Wednesday, June 8
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Pumpkinjesus has returned to the mid-Atlantic region after a few years in Maine. Port Norris, NJ to be exact. New Jersey has not been known as a powerhouse giant pumpkin state. Until now…………..
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Tuesday, June 14
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Growing 2 green squash this year, and 2 giant pumpkins. The last time I grew green squash, I said “I’m never growing these stinking things again!” And here we are. Both of my plants are the 1461 Theil, this is plant A.
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Tuesday, June 14
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1461 Theil plant B. Green squash always grew crazy for me in my old PA patch, probably from the high OM and nitrogen levels. I’m starting out here with 1.4% organic matter, so maybe that’ll keep the reins on them a bit.
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Tuesday, June 14
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1747.5 Handy plant A. We just moved in on St. Patrick’s Day, so not a lot of time to amend and get a patch ready. I’m quite surprised and happy with how they look so far. Better early growth than I got in Maine for sure
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Tuesday, June 14
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1747.5 Handy plant B. All plants are similar sizes and they all have little females showing in the tips that will be my first pollinations. Soil test results last month showed a starting pH of 4.7, right in the sweet zone lol
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Tuesday, June 21
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Happy Solstice! Here is the 1461 Theil A. Already found 2 SVB larvae in 2 of the oldest leaves
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Tuesday, June 21
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1461 Theil B
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Tuesday, June 21
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1747.5 Handy plant A. Very pleasantly surprised at how the plants look considering how much the soil is lacking. I guess I’m feeding them well so far
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Tuesday, June 21
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1747.5 Handy B. This one will have my first pollination that’s a potential keeper at 11.5 feet in 2 or 3 days.
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Tuesday, June 28
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1747.5 Handy plant A. Looking really good, plants have a few small vine borers already that I have to deal with though. Killed both of the adults I’ve seen by grabbing them right off a leaf. I’ve still got some quick moves
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Tuesday, June 28
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1747.5A Handy pollinated 6/25 at 14 feet. 4 lobes
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Tuesday, June 28
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Mishap #1 for 2022. I was using these metal ground staples to keep the tips of the main vines from flopping around in the wind and breaking. So instead, the metal burned two of my main vines on hot days recently. Good job, me. Now I’m training a new main on one of the green squash and one of the pumpkins
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Tuesday, June 28
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1423 Theil green squash plant A. I’ve been calling these 1461 for some reason, I don’t know what’s wrong with me lol. I got my numbers straightened out now. This plant had me worried over the weekend with some pretty bad heat wilt but a good watering followed by .7 inches of rain and everything is cool. This is one of the plants that I burned off the main tip, but at least I got a good pollination on it first
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Tuesday, June 28
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Pollinated this bad girl on the 1423A Theil on 6/27 at 15.5 feet. 5 lobes and probably a new day 1 world record
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Tuesday, July 5
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Reached day 10 today for the 1747.5 Handy A plant. I knew it was going to measure big, but I didn’t really expect 38.5 inches in circumference. I’m sure it’s my biggest day 10 ever, which probably means diddly squat?
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Thursday, July 7
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I’ve got a 10 day old green squash! This is on the 1423 Theil plant A. All my pollinations this year are x sib. 32 inch circumference and starting off tall
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Saturday, July 9
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Yesterday was day 15 for the 1747.5 Handy A fruit, 60 inch circumference. Growing a little taller and lighter colored than her sibling next door. It’s been relatively cool and rainy the last 3 or 4 days. These Handy plants are racing to the edges of the patch like there’s no tomorrow. YOLO bro, YOLO
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Saturday, July 9
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This is a 10 day old fruit on the 1423 Theil plant B, about 16 feet out on the main. 26.5 inch circumference, and quite a different shape from the other 1423 fruit
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Saturday, July 9
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Here’s the pic, weird going’s on today trying to make a diary entry
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Sunday, July 10
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Been having a tough time getting pictures to load the last few days, maybe they were too big so we’ll see if this one works. The 1747.5 Handy plant A reached 15 days old today. 70 inch circumference. Plant looks pretty good, lots of secondaries have been terminated. Each of my plants has 500 square feet this year, and this plant will have the space filled soon
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Wednesday, July 13
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Yesterday was day 15 for the 1423 Theil A fruit. 50.5 inch circumference. Plant growing slow, a lot of secondaries have just about stalled and the stump is now foaming so I don’t know about the future of this one
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Wednesday, July 13
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Today was day 20 for the 1747.5 Handy B fruit, heretofore known as Betty White. This 3 lobe fruit is rocking a 201.5 inch OTT. Good looking stump and main vine, secondaries have started to slow down a little as the fruit cranks it up
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Thursday, July 21
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Have to get a little caught up on entries as usual. This here is the 1747.5 Handy B fruit, now known as Betty White. Pictured two days ago at 25 days old, she had an OTT of 251 inches. Averaged 35 lbs. a day over the last 5 days
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Thursday, July 21
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This is the 1747.5 Handy A fruit, now demanding to be called Bea Arthur. Who am I to argue with this boss? 25 days old with an OTT of 264 inches. Averaged 37 lbs. a day for the last 5 days. It is swelteringly hot here this week, but being in close proximity to Delaware Bay is helping keep the high temps around 92-93. Inland just 10 or 20 miles it’s more like 98. Nighttime temps haven’t gone below 70 in about a week and it looks like that will continue for quite a while. Probably good for growth and probably bad for disease. Watering a lot too, as it hasn’t rained much in the last 3 weeks.
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Saturday, July 23
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One of my green squash on the 1423 Theil A plant. Plant doesn’t look too good and the stump is foaming still. 191 inch OTT, growing about 12 pounds a day……..for now
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Sunday, July 24
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Yesterday was day 30 for Betty White. OTT of 284 inches now, not bad considering how hot and dry it is. Heat wave is supposed to break tomorrow evening with some storms, hopefully not too severe but we need some serious rain. Sprayed some squash bug eggs and nymphs yesterday too.
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Friday, July 29
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Some leaves on my plants are getting this shiny, silvery appearance. I’m not sure what would cause it, or if I should be worried. My soil is definitely deficient in some things so maybe that is catching up with me a bit.
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Friday, July 29
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A close up pic. The leaves feels just as smooth as they normally would, the spots are not raised or sunken
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Thursday, August 4
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Betty White two days ago on day 40. On the 1747.5 Handy B plant, with an OTT of 323 inches. Both of my pumpkins have been slowing down very gradually since day 25, which obviously is not supposed to happen. I think I’m now seeing the limitations of the soil, combined with uneven watering during this very hot and dry summer. I have a couple more of these seeds and I can already tell you I’ll be planting it again next year with a lot more drip tape and much better soil
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