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 