Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 87 Entries. Monday, April 23 View Page My Lineup for 2018...ORANGE and more Orange....907 Young, 840 Young,900 Gansert, 1330 Gansert, 1501 Wagner, 1561 Reeb, 1533 Haist, 1351 Detweiler, 1947 Clementz, 1971 Wolf, 555 Grande, and a few of my own... 200 DMG Hoffman 312 House x self....200 Hoffman 500 Hoffman x 1474 Clementz...300 DMG Hoffman 224 Hoffman x 1297 Young...Round 1   Monday, April 23 View Page Ground still has frost so no tilling yet...on the bright side about 500-600 garlic cloves are up when I raked the leaves away. The pool solar cover was left in a small area in the garden and no frost there. Will be using that to heat soil around some planting areas. Hopefully by next week I might be able to work the garden. Winter just doesn't want to let go.   Monday, April 23 View Page Only 2 didn't germ...907 Young and 1971 Wolf ...filed and soaking as I speak.   Tuesday, April 24 View Page Gonna file and soak another 555 Grande...root system is awesome...I start in 16 oz clear cups..roots were everyware..the whole cup was covered...if the 300 doesn't do much I've got a new winner for the 150...still hoping VTJohn and I can compete in the 150 patch with the 300 ...your in Mexico and I'm trying to defrost the ground. Kerry kick'em.   Monday, April 30 View Page 1971 Wolf is still a no go. Started my last one this morning. Kind of late but the potential for BNO is there. Manure delivered this morning..will start tilling tomorrow...going from winter to summer looks like. Planting later in the week after heating the soil in growing areas. Won't be able to get to the 30 yards of corral scrapings for another couple weeks so I'll stick to the starting areas for now. I ended up with a couple nice 300 Hoffmans and will be starting the 150 Patch directly.   Thursday, May 10 View Page Started adding aged manure a couple days ago. Have access to all I want!! Finally got to till last week and frost was out so I could bring in aged manure. Hopefully I can plant this weekend or early next week. Working on 40 yards. Wish I had it last fall. Winter just didn't want to let go.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Quick update..I'm ahead of my previous two years.. 2 deaths with friends that had farm equipment has set me back,,equipment failure has also set me back...old fart with a broken back...arthritis from the broken back over 50 years ago has limited what I can do..cutworms haven't hurt my kins but are raising hell with my veggies. I brought in about 25 yards of aged manure and couldn't spread it so everybody was planted on top of a pile....Mikey I think they like it.. Culled 2 of 3 three hundred Hoffmans and have my keeper for the 150 patch...late starts but looking good. 200 Hoffman and 200 Hoffman damaged are the best of the patcch. That Grande guy along with Gansert, Reeb, Wagner are right behind,. !351 Detweiler looking light he want to be something!! All Orange lots of HD....ought to end up with somethin' Late start for Mr Youngs 907 but put in a pile of shit in the veggie garden. I planted a Young, Gansert, Pukos and a couple of my own at my buddies who passed away. I hope to have Pics soon and better updates forth coming. Bass season starts in two weeks..can't wait!!   Thursday, June 14 View Page The 1330 Gansert seems to be a horny SOB. A bunch of males open for a week and 3 kins on the main and only 6' long. Might find out shortly how horny the 1330 is. Seeing how I'm growing out of piles of manure I'm sure the transition from ground level to plant level should equal out down the line with no s curves.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Looking for help identifing the 2 holes in main vine.. Vine Turns yellow after the holes but still looks healthy. SVB?   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Started pollinations 6/25...200 Hoffman x 555 Grande..those 2 are growing in the same pile of manure so they are getting crossed back and forth 8' on main w/ another at 11' which should be ready in a few days....6/26,,1561 Reeb x 1330 Gansert at 7.5' and another at 10.5 ready soon. These also grown together in their own pile of chit..will be crossed back and forth but on the 1330 Gansert I pollinated both of the first secondaries on 6/27..selfed one 1330 at 6' and the other with the 1351 Detweiler..am saving the main at over 10' for first pollination with the 1561...Also pollinated the 200 Dmg Hoffman x 1501 Wagner on the first secondary...will pollinate the same cross on the main..200 DMG threw beautiful dark orange last year and the Wagner is basically the same cross....protected a bunch of young uns which should all be keepers at 10'-12'...heavy rains expected then hot and humid..Went fishing yesterday morning...mid 30's..frost or hard freeze ( high 20's) 50 miles north of me at Saranac Lake...Vt John did you get any of that? I know you're about due east of there.