Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 57 Entries. Friday, February 23 View Page With Glenn and Miss Canada signaling the 2024 season is off to the races, it’s time to officially begin the new season. It has been fun to check out the seed auctions and help support a club here and there but it’s getting closer to being able to play in the patch. Mother Nature is trying hard to hold on to winter with another couple inches of snow last night but at least I can follow along with Florida Tim as he now has his own challenge to try and beat his own State record from last year. His cover crop is looking nice and green.   Friday, February 23 View Page He had good luck with my 839 last year so it is in his potential lineup again this season. Plants are in his cold frame.   Friday, February 23 View Page Now the fun begins. 4 candidates in the ground and the strongest will survive.   Friday, February 23 View Page Tim started 4 plants. One of my 839’s , two other of mine the 977 and 1321 from last year and one of Kurt Herman’s 1400 pound plus pumpkins. Tim has thinned down to two with the 839 and 977 getting the nod so far. The weather in Florida is looking good now so these vines should start to take off.   Friday, February 23 View Page Tim has work to do to top his Beauty from last year. That was one pretty pumpkin. I love the picture of a pumpkin and palm tree.   Saturday, March 2 View Page I’m waiting for my weekly update from Florida Tim. I know he had to make a tough decision and get down to one plant. He went with my 977 this year. (The 839 x 2365 wolf ). It will be fun to watch.   Saturday, March 2 View Page The plant needed room and it wants to stretch out.   Saturday, March 2 View Page Hey I saw this on the random diary photo page. Now that was a Green Squash.   Saturday, March 2 View Page The Swedish record back in the day. The 767 Johansson 2006.   Saturday, March 2 View Page It’s a slow time in the pumpkin world around here. I have picked up a seed or two at an auction and I am thinking about the growing season. What can I do to improve my results this year. I was lucky last year to grab Bravo in the Tomato Challenge draft. Hell we were soooooo close to victory. If Westham had not gotten skunked and fell victim to rats again we could have taken the prize. Just one entry…. Anything and the crown could have been ours. Damn rats.   Saturday, March 2 View Page I see everyone is getting their awards from the Zeke Challenge and it does sting a bit . I guess old Porkchop the big softy realized the Mastermaters had victory in our grasps. I got this package in the mail as a consolation prize, it was a nice gesture. I think. Thanks Chop.   Saturday, March 2 View Page I think that might have been for the Cockscomb seeds I grew last year that he sent. They are a beautiful flower and will plant it again.   Saturday, March 2 View Page Curly is all set in his pumpkin suit but it’s not spring yet. Might as well enjoy the fire Curly. We will be in the garden soon   Saturday, March 2 View Page We can dream about pumpkins though. I found this pic from John Roba’s family farm from last year. I had sent him a bag of mixed seeds to plant. He had a pumpkin fall festival of some sort and wanted to grow some to display and carve . I miss the weigh off that he held there for a couple of years. It was a perfect venue and he was attracting some of the top growers.   Monday, March 4 View Page Florida Tim’s Sunday update on the 977. It looks like he has some nice looking cover crop to mow under.   Monday, March 4 View Page It won’t be long now as he spied the first male flowers blooming.   Monday, March 4 View Page The 977 is starting to run.   Wednesday, March 6 View Page Tim had a close call in his Florida patch. The enclosure was narrowly missed by a queen palm tree branch during a recent rain storm. I can’t say I have ever had a close call with a palm tree here in PA. He has a female swelling and should be open in a few days and another baby showing on the tip of the main of the 977 .   Monday, March 11 View Page Tim decided to extend his greenhouse. He said it’s a combination of Beverly Hillbillies and Sanford and Son. Deck screws, duct tape and a electric stapler does the job.   Monday, March 11 View Page The 977 has a female ready to open any day now so hoping the timing will be right for a male flower to participate at the party.   Monday, March 11 View Page How about a little of that Florida Sunshine miss 977. ??????   Monday, March 18 View Page I checked in with Tim to see how the Florida sunshine is treating the 977. It looks like the plant is picking up steam. The secondary’s are closing in on the edge of the garden. Tim was going to clean things up and start to terminate a few things.   Monday, March 18 View Page The plant looks great with some nice leaf color.   Monday, March 18 View Page Not sure what to call Tim’s expandable greenhouse but it seems to be working for him.   Monday, March 18 View Page Tim had a second pollination on the main vine.   Monday, March 18 View Page And the good news is the first pollination is definitely swelling. Quite the long stem on the young lady as well.   