Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 18 Entries. Sunday, June 7 View Page Neptune (2008 Neptune 2014) continues to impress! Of course, the weather has helped! What a huge difference to the start of this season compared to last year's!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Well, I've been very neglectful in updating my grower diary for 2020 given the craziness of Covid-19. Finally have some time to post some pics. Readied the patch this year with a nice crop of Kodiak mustard. Also worked to bring my pH down. My patch typically ran around 7.1 - 7.4. Trying to get it to around 6.7 and am nearly there. Happy with how the early season went as the weather was stellar.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This was my lineup for the season. Amazingly, the 1649 Lopresti 2019 was the strongest contender! It's a cross of the 2469 Daletas and 2528 Geddes - so amazing genetics. I also planted my own 702 Pelletier 2019 squash and that one did way better that the 1362.5 Pugh - so will keep the Pugh for cross pollination purposes only.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Another in the lineup is the 247 Kent 2017. Hoping to break my 2019 personal and Provincial record of 219lbs. Btw, trying to dry and preserve a 219 lbs bushel gourd is not advisable! Had it in my basement with two fans running on it 24/7 along with being adjacent a dehumidifier and it still ended up a Technicolor pile of stinky goop! Luckily I had moved it outside before it collapsed. On the plus side is I have harvested some lovely seeds that I look forward to growing next year.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Here's the 1649 Lopresti 2019 as of May 15th. Really lovely plant!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Installed soil heating cables in the patch this year and have to say I think it's made a big difference (though part of it could be the stellar genetics of the 1649 Lopresti 2019). Looking healthy and happy!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page June 1st and the 1649 Lopresti 2019 is busting out of the greenhouse. Earliest ever for my patch. Excited to see what this plant brings.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page June 17 and we have our first baby appearing on the 1649 Lopresti 2019. It's 13ft out on the main and is in great position. The weather has taken a very cool and wet turn as of late and things are slowing down as a result. Hoping to have this pollinated by the 28th or so.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Had a break between rain storms to get a nice pic of the 1649 Lopresti 2019. Still growing well considering how cool and wet it's been.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Yay! Pretty much right on schedule! Pollinated this beauty of a 5 lober on the 1649 Lopresti 2019 as planned. Fingers crossed it takes!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Happy 4th of July to all my friends south of the 49th. Looks like the pollination took. Loving the round shape of this baby.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Well, the cool weather continues... The only good news is the giant cabbage I have growing is massive. I started this plant in November and successfully overwintered it without it going to seed. It's now over 5.5 ft wide and about as tall. Can't wait to see how big it gets!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Extended the giant squash patch over the weekend. It's only about 13ft wide, so have to go long with it. Looks like I have a good prospect coming! This is the 702 Pelletier 2019 squash plant.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Here's our prime suspect on the 702 Pelletier 2019 squash plant as of July 7. Hope to pollinate in the next few days. Cold wet weather conditions persist...barely broke 16 Celsius /60F today. I see lots of growers this year in the States battling extreme heat...wish we could split the difference!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Wow, Fat Bastard (giant cabbage) is really pretty on the inside. Forming a nice head! This is going to make a whole lot of cabbage rolls.. Haha   Tuesday, July 7 View Page DAP 8 on the 1649 Lopresti 2019. It's hit the ground now, but wow is the growth ever slow with this chilly weather. Come on summer! Get in gear!   Saturday, July 11 View Page Pollinated this honey of a 5 lober on the 1649 Lopresti 2019 at about 19ft on the main. Let's hope the weather turns around soon!   Sunday, July 12 View Page Well, this certainly isn't the prettiest giant squash bloom I've ever seen. This is from my 702 Pelletier 2019 squash. Fingers crossed this one takes!