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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 66 Entries.
Saturday, March 7 View Page
Only about a month to go. I have most of my lineup set, but, I still have to narrow down my list to just 3 on the AGs. Hoping this year I break the 1000lb mark. AGs: (growing 3) 2152 Gantner(18) 1885.5 Werner(19) 1872 Sippel(19) 1810 Werner(16) 1533.5 Rea(19) 1501 Vander Wielen(17) 1492.5 Cernik(19) NE state record 1464 Brown(19) 1382.5 Rea(19) 1317 Clementz(13) 1212 Brown(19) 1048 Engel(12) 1044 Gansert(16) 981 Grubbs(16) 808 Grubbs(19) 532 House(18) 504 Davis(19) Squash: 955 Clementz(15) Field Pumpkins: (growing 1) 127 Harnica(17) 61 Grubbs(17) Long Gourds: (growing 1) 139.5" Eaton(18) 138.5" Eaton(17) 137.5" Harnica(19) 134.38" Harnica(19) Bushel Gourds: (growing 2) 369 Marsh(19) 331 Brown(18) Tomato: 4.44 Clementz(14)
 
Saturday, April 4 View Page
Soil heating cables are in.
 
Saturday, April 4 View Page
The site for my main plant is ready. This is the future home of the 1317 Clementz.
 
Saturday, April 11 View Page
2020 giant pumpkin season is underway! I started my 1st round of seeds today. 1317 Clementz, 1533.5 Rea, and the Nebraska state record 1492 Cernik.
 
Tuesday, April 14 View Page
A little over 2 days and the 1317 Clementz and 1533.5 Rea have sprouted. The 1317 was actually cracking the seed starter mix last night (about 30 hours after planting). The fastest I have ever had seeds sprout. No signs of life from the 1492 Cernik yet, but still early. And 1 of the 4.44 Clementz tomatoes has popped up.
 
Tuesday, April 14 View Page
*edit- I don't know what day it is anymore. I blame the quarantine. Lol. I started seeds last Saturday. It has been 3 days.
 
Thursday, April 16 View Page
The 1317 Clementz and 1533.5 Rea at 5 days old. Still waiting on the 1492 Cernik.
 
Saturday, April 18 View Page
Successfully transplanted into bigger containers. Looks like the 1492 Cernik isn't going to germinate, but I'll give it a few more days. 2nd round of seeds will be started in a few days.
 
Monday, April 20 View Page
1533.5 Rea is growing 2, 1st true leafs. I will start another backup plant when I start my 2nd round of seeds later tonight as a precaution.
 
Monday, April 20 View Page
2nd round of seeds started tonight. They are: 1810 Werner, 1872 Sippel, 1059.5 Pierce, & 981 Grubbs.
 
Friday, April 24 View Page
1872 Sippel is up!
 
Tuesday, April 28 View Page
What big cots you have! 981 Grubbs is doing well.
 
Tuesday, April 28 View Page
1317 Clementz and 1533.5 Rea. Looks like I might of jumped the gun on saying the 1533.5 Rea was deformed. It seems to have straightened out for now, but I am keeping a close eye on it. These 2 will go in the patch later this week. Thinking Friday...
 
Tuesday, April 28 View Page
The 1872 Sippel, 1810 Werner & 981 Grubbs transplanted into 2 gallong grow bags tonight. The 1059 Pierce was an unfortunate casualty of grower error. I snapped it off at the base when I tried to remove the seed shell the other day. D'oh!
 
Tuesday, April 28 View Page
And round 3 is started. 2152 Gantner, 1464 Brown, and a pair of 955 Clementz green squash round out my giants for the year. Bushel gourds, field pumpkins, and long gourds will get started in a couple weeks.
 
Friday, May 1 View Page
Transplanted the 1533.5 Rea into a 3 gallon pot. I am just not liking the looks of the way it is growing early on. I will keep it as an emergency backup and let the 1317 Clementz have the #1 spot all the herself.
 
