Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 37 Entries. Thursday, January 3 View Page Happy new year everyone. We moved to a 10 acre property, so space isn't as much of a problem anymore. Soil test is going out tomorrow. I'm currently working out how to shade this area during the summer, since temperatures out here still get well into the 100s during the peak of summer. Measurements are approximately 70x80 feet. I think I will grow two pumpkins, a squash, tomatoes, and long gourds, but I haven't yet decided. As for edibles, I will be growing tomatoes, beans, peas, squash, and peppers. This is my last year before college, so I'm hoping to break 1000 pounds in 2019. Best of luck to everyone.   Monday, January 21 View Page Shade cloth suspension system is up   Wednesday, April 3 View Page 2 day germination on 2261, 2027, 1928, and 350. Several other seeds showing signs of germination. I soaked these overnight (8hours) on the heat mat, which I think may have helped with germination, since I have never tried it before. 139 Jutras field pumpkins are all up as well, along with several of the tomatoes, which were started earlier.   Wednesday, April 3 View Page Soil report is looking alright considering the fact that this soil hadn't been touched in years. 30 yards of compost is arriving this Friday, and I will be amending the soil with fish meal, kelp meal, gypsum, oyster shell meal, ironite, borax, sulfur, and perhaps calcium nitrate. I'm pretty optimistic about the year to come! This will be my last year in this sport, since I will be shipped off to college in September.   Monday, April 22 View Page Plants in ground April 20 (1317 Clementz, 2261 Wallace) and April 21 (1928 Daletas, 2027 H).   Wednesday, May 1 View Page 1928 left, 2027 right. 2261 and 1317 Clementz in back greenhouse.   Tuesday, May 7 View Page 1317 Clementz   Tuesday, May 7 View Page 2261 wallace   Tuesday, May 7 View Page 2027 Haist. 2416 didn't make it. Sorry Karl.   Tuesday, May 7 View Page 1928 Daletas   Tuesday, May 7 View Page Patch at large   Monday, May 20 View Page I took down the greenhouses about a week or two ago due to the warm weather, but put them back up yesterday because of unseasonal rain and cold. 2261 Wallace in front, 1317 Clementz in back   Monday, May 20 View Page 1928 Daletas front, 2027 Haist back   Tuesday, May 28 View Page Amendments have been added, the ground is tilled, and boards have been laid down. Here are the 1928 Daletas (left) and 2027 Haist (right). The same treatment will be given to the 1317 and 2261 hidden in the background tomorrow.   Tuesday, May 28 View Page Amendments have been added, the ground is tilled, and boards have been laid down. Here are the 1928 Daletas (left) and 2027 Haist (right). The same treatment will be given to the 1317 and 2261 hidden in the background tomorrow.   Wednesday, June 12 View Page I don't know if my last submission went through. Here is my 1928 Daletas. I pollinated it today at 12 feet with a flower from one of my squash, because the flowers on all my other plants keep wilting. Hopefully I won't have to keep this one, and I will have some male flowers soon now that the plants are kicking into gear. All four plants have some damage on their old leaves from when I left the greenhouses closed during several warm days.   Wednesday, June 12 View Page 2027 Haist   Wednesday, June 12 View Page 2261 Wallace   Wednesday, June 12 View Page 1317 Clementz   Friday, June 21 View Page Update on pollinations: 2027 Haist x Self (June 11) [DAP 10] 2261 Wallace x 2027 Haist (June 13) [DAP 8] 2027 Haist x 1928 Daletas (June 19) [DAP 2] 1317 Clementz x 1928 Daletas (June 20) [DAP 1] The 1928 remains the pack-leader, but about a week ago I noticed that the main vine was wilting. Ever since I have ensured that it is shaded every day, and miraculously it survived. However I think it will never be as strong as it would have been if I had avoided this blunder. I may not be able to get a pollination on this plant until early July, though I know the size and vigour of the plant along with the warm late-season weather will compensate for this.   Wednesday, June 26 View Page 1317 Clementz, 7 dap   Thursday, June 27 View Page 1928 Daletas. No set currently. The main vine recovered from a burn. I estimate that I will have a set before July 10.   Thursday, June 27 View Page 2027 Haist, 16 Dap   Thursday, June 27 View Page 2261 Wallace x 1928 Daletas, 0 dap   Friday, June 28 View Page I fixed the shade cloth today. In this picture (before I finished fixing the cloth) the nearest portion is tensioned, while the far portion is still loose. There are four plants in this picture, though it is difficult to tell since they are so close together.   Tuesday, July 2 View Page This was taken a few days ago, July 2, 12 dap   Monday, July 8 View Page Picture of the 1317 Clementz yesterday. Today she measured 49" in circumference 18 DAP. It has a pretty nice stem, but the shape is concerning. It looks like it could easily succumb to a blossom split.   Monday, July 8 View Page 2027 Haist, 27 DAP, 56" Cir. Pretty bad numbers for this stage. This fruit is pretty badly scarred, and in hindsight i think I should have gone for the backup. I'd really like this one to get over 1000 pounds, despite this adversity.   Monday, July 8 View Page 1928 side vine pumpkin, 8 DAP. I have a pollination coming up on the main vine in two days, but this side vine looks to be a bit stronger than the main at this point. I will be keeping close watch over both to determine which grows faster.   Tuesday, July 9 View Page 1317 Clementz, 19 DAP 52" Cir. Very similar shape to the 1775 in my 2013 diary.   Tuesday, July 9 View Page Pollination today on the main vine 1928 Daletas x 2261 Wallace.   Tuesday, July 9 View Page 2261 Wallace x 1928 Daletas, pollinated June 27, 12 DAP. this is the second best plant in the patch after the 1928 Daletas, so I'm hoping for a push from this one. The pumpkin had a bit of a slow start, but it's looking hopeful now.   Tuesday, July 9 View Page Close-up on 2261   Tuesday, July 9 View Page Dinner is served: 4 gal water 12 tsp gusher 2 oz fox farm grow 12 oz kelp+ fish 6 oz kelp 6 oz nutri-cal 6 oz humic   Tuesday, July 16 View Page 2261 Wallace 19 DAP 47" Cir. Smallest numbers of any pumpkin in the patch at this time, yet it's also growing faster than any other now that it's kicking into gear. It's grown 5" circumference a day for the last two days. Hopefully it can keep up the pace.   Friday, July 19 View Page 2261 Wallace 22 DAP 58"   Friday, July 19 View Page 1928 Daletas, 19 DAP 57" circumference