2112 plant   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2112 baby   Sunday, June 10 View Page 1937 baby   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2002 baby   Sunday, June 10 View Page 2150 plant   Sunday, June 17 View Page Tea brewing day   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2118   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2145   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2269   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2112   Sunday, June 17 View Page 1937   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2002   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2150   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2112 in 150 sq ft patch   Sunday, June 17 View Page See you next week...for POLLINATION!!!!   Wednesday, June 20 View Page 2002 x 2112   Wednesday, June 20 View Page 2112 x self. I wanted to cross it with 2150, but alas, no fresh males.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page 2145 x self   Thursday, June 21 View Page The hoop houses are coming down. They should've come down last week, but I wanted to wait until the heat wave was over. The offer UV protection.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Nice 5 lober on the 2118 this morning x self.   Thursday, June 21 View Page It a nice shade of green. Let's hope it stays that way.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Rosalyn pollinating her 1937   Thursday, June 21 View Page She got a beautiful 6 lober.   Friday, June 22 View Page Another 2002. This time crossed with the 2150.   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2150x2118   Saturday, June 23 View Page Patch tour is a day early since I'm hauling down to Oregon for a horse show.   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2118   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2118 baby   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2145   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2145 baby   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2269   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2269 baby   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2112   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2112 baby   Saturday, June 23 View Page Rosalyn's 1937   Saturday, June 23 View Page 1937 baby   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2002   Saturday, June 23 View Page A couple 2002 babies   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2112 in the 150 sq foot patch   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2150   Saturday, June 23 View Page 2150 baby   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 2269 x self. This will be my chosen one barring any calamities.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 2112 x 2150. I like this cross. I'll have a tough decision probably with this plant since the babies are such beauties.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 2145 x 2150. I wanted to self my 2145, but the flowers I covered last night weren't quite mature enough and didn't open. Luckily I had a backup plan and had some extra males covered. This one will probably be the keeper.   Thursday, June 28 View Page My keeper 2118: nice and green.   Thursday, June 28 View Page 2118: beautiful 5 lober.   Thursday, June 28 View Page 2269 had a nice one today x self. Other than my 2112 in the 150 square foot patch, pollinations are done! Today marks 100 days until Elk Grove and Baumans weigh off, and 102 days until HMB. I'm hoping to get one to at least 2110 pounds. Grow babies grow!   Sunday, July 1 View Page Sunday sunset patch tour!   Sunday, July 1 View Page Overview   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2118 backup. The color seems a bit light...but look at that stem! So long!   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2118 keeper named The Krakken! Unleash the Kraken!   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2145 backup   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2145 keeper   Sunday, July 1 View Page One of the 2269s. This one is the younger of the two, by a day. It has a longer stem and 4 lobes.   Sunday, July 1 View Page This is tge other 2269, 5 lobes and 1 day younger.   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2112 keeper   Sunday, July 1 View Page Rosalyn's 1937 keeper   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2002 keeper   Sunday, July 1 View Page 150 sq foot 2112   Sunday, July 1 View Page Blossom at 10 foot on the 150 sq foot plant.   Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the one I really want on 150 sq foot plant in a few days.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Keeper on the 2150   Monday, July 2 View Page 150 sq foot plant 2112 x 2150   Sunday, July 15 View Page Patch tour!   Sunday, July 15 View Page 2118: The Krakken x self 6/28   Sunday, July 15 View Page It's going to be a beauty! Look at that stem!   Sunday, July 15 View Page 2145 x 2150 6/27. This one is a beauty!   Sunday, July 15 View Page 2269 Patton x self 6/27   Sunday, July 15 View Page 2112 x self 6/20   Sunday, July 15 View Page 1937 of Rosalyn's x self 6/21   Sunday, July 15 View Page I went on vacation all last week, and when I came home my 2002 "Chosen One" was quite ugly and small, so I culled it and went with the later backup, which is nice: 2002 x 2150 6/22.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Ugh...this is the one ugly duckling of my patch: 2150 x 2118 6/23.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Here is my 150 sq foot patch. It's nicely filled in.   Sunday, July 15 View Page This one is my backup on the 150 sq foot plant at 10 feet: 2112 x 2150 7/1.   