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Pollinated 555 Grande x 200 Hoffman 9' on main with another at 12' in a few days. Getting some much needed rain.   Friday, June 29 View Page Pollinated 1330 Gansert x 1561 Reeb @ 9'..another at 12' in a few days. Would like to cross that one with 907 Young if everybody cooperates. 1351 Dettweiler will open tomorrow at 10'. Freezer is plugged in and loaded with frozen jugs...will be needing them this week.   Sunday, July 1 View Page This is the end of the vine on the 200 Hoffman...standing 2' up in the air and the vine is as big around as a golf ball to within 6" of the end..   Sunday, July 1 View Page My 300 Hoffman in the 150 patch. A little behind with a late starting seed. I had to wait for Vt John to send me a few back because my first couple weren't worth keeping and then I misplaced my seed stash. Drove myself nuts for two days looking for them and never did find them. Looking healthy and the first baby on the main just appeared at 10'. I'll get some planks around the outside. It will be 8' x 18 1/2'   Sunday, July 1 View Page This is on my 200 Hoffman ...500 Hoffman x !474 Clementz,,,with the long stem carried over from the 1474. The 1474 had long and big stems on the kins I grew on it last year and was hoping that genetic would be passed on. Probably won't keep this one..9' on main.   Monday, July 2 View Page Leaves near the end of the vine are turning black and curling on main and end of furthest out secondaries. Plants right next to them are fine.   Thursday, July 5 View Page Way to many pollinations to list from the last few days. 6 day heat wave is supposed to be over by tonight. Wondering how many will abort. Only broke 80 4 times here last year. Finally got to self the 1351 Dettweiler this AM at 14'. Also pollinated the 1330 Gansert x 907 Young at about 15' and I culled that same cross from yesterday that had seeds in the blossom. Got lucky with it opening that quickly. Sunscald only happened the one day and the plants are looking very healthy.   Friday, July 6 View Page Pollinated 1501 Wagner x 200 Hoffman...was going to pollinate with the 200 Dmg but genetic vine issues steered me away. 10'.. 5 lobe..First to germinate this spring but fell behind and decided to keep it to cross into my 200 DMG Hoffman...Still way ahead of last year. Also pollinated my 200Hoffman at 16' with 555 Grande. Ist pollination on this plant aborted at 9' but didn't really plan on keeping it anyway.   Sunday, July 8 View Page pollinated 300 Hoffman with 1330 Gansert..both have nice round fruit and lots of orange. This is my 150 sq ft kin...pollinated another 1330 x 907 Young on main..that's about 8 pollinations on the 1330 and all fruit are round...pollinated 1561 Reeb x 1330 on main   Wednesday, July 11 View Page Went out yesterday and repositioned some vines around my kins that I thought would take off and leveled a little dirt. Smaller than a volley ball yesterday..I need a bigger chair! This one and 3 others grew like crazy last night. Time for some mill fabric and sand. I pollinated my personal best on 7/21...believe I am ahead of that. This was pollinated 6/27.   Wednesday, July 11 View Page My 300 Hoffman for the 150 patch. Pollinated 7/8...kinda looks like Vt Johns 300..hope it takes. 10' on main. also selfed it on a secondary for backup   Wednesday, July 11 View Page The 300 Hoffman is loaded with ORANGE. 224 Hoffman x 1297 Young ..Parents are both half 1912 Carter. Then we have 1000.5 Gansert, 359 Foss and 811 Gerhardt in the mix. With more orange going in. Keeping my fingers crossed that this one takes.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Pollinated 300 Hoffman x 1330 Gansert 13' on main for 150 patch..looking like the one at 10' should take and that will be my keeper....pollinated 200 Hoffman x 555 Grande on 1st secondary coming out of the top of the stump. Usually good for a small kin.   Thursday, July 12 View Page did a couple quick OTT measurements on the 555 Grande and the 1561 Reeb..both were exactly the same at 90"...16 dap on the 1561 and 14 dap on the 555...will be doing mill fabric and sand today before pics..both are round   Friday, July 13 View Page The main aborted on my 907 Young at about 6'...I've got 4 secondaries with babies trained into the main area. Pollinated x self on one this morning. Lets see who turns out to be the winner. Also pollinated 1351 Dettweiler x self on a secondary. I believe the one at 14' on the main will abort and no more fruit on the main. More kins in a couple days on farthest out secondaries which will probably get trained as my new main.   