Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 65 Entries. Sunday, January 11 View Page Last week we had temps around 10-14 degress and about 4 inches of snow. Today it is raining with temps around 42 degrees. Here is a pic of patch 1. Last year this patch had 4 plants, this year only 2. I will only have to till it one more time in the spring.   Sunday, January 11 View Page Here is patch 2. In the foreground is whats left of a tree that took about 2 hours of sunlight away per day. That is over 200 hours in a season, it had to go. Behind the patch is the matted cow manure I am collecting, each week I get a load delivered from a local farmer. It will sit and compost for a year before it is added for the 2005 season. You can also see the beginning of my long gourd trellis to the left near the tree. It is about 10 feet high and leads up into the tree.   Thursday, April 1 View Page A beautiful spring day in Germany. Here is my soulmate Martina doing some spring cleanup in our vegtable/flower garden.   Thursday, April 1 View Page I spent 3 hours tilling these two patches. Over 2500 square feet of beautiful soil tilled to a depth of 12 inches.   Thursday, April 1 View Page My feet hurt, my back is killing me, and I smell like manure. Heck, what woman wouldn't love that package? Here is my just reward for a long day. By the way, in Germany we just went through 5 days of absolutely beautiful weather. Come on you German growers, post some pictures, I know you been working your patches!   Saturday, May 1 View Page My VWO pick is the 752 Blair 03. It has broken through the starter mix and the cots are opening up. I started a second 752 as a backup for this one. If the VWO seed developes any problems, it will be replaced. Hope that doesn't happen as that would take me out of the contest, but I want to make sure I have a good 752 going.   Saturday, May 1 View Page 1092 Burke has failed to germinate after 8 days. I have started 2 of my 628's from last year (707 x 805) as backups.   Monday, May 10 View Page this is a picture from a helicopter of our house and you can see one of the pumpkin patches up top with 3 pumpkins, which is about 50 or yeards behind the house. it was taken in September 2003.   Sunday, May 16 View Page The 1092 Burke and 845 Bobier did not germinate and both my VWO 752 Blair and my backup 752 Blair are not looking very good. Both 752's came up with curly and ragged (looks like some insect was chewing on them) cots, and after 2 weeks do not even have a first true leaf. I am going to give them till next weekend, if no improvement, then they will be removed and a backup 628 olsen will go in. Not a very good start to my season.   Monday, May 24 View Page Not sure where to even start this post..... Let me see, the season started off bad, first my 1092 and 845 did not germinate. I think next year I will forgo testing my germination method all together. I had 12 test seeds germinate without failure this winter, go figure. Then came my 752 problem. I germinate two, cuz i really wanted to grow one this year. Both came up with curly cots, looked like something had been eating them. Then after 1 week of being in the patch, the first true leaf on both was small, deformed, and had gotten sun burned. After another 10 days it was obvious that the plants where not going to make it. The first leaf was still the same size, and the second leaf wasn't even coming. And lastly, some animal got my 695. Cut it right off at just above ground level. That leaves my 805 from the original 5 I wanted to grow. It at least is going on its 5th true leaf and appears to be normal. All other spots have been replanted with either my 628 or 638 from last year. They are all at least 2 weeks behind where I should be right now. Not a good start at all.   Wednesday, June 2 View Page Aphids and mites are bad this year. Sprayed yesterday, we'll see if it helps any.   