Sunday, July 15 View Page This will be my chosen one probably in my 150 sq foot patch: 2112 x open 7/8.   Sunday, July 22 View Page The 2150 got culled and the plant was pulled. Ain't nobody got time for that!   Sunday, July 22 View Page Heat wave is coming, so all my vine tips are covered with shade cloth. This is the north side.   Sunday, July 22 View Page South side of patch   Sunday, July 22 View Page The Kraken   Sunday, July 22 View Page 2145   Sunday, July 22 View Page 2269   Sunday, July 22 View Page 2112   Sunday, July 22 View Page 1937   Sunday, July 22 View Page 2002   Sunday, July 22 View Page 2112 in the 150 sq foot patch   Monday, July 30 View Page July 15-30 progress on my 2112 Skinner in the 150 sq foot patch.   Friday, August 3 View Page Shhhh....The Kraken is sleeping....and GROWING!   Friday, August 3 View Page Broad shoulders, long and thick stem, and a beautiful shade of green...I'm in love!   Friday, August 3 View Page Its patch is nearly filled out- finally!   Sunday, August 5 View Page Patch south side   Sunday, August 5 View Page Patch north side   Sunday, August 5 View Page 2112 in the 150 sq foot patch. It's a strong grower at day 25.   Sunday, August 5 View Page The Kraken   Sunday, August 5 View Page 2145   Sunday, August 5 View Page 2269   Sunday, August 5 View Page 2112   Sunday, August 5 View Page 1937   Sunday, August 5 View Page 2002   Friday, August 10 View Page Day 30 on the 2112 in the 150 sq foot patch. This is the best day 30 I have ever had. Keep in mind, we don't get crazy early weights early up here in Washington, but our pumpkins grow steady through September. OTT 256" for an estimated weight of 387 pounds. I got in a bad car wreck last night, so it was all I could do to get out and measure the 2112. I really need to bury vines and spray, but life just threw me a curve.   Sunday, October 7 View Page I'm here at my happy place....yay. Now we shall par-tay!   Monday, October 8 View Page This year I flew down to HMB to cheer on my pumpkin friends, and didn't bring one of my own. The last two years, driving down a pumpkin, I've longed to go to the beautiful beaches, so this year I got my chance! After a bad car wreck that resulted in a disappointing growing year, the California sun and surf, along with the HMB hospitality was just what my heart needed!   Monday, October 8 View Page While everyone else was driving, I was enjoying the day on the beach after my flight!   Monday, October 8 View Page Last night upon arriving for the growers' dinner, I met Josiah Brandt, who was such a great guy, and obviously a dedicated and knowledgeable grower. He invited me to his trailer for a sneak peek at his beast! You've gotta love the spirit of someone who travels clear across the country to compete on the biggest stage anong some of the best in the world!   Monday, October 8 View Page This pumpkin isn't that big, but it has an interesting story! The official HMB photographer had photographed my pumpkins and me the last couple years. He emailed me last winter, asking for a seed from the 2002. He had never grown, and tore up his entire small front yard to grow it! I was so proud, and enjoyed meeting his family and hearing about their season!   Monday, October 8 View Page It was a wonderful, and exciting weigh off, and Steve won it all with a gorgeous giant!   Monday, October 8 View Page So here's a season recap: Rosalyn won her division at the Washington state fair with her 1170 pounder (1937xself).   Monday, October 8 View Page And I ended up taking the 2269 to the fair because my 2002 got a fatal stem split on loading day...boo. It got second place and weighed 1204 pounds. I was kind of hoping Rosalyn and I could be the first parent/child winners...but my luck hasn't been the best this year.   Monday, October 8 View Page Then I took a tiny, but pretty 936 from the 2112 to the Elysian Brewery weigh off in Seattle. The 2112 plant had a disease that slowly killed the leaves along the main. I'll be growing in a new patch next year, so this doesnt happen again.   Monday, October 8 View Page Then I took my 2145 to the Central Market weigh off last weekend and got 2nd with 1404.5. It went a little heavy, so that was nice!   Monday, October 8 View Page I fought rats this year for the first time. I hate those things.   Monday, October 8 View Page So this was the fate of my 150 sq foot pumpkin...boo.   Monday, October 8 View Page The 2118 squash was on a world class pace....pushing 1300 pounds...then....   Monday, October 8 View Page Darn BES.   Monday, October 8 View Page The 2150 ended up being sterile and I pulled the plant in August. I nicknamed the tiny wrinkled fruit "Old Nasty".   Tuesday, October 16 View Page The dumptrucks have been busy at my new 2019 patch!   Tuesday, October 16 View Page 60-yards of manure and compost spread!   Tuesday, October 16 View Page All rototilled and seeded with rye!   Tuesday, October 16 View Page In other news, I won the 2018 Fantasy Pumpkin competition! I told Scott I want a really big trophy; I cant wait to see it!!!   Sunday, October 21 View Page Scott and I made this awesome palm tree for the Terminator regatta!   Sunday, October 21 View Page I made my pumpkin into an island!   Sunday, October 21 View Page It was so cute! It won the "Best Decorated Pumpkin" ribbon!   Sunday, October 21 View Page But the best part was seeing Steve's 2469 pounder! AMAZING!   Saturday, November 3 View Page The rye is coming in nicely!   Saturday, November 3 View Page Congratulations to Chris Brown and his daughter Sydney for winning the Deathstar Futurity Jackpot! Reserve Champion was Jeff Warner. Champion wins $252, and Reserve Champion gets $108! Awesome job everyone and thanks for entering!