Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 62 Entries. Saturday, February 19 View Page Firmly caught by Storm Eunice yesterday, forced the hoops to a convex curve! Whole structure will need to be dismantled and attempt to re-bend hoops to correct profile. Going to delay my patch progress even more....   Saturday, February 19 View Page Nursery took a big hit as well. Eight tunnels lost their polythene and plants strewn everywhere. Wind speed below 7mph needed for re-cladding, which is sadly not forecast for the next two weeks.   Sunday, March 20 View Page Bit of patch progress this weekend... Most of the soil-warming cables installed, attached to reinforcing grids this season to give a more uniform result, should allow an early planting date whatever the weather has in store.   Sunday, March 20 View Page Around 250 cubic yards of coir compost moved into the new polytunnel, once levelled will give a bed about 40 inches deep.   Sunday, March 20 View Page Glorious, almost windless day allowed the tunnel cladding. That's the last weather-dependent job on the new polytunnel completed. Levelling, irrigation lines and sprinklers next.   Thursday, March 31 View Page Barely 50% germination in the propagator last year. 90% germination above the hot water tank in the airing cupboard this year this year! 9 spaces to fill, AG & squash, so will have plenty of choice in a week or so. Final patch preparations in earnest now.   Tuesday, April 5 View Page 150sqft patch is ready to go. Soil heating cable in, topped up to a depth of 4ft with spent coir, drip irrigation installed and fertiliser applied. 934.3 Leach 2021 (HDA) will be planted in about 10 days time with a mini hoophouse to raise air temperature. Still lots to do elsewhere, but reassuring to get something completed.   Tuesday, April 5 View Page Cabbage, kohlrabi and red beetroot planted out yesterday. Total wire mesh enclosure to keep out the pesky pigeons...., woven groundcover to keep down the pesky weeds......, and a couple of pounds of pellets to kill the pesky slugs...... isn't nature wonderful!! Auto drip irrigation installed, they won't be getting much attention save an occasional spray for Caterpillar etc.   Friday, April 22 View Page 150sqft entry, 934 Leach 2021, planted today, a week later than intended, but been too busy on the nursery with a mini-heatwave coinciding with the Easter weekend.   Monday, April 25 View Page 150sqft entry, 934 Leach 2021, planted last Friday, a week later than intended, but been too busy on the nursery with a mini-heatwave coinciding with the Easter weekend.   Wednesday, May 11 View Page 150sqft, started vine burying today, daily growth increasing, now only around 3 days behind last year's progress.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page Early female on the 1552 Young. Only 6ft out, so won't be a keeper, but will pollinate for practice. All pumpkin & squash plants growing well, reasonable day temps and plenty of sunshine, and thankfully, nights have been mild too.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page Rooted sideshoots from early sown tomatoes. So easy to propagate, gives me a dozen or more plants from just one seed. These cloned plants are aimed at weigh-off season.   Tuesday, May 17 View Page Seed-raised plants for "early tomatoes" and team competition. Mainly Doug Smith and my own seed with a few guest appearances from Brown, Lyons & Larue   Saturday, May 21 View Page Looks like it will be opening tomorrow, but won't be pollinated......not a male flower in the patch anywhere!   Saturday, May 21 View Page First fruits on a Doug Smith mega marv cross, 8.07 x self. Don't believe he's even tried them himself, so hope to do them justice.   Saturday, May 21 View Page Leader of the pack this week is the 1490.5 Leach, my own seed, although others are not far behind.....early days yet.   Sunday, May 22 View Page Ladybird larvae pupating on the roadpins supporting the cabbage cage. They must be drawn to the rough rusty surface, 10-20 on every pin, 50-odd pins; that's a lot of free aphid predators! Will hold off any pesticide sprays and use bacterial spray for caterpillar that won't harm them.   Thursday, May 26 View Page First pollination this morning, but still no ag males, choice between a squash and a dandelion! Still, I'm growing fruit not seeds, if it takes it will be 11 days earlier than last year.   Tuesday, May 31 View Page 150sqft plant, 934.3 Leach 2021, nearly reached the end of the bed; now for the tricky right-angle bend!.......   Tuesday, May 31 View Page .......and to add to the problem; the 1st female flower is forming on the wrong side of the stem . I'm slowly forcing a 180° twist in the stem so the fruit grows on the outside of the plant. Wouldn't be a problem in a normal plot, but need to keep within the 150sqft boundaries.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page 150sqft at DAP 5, set looking hopeful, but it's in an awkward position so......   Wednesday, June 15 View Page ......I've had to reduce the width of the growing area to allow me to extend where the fruit will grow. This gives me a total of around 12 sqft for the pumpkin to lay....... ofcourse, it will all have to change again if the fruit aborts! Backup pollination tomorrow, but really hoping I won't need it.