Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 69 Entries. Friday, February 26 View Page In only my second season growing I have high expectations. Thanks to the help of a lot of growers but most notably Don Young. I am kind of team growing this year with 3 close friends and my uncle. I only have room for two plants but between the 5 of us we should have 11 plants total. I am going to grow Don’s 1622 and Chad’s 1544. Other crosses our group will make are 948 x 1622, 1004 x 948, 1293 x 1004, 1347 x 1462, 1004 x 1544, 1462 x 1622. Of course things could change before the season starts. Thank you everybody that sent me seeds. Hopefully you will be growing a 1726 Baker in 2011. Chad and Henry Baker   Friday, February 26 View Page This is Henry and my wife Patti at Christmas time. Henry received his first set of patch tools. We just found out Henry is going to be a big brother. Luckily the baby should get here just before the Anamosa.   Friday, March 12 View Page Spring may finally be here in Iowa. The snow has finally melted off the green, so Henry and I bundled up to hit our first shots of 2010. There is a lot of work to be done before the pumpkins hit dirt. Luckily I have a good helper.   Friday, March 19 View Page I spoke to soon.   Friday, March 26 View Page Henry was out doing some patch work today.   Friday, March 26 View Page I think he misunderstood when I told him we need some fish and kelp.   Saturday, April 17 View Page Henry and I built the hoop houses today.   Saturday, April 17 View Page Hnery's good for those hard to reach spots   Tuesday, April 20 View Page I couldn't wait any longer. First four plants Revier, Mohr,Young and Bhaskaran.   Wednesday, April 28 View Page All 4 from batch one have broken through the soil and are tanning.   Wednesday, April 28 View Page wrong picture, batch #2   Friday, April 30 View Page tanning bed   Monday, May 3 View Page 1622 Young in the ground.   Monday, May 3 View Page 1544 Revier in the ground. I lost a few roots in the transplant, hopefully nothing a little pumpkin pro won't fix. Plant was my slowest starter but caught up in a hurry.   Wednesday, May 5 View Page The new irrigation system is going in today. No more dragging hoses around that yard. It's a big day at the Bakers.   Sunday, May 16 View Page Henry and I went over to "coach" Don Young’s patch today. Always good to talk with the best. We learned a lot and got some good ideas on how to move forward. Definitely have room for improvement. Thanks again Don, see you in a couple weeks for my next lesson. Chad and Henry   Tuesday, May 18 View Page 1544 is a little droopy. I don't now what it is from. Any suggestions. One small yellow spot on first true leaf.   Saturday, May 22 View Page The temperature is suppose to reach 90 this weekend. I took the hoop houses down and put up wind fence. Good luck little fellas.   Saturday, May 22 View Page 1622   Saturday, May 22 View Page 1544   Monday, May 24 View Page Weather mans calling for big thunderstorms and possible hail the next few nights. Last year we lost our best plant to hail. Not this year,Henry and I built some redneck pumpkin storm shelters.   Thursday, May 27 View Page My niece Abby and I planted her pumpkins today. She put in a 1161 Mohr and 833 Bhaskaran. Soil is very poor at her patch but she will have fun. Her goal is to have a pumpkin bigger then her dad.   Friday, May 28 View Page Henry and the 1544. It just touched down and is ready to roll.   Friday, May 28 View Page Henry checking the temp on the 1622   Friday, May 28 View Page I had to find a spot for one orange pumpkin. With no more room in the garden behind the shed was the best I could do. Not much sun light or good dirt, but I am hoping Peter put some power behind this seed. 1004 Mohr 08'   Saturday, May 29 View Page Henry saw a Rabbit in the patch today and was not happy.   Monday, May 31 View Page I had lesson #2 from "coach" Don today. Subject pruning and training vines. Hopefully I learned something. I went strait home and started cutting. Thanks again Don.   Tuesday, June 1 View Page Calling for storms tonight. 3 inches of rain, tornado watch, 60 mph gust and Hail. Good luck little fellas.   