Saturday, July 14 View Page Selfed another 907 Young on a secondary   Sunday, July 15 View Page Mill Fabric and sand under half a dozen kins...555 Grande 124 OTT 17 DAP...1561 Reeb 118 OTT 19 DAP Several around 100 OTT   Monday, July 16 View Page selfed another 907 Young on a secondary. If this one takes it will probably be my keeper. Also might try to keep several for some smaller orange kins.   Monday, July 16 View Page Selfed a 1351 Dettweiler at 18' on the main after the one at 14' aborted. Must have been hiding when I looked for fruit on the main the other day.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page pollinated 907 Young by self on a secondary and another 1351 Dettweiler x self on secondary   Tuesday, July 17 View Page 555 Grande...biggest and fastest growing in the patch...doesn't look like it's going to throw orange...lets see what happens   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Norms Wheel...118 OTT.20 DAP..suprised me ..about 5' on a secondary that came out of the stump.. round and looking like orange in the future   Tuesday, July 17 View Page looks like the 200 dmg Hoffman is going to throw more nice orange...20 Dap 126 OTT   Tuesday, July 17 View Page My keeper on the 200 Hoffman 17' on the main. Looks like it took. keep fingers crossed   Tuesday, July 17 View Page 1561 Reeb..don't know if I'll keep it..barked it up moving it....have more set out further..128 OTT ..21dap?   Tuesday, July 17 View Page My keeper for the 150 sq ft patch unless something happens....300 DMG Hoffman x 1330 Gansert. Backup on a side vine and further out if I need them.   Wednesday, July 18 View Page 555 Grande 155 OTT 20dap 60"cc looking paler as is the 1561 Reeb   Saturday, July 21 View Page Like I haven't had enough trouble with the 907 Young..4 seeds to get one to germinate...late start..main vine terminated at 6' and A woodchuck decided to make his home under it...220 Conibear ought to fix that directly...Hope it's only one...Time of year for yung uns to go out on their own..got 4 out of one hole 2 years ago.   Saturday, July 21 View Page 1 down...hopefully that's all   Monday, July 23 View Page Finally getting some much needed rain..drought conditions..rain most of the week....Have a couple nice round 907 Youngss left on secondariws that the woodchuck didn't get. There's still hope!!   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 200 dmg Hoffman 175 OTT 20 dap..way more orange than my picture shows   Tuesday, July 24 View Page !330 Gansert...Norms Wheel...interesting to see how this one turns out..It is 7 1/2 ' on the main not 4' on 1st side vine...all 907 pollinations aborted further out..go figure...something about me and that 907   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 1330 Gansert..4' out on 1st secondary out of the stump...There is one more on this plant that looks better than these two?   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 555 Grande still the largest 215 OTT 26 DAP getting whiter everyday   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 555 Grande..Still biggest but the 1561 Reeb is making a run at er..seeing who will turn out the whitest.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 1561 Reeb   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 200 Hoffman 17' on main definetly took..Already orange and very young..looks like it will be bell shaped.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page My problem child!!!!~907 that i found on a rear secondary..looks like I'll be growing blossoms up!! Kerry kick him!!   Wednesday, August 1 View Page On the bright side all 4 secondaries I trained into the main area are with child and very round!   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Nicest Orange in the patch!!!   Thursday, August 2 View Page Previous pic is the 200 dmg Hoffman.(..312 House by self the 312 is 1317x 359) X 1501 Wagner..( 1317 x 1148 Wagner) 226 OTT   Saturday, August 11 View Page Newest edition to the Family. My Grand Niece Maddy...Madelynn..2 1/2 months old with my sister..Grandma...First patch tour. Sitting on some nice orange..200 Hoffman DMG..254 OTT   Saturday, August 11 View Page Kerry you can stop kickin' him...bottoms up chit the bed at about 100 lbs   Monday, August 13 View Page 200 dmg Hoffman   Monday, August 13 View Page 1330 Gansert..Norms Wheel   Monday, August 13 View Page 555 Grande..The White Ghost   Monday, August 13 View Page 1351 Dettweiler   Monday, August 13 View Page 200 Hoffman..late pollination 17' on main..226 OTT   Wednesday, August 15 View Page Nice to see the smiles. Tyler liked the White Ghost The Most!!   