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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 183 Entries.
Friday, May 29 View Page
Test post for 1st diary. Pic of bucket challenge tomato, opted for 5 gallon pot. Plant is from my biggest tomato last year 4.01 grown from the 4.28 Spaziani
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Competition tomato row. Mix of Big Wixom, 7.19 La Rue, 9.65 Porkchop, 5.71 Lambchop, 5.53 Sandercock, 4.28 Big Marley, 4.59 Yohe, and my 4.01 from last year. Have 3 different groups staggered 2 weeks apart.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Giant Onions, Spaziani Ailsa Craig
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Barratt Kolrabi and Aubergine, first time growing these so not sure what to do with them.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Giant Cantaloupe, growing the 61.85 Davis, 56.74 Davis, 65.9 Vester, 59 Vester, and my 39 from last year.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Watermelon line up for this year is the 341.5 Vial, 247 Edwards, and my 172 from last year. For some reason they really struggled when they got transplanted to the garden this year, finally taking off in the last week. Pretty far behind this year.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Marrow this year is the 110.5 La Rue, Bushel Gourd is the 384.5 Terry. Thanks Brandon for the seed. Lost the bushel gourd main due to late frost in May. New main starting to take off.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
180.8 Horde Field Pumpkin with the Spaziani Giant Zucchini in the background.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
More Field Pumpkins. My 89 from last year with the 150 Nieuwenhoff in the background.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Long Gourd this year is the 123.88 Vander Wielen. Getting close to the redneck trellis of the nearby tree.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Couple AG's and a Squash. Pictured are the 1866 Cutrupi in the front, 1109 Jutras to the left, and the 2145 remake 1267 Westphal. Don't see any progeny for it on pumpkinfanatic site, but giving it a try.
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
2469 Daletas
 
Thursday, June 11 View Page
Finally my 993 from last year. Pretty small plant as it is a back up to the back up. Original back up got damaged pretty bad by the late frost so decided to start over.
 
Saturday, June 13 View Page
Challenge plant starting to take off. Seems to like the empty mini greenhouse for it's living quarters.
 
Saturday, June 13 View Page
Blurry pic of blossom forming
 
Wednesday, June 17 View Page
Fused blossom and vine on the 1109 Jutras
 
Friday, June 19 View Page
Better pic on the 4.01 challenge plant a few days later. First truss mega. Hopefully it takes as would like to work with a smaller plant in the confined growing space.
 
Friday, June 19 View Page
Some of the outdoor competition plants have some nice blossoms showing up on the first truss also. 9.65 Porkchop, although he has me a little concerned about a first truss on a Domingo. Have a couple other Domingo's growing so maybe will experiment a little.
 
Friday, June 19 View Page
Biggest 1st truss blossom is on the 4.28 Big Marley so far.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
2469 getting closer to pollination time
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
First blossom on the 2469 also fused to the secondary like the Jutras. Will wait for the next one.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
180.8 Horde secondaries just starting to show up.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Spaziani Zucchini bushing up nicely. Picked off a lot of blossoms so far.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Decided to let one grow now though. Don't know if the plant is big enough yet but figured I'd grow an early and a late one to see how they do compared to each other.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
89 Harrington filling in nicely. Cross is 133.4 Wursten x 188 MacKinnion
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
993 starting to stretch out. Cross is 1989.5 Daletas x 1631 Urena
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Competition tomato row. Have most of them planted at this point
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
This is what I'm planting into. Just a little black dirt over clay. If I did deep enough the clay turns from red to blue but no punching through any hardpan here. Sloped garden drains quickly which is good in some cases but hard to keep proper moisture when the summer drought hits. Trying something new this year. Augering out several holes and filling with dirt/potting soil mix to hopefully act as a retention spot for some moisture as our summer goes on that the roots can find.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
384.5 Terry
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
110.5 LaRue
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Cantaloupes. Usually get behind on weeding so trying to utilize ground cover this year to cut down on the exposed areas. We'll see how it works.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Added some plastic poultry fence for the watermelons to hang on to. Will do the same for the cantaloupes.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Biggest melon plant so far is the 172 grafted on BG stock. Cross is 298.5 Lindley x 277.5 Barber.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
First pollination will be on the 1866 Cutrupi
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
1109 Jutras
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
1267 Westphal pretty inconsistent with it's secondaries so far.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Giant onions still moving along.
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Biggest one between baseball and softball size
 
Saturday, June 20 View Page
Kohlrabi, don't know if they're making good progress or not, lol.
 