Monday, June 14 View Page Unlike last year when we went through a drought, this year we have gotten plenty of rain. Now if we could just get some warmer weather to go along with it, I may have a chance to pollinate the 805 Pukos by 14 July. I do not expect to pollinate anything else till the end of July. Due to early season problems and now the cold weather I am at least 3 weeks behind where I was last year. Here is my plant by plant update, no need to submit pictures as there is absolutely nothing special to see. 805 Pukos, MV about 36", side vines 6-12" 628 Olsen #1, MV 16", side vines just starting to show 628 Olsen #2, MV 10" 638 Olsen #1, MV 14", side vines barely visible 638 Olsen #2, MV 3-4"   Wednesday, June 30 View Page Summer has finally arrived. First time all year I have seen temps over 70 degrees for 2 straight days. Today we are even suppose to hit 80 degrees. Plants will probably go into shock. I saw my first female this morning, it is only about 7 feet out on the main vine of my 805, but with the way things have been going this year, I will take it. With any luck it should be ready between 10-14 July......   Thursday, July 1 View Page The 805's main vine has grown 12" in last 24 hours. I hope this warm weather keeps up.   Sunday, July 4 View Page 7.5 feet out on the 805 pukos. if i am going to get anything pollinated before 14 july, this is it.   Friday, July 9 View Page 50 degrees outside, so I have decided to add some warmth to the area around a female. Those are 3 hot water bottles. Hey Scott, how did I do with my Stelts 90? I think not bad considering the temps we have been having.   Saturday, July 10 View Page I refreshed the hot water bottles every 2 hours last night till I went to bed. This morning at 0650 we have 45 degrees and the female blossom doesn't look any different then she did yesterday morning when I thought she was going to open. This has sure been a wierd year so far. at any rate I am not giving up, so I put fresh hot water bottles back out this morning, will check in a couple of hours if this new day brings any changes.   Sunday, July 11 View Page She finally opened this morning. no fresh males, I missed that opportunity Friday and Saturday, so I had to pollinate with 1-2 day old males. It is 42 degrees outside, i have placed some fresh water bottles around her. this has been a very trying season, and honestly, I do not expect this one to set. good thing i have my health, cough, cough, achoooo....   Wednesday, July 14 View Page 805 x 628 Olsen (707 x 805), 7 lobe, nice cross back 805 x self, 5 lobe i only had 1 male per female so i sure hope they were shooting silver bullrts   Wednesday, July 14 View Page silver bullets.....not bullrts   Wednesday, July 14 View Page here she is, isn't she beautiful? i've never pollinated a 7 lober before, aaaaahhhhhhh.....   Wednesday, July 14 View Page tied up, tucked in, and ready for a good nights sleep. you grow girl, i'll take care of the rest......   Sunday, July 18 View Page 11 July pollination did not set. Pollinated a 5 lober 13 feet out on the main vine today. 805x628.   Monday, July 19 View Page Pollinated a 4 lobe 805 x self this morning. This will be the last one I pollinate on the 805.   Tuesday, July 20 View Page growing two 628 olsen plants this year. so i do not get confused, i will refer to them as plant 1 and plant 2 hence forth. plant 1, 628 x 805, 5 lobe 7' out on mv   Wednesday, July 21 View Page plant 1, 628 x 805, 6 lobe, 8' out on mv plant 2, 628 x 805, 5 lobe, 12' out on mv   Saturday, July 24 View Page 805xself, day 10, 21" 805x628, day 10, 20"   Sunday, July 25 View Page 805, 13' mv, day 7, 18" circ   Sunday, July 25 View Page 805, sv, day 11, 22" circ. this is a backup for my mv set. one heck of a lot of growing needs to start happening around here.....   Wednesday, July 28 View Page 805, mv, day 10, 23" circ   Wednesday, July 28 View Page just got done cutting half way through the stem of the pumpkin on my 805 side vine. that leaves me with one pumpkin on the main vine. putting all my eggs in one basket. drastic measure, but the way this season has gone, it is the only way i have got a chance this year.   Friday, July 30 View Page 628 plant 1, day 10, 19"   Thursday, August 5 View Page two patches. two reasons for hope. front patch is the pukos patch, rear patch is the olsen patch.   Friday, August 6 View Page 805 pukos, day 19, 61.5" circ, ott = 144, est 70 lbs that is my best day 19 results ever, too bad that it is 6 august. who knows, maybe i will have a decent august after all....hmm   Friday, August 6 View Page 628 olsen, day 16, 47.5" circ   Tuesday, August 10 View Page 805 pukos, day 23, circ = 76.5, ott = 172.5, Est 113 lbs   Tuesday, August 10 View Page 628 olsen, day 20, circ = 64.5, ott = 158.5, est 91 lbs   Wednesday, August 11 View Page 805, day 24, 80" circ, ott 178.5, est 125 lbs 628, day 21, 68.5" circ, ott 168, est 106 lbs 11-15 lbs per day would be great.....if this was 11 July.....   