Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 16 Entries. Wednesday, January 31 View Page It’s digging the patch time ready for this year’s dreams. This huge pile, believe it or not is exactly one third of the soil for one plant. I think it’s going to take me about 12 days to complete the dig. Seed choice is coming along but we’re still in discussions. All is good and as always in pumpkin growers we are full of optimism. We will probably be changing how we water this year but more on that later. Also for a few years now I have wanted to grow “Something “ for myself but that’s for another post.   Tuesday, February 6 View Page Here we go with the beginning of our line up and this has to be a very hot seed. It’s crossed with the Bears 2520 “ROCK” and at the time, the Cutrupi world’s biggest. Hot,Hot,Hot.   Wednesday, February 7 View Page It’s not much to see apart from 5 posts and a weed killed square. You all know that Stewie and I have no secrets, in fact quite the opposite. So if you go to Tic Toc under giant pumpkin wars you will find loads of “How to “ videos from Stewie. There are some videos on my Tic Toc Ianpaton3 but, as I’m new to it, my digging the patch video got archived. It’s my age!!! You can see another version on my instagram ianpaton2269. There will be loads to follow starting here on my diary. All we ask is that you in turn past this forward to other growers or potential growers.   Tuesday, February 20 View Page Drip tubes are going in which are spaced about 12 inches apart.   Thursday, February 22 View Page As there’s not a lot to see in the patch I thought I would share some photos of my man cave.   Thursday, February 22 View Page I’ve been building a wacky marble machine for years now and still photos don’t really do it justice. I have a 1930’s electric model train that will run outside in a tunnel at the back of the shed.   Thursday, February 22 View Page All my old lures are hung up and some do get the odd trip out to the lake for old times sake.   Thursday, February 22 View Page It’s going to be a very cool place to be.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Many hours of work but worth it.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Six automata will be running the hole marble machine but it’s work in progress.   Thursday, February 29 View Page I’ve always said to Mark that I would really like to grow some field pumpkins. He said I’m has been doing his very best to get my arse in gear. So this is the year there is no going back. He popped in to see us earlier in the week to pick up his GPC awards and brought me two more of his world record seeds. Considering he now only has two seed and he is encouraging me to break his own World and GPC record, it speaks volumes of the man. His whole family is one that I’m proud to have as friends.   Friday, March 15 View Page These are hopefully the five seeds that we want in our parch along with one 2907 clone. Ruben found a few more 1875 seeds and it’s always been good for us. Ruben thinks with our improved growing techniques we can beat the WR. So time will tell.   Monday, March 25 View Page The first seeds went in yesterday for the Spanish weigh off. They are wrapped up in tissue paper and in plastic bags between our 2907 clones.   Thursday, April 18 View Page Finally all of the plants are in and waiting for this time of year has been boring to say the least.   Saturday, April 20 View Page I’ve very quickly knocked up this frame for the solenoids and hopefully we can get it all up and running in the next month or so.   Wednesday, April 24 View Page It’s looking like the two early plants for the Spanish weigh off will but be 1727Jacobus’s. I personally think that these seeds are going to be very sort after next year. Of course Stuart and I both think that they can get a WR, if we didn’t it wouldn’t be in our patch. Just remember who said this first.