Sunday, June 21 View Page
Father's day pollination on the 1866. Crossed with the 2469.
 
Wednesday, June 24 View Page
2nd pollination on the 1866. Once again crossed with the 2469.
 
Wednesday, June 24 View Page
1109 Jutras throwing some deformed males also. Several with the stamen split in two, this one split in three.
 
Thursday, June 25 View Page
First pollination on the 1267. Pollinated with the 2469. Main vine terminated itself a while back similar to the one in Materdocs's diary. Vine just ended with a leaf so growing on a secondary.
 
Thursday, June 25 View Page
First pollination on the 2469. Used the 1866 to cross with.
 
Friday, June 26 View Page
First controlled pollination on my 172. Had planned on crossing with the 341 Vial but it decided not to have any flowers that day. Used the 247 Edwards instead.
 
Saturday, June 27 View Page
Storms with some wind and hail Friday night. Here's an unhappy blossom on the 1109 Jutras. Selfed it, we'll see if it takes.
 
Saturday, June 27 View Page
Not a lot of major damage, mostly a few overturned vines, broken leaves, and holes in others. Here's the 2469.
 
Saturday, June 27 View Page
4.59 Yohe snapped off in the wind. Will give it a chance to grow out of it.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Checking to see if the diary will work again. First set on Spaziani cuke plant.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Kohlrabi about the size of mini basketballs
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
Bucket challenge plant
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
And the first truss mega on it
 
Wednesday, July 1 View Page
Watermelon grafted on Carolina Strongback rootstock. Graft was damaged shortly after transplanting by wind due to not having it secured in place good enough. Healed and is growing ok.
 
Wednesday, July 1 View Page
And the plant. This was a late start and is planted in the eating melon patch. Doesn't get much extra care so will be interesting what it does under those conditions.
 
Friday, July 3 View Page
Starting to pollinate cantaloupes. This is the 56.74 Davis. This plant was grafted to BG stock. Floundered for a while in the garden then took off. Looks like while it was struggling the scion rooted down and that is what is supplying the plant more than the rootstock.
 
Friday, July 3 View Page
59 Vester
 
Friday, July 3 View Page
Bucket challenge BER, that didn't take long, lol.
 
Monday, July 6 View Page
Starting to pollinate the 384.5 Terry BG
 
Friday, July 10 View Page
Melon on my grafted 172 20 DAP. End a little underdeveloped.
 
Friday, July 10 View Page
1267 Westphal 15 DAP 121.5 OTT for est. weight of 48 lbs. Wearing a beauty mark from a hail stone.
 
Saturday, July 11 View Page
Early Zuke quit growing, pretty weak effort on 1st attempt. Plenty of time to set another.
 
Wednesday, July 22 View Page
56.74 Davis Cantaloupe. 2 days before this pic it was 14 DAP had an OTT of 66.5 for est. wright of 11 lbs.
 
Wednesday, July 22 View Page
Set on the 61.85 Davis. This one has been throwing nice long fruit, unfortunately some of the vines are showing wilt including the one this set is on. Removed the unhealthy vines after this pic. They were soft where they attached to the stump so hopefully it's not bacterial wilt. Treated the soft spot on the stump trying to save the plant.
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
180.8 Horde FP 19 DAP 145 OTT est. weight 63 lbs
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
110.5 LaRue Marrow 25 DAP 134 OTT with a circumference of 66.
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
56.74 Davis Cantaloupe 19 DAP 85 OTT est. weight 20 lbs
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
Melon #1 on the 172. Doing less than 2 lbs quickly being caught by a younger melon on same plant. Going to cull this one in favor of the other.
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
2nd melon on the 172 has a better shape with the ends filled in. 25 DAP 122.5 OTT est. weight 56 lbs doing a little over 3 lbs a day.
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
247 Edwards 112 OTT est. weight 43 gaining 2.29 per day
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
341.5 Vial is currently best in the patch. 131 OTT est. 67 lbs. gaining 3.82 lbs./day
 