Sunday, August 26 View Page Looks like both my white kins are toast. 555 oozing out the blossom end and blowing bubbles and 1561 2 soft spots on the top. Orange is KING!!!! 200 DMG Hoffman biggest in the patch..Personal Best taping 285 OTT..20 lbs a day after a little slow down. Putting water to it for the heat wave..Depending on September weather I'm hoping for more gains. Last year everything shut down Sept. 1st. Still about 20 nice Orange going.   Friday, August 31 View Page 200 dmg Hoffman..292OTT by far my biggest yet...with health issues I'm very pleased. My patch looks like a jungle. Weeds almost as tall as the sunflowers..about 15 kins still growing..they must have liked the aged manure   Friday, August 31 View Page 1330 Gansert..est 450 lbs..probably not even a foot from blossom to stem..Norms Wheel   Friday, August 31 View Page On the same plant as Norms Wheel 4'from the stump on a secondary..guessing 350 lbs   Friday, August 31 View Page 200 Hoffman late pollination..350 lbs plus   Friday, August 31 View Page 1351 Dettweiler..late open pollination on one of the first couple secondaries..probably around 300 lbs plus   Friday, August 31 View Page I really hope one of these turns ORANGE   Sunday, September 2 View Page This is what the patch looks like with health issues and equipment failure. The vines closet to me are 20' out on my back lawn. I'm still happy with my results so far!!   Thursday, September 6 View Page 200 dmg Hoffman 303 OTT still chugging along at 642 lbs   Monday, September 10 View Page 200 DMG Hoffman getting darker orange and should be very dark/red like mama! The pollinator..1501 Wagner..has been throwing dark orange so will be planting these seeds next year. Unfortunately with the cool weather she stopped growing but very warm weather predicted to last for a week is supposed to arrive in a couple days..hopefully she'll continue to grow..Most plants still looking healthy.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page My Niece and Grand Nephew stopped today just after I pulled sheets off. I was even surprised at what I had!! Pics soon.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page What caused these white spots? Never seen it before. Solid as the rest of the pumpkin.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page Big T and Tyler..Personal best by about 150 lbs   Tuesday, September 11 View Page Surprised with this one..4' off the stump on a secondary out of the the top..didn't measure but if it aint 400 it ain't a lb.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page Norms Wheel..lookin sweet   Tuesday, September 11 View Page 200 Hoffman looks heavy   Wednesday, September 12 View Page Took measurements today and the last three in my diary are in the 450 lb range.   Thursday, September 20 View Page Weed whacked around the patch. Will be pickin and weighin Saturday   Saturday, September 22 View Page Picked kins today 699 under right foot 428 under left.   Sunday, September 23 View Page 200 dmg Hoffman now the 699 dmg Hoffman..that's why I wasn't afraid to stand on it. 200lbs better than my PB. Cut it off the vine two weeks ago. Everything weighed with a 2 ton digital scale.   Sunday, September 23 View Page 200 Hoffman..now 428 Hoffman   Sunday, September 23 View Page 1330 Gansert..Norms Wheel..now 488 Hoffman   Sunday, September 23 View Page 1330 Gansert..4' from the stump on a secondary..now 428 Hoffma..funny I had two that weighed the same   Sunday, September 23 View Page 300 dmg Hoffman now 401 Hoffman..open pollination sometime in August out on the lawn with no sheet..won't do that again   Sunday, September 23 View Page 907 continues to be my problem child. I had 3 kins in the 150-250 range from the 907 and took a picture..no show..took another pic the next day..still a no show..Nice dark orange is all I can say. Kerry don't kick him until he gives me Norms Seeds....   Sunday, September 23 View Page My plans for the 200 dmg Hoffman was to pollinate everything because it threw nice dark orange..the 699 was grown on the 2nd secondary and was only 4' from the stump. Did a patch tour today at Wayne Seelows and I was very impressed. I'll see him in Saratoga next week   Tuesday, September 25 View Page Deer like the Scofield Farm   Sunday, November 4 View Page This was 488 lbs sitting next to my mailbox. Looks like I need to move it to the backyard. Somebody must have a hell of a set of horns because it is barked up 18" from the hole. Now the 400 Hoffman.