Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 105 Entries. Saturday, February 22 View Page Tomorrow Night 8pm...If you need an orange seed to complete your seed selection. This is the auction for you.   Saturday, February 22 View Page page 2   Saturday, February 22 View Page page 3   Saturday, February 22 View Page page 4   Saturday, February 22 View Page page 5   Wednesday, March 11 View Page Only a month away...New patch will be enough for 4 plants. So I am going for the 4000 lb Jacket. Something I have never had enough space to do. Short List: 1411 Engel 2019 ( 1200 Engel x 920 Cooper) 359 Foss 2013 ( 1048 Engel x 2009 Wallace) 1040 Fehr 2019 ( 920 Cooper x 781 Engel) 2261 Schmit 2019 (2283 Barlow x Self) Long List: 1464 Brown 2019 ( 1501 x Self) I will also be growing a few field pumpkins, and some Green Squash for Green Bay Packers Carve   Wednesday, March 11 View Page Here is the new location for the River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival September 26th, 2020. Level Grade, Round about for unload, and just a better location for a weigh off. Hopefully we can have a little regatta in that pond.   Monday, March 30 View Page I need of some big, orange and beautiful pumpkin seeds. Still time available. WWW.GR8PUMPKIN.NET   Monday, April 6 View Page Here is my new growing spot. I plan on growing (4) Giant Pumpkins this year, and some field pumpkins here.. I have marked of 5,000sqf. The soil appears to be perfect clay loam mix with excellent drainage. I have more the black pipe is an irrigation line.   Monday, April 6 View Page Soil test is pulled, and I am excited. Hopefully Planting more than two pumpkins, not growing in the city, not having morning shade until 9am, and not having to water with city water will help me get a 4,000lb Jacket.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page The Line Up is set. 1411 Engel 2019- 1200 Engel x 920 Cooper 2261 Schmit 2019- 2283 Barlow x Self 1040 Fehr 2019- 920 Cooper x 781 Engel 359 Foss 2013- 1048 Engel x 2009 Wallace 1000.5 Brown *   Thursday, April 9 View Page https://gr8pumpkin.net/giant_pumpkin_seeds_for_sale Need those orange genetics to get that Howard Dill Award? Look not further.   Friday, April 10 View Page Tilled 50' x 125' area today. The rocks thought they were winning. Sheared a few tiller tine bolts, and then I sucked in a big one and it snapped the bolt that holds the tiller on to the pto. Well played rocks well play..They obviously don't realize they are messing with a giant pumpkin grower...they will find out sooner or later as I start my rock pile.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page Got some work to do...OM is a little low :)   Saturday, April 18 View Page 2261Schmit, 1872 Sippel, 1411 Engel, 1040 Fehr, 1005 Brown *, 359 Foss Started today   Friday, April 24 View Page All seeds germinated with the exception of the 1005 Brown..So the new line up is 2261,1872,1411,1040& 359   Friday, April 24 View Page Almost ready   Friday, April 24 View Page Well these two are taking their sweet times germinating. I spread 520 lbs of gypsum, 100 lbs of lime, 80 lbs of Potash of Sulfate, 20 lbs of 0-45-0 Triple Phosphate, 50 lbs each of Humic Acid, Feather Meal, Blood Meal, Kelp Meal, Alfalfa Pellets, and Beet Pulp. 3 lbs of Borax, 2 lbs of Manganese Sulfate, 2 lbs of Zinc Sulfate, 1.5 lbs of Copper Sulfate. My 100 lbs of K mag was delayed and on the door step when I got home. I am going for a 4,000 lb Jacket this year. In order to achieve this I need to weigh 3 pumpkins that 4,000 lbs.   Friday, May 8 View Page Cold Cold Spring 25 degrees out..Plants are still in there 3.5 gallon air pots, and in the heated grow chamber   Tuesday, May 19 View Page Well again I am reminded Family is more important than pumpkins. I carved this pumpkin for an event in 2011. Today We are part of this fight. The outcome looks good, but the path a very difficult one. It was caught early but will require complete removal of all breast tissue.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page The ground is finally warm enough to plant in. My dummy seeds have germinated in the hoop houses...It is go time   Thursday, May 21 View Page The Final Cut. 1000.5 Brown* (1844 Holub x Self) 1872 Sippel (1501 Vander Weilen x self) 1411 Engel 19 (1200 Engel x 920 Cooper) 1049 Fehr 19 (920 Cooper x 781 Engel)   Thursday, May 21 View Page My new Rock Picker...She sputters and sounds like she needs a good tune up. She is higher maintenance with parts more expensive than the Ferrari. I am blessed to have her help me in the patch this year. We are in for a small period of roughness with Breast Cancer. The planned treatment will hopefully not result in any chemotherapy or radiation.   