Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 36 Entries. Saturday, May 4 View Page Hi everyone. That necessary evil called work has gotten me in the position of being behind most of you this season. I have been viewing your diary entries with envy. The hoops are finished now and on site. As you can see there is a healthy crop of weeds that still need to be tilled in. I'll get around to that.   Saturday, May 4 View Page It’s time to get these babies planted   Sunday, May 12 View Page I have four plants growing this year. Seeds were started on April 10. Pictured here is a repeat of a seed I grew last season. This is the 1977 Rea. 1885 Werner X 2350 Gienger   Sunday, May 12 View Page It grew this nice looking 1684 pound pumpkin. I decided to give it another try   Monday, May 13 View Page A pair of 2465.5 Sperry plants. 2365 Wolf x1832 Graham. I really like my chances with this one.   Monday, May 13 View Page The 2465 Sperry first place finisher at the Pasquale Farms weigh-off.   Monday, May 13 View Page Three other local growers have the 2465 in their patches. It will be good to have some comparison information as the season progresses.   Wednesday, May 15 View Page A pair of 2344 Wallace plants. 2365 Wolf X 1707 Caspers. Second place finisher at Pasquale Farms   Friday, May 17 View Page A pair of 2217 Jutras plants. The 2217 rounds out this year's quartet. I simplified my seed selection for this season, growing the top three finishers from the Pasquale Farms weigh off, and the 1977 Rea   Friday, May 17 View Page The 2217 Jutras. 2493 Wolf X 1832 Graham   Friday, May 24 View Page The first plant has left the hoop house. The eight foot long 2465 Sperry is out and running.   Tuesday, May 28 View Page The 2344 Wallace was let out into the world today. The green house is ten feet long and she was banging on the door to be set free.   Tuesday, May 28 View Page Picture from the last post.   Tuesday, May 28 View Page Front view 2344   Saturday, June 1 View Page The 2217 Jutras is about eight feet long. This plant is in an area that does not get as much sun early on as the rest of the patch. As it gets longer and wider, it will enter areas that get as much sun as the rest.   Saturday, June 1 View Page My best hope for big and orange. The 1977 Rea.   Saturday, June 8 View Page My first pollination of the year. It is 13 feet out on the main of the 2465 Sperry. This nice five lobe flower was crossed with the 1977 Rea. There is another flower on the vine at 15 feet that will open in a few days. That would be a better option as long as it is as nice looking as this one.   Wednesday, June 12 View Page Patch overview. For the first time in weeks I am caught up.   Wednesday, June 12 View Page The 2344 Wallace is 17 feet long. There is a female flower that should open in three days or so at the 15 foot mark   Wednesday, June 12 View Page The 2565 Sperry is 17 feet long also. There is a successful pollination at the 13 foot mark. I will probably go with the flower at about 16 feet. It should open in a few days   Wednesday, June 12 View Page The 1977 Rea at about 12.5 feet.   Wednesday, June 12 View Page The 2217 Jutras. Just over 12 feet long   Saturday, June 15 View Page Two pollinations today. This one is on the 2344 Wallace. Kind of a strange shape to it but I think it will be good. What do you think? Crossed with the 2465 Sperry. 15 feet out.   Saturday, June 15 View Page This flower is 15 feet down the vine on the 2465 Sperry plant. It was crossed with the 2344 Wallace.   Saturday, June 15 View Page Oops wrong pic. This is the 2465 flower   Saturday, June 29 View Page It hurt to cull this one   Saturday, June 29 View Page Pictured here is the 2465 Sperry plant and its Day 20 pumpkin   Saturday, June 29 View Page Three of my four plants have had successful pollinations. These pumpkins range in age from 20 down to 8 days. Until today, the only plant without a growing pumpkin is the 2214 Jutras. This flower was pollinated this morning. Fingers crossed   Friday, July 5 View Page It was Day 20 for the 2344 Wallace pumpkin. At 206.5 inches, it has the second largest Day 20 measurements ever taken in my patch. Only the 1472 Werner I grew in 2010 was bigger by a few inches. Although I know that the 20 day measurement goals cannot predict or even suggest the seasons outcome, it is great to put up good numbers. This plant is a very aggressive grower. It has nearly filled its allotted 1000 sf.   Friday, July 5 View Page Now in the bad news department, the 2465 Sperry pumpkin aborted. There are two pumpkin flowers on secondary vines that were pollinated on the second and third of July. A little late in the game but I'll do the best I can with one of them.   Friday, July 5 View Page Now in the bad news department, the 2465 Sperry pumpkin aborted. There are two pumpkin flowers on secondary vines that were pollinated on the second and third of July. A little late in the game but I'll do the best I can with one of them.   Tuesday, July 9 View Page My late start tomato plants are starting to move. I keep cages on them as long as I can to protect them from deer.   Wednesday, July 10 View Page The 1977 Rea pumpkin is 20 days old today. Plant and pumpkin are growing well.   Friday, July 12 View Page Winner of the wet T shirt contest   Saturday, July 13 View Page I love when they rise above the canopy.   Monday, July 15 View Page It is DAP 30 for the 2344 Wallace pumpkin. Taping at 623 pounds. Best Day 30 pumpkin ever measured in this patch.