Friday, May 1 View Page
1317 Clementz is in her new home. Soil cables have the ground at 70° and she will be staying inside a 6'x10' greenhouse for the next few weeks until the nights stay warm.
 
Saturday, May 2 View Page
Bushel gourds are in. This is my 1st attempt at growing one. The 369 Marsh are my best looking seedlings. I planted all 3. Also planted 1 of the 331 Brown and 1 of the 268 Kent. The best 1 or 2 of the 5 will stay.
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
This was a 1st for me. 955 Clementz green squash was stuck in the shell. I noticed another root sticking out the side of the seed. I removed the seed, opened it up and there is another seedling inside. Twins! I planted it to see if it will grow too.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
1317 Clementz has been in the patch over a week and is doing very well despite the cold nights and cool, cloudy days we have had for the last week.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
1810 Werner (front) and 1872 Sippel (back) enjoying the grow lights. They will go in the patch as soon as we get past this cold snap. None of my backups made it. I removed my 981, and the 2152 Gantner and 1464 Brown did not germinate. I will start a couple of my 808 and 642 as emergency backups, but they will be way behind. Hopefully, I won't need any backups. Fingers crossed
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
4.44 Clementz tomato is doing well. This is only my 2nd attempt at growing giant tomatoes. It will go in the patch in a couple days. It will be grown in our little greenhouse.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
955 Clementz squash update: the smaller of the twin seedlings didn't survive. And the bigger one is deformed. The cots are twisted off to one side. The 1st true leaf seems to be developing fine. We will see what it does. I had 1 more 955 Clementz, so, I started it and a couple 181 Lee squash to fill the backup role. Growing alot of Clementz seeds this year.
 
Thursday, May 14 View Page
I started my FPs, BGs, and LGs today.
 
Thursday, May 14 View Page
1810 Werner is in the patch! I am really happy with this plant so far. It is really beefy! (Hope it throws a great orange color like the 1382 Rea.) I am 2-3 weeks ahead of my normal schedule.
 
Thursday, May 14 View Page
1317 Clementz is doing good even with the cool, cloudy days and cold nights we've been having. She's been in the ground 2 weeks and looks to be ready to throw a main vine down any day.
 
Thursday, May 14 View Page
4.44 Clementz tomato went in the greenhouse a few days ago. We will see how it fairs in the chase for 10lbs.
 
Monday, May 18 View Page
1872 Sippel is in the patch. This will be our team grow plant. The 1317 Clementz suffered some leaf burn in the 80° heat. All 9 FPs are up, 2 of 3 268 Kent BGs, 2 of 3 331 Brown BGs and all 3 369 Marsh BGs have germinated. No long gourds have germinated yet.
 
Monday, May 25 View Page
Tranplanted some of my field pumpkins to the patch. These are my 61 Grubbs (188 MacKinnon x 162 MacCoy). I couldn't get a field pumpkin to grow to save my life last year and this year I was 9 of 9 germinating seeds
 
Monday, May 25 View Page
I planted the 955 Clementz and 181 Lee squash in the patch this morning. 955 on the right, 181 on the left. I have a 463 Theil as an emergency backup if these 2 don't pan out.
 
Monday, May 25 View Page
A pair of 118 Treece FPs in the patch.
 
Monday, May 25 View Page
And a pair of 127 Harnica FPs round out my lineup for this year.
 
Sunday, May 31 View Page
Ok, for some reason my bushel gourd entry got entered as May 2 and the pic it upside down. Lol. So, let's try this again. Bushel gourds are in. This is my 1st attempt at growing one. The 369 Marsh are my best looking seedlings. I planted all 3. Also planted 1 of the 331 Brown and 1 of the 268 Kent. The best 1 or 2 of the 5 will stay.
 
Wednesday, June 10 View Page
The 1317 Clementz grew over 3 feet in length over the last week. It is over 8 feet long and 6 feet wide at this point. Averaging around 6" a day. It is the biggest plant I have ever had on the 10th of June. I also found the first female forming in the tip of the main vine today.
 
