Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 28 Entries. Friday, March 3 View Page The 2023 season is getting close.Tony today delivered the seeds that I had won in the Anoka and Nowthen auctions. He arrived while I was warming up the jeep to go to the grow store. Good timing!   Friday, March 3 View Page Now that I have the seeds to start, I needed stuff to start them. It feels good to be thinking about growing. My daughter was not happy. She thinks that I will make a mess. She is probably correct.   Saturday, March 4 View Page Upon assembly and inspection of my new grow setup…I am not satisfied. The light will work great for seed starting but will not be enough for full tomato grow. Back to the store.   Saturday, March 4 View Page I walked around the store with par meter in hand. I finally found a light I really like. It is an obsolete model. I took it home and decided that it just feels right to me. I then called the store and asked if they had another. Only another display model. I pick that one up on Saturday. I also decided to go up in size for airpot. If I am going to grow, I want to grow BIG!   Sunday, March 5 View Page I purchased this clone tent years ago, but could never find a light that was powerful and small enough to utilize it. My new little light is perfect. Should be able to keep 4 pumpkin starts at a steady 600 umols.   Wednesday, March 8 View Page Seeds arrived today from Saswampo.. Thank you Dan Greene. I am going to soak a couple of M2D seeds tonight. I already have Megamutt D and .87 clone seeds in the starting chamber. I am hoping to make some quick super unstable crosses for planting in June for fall weighoffs. Maximum capacity in the chamber is 48 plants. Maximum space for tomatoes this summer is 2000 sq ft. My plans will probably change a few times before June.   Friday, April 7 View Page I still have about 18 inches of snow covering the garden. I am hoping that the gate will unfreeze this weekend and the snow melts by the following weekend. We have highs in the 70’s forecast in a few days. Pumpkin seed starting date..April 15.   Saturday, April 8 View Page While waiting for my garden to become visible, I worked a bit on my seedling area. I now should be able to start 10 plants in 2.25 gallon pots. The oversize pots will allow for an extra week indoors if needed. I have a good feeling about this year.   Friday, April 14 View Page The 2023 grow season has begun. This years lineup: 2147 Marshall, 1977 Rea, 2261 Schmit(x2),2350 Gienger(x2),2030 Tobeck and the 2183 Mendi. I have reserve seeds waiting to start if there is a problem with round 1. Hoping to have plants in the ground the first week of May.   Sunday, April 16 View Page Posting for the discussion of fake seeds on the Bushel Gourd board.   Sunday, April 16 View Page More bushel gourd seeds. 370 English, 363.3 Barron and 347 Ansems. They look like different species.   Sunday, April 16 View Page I am bored. It is snowing outside..everything is white again. The 2147 sent out a tap root into the paper towel in less than 24 hours from initial soak. The other 6 AG’s were about 12 hours behind the marshall. So far, the squash is still sleeping. All I can do is watch the dirt and wait….   Friday, April 21 View Page I made it past the “watch the dirt stage” without spending too much money or maybe a just bit too much. Should have the supplies to get these plants in the ground now. These are the current pack leaders. The 2147 Marshall is still in front by a trichome.   Sunday, April 23 View Page I almost have the first electrical line to the garden done. It is live. I tested it with a burple. What could go wrong?   Tuesday, April 25 View Page I am starting to grow fond of this 2183…it is showing style…   Thursday, April 27 View Page New leaders under the lights. The 2147 has dropped to 6th place after having trouble with the developement of 2nd and 3rd true leaf. The 1977 has had a quick burst to jump into the top spot. In strong second is the 2261. Hoping to get a few plants in the ground this weekend.   Friday, April 28 View Page Two weeks after soaking the seeds, the plants are not responding well to my indoor attention. I have what looks likes to be Nitrogen deficiency on some, potassium deficiency on others, and possible some light toxicity. Something needed to change. Today outside 48 degrees with a light drizzle with uMol reading at 2 pm of 120 pffd. Maybe the new environment will slow them down enough that I can get the garden ready.   Thursday, May 4 View Page After 20 days in pots, tomorrow is the big day for the plants to be in the ground.I have 10 days off from work to concentrate on giant vegetables. I should be in a better position at this time of year than I ever have been in my growing career.   Monday, May 8 View Page Plants went into the garden yesterday. It took me a bit longer than expected with the soil heating cables. Today hoop houses go up. Thunderstorms predicted for tonight. I am 3 weeks ahead of my pb year and have better genetics. Fingers crossed.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 2147 Marshall. It was first to sprout and now it wants to be first to grow a pumpkin. Female blossoms at 3 inches and at 5 inches. Anyone have any pollen?   Monday, June 5 View Page 2023 garden update..early soil heating cable issues has put me a bit behind where I want to be but I am still way ahead of pb year. There are enough plants in the garden to qualify for master gardner category. 1 1/2 miles of drip tape installed over the weekend. Feels good to have a garden that might actually produce more than one roma tomato…that was my total garden yield in 2020. Unfortunately 2021 and 2022 were not much better.   Monday, June 5 View Page I am going to have to tweak the irrigation settings. This sand-silt-compost mixture is still very porous with parts that seem hydrophobic. It seems to me like watering in an indoor soil pot. It is going to take me awhile to figure out where the ideal moisture band is and how to keep it at the right level. There is a female blossom on this 2261 Schmit at 8 feet with 15 secondaries. I am going to wait a bit…will aim for pollination in 2 weeks.   Monday, June 5 View Page 150 patch update. I have two plants from the 2002 Andrusz. That were a very late start. I am hoping for short internode lengths. With that in mind I have drawn up the planned border as shown in next entry.   Monday, June 5 View Page 150 pumpkin- By my calculations this boundary should give a growing space of 149.817 sq ft. Will attempt to craft it out of 1/2 pcv pipe this weekend. I foresee difficulty with the circle trying spread the upper section and problems trying to bend 90 degree plastic fittings to acute and obtuse angles. Maybe next year I will attempt a spiral flag pattern.   Thursday, June 22 View Page I have been distracted from the garden for a bit. I think i might behind in vine maintenance. I have found time to pollinate the pumpkins.   Saturday, June 24 View Page Pollinated the 1977 Rea today with the 2147 Marshall at 15 feet with 23 secondaries behind it. About 90 days until the Nowthen weigh off, plenty of time. It took about 3 hours to reclaim the plant from the weeds and bury all the nodes. I don’t think the weather will cooperate for me to get caught up on all the plants this weekend.   Friday, July 21 View Page At day 27 , the 1977 that I am growing is smaller and has a less desirable shape than what Nana has at day 25. Go Nana,I think you are going to have another beautiful big orange.I am still very happy with what I have growing. It is taping 236 inches for an estimated weight of 303. Finally after many years, I think I can grow giants again. Now if I can correct the drip irrigation system..6 psi into each drip zone is not helping. My well pump is not putting out enough flow for what is needed 500 ft away. It will be a good weekend project.   Sunday, October 15 View Page I consider this year a major success for the “Dunes of Bnot”. Much better than a few years ago when the the harvest was one Roma tomato out of 40 plants and 1/2 ear from 300 row feet of corn. Best of all..to improve for next year, it will not take much thought or financial investment. I feel I have a good foundation for gardening space. Life is now finally good.