Monday, March 18 View Page Tim’s backyard garden is lit up at night. Looking good Tim. Crack open a cold one and enjoy it.   Wednesday, March 27 View Page The calendar says spring but old man winter is still lurking around these parts of Pennsylvania. The ice on the trees tells the story from last weekends ice storm. It looked pretty but come on now. Pumpkin season is around the corner.   Wednesday, March 27 View Page There is better news for Tim’s Florida patch the first pollination on the 977 is swelling and he has a backup hiding in there as well. It’s GROW time in the Sunshine State.   Wednesday, April 3 View Page We are getting a monsoon here in northeastern Pa. I guess it’s better now than when the plants are in the ground. I got an update from Tim who is enjoying some better pumpkin growing weather in Florida. Day 21 and the pumpkin is rolling along with a 69” circ. Ok Tim I see #2 in the background. Time to cut the cord on that one.   Thursday, April 4 View Page That is my pumpkin patch this morning. Thank you Mother. Nature for the fresh load of Perlite. Seed starting and patch prep is right around the corner. An early start is challenging in northeastern Pennsylvania.   Saturday, April 6 View Page   Saturday, April 6 View Page The 977 is taking shape.   Saturday, April 6 View Page She is looking like the Orange color is going to come through.   Saturday, April 6 View Page Tim has his work cut out for him to top his state record 1039. It was a good looking specimen off of the 839 sandercock.   Saturday, April 6 View Page Tim said this years 977 is in the same location as last years pumpkin. Good luck Tim. Crossing the 2365 wolf into the 839 can only be a good thing. It will be fun to watch.   Sunday, April 7 View Page Sunday and measuring day for Tim. Day 26. 91-59-59. Not bad! It’s GROW time now !!   Sunday, April 7 View Page Our PA weather is all screwed up. I saw this guy crawling around yesterday. What is he doing out this time of year ?   Wednesday, April 10 View Page Atta boy Tim! We pumpkin growers know how to multi task. ! Watering, having a beer and admiring the fruit of your labor ! It’s a fun stage of the season as it’s day 29 and the pumpkin is just beginning to kick it into gear.   Monday, April 15 View Page Tim is settling in with some good growth and past the 30 day mark.   Monday, April 15 View Page My patch is to wet to work at the moment. It’s seed starting time for me at the end of this week. I’m hoping things dry out soon.   Friday, April 19 View Page I put on my Heavy Hitch ripper toy that I picked up to help sub soil the patch some. It’s getting close to planting time. The BX was fun to play on.   Friday, April 19 View Page We are getting somewhere now. I sprinkled a few amendments on and am now waiting for a couple dry days to get a tilling done.   Friday, April 19 View Page Tim is reporting his 977 is dead even number wise at day 36 with last years state record. Pedal down Tim !!   Friday, April 19 View Page Ifs all about the lighting and what time of day you take the photos. Can see some orange wanting to come through in this shot.   Friday, April 19 View Page My seeds are soaking. It is a tough decision with all of the great seeds out there that generous growers have shared. Plus throw in some seed auctions, club giveaways, the seed exchange and wanting to plant some of your own in a limited space and it’s easy to see how it becomes a daunting task to choose just a few. The garlic is on its way now let the sun start to shine and get this pumpkin season going.   Monday, April 22 View Page Babies being born, some breaking soil in less than 3 days.   Monday, April 22 View Page Tim had another good week. I like his expandable greenhouse. It seems to be working for him.   Monday, April 22 View Page The 977 is filling up her spot   Monday, April 22 View Page The 977 is now over 500 pounds. Tim is like a dog chasing his own tail as he is trying to pass his own State Record. Keep it going Tim !   Monday, April 22 View Page Happy Birthday to me. I’m gonna experiment with a little drip this year.   Monday, April 22 View Page Val’s entry for wife of the year ! Thanks Val, and a great choice. We will have some fun. Love you.   Sunday, April 28 View Page It’s Sunday fun day and PA hit 80 today. Let’s get moving. Ned.   Sunday, April 28 View Page Patch tilled and huts in place. I should really do only 3 but squeezing in an extra again. It will give me options anyway.   Sunday, April 28 View Page Sunday is Florida Tim’s measuring day and the 977 is still rolling along albeit some leaves getting beat up a bit. The golden girl had a consistent week of growth and over 700 now. Let’s go Tim !!   Sunday, April 28 View Page I am hoping the PA weather continues this warm stretch. I will get the plants in the ground this week. Things are blooming here and my Asian pear tree is on fire. No more frosts please.   Monday, April 29 View Page My seedlings never looked so good. The new LED grow light kept them stocky this year. Some for my patch, some for Dyberry patch Andy, some for local buddy Tom and we are off to the races.