Saturday, July 25 View Page
1267 Westphal was ramping up nice during the previous measurement but shut down over the last five day only gaining 12 lbs. Don't see anything visibly wrong with it but will see what it does when I get back from the fishing trip. Currently at 220 lbs.
 
Saturday, August 1 View Page
Harvested the giant onions after returning from our annual fishing trip. Nothing huge on my 1st time trying to grow these. Largest was a couple tenths of an ounce from reaching 3 lbs. Should make some nice onion rings!
 
Monday, August 3 View Page
Measured a couple of the biggest tomatoes currently in the patch. Ways to go before they're noteworthy. Hopefully they grow some more to help out the challenge team now that Chris Brown gave us a good pace setter. This one on the 5.71 Lambchop.
 
Monday, August 3 View Page
This one on the 9.65 Porkchop. My current PB is only 4.01 lbs. so this one with a little more growth could be pushing that.
 
Monday, August 3 View Page
Although from the outside the giant zucchini plant looks good, just won't produce very big fruit. Looked a little deeper in the plant and this may have something to do with it. Looks like the core and main root died and 4 different vines have taken root. Now have 4 individual small plants. Might pull 3 and see what the last one will produce after it gets bigger or just give up all together on the giant zuke quest.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
180.8 Horde, 154 OTT est 75 lbs. Turning so looks like this ones pretty much done.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
89 Harrington also 154 OTT for est 75 lbs. It's mother was a nice round barrel shape but this seed is throwing some weird shaped pumpkins. They start out normal looking blossom then grow long with sunken in sides.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
Took the cover off the marrow to find out it went bad. Good thing I had missed a couple of culls before leaving for vacation so have a couple decent replacements
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
First one
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
2nd one, there was a 3rd that I cut off that was a little smaller that weighed 36 lbs so hopefully one of these two make it to the finish line
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
384.5 Terry 91.5 OTT
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
Couple lopes on the 59 Vester. This one is 83.5 OTT
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
2nd 59 Vester lope 86.5 OTT. Will do a couple measures to see which one growing faster before deciding on the keeper.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
56.74 Davis up to 109.5 OTT est 32 lbs.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
61.85 Davis Cantaloupe. This set isn't as nicely shaped as the first but at least the plant is still alive and growing. 87 OTT.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
341.5 Vial watermelon. Daughter didn't follow the watering instructions very well while we were gone on annual fishing trip. Came back to dried cracked ground so predictably growth rates for everything slowed down from previous measures. Oh to have the priorities of a college aged kid again, lol. 194 OTT average down to 2.96 lbs/day for the last 10 days.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
247 Edwards 129.5 OTT ave 2.2 lbs/day
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
172 Harrington 141.5 OTT ave 2.81 lbs/day
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
Finally have a couple sets going on the 1109 Jutras. First is and uncontrolled pollination. 20 DAP 161 OTT.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
1109 Jutras x Self 15 DAP 142.5 OTT. Will do a couple more measures to pick the keeper.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
1267 Westphal is done. Only added 5 lbs while we were gone. Pumpkin doesn't look like it will hold together much longer. Guess it didn't matter that our state fair weigh-off was cancelled since we didn't have anything to take up this year.
 
Tuesday, August 4 View Page
Porkchop and Lambchop stating to throw some nice megas now. This one on the 9.65
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
Bucket challenge plant looking better after being ravaged by hornworms a couple of weeks ago and not getting watered well while I was gone on vacation. Couple sets currently on it
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
This double is at the top, but leaning towards culling it for a new blossom lower on the plant.
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
This blossom looks like it has more potential. If it takes will probably top the plant down a ways and run with this one.
 
