Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 86 Entries. Sunday, March 14 View Page Hello , the dark cold winter is almost over as spring approaches, so its time to get the diary started for the 2021 season...   Sunday, March 14 View Page I have been spending the winter hours fooling around with 3D wood art .. good holiday season presents ..lol like it or not..   Sunday, March 14 View Page Germination time is about 2 weeks away..and things look like normal for this time of year.. a lot work ahead getting things ready   Sunday, March 14 View Page That's why this baby, really helps me out on keeping things cleared out , so I can move around the GH's easier.. starting to excited about this coming season..!   Saturday, April 3 View Page Test pic from last week   Saturday, April 3 View Page Finally trying out the bp app, so here is a test pic from today on current conditions   Saturday, April 3 View Page Some of my seed choices, for this year thanks Ruben, I also got some great seeds from others, thsnks   Saturday, April 3 View Page I had good results for germination , the 2183 Mendi was up out of the soil in 3 days, the two 2051 took 3 1/2 days, the 183 (2469x2416) took about 5 days, the 2183 is a day younger than the rest , as with are crappy weather I was hesitant to start it   Saturday, April 3 View Page A look at the current weather forecast, global warming.. not here lol   Saturday, April 3 View Page Since , I will probably have to keep the plants inside for about 3 weeks , I made some containers that fall Apart , pull the bottom panel out , cut the strings and done, should be minimal root damage as the plant should large , 4 th or 5 th leaf stage by then   Sunday, April 4 View Page Another angle on the transplant boxes, in case any DIYers, want to make some   Tuesday, April 6 View Page Transplanted the plants into their new homes, hoping to only have to keep them there for about 2 weeks or less, the roots looked great , won't be long for they out grow these, it's DAG 5 for the 2051 and 4 for the 2183   Tuesday, April 6 View Page The other 2051, will be pollinator plant if needed also at day 5   Sunday, April 11 View Page Patch update, as you can see not might as changed in our supposed spring, it was 4 degrees sat it day morning ..lol. crap   Sunday, April 11 View Page Even the locals are looking around for it , the good news it should arrive soon , as the temps are expected to climb into the 40's   Sunday, April 11 View Page The 2051 (rear ) and 2183 under the lights dag 9 and 10 .. the 2051 is just a nice strong plant , the 3rd leaf is starting   Saturday, April 17 View Page I need to get these in the ground , I was hoping this weekend , but having issues with my soil warming process...   Saturday, April 17 View Page 2051 is looking good , 4 th leaf stage now   Wednesday, April 21 View Page Transplant day as I have to get the 2051 into the ground as this is DAG 20,I believe , the weather is finally turning favorable   Wednesday, April 21 View Page 1st step is to put it in the hole and slide bottom panel out, it took a minute but actually slid out pretty easy   Wednesday, April 21 View Page Then cut bottom string , and bury sides up to the 2 nd string cut, then bury to top of sides   Wednesday, April 21 View Page Then cut bottom string , and bury sides up to the 2 nd string cut, then bury to top of sides   Wednesday, April 21 View Page Then pull up sidestakes and then the panels and done , it worked great and very minimal damage for a large plant starting to vine   Thursday, April 22 View Page 2183 Mendi finally getting in the ground   Thursday, April 22 View Page 10 min later , all done , nice   Thursday, April 22 View Page 2183 all tucked in for the night, but not really after today , anchorage won't have what is officially called night agin until August 25 th... the 61st latitude does have some benefits..   Friday, April 30 View Page The 2051 is down and running , with the main almost at the 6 ft mark, really aggressive plant , I think this is day 29 above ground, I forgot to take a picture of the 2183 , also doing well before I tucked it in for the night   Monday, May 3 View Page 2183 mendi at the 5 ft Mark or so   Monday, May 3 View Page With a little surprise showing , not a keeper , but still a good sign   Saturday, May 15 View Page 2183 mendi , moving along nicely   Saturday, May 15 View Page 2051 Marshall also in gear   Wednesday, May 19 View Page The 1st female is showing on the 2183, which means I should have a late May pollination and if it takes a 90 day grow window until the weigh off Aug 30 th, which is good   Wednesday, May 19 View Page The 1st female is 15 ft out, with 8 secondaries on each side, it's been a great plant so far , a little slow on secondary growth at first, but now kicking into gear as our day time temps near 60 and night time lows are above 40   Thursday, May 20 View Page 2183 from the front   Friday, May 28 View Page The 1 st female on the 2183 mendi opened today   Friday, May 28 View Page A look at the flowers lobes , not perfect symmetry , but still pretty nice   Friday, May 28 View Page The 2183 is moving along nicely, it has been a very easy plant to grow so far   Friday, May 28 View Page All bagged up with a 1 gallon paint sprayer bag , to protect the cross and enhance air flow, the 2183 was crossed with the 2051   Friday, May 28 View Page I really hope this pollination sets, then it