Thursday, May 21 View Page This is why I love Air Pots..This plant has been in the pot for 3 weeks and is not root bound.   Thursday, May 21 View Page We also have almost a 1/4 Acre of misc pumpkins and squash. Thanks Tom for sharing seeds. Odd thing when I am out working by myself no one ever honks. When Jodi is there people are beeping and tooting there horns.   Friday, May 22 View Page This woman is my life....2020 is going to be one for the books. On May 4th Jodi was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, which was not detectable without an MRI and Contrast. The good thing is it is Stage 0/1. The bad thing is it is extensive through out the breast. Which means removal. Her prognosis is very good after. Life is not always fair. I know this well. How you react and handle these things is important. Thank You to those in the pumpkin community who have reached out with support and prayers. It means a lot to me that a total stranger, some who I have never met, Care. Oh yeah she might just actually be growing something this year after sitting on the side lines for years. I at least have her in the patch   Friday, May 22 View Page :)   Friday, May 29 View Page The 1411 Engel 2019 is in one of the prime spots in the patch. While the 1411 Engel was nowhere near the color I like. Her genetics of the 1200 Engel (1912 Carter x 1143 Engel) x the 920 Cooper (1374 Engel x 1495 Stelts) has produced many beautiful orange pumpkins and Howard Dill Awards. I also believe you have to prove seeds out and nothing better than growing you own. This plant is going to throw me another personal best.   Friday, May 29 View Page Next up is the 1040 Fehr... You orange growers should be hitting Bob up for this seed. As it almost comes with an HDA. The 1040 Fehr is a 920 Cooper x 781 Engel. So you take that 1374 Engel x 1495 Stelts and combine it with a 1374 Engel x 359 Foss. Oh you will see this baby come fall. Look for the Engel Orange on my trailer.   Friday, May 29 View Page Next up in the Patch is the 1872 Sippel. This was one of those 1501 Vanderweilen x Selfs that was beautiful, orange and symmetric. Which fits my criteria for breeding in to my pumpkins   Friday, May 29 View Page Then we have a Squash. 1000.5 Brown 2018 which is an 1844.5 Holub x self. The 1844.5 typically throws a nice looking squash. I hope it is emerald green and not gray.   Wednesday, June 3 View Page Hoops are off, and the 1411 Engel and 1040 Fehr are running. The 1872 Sippel and 1000.5 Brown had a little set back. They got a little warm even with the hoop ends open. They are making a comeback. The 2261 Schmit is out in the big patch. Jodi thinks it should have went in the competition patch..Now I have to go buy more fertilizer   Saturday, June 6 View Page Hoops are off..Plants are down and running. Time to get the irrigation going. I can throw 30 gallons a minute out of my 2" line right now. I need to test how much come out of the sprinkler heads 1411 Engel, and 1040 Fehr are the best looking plants. The 1872 SippeL and 1000.5* Brown are recovering from a warm hoop house. The 2261 Schmit is an odd plant with no distinguishable main...so we will have to chose one. The 1143 Engel is just starting to run. The other 1/4 acre of field pumpkins is weeded. Odd thing is I have a volunteer crop of mustard that is thick in the one end..so I keep the rows clean and keep tilling it in   Thursday, June 11 View Page We have plenty of water. Whoever coiled the 2" line up last did not properly drain it. When we turned on the irrigation. I was a little disappointed at the amount of water covering the patch. Then I looked to the right and saw the geyser. A couple of splices and 10 feet of pipe removed. We were back in business. We have three spigots with a 45' Radius each covering the 50' x 50' patch. We did a test run for 30 minutes and threw 600 gallons of water out. Which I am very happy with. I need to learn how to properly turn the fertigator off as I threw about 10 lbs of CalMag Fertilizer down also. It was not until the end when I filled a bucket we realized we had Blue water.