Wednesday, August 5 View Page
Will this one be my lucky 4 leaf clover on the Lambchop?
 
Friday, August 7 View Page
Two biggest tomatoes still growing. This one also on the Lambchop 5.71
 
Friday, August 7 View Page
Up to 22.5 on the Porkchop 9.65, gaining 1/4" per day. If I can get this one to the finish line should beat my PB from last year of 4.01 lbs.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
Younger Jutras set starting to ramp up nicely. 20 DAP 185 OTT est 149 lbs. Gained a little over 15 lbs a day since last measure.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
Plant made the decision for me this week aborting the older set. Hopefully I can get one to stick on this plant.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
A little TLC last few days got the growth rates headed back the right direction. 341.5 Vial 158.5 OTT doing 3.7 lbs/day last 5 days.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
247 Edwards picked up some, but still in a rut compared to the others. 137.5 OTT doing 2.4 lbs/day
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
172 now at 151 OTT doing 3.4 lbs/day
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
Too bad this plant isn't in a spot where it would get more care. Another 172 this one grafted on Carolina Strongback rootstock. Although lack of TLC holding back overall performance it's a good test of the rootstock drought resistance. 136.5 OTT doing 2.5 lbs/day even with the lack of water.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
56.74 Davis now at 115 OTT for est weight of 37 lbs. Bigger than my current IA State Fair record of 33.9 lbs that would have been weighed Tues this week but still a long ways to go for the overall state record.
 
Sunday, August 9 View Page
384.5 Terry BG 126 OTT.
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
Still growing, probably last measure until it's time to weigh as it's getting harder to get the tape behind it and don't want to risk damaging it.
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
5.71 still growing also
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
This one on my 89 is turning so pretty much done, measures 160.5 OTT est 85 lbs.
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
180.8 Horde done also, 156 OTT est 78 lbs. Hopefully can get a better one going on this plant for the weigh offs.
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
Starting to get a few pollinations on the 123.88 Vander Wielen
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
Finally got a couple of pumpkins to take one the 2469 Daletas. 162.5 OTT on the first one not setting the world on fire.
 
Monday, August 10 View Page
2nd one is 6" behind at the same age so time to get out the knife and see if we can speed up the first one. Got some pretty good gusts of wind today when the storm front came through. Minor damage compared to what they got north of us today and what I've seen in other diaries from those growing out east so fortunate in those regards. Could still use some rain as we didn't get much today and it's been pretty dry here the last few weeks.
 
Thursday, August 13 View Page
5.71 starting to turn. Even though it measures 22" doubt it's even close to 4 lbs due to shape and depth, but we'll find out in a couple of days. Going to try and let the left side catch up a little it the right side doesn't finish ripening too quickly. Ideally this one will only be a placeholder in the team competition. 9.65 hit 24" today and still green. Should already be into PB territory with it but hopefully it waits a while longer to turn to set the bar high.
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
The 4.01 bucket plant sending out some nice late season blossoms
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
Another one on the bucket plant. The 4.01 which is Big Marley lineage has consistently produced some nice blossoms for me this year, bucket and garden plants.
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
1109 Jutras still ramping up nicely, doing a little over 20 lbs a day last 5 days, now at 249 lbs.
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
All the melons slowed down for some reason. 341.5 Vial still leads the way, now measuring 130 lbs doing 2.78 lbs/day. My 172 on this day last year was measuring 65 lbs so way ahead of last year calendar wise. Couple times this week something has knocked the cover off all the melons and scratched up the tops. Going to have to fix that. 247 Edwards now measuring 87 lbs doing 1.99 lbs/day and the 172 is at 114 lbs doing 2.55 lbs/day.
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
56.74 crawling along, now measuring 40 lbs. Culled the smaller lope off the 59 Vester. It measured 24 lbs but weighed 30 lbs on the bathroom scale so maybe a good sign the others may go heavy as well. The remaining lope on the 59 measures 28 lbs growing 1.24 lbs/day and the 61.85 checked in at 25 lbs. All lope plants showing some mildew. Treated a couple days ago but may have to break out something stronger to save them.
 