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page This is my method of keeping the pruned vines within the boundaries after they've been trimmed. One of the advantages of the raised bed is being able to see right through the plant, underneath the leaf canopy. Mind you, it's a bugger for vine burying and fruit taping!!   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Patch progress: looks like I have a set on all 4 plants in the Polytunnel, and a backup pollination on each for insurance. Mini heatwave currently, ag's are loving it, sprinklers come on every 30 mins, 8am-8pm, to cool things down. Not started taping yet, but the 1552 increased 2 inches in diameter over the course of the day.   Sunday, June 19 View Page I've been in denial for a week or so, but I think I have to accept I'm growing one less squash than I planned this season! On a positive note.....   Sunday, June 19 View Page .........this would make my early 1552 pollination now appear to be a thoroughbred not a mongrel?   Friday, June 24 View Page 150sqft, DAP 15, looks like this is going to be the keeper and partially severed the backup today... so I'm committed now! Will get a board underneath it tomorrow.   Tuesday, June 28 View Page 1552 Young, DAP 33, 214 lb. Can't imagine this is going to yield a PB, but will keep it growing anyway. Few other chances in the patch, but nothing worth taping yet.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page Suffering terribly from ber on early plants, only managed a couple of singles to the scale thus far, 1.3 lb and 1.22 lb. Few others to come, and June planting looks healthy at the moment.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 1552 DAP 40, growing steadily, charting 369 lb today. Been away for 4 days, so returned to vine chaos! Hacked back some growth but the rest will have to look after itself.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 150sqft entry, plant filled in the last space 10 days ago. This is the only pumpkin I have time to train & trim properly(ish). DAP 26, charts at 146 lb, 23% up on last year   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Better result today off the 9.06 Brown, 2.16 lb UK "heatwave" coming next week, went to tell the watermelons to get ready to grow! Found a rodent had been chewing some of the secondaries so the bait has gone out tonight. Otherwise, both those and the canteloupe are looking strong.   Monday, July 11 View Page 2.55 lb off my own 4.2 from 2020. Still moving in the right direction even though it's only a single.   Monday, July 11 View Page Don't believe the giant cabbage, beetroot and kohlrabi are appreciating the heatwave so they've been treated to some shadecloth and daily overhead watering. Ten weeks 'til the weigh-off and the butterflies are queuing up to lay their eggs!   Monday, July 11 View Page Has anybody mentioned marrows.... still on the GPC list isn't it? Six various Baggs and one Tim Saint, being grown to the "Baggs winning formula" (I wish!!!). Sown last day of May, planted out mid-June, pollinate from early August, 6-7 week sprint to the finish line...... Growing in my new deep raised bed, what can go wrong?!   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 1552 at DAP 47, charting 523 lb. Weather really hot and dry, but sprinklers keeping the plant healthy; growing so fast I can't keep up with the trimming, and vine burying is just a distant memory.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 150sqft entry, now this is the important one! DAP 33 for 323 lb, 25 lb/day and 30% ahead of last year. Going by the previous two years, the coming week is the growth peak..... looking forward to next week's figures.   Thursday, July 14 View Page 2.8 lb today off an unknown Domingo. Early tomato plants are almost over now, just a few fruit remaining to ripen, but nothing to impress. Been fighting a losing battle with BER all season. Weigh-off season plants are looking much better with changed feeding and watering regime, and growing in a slightly shaded tunnel to reduce stress (the tomatoes and mine!).   Tuesday, July 19 View Page 1552, DAP 54, charting 694 lb, 24 lbs/day for the last week. Was hoping for more, but, it's still the fastest weight gain so far. No idea whether I'm watering too much or not enough, it's been very hot (by UK standards) for around 10 days, and likely for the next ten too.   Tuesday, July 19 View Page 150sqft entry, DAP 40, charting 464 lb. Little disappointing, 20 lb/day down from 25 last week. Had to slide the fruit forward on it's board last week to relieve pressure on the stem.... hope I haven't caused any damage? Glad I set aside the extra space for the fruit this season (not just wishful thinking!)   Tuesday, July 26 View Page Bit late, but .... 150sqft entry, DAP 46, has squeaked over 600lb now, 21 lb/day last week. Forgot to take a photo, but 1552 just slipped past 800 lb. Marrows and fp's look healthy, will start pollinations now, as soon as suitable females appear.   Tuesday, August 2 View Page DAP 68 the 1552 (pictured) has slowed right down, charting at 893 lbs. Lovely colour though, reflecting it's parentage. I think perhaps I should have allowed the plant to grow larger before setting a fruit? 150sqft charting 700 lb, has likewise slowed.