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page We are down to less than 72 hours, while we think we are ready for this next part of our Breast Cancer Journey. I don't think a person can ever be ready.   Thursday, June 18 View Page 1040 Fehr 2019 X Self. This pumpkin was a 920 Cooper x a 781 Engel. The 920 Cooper is a 1374 Engel x 1495 Stelts. The 781 Engel is a 1374 Engel x 359 Foss. Hopefully this produces me a Howard Dill Award.   Saturday, June 20 View Page Well the good news is they removed all the breast tissue that had cancer, there was no cancer in the lymph nodes or margins of the chest. So now we start the process of healing. Thank You to those people who reached out to me, to send well wishes, thoughts and prayers. Along with sharing your breast cancer journeys. I don't know what I would do without this pumpkin queen and pumpkin carver at my side   Sunday, June 21 View Page Pollinated 1411 Engel x self Yesterday. Tilled the 1/4 acre patch and started vine burying. The 2261 Schmit will be ready next week and it is a long skinny pumpkin, and very yellow. The 1872 Sippel was a little stunted but seems to be making a come back. The 1000.5* Brown has a soil imbalance thing going on..Slowly trying to correct that. The 1143 Engel is down and running, and the Pumpkin has taken on the 1040 Fehr. Bob has given me a big bag of seeds so they will be available later this fall.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page Pollinated the 2261 Schmit x Self. Hopefully it took. The rain was falling hard at the time.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page The pumpkin in the 1/4 Acre are doing "GREAT" My windscreens of Giant Sunflowers and Earth Tones and Green Oaxaca Corn, along with the two rows of sweet corn are doing their jobs   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1040 Fehr x Self. The pumpkins this year are going to be named after strong women. From this day forward this pumpkin shall be known as "Jodi The Courageous" She is facing the Breast Cancer with a smile on her face, and has the determination she is going to kick it ass, and then kick it one more time for fun. We got the left breast cancer removed, now it is time to determine what happens with the right, and other female reproductive organs that are feeding the cancer   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1411 Engel x Self. This pumpkin from this day forward shall be known as "Kayla The Brave". Her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the prognosis is not good. This young woman has brought me courage and strength, and we have the occasion hug to show support.   Thursday, June 25 View Page Pollinate a 4 lober on the 1872 Sippel with the 1040 Fehr   Friday, June 26 View Page 2261 Schmit x self pollinated on Monday June 22 from this day forward shall be known as "Sue the Conqueror" for Susan Dean Barber. She was given the burden of cancer, not only faced it she decided to Kick its Ass, and take names.   Saturday, June 27 View Page Jodi the Courageous on the 1040 Fehr at 10 days old. This pumpkin to me is the ultimate cross of the 920 Cooper x the 781 Engel. I have High hopes for this girl   Sunday, June 28 View Page The 2261 Schmit who lost out to a space in the competition patch has become the biggest and most vigorous plant.   Monday, June 29 View Page 7" inches of rain and still coming down there go my nutrients   Monday, June 29 View Page You ever looked at the lay of the land and said that is an odd place for a culvert...oh well that will never affect me way over here   Thursday, July 2 View Page This place is my sanity lately. Where I go early in the morning, and just breath. Sit, Relax and Watch the world wake up. I believe this stress has caused my Vertigo to return with a vengeance. Which is not making life any easier. Jodi is doing as well as can be expected. When they removed the breast they section and do pathology on all the tissue. Turns out the Non-Invasive Cancer that never becomes Invasive. Had done exactly that in 4 places. So that changes things a little bit. So now the cancer is classified as Stage 1 Grade 2. She is have genetic testing and cancer mutation testing completed to determine what our next step is. It may result in removal of the remaining breast, female sexual organs, and chemotherapy. Thank You for your continued thoughts and prayers.