Friday, August 14 View Page
384.5 Terry BG measures 97 lbs doing 7.89 lbs/day
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Harvested the 5.71 Lambchop today, final measurement 22.5" Have a couple other better shaped starts on this plant that I'll have to choose between soon.
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
As predicted, went light due to some lobes not filling out very well. 3.425 lbs for first entry into team comp. Hopefully will be able to replace this one later.
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Different angle
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Have one turning on the 4.28 Big Marley as well. Not very big between 21-22"
 
Sunday, August 16 View Page
Couldn't help myself, had to measure the 9.65 one more time. Not growing fast but still gaining now at 24 5/8"
 
Wednesday, August 19 View Page
Picked the 4.28 Big Marley today. Slightly better effort than the first tomato but still too small to help our team be competitive. Measured slightly over 21" and weighed 3.55 lbs so pretty much right to chart.
 
Wednesday, August 19 View Page
Other side. The 9.65 started showing signs of blush on the bottom a couple of days ago. Starting to show a little more color today so will be weighing it in a few days.
 
Thursday, August 20 View Page
Stuck in a rut of 3.5 +/- lb tomatoes. This one off a different 9.65 plant than my big one. 21.5" 3.46 lbs so a little light to chart.
 
Thursday, August 20 View Page
Bottom side. Plan on breaking out of the rut tomorrow. My big 9.65 is probably only 40% blushed today, but had one a day or two further along go bad today so no use playing with fire for a couple more ounces on a tomato that should easily be my PB if it weighs anywhere close to it's measure.
 
Friday, August 21 View Page
Weighed my biggest tomato today, grew on the 9.65 Marley. 5.23 lbs, 22 1/8" circumference. New PB and possible new Iowa state record. Biggest we can find in the records was Dave Miller's 4.37 in 2015. Does anyone have a current record list that can confirm?
 
Friday, August 21 View Page
Different view
 
Saturday, August 22 View Page
Another PB for me today, 52.4 lbs on the bathroom scale. Busy smoking a brisket for my son's birthday today and forgot about checking it until it was too late to take it anywhere tonight for an official weight. Might run in to town to try to get an official weight tomorrow if I get time otherwise this will have to be good enough.
 
Saturday, August 22 View Page
Weight on the scale. Last measured it on 8/19 and had OTT of 121.5" which put it at 43 lbs est weight. Seed was 56.74 Davis.
 
Sunday, September 6 View Page
Still can't get beyond 3-3.5 lbs other than my one outlier this year. This one off the Big Wixom plant. Not quite big enough to help in the team competition. 22.25" 3.52 lbs.
 
Sunday, September 6 View Page
Seems like this round of tomatoes blushed early due to the heat. Have a couple others turning but don't think they're any better than this one. Looks like I'll need a Festivus miracle from a late season tomato if I'm going to get another above 4 lbs this year.
 
Saturday, September 12 View Page
After being defoliated earlier by tomato worms, the bucket tomato plant has bushed back up. Greenhouse should keep it going a little later into the fall.
 
Saturday, September 12 View Page
Have a couple going on it, but still pretty early to get too exited about them. Plenty of time to go down to BER yet, lol. This one more of a caterpillar.
 
Saturday, September 12 View Page
This one a double
 
Saturday, September 12 View Page
Still trying to throw some nice blossoms also but these are too late to do much with the current setup. Since it's already potted up, might prune it back and make it and indoor tomato plant for the winter.
 
Monday, September 14 View Page
Tough year for pumpkins at our place this year. Will be well short of goal and no where near PB but hopefully this one holds together long enough to make it to the scale. Measures 298" today.
 
Monday, September 14 View Page
Where was this blossom a few weeks ago on the Bix Wixom?
 
