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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 21 Entries.
Sunday, March 18 View Page
Enough of this... Bring on spring
 
Monday, March 19 View Page
This was a dry seed 8 days ago. I measured 1//4 inch growth on the roots per hour. This demo shows what is going on under the soil
 
Sunday, May 6 View Page
Looks like the 1790 Holland wants to play! Heat cables holding a nice 76.3 degrees and the grow light keeping things going during the chilly nights. These were germinated in a paper towel/bag and put in the soil immediately after germination. I'm becoming a real fan of this method . The transplanted plants are quite a ways being this one
 
Sunday, May 13 View Page
Another week of waiting, not much happening yet, at least that is visible. This is the 1790 Holland, she is very healthy. I believe it has the biggest stem of any I've grown. Good or bad? Time will tell. All systems are go, we have have 3 days of cold yucky and rain but she has been cozy in her house with the heat on!
 
Sunday, May 20 View Page
Two very nice looking plants. They are both growing nicely. Temps have been in the high 30s every night. The main is developing well on the 1790 Holland , the 1864 Zywiec is good, but just slower than the 1790, it's going to be tough to delete one of these. Hoping to have vine touchdown by Friday the 25th.
 
Sunday, May 27 View Page
Making some good progress! It had been very windy and cool at night, high 40s to low 50s. Daytime temps 80/90. I mix up 5 gallons of mix and apply it over the week. The plant is very happy although a bit of a kink developed by a leaf suddenly yesterday. I not happy about that but it's not the end for this plant. Judgement day is pending as the 1790 needs some elbow room. The 1864 Zywiec looks great and I with it was in another patch, but I fear it has only days. ...
 
Sunday, June 3 View Page
And then there was one. The 1790 Holland out paced the 1864 Zywiec and is the chosen one for this year. It has a couple issues, I'm not impressed with the shape of the vine but has good size. She is out about 6 feet as of this writing. We had very low temperatures with frost on the 2nd of June. That certainly slowed it up. Warmer temps on the way, shade cloth up, water working well and right on the feeding schedule. Queen the jeopardy music!
 
Sunday, June 3 View Page
And then there was one. The 1790 Holland out paced the 1864 Zywiec and is the chosen one for this year. It has a couple issues, I'm not impressed with the shape of the vine but has good size. She is out about 6 feet as of this writing. We had very low temperatures with frost on the 2nd of June. That certainly slowed it up. Warmer temps on the way, shade cloth up, water working well and right on the feeding schedule. Que the jeopardy music!
 
Sunday, June 10 View Page
The 1790 is looking pretty good. She is out about 11 feet, has her first little female showing. The sides are out about 6 feet at the widest. I had frost last Saturday and 85 this Saturday.... rough weather all week with wind,tornado warnings. Hoping for a pollination in June still.
 
Sunday, June 17 View Page
Maybe??? This female is at 15 feet. There are 10 side vines on the right side but am lacking on the left as there are only 7 on that side. Strange looking vine and the vine seems brittle and the early leaves are kinking with weak stems. Other than that I'll step up the phos and let er rip!
 
Tuesday, June 19 View Page
Today was the big day! Beautiful 5 lobe x self
 
Sunday, June 24 View Page
The plan is now 19 feet+. The green stuff looks pretty good but the female flowers refuse to open. It has been cool, highs about 80 and lows in the 40s. That could certainly be the delay. I'm pretty much off the nitrogen and hitting it with micronutrients and 0-52-34. That is what's in he menu for a while
 
Sunday, July 8 View Page
Here is Lauren at 12 days. Looking good and seems to have decent shape. She is staring to pick up a bit of speed with the temperature at 102 and 75 last night.lots of folder feed every other day to combat some type of deficiency. She seems to be suffering from a bit of potassium deficit and the soluble seaweed and 0-16-34 combination has really helped
 
Sunday, July 15 View Page
We had a very good week! Lauren is over 50 inches in circumference. Everything looks good so far. Applying heavy folier every other day
 
Sunday, July 29 View Page
Had a good week. The blossom went under completely but looked good the last time I could see it. Measures just at 350 lbs and is steady at 20+ per day. Had a bit of a set back with hail about the size of a nickel on Friday but it should recover fine.
 
Sunday, August 5 View Page
We are checking in at day 40. Measures 510 pounds. Averaging 24 pounds per day the last 4 days. This is my personal best at this time of the growing season. Fingers crossed!! The last couple years I've had frost in August. Let's not have that this year please! Measures 142 69 72 =283 ott or 509.7 lbs on the chart. Barely hang in there with the potassium deficit but staying the course on the feed
 
Sunday, August 12 View Page
Day 47 about 680 lbs. Had very warm, ok hot, 100 degrees last two days. Heavy feed time, lots of seaweed. Just staying the course.
 
Sunday, August 19 View Page
She is still growing strong! She went easily past the 800 mark this morning. 165 83 85 330 ott. I'm maintaining the heavy seaweed and water schedule until she let's up. Again not even close to an ideal shape but she is what she is
 
Sunday, August 26 View Page
Cold cold cold. 40 degree mornings have not been good for Lauren. She continues to add pounds, looking like the 900 lb mark has been surpassed. Hard to say if the will match the chart with the very unusual shape. 3 times a week from here on out fits folier seaweed and about everything else I have left she will get. Hope to squeeze out the 1000 lb target
 
Tuesday, September 18 View Page
Just about it for the season. The Wyoming State Championship Weigh Off is 10 days away. She measures about 1050 lbs. Hoping for a solid personal best.
 
Monday, October 1 View Page
Well, that's a wrap for the growing season. It sure went by fast. Hampered by terrible weather, and a damaged vine, she did really well. Lauren finished up at 1043 pounds. That is a personal best for me! Thinking back of all the things I could have done better and different, I'm ready to restart already! Now for some fun with them!
 

 

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