Thursday, June 3 View Page 1622   Thursday, June 3 View Page 1544   Thursday, June 3 View Page 1004   Monday, June 7 View Page 1622   Monday, June 7 View Page 1544   Friday, June 11 View Page 1544 slow growth lately.   Friday, June 11 View Page 1622   Sunday, June 13 View Page 1622 is 7 ft with two females at the end, hopefully one will be 10 plus when it's ready for action.   Sunday, June 13 View Page 1544 is 8' it also has two females at the end. Hopefully they don't abort like the first two on this plant. I am shading the end of the main to help my little girls.   Friday, June 18 View Page 1004 main snapped in this mornings storm. I also saw the first SVB bugs in the patch today. Wait theres more good news, another storm with 60 mph winds tonight. I'm thinking about getting a new hobby.   Sunday, June 20 View Page Henry tripped and fell on Main Vine of the 1544 tonight. Broke it at 12 ft. My only chance on for a Main vine pollination on 1544 is at 10 ft. Should open in about 5 days. Heck of a fathers day present. Oh well $hit happens when your 19 months old. Play Hard 1622   Monday, June 21 View Page 1544 was 13 ft now 11   Monday, June 21 View Page 1622 about 11 ft, it's growth is slower but much bulkier plant then the 1544. Main Vine and Stem are very stout.   Thursday, June 24 View Page patch shot, females still giving me heart burn. My flowers aren't doing much either.   Saturday, June 26 View Page High winds broke a few leafs and side vines last night. I took the wind breaks down a few days ago to help dry up the patch. I should have a female open about 11 ft. out on 1622 tomorrow.   Monday, June 28 View Page 1622 x 1544 11' out on main pollinated with three males   Monday, June 28 View Page 1544 x 1622, 5 lobes, 8ft out on first secondary. Hopefully don't have to keep this one. It will grow right into maters, but after I lost the main I am going to keep everything for a little while. The female I hope to keep on the 1544 is about 8 days away from opening.   Thursday, July 1 View Page pollinated another side vine 1544 x 1622 this morning.   Friday, July 2 View Page 1622 x 1544   Friday, July 2 View Page patch shot, I quickly learned our patch is going to have to be remodeled next year. Plants are already touching another couple hundred square feet would go a long ways.   Monday, July 5 View Page my old leafs are looking pretty ruff. I have been using 3 fungicides daconil, headway, subdue maxx, and 2 insecticides sevin and pounce. Please email any suggeestions. Is this some what normal for older leafs? 5% of plant looks like this,95% looks good. I am worried about the remaining 95%. Thanks Chad   Tuesday, July 6 View Page 6 males from 1421 stelts ready for pollination. Thanks again Don   Tuesday, July 6 View Page 1544 x 1421 5 lobes, 6 males, 7-6 at 7:00. I really hope this one takes. I love this cross.   Thursday, July 8 View Page 1622 x 1544 day ten   Thursday, July 8 View Page patch shot   Monday, July 12 View Page 1622 x 1544 day 13   Friday, July 16 View Page 1622 x 1544 day 18   Friday, July 16 View Page 1544 x 1421 day 9   Sunday, July 18 View Page Big storms rolled through last night. Huge winds and hail patch got rolled. So much for the big boy this year.   Thursday, July 22 View Page 1622 0tt 203 = 187 lbs. very slow gains after storm 1544 still small but I think it is going to be a nice looking pumpkin   Thursday, July 29 View Page 1622 x 1544 day 30   Thursday, July 29 View Page 1544 x 1421 day 21. Shes going to be real orange   Thursday, August 5 View Page 1622 x 1544 with Henry 265 ott   Thursday, August 5 View Page sorry bad math 255 ott   Tuesday, August 10 View Page 7.6 inches of rain in 2 days. Patch is completely under water. Temps suppose to reach 110 heat index today. It should be a great combination for plants. I need a new Hobby!!   Monday, August 16 View Page 1544 x 1421 has a big stem split. I filled it with silicone and crossed my fingers. On a lighter note, the family and I went to the state fair. A lot of big gourds on display   Tuesday, August 17 View Page 1622 x 1544   Thursday, August 19 View Page my niece's came over for dinner tonight and had a good time with the pumpkins   Thursday, August 19 View Page My pumpkins are small on this web sight but huge too my niece. 1544 x 1421   Saturday, August 28 View Page Henry and the 1622   Saturday, August 28 View Page 1544 still moving even without a stump