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Photo of display plants for customers to look at.... already creating a bit of interest. Grass in the foreground showing effects of prolonged drought. Plants started to fail now, not helped by me going away for a four-day break during a heatwave! If the patch was chaotic before I went, it was apocalyptic on my return. Spent several hours hacking back vines and removing unwanted fruit. I fear I'll be paying the penalty come the weigh-offs.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Pleased to have pollinated both BG's, actually achieved it myself rather than hoping for nature. Growing on the raised frames gives me a fighting chance of keeping the plants under control. Struggled with germination, finally managed a 384.5 Terry and a 247 Kent, each crossed with the other. Whatever else is miserable in the patch; at least the BG's are happy with the heat.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Long gourd beautifully trained on it's frame. Again had endless germination troubles. Finally managed a single 103 Maydan, so it didn't even need to share the space! Please don't ask why I need a 13ft structure when my PB is less than 5ft ........ one day.   Tuesday, August 16 View Page Marrows......... is ANYONE else growing them? Or perhaps they've grown so big the photos are too large to upload!! Anyhow, the top fruit was an early set for our local show later this month. About 30 ins long, should be a decent size in 10 days time. Kinda ironic that the bottom fruit is just a set I missed amongst the foliage; it's longer, fatter, and more uniform! Both are on the 202 Baggs. Target this year is to get one over 100 lbs, and I have seven plants to achieve it.   Friday, August 19 View Page Squash, this is the 1721 Segaert, the EGVGA seed of the year. Had problems getting a set, and the keeper started growing distorted, nothing would set to take it's place so I was stuck with it. After a few weeks I lost interest.. ....and this is what happens when nature is left to it's own devices! 15 days without any vine pruning.... it was impossible to even catch a glimpse of the fruit.   Friday, August 19 View Page Ah, there it is ....... keep chopping!   Friday, August 19 View Page Finally uncovered...... have you ever seen such a mis-shapen, gnarly, distorted thing. If you are very quiet in the patch you can just faintly hear the sound of Jens Segaert sobbing! Oh, and taping 437 lbs   Saturday, August 20 View Page Butternut squash, had to cull a few surplus sets today, was surprised how dense and heavy they were, nothing like marrows of a similar size. Popped them on the scale out of curiosity........ 30 lbs; feed a family of four for a week!   Saturday, August 20 View Page Butternut squash, had to cull a few surplus sets today, was surprised how dense and heavy they were, nothing like marrows of a similar size. Popped them on the scale out of curiosity........ 30 lbs; feed a family of four for a week!   Sunday, August 28 View Page BG's, after more careful checking.... I'm actually growing the 384.5 Terry & the 189.6 Melka (pictured). Didn't actually record the pollination dates...... probably because I didn't expect them to be successful! Anyway, Melka is taping 32 lbs, about on par with last season. The Terry was a few days later and taping 18 lbs.   Sunday, August 28 View Page 1552, taping 1051 lbs. Gains are around 50 lb/week, which is fine by me if it keeps going 'til the weigh-offs.   Tuesday, September 6 View Page Picked a couple of fruit today, 3.37 lbs off the 5.19 Smith Domingo ...... and...   Tuesday, September 6 View Page .. 4.38 lbs off the 5.45 Lyons Big Marley. This one I've submitted to "early tomatoes". Still have a few good ones close to ripening, but may fall short of a PB this season.   Wednesday, September 7 View Page Butternut, 65.1 Brown, DAP 34. 27 inches long and estimating 63 pounds according to my chart, and still green, so hopefully a few more weeks of growing.   Thursday, September 15 View Page 150sqft entry, 934.3 Leach, now the 951.9 Leach, a new pb in the restricted area..........   Thursday, September 15 View Page ...........or at least it would be if it wasn't for the mushy hole as rot spread from the stem into the fruit! So, it's 951.9 UOW dmg, and that's me gracefully bowing out of the 2022 challenge. Disappointed but not gutted. (gutted will be in tomorrow's post!) Best of luck to the remaining contestants...... and see y'all next year.   Monday, September 19 View Page Squash, 1109 Jutras, been struggling with stem rot since mid-July. Was taping 1250 lbs when I gave up measurement a few weeks ago. Hoped to lift it for a UOW but this morning it had split open. Inside was a giant pool of "soup" so the rot had clearly penetrated some time ago. Scooped out a few seeds from the putrid mess, will collect more if I can stand the stench! Biggest fruit in the patch; would have been 2nd largest ever UK squash, and has rather left my master gardener entry in tatters..... .....Oh well.......there's always next year!   Monday, September 26 View Page 2158.3 Cutrupi x 1490.5 Leach, weighed at Malvern Giant Vegetable Show, 1237.2 lbs. Very pleased with that after a particularly challenging season with plenty of errors along the way. Not a GPC site, so will have to submit to pumpkinfanatic myself.   Saturday, October 8 View Page Loaded for the weigh-off, really need some new straps for next season.