Wednesday, June 10 View Page
It is amazing to me how these pumpkins start out so tiny and can grow to well over a ton in just a couple months. (On the 1317 Clementz)
 
Wednesday, June 10 View Page
The 1810 Werner is FINALLY throwing a main vine... just in the wrong direction. Lol! I planted it to grow to the west and it took a 90° turn to the left and is growing to the south. I'm just glad it finally decided to grow!
 
Wednesday, June 10 View Page
The 1872 Sippel is doing well and is about 5 feet long. Just no secondaries are forming yet. I'm starting to think it is the spot it is planted in. Might be too shaded or something. Every year the plant that goes in this particular spot has secondaries that take forever to form.
 
Wednesday, June 10 View Page
The squash are coming along. The 955 Clementz(right) seems to be growing normally now after a very questionable start. It is a bit ahead of the 181 Lee(left). I will be making my choice soon. Note: I did have a 463.5 Theil going as an emergency backup, but it went all kinds of weird on me. It had 3, 1st true leafs pop up and was starting to grow pretty funky. I thought I took a picture of it, but I can't find it anywhere otherwise I would post it.
 
Wednesday, June 17 View Page
1317 Clementz grew over 4 feet in length this past week. It is now over 12 feet long and 12 feet wide. It doesn't look that wide because the left side vines are being curved forward due to lack of space. I am letting the 1st few grow straight out and then curving them forward to grow the lengtg of their area. Longest left side vine is 7 feet and longest right side is 5 feet. The potential keeper pumpkin showed up and is around 10 days from pollination
 
Wednesday, June 17 View Page
The 1810 Werner is growing good now and pushing 5 feet long. Male flowers are getting close to opening. I will train the main vine underneath my walk planks and curve it back more to the west. I have more space on the other side of the planks anyway.
 
Wednesday, June 17 View Page
1872 Sippel as you can see still not much for side vines. Roughly 8 feet long and there are finally some secondaries forming. We will have to let some tertiaries grow to fill in the space because for the first few leaf nodes there are no secondaries. Missing 3 or 4 on each side. I am convinced it is just too shaded in this spot. The same thing happens every year in this spot.
 
Wednesday, June 17 View Page
I kept the 955 Clementz for my green squash. It was far outpacing the 181 Lee. It was almost twice the size of the 181.
 
Sunday, June 28 View Page
I will be pollinating my first pumpkin of the season tomorrow. This is on the 1317 Clementz. At just under 16 feet on the main vine. The plant is 18 feet long and 22 feet wide.
 
Monday, June 29 View Page
The 1872 Sippel is up next.(left in pic) This one is at 10 1/2 feet out on the main vine. We will pollinate it and wait for the next to bloom in about 10 days or so. Also have one that will bloom on the 1810 Werner.(right in pic) it is only at 5 feet though, so it won't get pollinated. The target on the 1810 is 10-15 days from blooming yet.
 
Monday, June 29 View Page
Pollinated a nearly perfect 5 lobe flower on the 1317 Clementz this morning. Hopefully it takes. It was in the upper 90s here today.
 
Tuesday, June 30 View Page
I pollinated a pumpkin on the 1872 Sippel this morning. It is at 10 1/2' on the main vine. I don't know if I will keep it or not. The plant is finally getting some real good secondary growth. The next pumpkin is about a week from blooming. The cross is: 1872 Sippel x 1317 Clementz
 
Saturday, July 4 View Page
Happy 4th of July! The 1317 Clementz is at 5 days today. Not liking the extended forcast. Upper 90s and low 100s for the next 2 weeks.
 
Sunday, July 5 View Page
Pollinated the 955 Clementz squash this morning. 9 feet on the main vine. A second one will bloom in a couple days at 11 feet. A third is about 10 days away from blooming.
 
Tuesday, July 7 View Page
1810 Werner x 1317 Clementz Pollinated this morning. 5 lobe flower at 11 feet on the main vine. I like the potential of this cross. We will see how it does. It is supposed to be 100° here today.
 