is game on ! Lol   Saturday, June 5 View Page 2183 mendi moving along nicely, in our almost 19 hrs of daylight   Saturday, June 5 View Page 2183 x 2051 at day 7 , this will be my keeper , as it is now a time race to the Aug 30 th weigh off   Saturday, June 5 View Page 2051 is rebounding nicely after losing the main a while back   Saturday, June 5 View Page The first female off the 2051 main , all the female on secondary vines looked good, so I am hoping this one pans out, should be ready in 3 or 4 days   Sunday, June 6 View Page 146 LeBlanc LG's in the front and 9.65 pork chops in the back, I am a little behind where I want to be   Sunday, June 6 View Page But at least , I have my 2 year old grandson to help out, he is a worker and don't have to pay him much ..lol   Thursday, June 10 View Page The 2051 plant, moving along and almost out of room in the gh, not the nicest looking plant I've grown , but it's pretty aggressive   Thursday, June 10 View Page Pollinated the 1st female off the new main, probably 18 ft out with plenty of secondary vines behind it   Thursday, June 10 View Page It is a nice 5 lober that was crossed with the 2183 mendi, the plant should be all pruned in the next week or so , so I am hoping it starts out fast , since it is a late pollination date for me   Sunday, June 13 View Page A nice 6 lober opened on the 2051 today , just a few feet down from the last pollination   Sunday, June 13 View Page So I went ahead and crossed it with the 2183 mendi,I will let both grow for now and see what happens   Sunday, June 13 View Page A look at the 2 pollinations on the 2051, this plant is basically a insurance policy for me, in case any goes wrong on the 2183, I can only enter 1 plant at our gpc event and the next closest box weigh -offs are in Canada , 2000 miles (one way) away , and the Alaskan part of the road is pretty crappy   Sunday, June 13 View Page Stupid auto correct.. that should say the nearest gpc weigh- off   Monday, June 14 View Page 2183 starting to ramp up... fingers crossed   Wednesday, June 16 View Page 2183 mendi. Dap 18   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 2183 mendi Dap 26 , plant and pumpkin growing nicely , despite the temps and lack of sun lately   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 2051 Marshall Dap 16 , this plant is also moving along nicely now after a rocky start ..   Monday, June 28 View Page Break time or casing the patch out ...   Monday, June 28 View Page Growth rate info on this years pumpkins   Saturday, July 3 View Page 2183 mendi , growing nicely Dap 36   Thursday, July 8 View Page 2051 Marshall dap 30   Tuesday, July 13 View Page 2183 mendi , averaging ing 38 lbs for the last 9 days , not great , but with our weather this year so far , that's amazing   Sunday, July 25 View Page Nice to see the pumpkins are still growing, 2183 on left and 2051 on right   Sunday, July 25 View Page Pumpkins still growing ,2183 on left 2051 on right   Wednesday, August 4 View Page My daughter and my 2 year old grand son Wyatt, posing on the 2183, just a tad over 3 weeks to weigh / off and journeys end   Wednesday, August 4 View Page The 146 Leblanc long gourd hanging , could be a new system record..   Saturday, August 21 View Page One of the 146 Leblanc long gourds hanging , as 2 year old grandson , Wyatt is fascinated by the fountain   Saturday, September 4 View Page Well , I smashed my i phone at work the day after or weigh off event , so lets re cap   Saturday, September 4 View Page Always, a nice site for me, means its go time   Saturday, September 4 View Page Pretty special for me , Wyatts first big lift , with the 2183 mendi   Saturday, September 4 View Page The 2183 rising out of the gh , a film crew from germany , was in alaska this year for the fair and some other things. , I am far right   Saturday, September 4 View Page The pumpkin off the 2051 coming out   Saturday, September 4 View Page Now both on the trailer and heading to Palmer and Alaska mid nite sun weigh off   Saturday, September 4 View Page Another trailer view   Saturday, September 4 View Page At the fair   Saturday, September 4 View Page The 2183 mendi , is now the 1603 marshall, dont have the exact numbers in front of me , but thinking 10% light to the chart, which stung a little at first, but im over it and really like this one   Saturday, September 4 View Page The 2051 came in a little over the chart snd was 83 days old at harvest , the 1603 was 94 days old   Monday, September 6 View Page My long gourd entries at the fair, both are off the 146 leblanc   Monday, September 6 View Page Another view of the prospects   Monday, September 6 View Page A look at all the info , thanks Barry it is a new alaska state record at 128 7/8 inches or almost 129 " lol   Monday, September 6 View Page The winning cabbage in the background , came in 87.6 lbs , I believe   Saturday, October 16 View Page I cut open the 1603 marshall (2183x2051) as you can see it had a pretty big cavity, probably why it went light to the chart, but still looked good inside 5 weeks after harvest   Saturday, October 16 View Page Apparently, it doesn't taste bad either   Saturday, October 16 View Page They just love the skin..   Saturday, October 16 View Page Not a bad seed count either, I have some to spare , if your interested   Saturday, January 1 View Page   Saturday, January 1 View Page Happy new year ..looks like sunny weather ahead .lol