Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 18 Entries. Thursday, March 14 View Page Set up the hot house last week to try to thaw out some ground. Now fighting a little snow from last night.   Thursday, March 14 View Page 2019 seed lineup   Thursday, March 14 View Page Seeds are in.   Monday, March 18 View Page 84.2 degrees must work OK. Germination 8 for 8.   Wednesday, April 3 View Page Went ice fishing this morning. Still 8" of ice on the lakes.   Saturday, April 6 View Page Culled down to three plants after two weeks outside. I removed other plants as they fell behind in growth. I pulled out two 1971.5 Barlow plants. That hurt but they were half the size of the other plants. Also removed one 1875 Mendi, one 1867 Barron and one 2283 Barlow for underperforming. So far the top plant out of these 8 is the 2283 Barlow, with an 1867 Barron and an 1875 Mendi still in the running.   Thursday, April 11 View Page Yet another blizzard. Currently 15 degrees with 35 mph winds outside. 65 degrees and calm in the hot house.   Saturday, April 27 View Page The 1875 Mendi is the survivor. The 2283 Barlow developed a ribbon vine so I pulled it out. The Mendi is sporting a 4' main vine and beginning to grow out the hoop house - just in time for some 20 degree temps the next few days. Got the heat lamp too close to one of the leaves a few days ago. Other than my error on burning the leaf things have been close to perfect so far for this plant.   Saturday, May 4 View Page 1875 Mendi continues to roll along. Outgrew the hot house so I had to put up the "greenhouse". Now the Mendi has 450 sq ft to expand inside.   Monday, May 6 View Page The expanded Greenhouse.   Saturday, May 11 View Page 1875 Mendi still growing despite 35 degree highs and 20 degree lows this week. Just a brief but of sun and the greenhouse is at 100 degrees.   Tuesday, May 21 View Page Last night we received 10"-12" of snow to help the flowers and garden along.   Saturday, May 25 View Page 1875 still growing some despite 27 degree nights and cloudy 35 degree days.   Sunday, June 30 View Page First pollination on the 1875 at 14' out. Last two nights were the first with low temps above 45 degrees. Several nights last week the low got down to 34 degrees. So a very slow growing plant so far.   Thursday, August 1 View Page Finally have a pumpkin moving along on the 1875.   Wednesday, August 7 View Page Moving along at 20 pounds a day.   Saturday, August 24 View Page Growing 15 pounds per day at 130" cc   Sunday, September 1 View Page 145" circumference