Wednesday, July 8 View Page
DAP 10 on the 1317 Clementz pumpkin. She is about the size of a soccer ball. I am excited about the future potential of this cross and according to pumpkinfanatic, I am the first person to make this cross. 1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner.
 
Wednesday, July 15 View Page
1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner is DAP 16. I am liking the shape, color, and growth rate on this pumpkin so far. I am 2 week ahead of last year.
 
Wednesday, July 15 View Page
1810 Werner x 1317 Clementz is 7 DAP. Nice barrel shaped little pumpkin and looking like maybe could have a nice shade of orange to it later on.
 
Sunday, July 19 View Page
One week of growth on the 1317 Clementz. It still amazes me how fast these giants can grow!
 
Sunday, July 19 View Page
4 days of growth on the 1810 Werner.
 
Monday, July 27 View Page
Babs (1872 Sippel x 1317 Clementz) We have had problems with this plant all summer. I'm sure it is the spot it is growing in. I plan on retiring this patch at the end of the season. We decided to try and grow this one "cinderella style" and see what happens. It is growing 5-6" daily. Doesn't appear like it will be very orange either, but, we will see.
 
Monday, July 27 View Page
Daisy (1810 Werner x 1317 Clementz) hit DAP 20 today. She is the 2nd biggest DAP 20 I have ever had. OTT of 169" and an estimated weight of 115lbs. She is the fastest grower in the patch.
 
Monday, July 27 View Page
Minnie (1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner) is DAP 28 and estimating at 227lbs.
 
Thursday, August 6 View Page
Babs (1872 Sippel x 1317 Clementz). Nothing we do with this patch where this plant is growing seems to do anything. We are growing her Cinderella style and she is growing, but at a snail's pace. Nothing we do makes her grow any faster. She seems content with growing 3 or 4 pounds a day. Oh well, she estimates 75lbs and might make a 200 pound jack o lantern for our neice.
 
Thursday, August 6 View Page
Daisy (1810 Werner x 1317 Clementz) has slowed dramatically. I noticed a kink forming in her vine near her stem a few days ago and adjusted her to loosen the vine and take the kink out. She slowed way down after that and doesn't seem to be picking back up. She is DAP 30 today and somewhere around 270lbs.
 
Thursday, August 6 View Page
Minnie (1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner) DAP 38 today and somewhere around 420lbs. Our nights dropped into the 50s for a few nights and she slowed down. Now the nights sre warmer again and she has picked the pace up.
 
Monday, August 31 View Page
Minnie (1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner) is the biggest pumpkin I have ever had going into September. Today she estimated over 800lbs. @ 63 DAP. Just a few short weeks until weighoffs. Hopefully she keeps going.
 
Saturday, September 12 View Page
What a crazy couple weeks it's been. We've had drought conditions most of this summer. Dry, hot, no rain. It was a record high 105° last saturday, then the cold blast moved in and we had snow, frost, freezing rain and high temps only in the 30s and 40s Monday night through Wednesday. Then we will be back up in the 90s to start next week. We have some frost damage, but the plants and pumpkins are just fine for the most part. The pumpkins have even continued to grow despite the freezing cold temps. Only 2 weeks until 1st weighoff!
 
Saturday, September 26 View Page
Minnie weighed 789lbs. Lighter than expected, but, I'll take it. She took 6th place at the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival in Rapid City today.
 
Saturday, October 3 View Page
Loading day! Last weighoff of 2020 for us! Taking Babs and Daisy to our local weighoff in Torrington, Wyoming.
 
Monday, October 5 View Page
We stood our 789 up on it's "butt". A nerve-wracking experience, but fun. We will carve it in a few weeks. Our season comes to an end. Pumpkin weights were 789, 476, and 200. Next step is patch cleanup, seed collecting, and prep for next season
 
Sunday, October 25 View Page
Harvested seeds from Minnie. (1317 Clementz x 1810 Werner) There were alot more seeds than I expected. Over 650. I was expecting way less because there was only 1 male flower available the day I pollinated this pumpkin. *Tip: a Sawzall with a 10" wood blade works great for cutting these pumpkins open.
 

 

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