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Jodi The Courageous on the 1040 Fehr is kicking in to full growth mode. Today I will get all the pumpkins on their mats, and beds.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Jodi on the 1040 Fehr...This girl is going to be orange and pretty. The plant hates throwing secondaries which is annoying me   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Kayla the Brave on the 1411 Engel. This pumpkin was pollinated on June 24th and is a 1411 Engel x 1040 Fehr Cross. She looks like she is not going to be orange and pretty. The plant is growing perfect   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Sue the Conquerer on the 2261 Schmit pollinated June 26th 2261 Schmit x 1040 Fehr. This might be orange :)   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Pollinated 1872 Sippel x 1411 Engel. If this one does not take the plant gets pulled   Thursday, July 16 View Page Pollinated 1143 Engel x 1040 Fehr. The weather is not cooperating with pollinations lately Hot..Hot..Hot   Thursday, July 16 View Page Update on Jodi...She is still doing good. We find out next week the next course of action. Genetic testing all cam back as good, with low chance of reoccurrence. Still does not explain why it could not be detected with normal MRI, or other test methods. Hard to fight something that cant only be detected through pathology of the cells.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Jodi the Courageous   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Kayla the Brave..   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Sue the Conquerer   Wednesday, July 29 View Page Jodi on the 1040 Fehr   Wednesday, July 29 View Page KAYLA on the 1411 Engel   Wednesday, July 29 View Page SUE on the 2261 Schmit   Wednesday, July 29 View Page Kayla   Wednesday, July 29 View Page Jodi The Courageous on the 1040 Fehr   Wednesday, July 29 View Page Sue the Conqueror on the 2261 Schmit...This girl is starting to kick in   Saturday, August 15 View Page 2020 Wisconsin Patch Tour. Thank You Mark Mourlas for these pictures   Saturday, August 15 View Page Jodi has a cooler of her infamous Pumpkin Salted Caramel Cupcakes...Yes those cupcakes that you growers dream about. I am glad she is feeling good enough to whip them up for us growers   Saturday, August 15 View Page Mark Mourlas Pumpkinphotos.com was nice enough to take pictures for the event. Here is Jodi and Me with "Sue the Conqueror" All the pumpkins in the patch this year are named after women who are battling cancer.   Saturday, August 15 View Page Here is some guy who talks about pumpkin too much...FYI I talk with my hands when I get excited. No there were not bees flying around my head   Saturday, August 15 View Page The GR8PNKIN Jeep. This is Jodi's Jeep   Saturday, August 15 View Page Here is some guy..talking about a tomato as big as his head. So large that he is not able to get his head and it in the same picture for a selfie...Chris Brown Selfie King   Wednesday, August 19 View Page For those of you that have the patience to train your bushel gourd. I salute you. I have two growing in the Home Patch, and they scare me. They are out of control, vines have run everywhere, They have spread like 5o feet in all directions. Up a tree, climbing the garage, growing through the fence, I keep my phone on me at all times when I go check the Giant Cabbage and Rutabaga's. This used to be my compost pile.   Saturday, August 22 View Page Does anyone know what color this pumpkin is turning on the 1040 Fehr. She is putting me in a difficult position...   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Jodi the Courageous on the 1040 Fehr showing her color   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Sue The Conqueror on the 2261 Schmit..All my pumpkins could be doing better this year for weight gains   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Kayla the Brave looking like her mom on the 1411 Engel   Wednesday, September 2 View Page Guess who is carving here twice this year. It is kind of nice that we are preferred suppliers. They give us the dates and times. Then say give us your ideas and send us a quote   Tuesday, September 22 View Page Doing something different. While this Girl is not the biggest in the patch. I am bringing her to the Dance as my Official Entry. I believe I will be not get the Howard Dill Award with her, but she will be a runner up.   