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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 36 Entries.
Tuesday, January 1 View Page
New year and new hopes! After several years of planting, turning on the irrigation, and just seeing what grows; I'm determined this season to put in the effort and resources needed to grow a pb. Not that the bar is set very high....621 lb back in 2015 and, after a very bad season, a mere 196 lb at my official weigh-off debut last autumn. (sadly I can only claim the specimen in the foreground!)
 
Saturday, January 12 View Page
Onions: Robinson's Mammoth, Peter Glazebrook's & Red Mammoth seed sown 20th December. Managed to find somewhere at 12c for germination. Best results for several years.
 
Tuesday, May 7 View Page
Finally managed to get the patch ready, last weekend.
 
Sunday, May 26 View Page
Finally up and running. Seeds down 2nd May, planted out 18th May. Decided to cover soil with membrane and peel back as plants grow to minimize water loss and weed growth.
 
Sunday, May 26 View Page
So, we have one tunnel lovingly rotavated, levelled and prepared, and a second tunnel with just a mighty heap of waste compost and a few drip lines covered with membrane. Will find out if all the extra care and attention is rewarded with better results!
 
Sunday, May 26 View Page
And the 2019 line up: 2528 Geddes
 
Sunday, May 26 View Page
2363 Holland
 
Sunday, May 26 View Page
1187.5 Jutras squash
 
Saturday, June 1 View Page
Giant marrows planted out 23rd May on another waste compost heap. Seed from my own 77lb 2017 pb. Starting to establish despite some strong winds and cool nights.
 
Sunday, June 2 View Page
Onions doing well, Glazebrook's in photo a little ahead of Robinson's Mammoth. Hope to exceed my 5lb 2oz best to date.
 
Monday, June 24 View Page
First attempt at Field pumpkin growing, 176 Wursten appears to be progressing well, will have to be self-pollinated as only one seed germinated. Female flower showing at 7ft so will wait a bit longer to set a fruit.?
 
Tuesday, July 2 View Page
Traumatic weekend in the patch.....32°c on Saturday and over 45°c in the tunnel, bit of leaf scorching & wilting so vented on leeward side. Wind direction turned 180° overnight and blew up groundcover breaking several vines. Largely back on track now having trimmed away any damage. Long runner beans starting to set, will eat the early produce and thin later for the show specimens.
 
Tuesday, July 2 View Page
Runner beans
 
Tuesday, July 2 View Page
Pollination of the 176 Wursten Field pumpkin x self. Actually 3 flowers pollinated, will select most promising in due course. Plant now 20ft diameter, growing on waste compost heap....plenty of root space and drip irrigation running 12hrs daily.
 
Friday, July 5 View Page
1st female on the marrows, will pollinate this one to enter the local show at end August. The rest of the plants can wait a couple of weeks for October weigh-off.
 
Friday, July 5 View Page
Pollinated the 2528 today, x 2363.........seems to have been a long wait!
 
Thursday, July 18 View Page
One advantage of using "strawberry tunnels"....when the vines reach the edge, just roll up the sides and let them out!
 
Wednesday, July 31 View Page
Marrow update: 6 plants from my own 77lb 2017 growing on a waste compost heap, looking healthy despite heatwave last week and high winds this week. Drip irrigation running 6-8hrs/day
 
Wednesday, July 31 View Page
1st fruit set x sibling and now DAP 23. This needs to be ready for local show at end August (unless it is still growing!) No idea how to estimate weight..... is there a chart? Offending vine in photo now removed
 
Friday, August 2 View Page
150 sq ft, DAP 20, must be the healthiest plant in the patch, I suspect the nearly 3ft depth of compost is a big factor......gives me an idea for next season's main patch!
 
Sunday, August 4 View Page
2528 now reached DAP 30, best estimate around 210lb. Not taped as skin still soft and easily damaged, anyway, growing on soft ground so OTT measurements will be rather inaccurate.
 
Sunday, August 4 View Page
176 Field pumpkin at DAP 36 but appears to have stopped growing, tapes at 80lb. Pollinated another 5 days ago as I figure there's sufficient time left for a 2nd attempt.
 
Sunday, August 4 View Page
1187 Squash at DAP 22, elongated shape looks promising. Starting to push ahead now, although lost a number of older leaves, I'm traning side vines back to fill in the gaps.
 
Sunday, August 4 View Page
Leach 545 x Gedes 2528 at DAP 28, rough estimate around 220lb as I can't get near it! This is growing on the waste compost heap I built a tunnel over. A few more days and I won't be able to get close enough for even a photo...... Will have to be a surprise in October!
 
Sunday, August 4 View Page
Trying Bushel Gourds for the 1st time, 384 Terry, love the soft velvety foliage. Been a very long wait for female flowers, and foliage grows so fast, it's hard to find them the next day for pollination. Think I have a successful set on both plants now, and will see what develops. Seen some photos of BGs grown on horizontal frames.. ..maybe one to try next year?
 
Friday, August 9 View Page
It was all going so well........ 2528 stem split away from the vine, barely 25% of stem now attached. Pumpkin still growing so will see how it progresses.
 
Thursday, August 15 View Page
Well, well, surprise discovery on the 1080 Hochstetler.... after a few failed pollination attempts I gave up trying, and behold......estimate a little over 200lb
 
Wednesday, September 11 View Page
Squash 619 Maydan, tapes at 415 lb, another split stem but still growing, still a month to the weigh off.
 
Wednesday, September 11 View Page
Field pumpkin 176 Wursten, tapes at 89 lb. May still be growing, and previous fruit went 11% heavy, so hoping to get into 3 figures.
 
Wednesday, September 11 View Page
2363 DAP 52, tapes 485 lb. Impressive Dill ring, but still growing, probably the biggest in the patch, but a couple of others may challenge.
 
Wednesday, September 11 View Page
Leaves in tunnels now white with mildew, however, "escaped" vines still growing and healthy, can't find a path to walk between any longer!!
 
Saturday, September 21 View Page
Largest onion this year, PB at 6 lb 1 oz
 
Thursday, October 10 View Page
Almost looks like a weigh-off! That's what happens when you leave your plants to get on with it......still, may be able to sell a few.
 
Friday, October 11 View Page
Ready for the weigh-off at Southampton tomorrow. 619 Maydan squash & 2363 Holland pumpkin, soon to be known as ...................?
 
Sunday, October 13 View Page
........now the 694.8 Leach pumpkin & the 526.5 Leach squash. Pumpkin a personal best and 1st time for a squash. Also managed 100.6 lb field pumpkin at 1st attempt, and a 58.0 lb marrow.
 
Sunday, October 13 View Page
Great turnout for the Southampton Weigh-off despite the appalling weather. Well organized and friendly event, special thanks to the guys working the scale in the pouring rain all afternoon. Good to meet and chat to fellow growers and Big Pumpkins Diary writers. ............now what to grow next year?
 

 

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