Monday, September 14 View Page
Other side of this sunflower
 
Monday, September 14 View Page
This one was from Ned's 5.53 Delicious wasn't expecting it to be yellow. Neglected plant that was grown for eaters that has a few this size on it. 19" 2 lbs 5 oz. Couldn't get the plant of this variety in the competition patch to throw a mega all year so finally let a couple common ones go. Culled down to one a couple weeks ago so will see how it ends up.
 
Saturday, September 19 View Page
Biggest one off the neglected 5.53 Momate. Will save the seeds from this one since the tomato on the competition 5.53 developed a bad spot so won't be getting a tomato from it.
 
Monday, September 21 View Page
Lost one of our field pumpkins for this weekends weigh-off to BES. This was the early set on the 180.8 Horde that had been hanging out in the patch all summer. Measured 80 lbs, went 86.4 on the bathroom scale.
 
Friday, September 25 View Page
Carolina Strongback grafted melon measuring 115 lbs. Nothing great, but it was neglected in a remote patch that wasn't the greatest soil so not sure what to think about the rootstock potential. First weigh-off opportunity tomorrow in Bloomfield. Have a couple of things still gaining weight so not sure if I'll cut them or wait another week. Good luck everyone at your weigh-offs tomorrow!
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Trailer pic in front of the courthouse at the Bloomfield weigh-off this morning. Great turnout today with several state records and a potential world record set today. Was pretty hectic trying to keep up with the record keeping and other duties so unfortunately didn't get to visit with as many people as I would have liked. Think the heat and work pace got the best of me as when we were going over the data sheets tonight I noticed I had messed up the OTT on a couple of my personal entries. Was evidently having trouble multiplying by 12 on some of the circumferences so apologize in advance if the OTT's of your entry don't match what you thought they should be.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Few more of our entries in the back of the truck. Although disappointing that I've still failed to break the 1K goal on AG's we still had a pretty good day at the weigh-off today.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Took first in the tomato category with this tomato 3.61 from the Big Wixom. This is a slight help in the team competition (Go Team Salsa!) At least it's an improvement vs. the direction I was trending. There may be a little more sauce in the next couple of weeks.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Weighed my PB field pumpkin today, from my 89 lb pumpkin last year. Came in 2nd.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Wife came in 3rd with a pumpkin from the 150 Nieuwenhoff
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Set the new state record and came in first in the marrow category with this one from the 110.5 LaRue.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Wife came in 2nd using the same seed
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Struggles with log gourds this year. Didn't get them secured very well which led to the vines kinking when we got some wind. Then after months of limited moisture got a big rain that split the biggest ones apart lengthwise. Was able to get one on the record though. Think I came in last today, lol
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Held the state record for bushel gourd for a couple of hours again before Rusty Caspers came in with a bigger one and claimed the record. Ended up coming in 2nd. Seed was the 384.5 Terry. Have another on the plant with the potential to beat this one but forecast has cold weather coming in for the next few days so doubt I will beat Rusty's new record.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Exhibit.ion entry from the 1237 Westphal pumpkin that shut down a couple of months ago. Although it wasn't very big, was curious what it would chart. Ended up going 9.8% heavy.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
2469 Daletas went heavy as well. Think I came in 12th today. Hopefully one of these years I'll figure out how to grow a giant, LOL
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
As mentioned before, lot of great growers were there today, wish I would have had more time to visit with them. Did get a chance to visit with Doug English and listen to some of his thoughts on growing a giant cantaloupe. Very generous grower who was sharing some of his WR seeds. Was able to get some also. Thanks Doug! Hopefully I won't mess these up too bad next year, lol.
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
After the long day was ready to cool off when I got home. Been looking for this for a while and was lucky enough to get a bottle. Might explain some of the typos in the long gourd and other posts from today.
 
Wednesday, September 30 View Page
Was hoping this one would go longer but rain a couple of days ago was causing it to start to crack so picked before it went bad. 22.75" From my 4.01 Harrington which is from the Big Marley. 3.725 lbs so a little light to chart.
 