Friday, September 25 View Page It is Picking Day for "Kayla the Brave" While I would like to see her about a 1,000 lbs heavier. I am thankful for the chance to grow her. She is named for a woman whose husband has brain cancer.   Friday, September 25 View Page This Girl is "JODI THE BRAVE" on the 1040 FEHR 2019. I am grateful that Jodi is kicking Breast Cancers Ass, and that we were given the hard road with a clear path. She will be my official entry for River Prairie even though she is the smallest of the patch   Friday, September 25 View Page This is "SUE THE CONQUEROR" on the 2261 Schmit. She will be going to Stillwater. Her plant still has a little foliage..   Saturday, September 26 View Page Jodi The Courageous finished out the season at 694 lbs at the River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival. Jodi is a 1040 Fehr x Self. The 1040 Fehr is a 920 Cooper x 781 Engel   Saturday, September 26 View Page Kayla the Brave weighed 986 lbs. Kayla is a 1411 Engel 2019 x 1040 Fehr 2019   Saturday, October 10 View Page Sue the Conqueror was brought to Stillwater Harvest Fest. She weighed in a lot light at 896 lbs. She is a 2261 Schmit 2019 x 1040 Fehr 2019. I have a good feeling about this cross. Overall I am happy with the season I had given the circumstances. I did not reach my goal, but that doesn't matter. I still have Jodi by myside.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Going to be emotional here. On the ride to Stillwater Jodi was talking and chatting, and for the first time in months life seemed a little bit normal. I had tears in my eyes, going down the highway. We have some big carves coming up in Green Bay, our 10th Anniversary Halloween Basj. Then we have another surgery scheduled, and another month of down time.   Wednesday, October 14 View Page It has been the year of Breast Cancer Awareness for me. I have worn the same hat and pink gaiter everyday since May 4th. I will continue to wear them until this Journey is done. Here are two carves I did   Wednesday, October 14 View Page GR8PNKN Jeep   Wednesday, October 14 View Page #savethepumpkins   Saturday, October 17 View Page Jodi and I had the pleasure of Carving for the Green Bay Packers again.   Saturday, October 17 View Page I carved Davante Adams and Jodi carved David Bakhtiari   Saturday, October 17 View Page Jodi whipped out his cool sugar skull   Saturday, October 17 View Page She also did this cool 3D helmet...   Saturday, October 17 View Page I carved Sue the Conqueror of the 2261 Schmit, and a few Aaron Rodgers pumpkins. It was a really good carve for us. With the exception of me hyperextending my left elbow putting the trailer gate back on. Good thing you only need one arm to carve.   Saturday, October 17 View Page The Event was called Spooktacular. This is 125lb Hubbard AG cross.   Saturday, October 17 View Page Here is a Joker Pumpkin   Tuesday, October 27 View Page We got to carve at Lambeau again..even though the temperature was hovering above freezing we kept the pumpkins warm and it was not bad   Tuesday, October 27 View Page Bushel gourds make nice fruit to etch logo's on. This on had a shell that was thick and hard.   Tuesday, October 27 View Page Here are two pumpkins that we were requested to do. Sadly they did not make it on national TV. Next year :)   Tuesday, October 27 View Page This 150lb Hubbard got some coverage   Tuesday, October 27 View Page my 2261 Schmit carving got coverage   Tuesday, October 27 View Page Jodi's unmasked II and my Mason Crosby had a couple quick shots   Wednesday, December 2 View Page Jodi had her second surgery. Hopefully this is the last one and we are in the healing phase. I pray for all those people fighting cancer.   Sunday, December 6 View Page https://www.facebook.com/477786162417002/posts/1634312163431057/   Friday, December 25 View Page I woke up early Christmas morning, as the house was silent. It was quiet but soon Jodi, Chardonnay, Jesus and Owen would be waking up. Jodi is recovering well from her second operation, and the results are looking good. Chardonnay has a fiancé named Jesus. I actually kind of like him. Owen is 2.5 years old and his world revolves around Trucks, Trucks, Trucks. It is not the presents under your Christmas Tree that make it special. It is the people the surround it.   Saturday, December 26 View Page Merry Christmas from my Family to yours. May 2021 bring you a healthy family