Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 32 Entries. Saturday, January 21 View Page That’s it, apart from a few for ourselves all the 2907 seeds are gone.   Saturday, January 28 View Page I took one of the 2907 clones to a very special laboratory where Jo Hillman is going to attempt to micro propagate it. It was a 400 mile 8 hour road trip but well worth it because the plant couldn’t be in better hands.   Saturday, January 28 View Page By the time I was home Jo had started and this is what was left of the mother plant.   Saturday, January 28 View Page This is the plant material ready to be dissected.   Saturday, January 28 View Page Jo managed to extract around 15 axillary buds which is way more than I expected.   Saturday, January 28 View Page The buds were then sterilised. Jo told me that the buds were exceptionally good for the time of year. This is definitely down to the good growing tent with artificial and natural light.   Saturday, January 28 View Page The buds were then put into individual jars. We should know within about a week if there is any infections. I spent 3 hours talking to Jo and it’s highly skilled work. There’s loads of detail that I can’t include but I’m sure you’ll get the gist of it. It’s all cutting edge for the world of giant pumpkin growing but you have to start somewhere.   Friday, February 24 View Page This is one of the clones being divided up. The callous caused by the cytokines in the media is being cut away. The plants are being transferred into new jars with the aim of encouraging root initials by mid March. Jo has named the bottles IPP3000. I’ll let you work that one out   Tuesday, March 21 View Page The media has been changed to one that encourages roots and look what’s happened. They are looking anaemic partly because this has never been done before and feeding is a steep learning curve. The other reason is that they are totally under artificial lights. A few plants were potted today into 9cm shallow pots and once rooted will be gently moved into the natural environment. We may well have to get a little inventive with slowing down or speeding up the plants to meet our planting plan.   Monday, March 27 View Page And we’re off, they all got started at 30C or 90F yesterday.   Wednesday, April 5 View Page Everything got planted today apart from the IP3000 clone’s which should be with us early next week. These are the clones from cuttings   Saturday, April 15 View Page The 2 X IPP3000’s arrived safe and well last Tuesday   Saturday, April 15 View Page The are tiny little things compared with some of the seedlings but will be absolutely fine. The two plants were planted on the 13th which thankfully was not a Friday   Thursday, April 27 View Page The IPP3000’s have coloured up nicely.   Wednesday, May 3 View Page The lab clone is on the left and to cutting clone is on the right.   Wednesday, May 3 View Page Another couple of clones with the small one being the lab one.   Wednesday, May 3 View Page This is a 1885 Werner   Wednesday, May 3 View Page And another Werner   Wednesday, May 3 View Page A 2365 Wolf   Wednesday, May 3 View Page And another Wolf. So we will be looking at our perfect lineup.   Wednesday, May 3 View Page Finally we’re running and 2907 clone down the centre of the house for pollinating   Tuesday, May 23 View Page It’s time for a little update on how things are going and it’s going well. This is an 1885 Werner looking good and the first pollination was done a few days ago.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page This is another 1885 which will be ready for pollination in a few days time.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page A 2365 Wolf looking good. It’s the usual cat and mouse game chasing the nitrogen at the moment. Each plant has had about 20oz calcium nitrate every 5 days at the moment.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page Another 2365 looking a little fatter and nearly ready for pollination. There’s no doubt that some plants need more available nitrogen than others. I forgot to say that the last plant has had the first pollination a couple of days ago.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page Both 2907 clones have been a little apical dominant but are beginning to settle down. This is the one from a cutting.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page This is IPP3000 and looking good   Wednesday, May 24 View Page Us being us we have put a few backups in just incase.   Wednesday, May 24 View Page This is a pollinating 2907.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Absolutely perfect Nitrogen looks like this, but getting it right is witchcraft.   Tuesday, June 6 View Page This is what we’re looking for.   Wednesday, June 7 View Page DAP17 the Werner B X 2907 clone is looking good.