Wednesday, September 30 View Page
Bottom shot, nice double shape to it
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
Harvested sweet potatoes tonight. Had several plants with stumps bigger than my watermelons.
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
This is what was underneath them. Lost several to mouse or vole chewing them up. Never had that issue before. Even with that averaged 2 plants to fill a 5 gallon bucket through the patch.
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
This was the biggest of the year, an ounce shy of 5 lbs. Can't remember what variety I started with but a few years ago grew some larger than normal ones. Have started my own slips from one of the big potatoes each year and have been happy with the size each year. Have had them as big a 7 lbs.
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
No giants this year but more big potatoes per hill than normal. Several in the 3 and 4 lb range.
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
Found this guy hanging out in the patch. 2nd year in a row finding one of these when digging the sweet potoatoes
 
Thursday, October 1 View Page
Also harvesting honey this week. Looks like I'll end up with 6-7 gallons of liquid gold from my one hive this year.
 
Saturday, October 3 View Page
New personal best watermelon today at Anamosa weigh-off beating my previous best by 25 lbs. Curious what the official site OTT will end up being. I had it measuring 175 in the patch so went heavy for me. Grown from my 172 from last year. Have one measuring bigger left in the patch. If I can get lucky enough for it to go heavy might have a chance of breaking 200 lb goal.
 
Saturday, October 3 View Page
Wife broke 100 with her melon
 
Saturday, October 3 View Page
Good day for us in the watermelon category, placed 1st and 2nd!
 
Monday, October 5 View Page
Have three tomatoes on the bucket plant all roughly the same size. About time to make a decision and start culling. All have the overall shape of a double although they are more than a double blossom. All have slightly different shapes. First has one normal blossom half and the other half caterpillar shape.
 
Monday, October 5 View Page
2nd on has both halves with normal blossom shape, standard double tomato
 
Monday, October 5 View Page
3rd on both halves look like caterpillar blossoms. Which of the three would you grow and why?
 
Thursday, October 8 View Page
First cull off the bucket plant is the double caterpillar. Officially gets me out of last place with this one weighing 0.825 lbs. Should be just a placeholder with two more to go on the plant. Will make the next cull next week.
 
Thursday, October 8 View Page
Donut with a hole through the center. Also has some hornworm damage. A couple of hummingbird moths must have made it back into the greenhouse at some point as I've picked well over 20 hornworms off this plant in the last week and signs say I haven't found them all yet. Purposely didn't show the damage in previous pics when trying to start a conversation of which shapes different growers prefer to grow. I didn't want people to focus on flaws of these specific examples when choosing which one they prefer. Thanks Rebel and Porkchop for replying and hopefully a few more will chime in on the thread.
 
Saturday, October 10 View Page
Attended Stillwater Harvestfest for the first time. Chris Brown rocking the pumpkin suit while emceeing the event.
 
Saturday, October 10 View Page
This was my largest measuring BG this year but went lighter than my Bloomfield entry. Let 3 go on this plant and all three went bigger that my previous PB, so not disappointed at all. This one went home with the Engel's so will be interesting to see what it looks like after Shannon and Jodi work it over.
 
Saturday, October 10 View Page
Erin got her PB watermelon yesterday
 
Saturday, October 10 View Page
Pretty good day winning watermelon, marrow, bushel gourd, and tomato categories. Now time to start cleaning up the mess of vines in the garden.
 
Sunday, October 11 View Page
This watermelon was also my largest measuring on this year, but even going slightly heavy was still lighter than last week's melon. Good year with 2 bigger than previous PB
 
Monday, October 12 View Page
Culled the second tomato from the bucket plant, 1.36 lbs should move me into the top ten of the updated listings that went out today, lol. Only have the keeper left on the plant now.
 
Sunday, October 25 View Page
5 gallon challenge over for me now. Didn't quite get to 2 lbs, finished at 1.85 lbs
 
Sunday, October 25 View Page
Finally pulled my kohlrabi, caught it's second wind this fall even though it was neglected. Not sure how to prep for weighing, first time growing these. Had a hard time getting it to sit on the scale without part of it reaching the counter top. Little over 12 lbs.
 

 

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