Thursday, August 12 View Page 805, day 25, 82.5" circ, ott 184.5, est 137 lbs 628, day 22, 72" circ, ott 177, est 122 lbs 628 is doing better then the 805 on a daily basis. 628 is picking up 15-16 lbs per day and the 805 only 11-12 lbs per day.   Friday, August 13 View Page 805, day 26, 85" circ, ott 189.5, est 148 lbs 628, day 23, 75.5" circ, ott 185.5, est 139 lbs Since I am out of any external competition this year, I have decided to have my own home grown battle. The 805 is the daddy to the 628 olsen (707 toftness x 805 pukos). Let's just see how the paternal father and sibbling do. Early bets are that the 628 is going to take her old man down...LOL   Saturday, August 14 View Page 805, day 27, 87.5" circ, ott 194.5, est 159.5 lbs 628, day 24, 79" circ, ott 192.5, est 155 lbs both pumpkins are doing a steady 11-16 lbs per day. the 628 is going to give the 805 a run for her money. only 4 lbs difference and she is 3 days younger.   Tuesday, August 17 View Page 805, day 30, 95" circ, ott 211.5, est 202 lbs, avg per day for last 7 days is 12.5 lbs   Tuesday, August 17 View Page 628, day 27, 87" circ, ott 212, est 203 lbs, avg per day for last 7 days is 16 lbs.   Thursday, August 19 View Page 805, day 32, 99.5" circ, ott 221, est 229 lbs 628, day 29, 92.5" circ, ott 224.5, est 239.5 lbs   Friday, August 20 View Page 805, day 33, 101.5" circ, ott 225.5, est 242.5 lbs, 10 day avg 12.8 per day 628, day 30, 94" circ, ott 229, est 253 lbs, 10 day avg 16.2 per day   Friday, August 20 View Page 805 pukos, 33 days old   Friday, August 20 View Page 628 olsen, 30 days old   Friday, August 20 View Page 638 olsen (996.5 handy x 716 daletas) for those of you that are interested in orange, this one will be a nice color when she is finished.   Friday, August 20 View Page i did not attempt to grow a big zuchini, but, when you do not pay attention everyday, this is what happens. 21 pounds on a bathroom scale. seeds from my friend Marianna. Old Italian Zuchini.   Wednesday, August 25 View Page nuf said.   Wednesday, September 1 View Page Well, the stem split on the 628 olsen 03 finally went through to the cavity today. It is day 44 and it estimates about 450 pounds. Still putting on about 15 lbs a day. A shame but that is our sport. As long as she keeps growing I will wait till next weekend to weigh her.   Wednesday, September 1 View Page Mistake in last entry. The 628 is at day 41.   Monday, September 6 View Page Had a nice visit from Marianne (Ruschi). Here we are next to my 628 Olsen. We will be weighing this one on Saturday because of the stem split that went into the cavity.   Monday, September 6 View Page The 805 Pukos stem split from 25 Aug broke through to the cavity today. Cheers, owen.   Wednesday, September 8 View Page What a season. 628 olsen estimates about 478 pounds. stem split into cavity, stopped growing. 805 pukos estimates about 379 pounds, stem split into cavity, stopped growing. 638 olsen, late set, only 25 days old, estimates 271 pounds, putting on about 18 per day, and yes, you guess it, split today. This one is a north south split, the others were all east west. that leaves me with a estimated 167 pound pumpkin still growing, or at least i hope, let's see if tommorrow it splits..... best wishes, owen   Wednesday, September 8 View Page thought this was an interesting view of the 805 after pruning a "few" vines and leaves.   Saturday, September 11 View Page time to weigh my 2 biggest splitters. here is the 628 loaded and we are getting the 805 pukos ready.   Saturday, September 11 View Page all strapped down. time to enjoy a cold one, or two....   Saturday, September 11 View Page one of the many reasons we grow these things. Martin here could care less that these are splitters, they're just big!   Saturday, September 11 View Page results will be posted later on today.   Sunday, September 12 View Page 474 Olsen 04 DMG (805 pukos x 628 olsen) about 19% heavy.   Sunday, September 12 View Page 599.5 Olsen 04 DMG (628 Olsen x 805 Pukos), about 20% heavy.   Friday, September 17 View Page I know that everyone is ordering lifting tarps and straps right now, but don't forget about your official weigh-off shoes.....   Sunday, September 19 View Page The last one has finally split also. That's 4 pumpkin plants and 4 splits. This one was only estimating 270 pounds.   Sunday, September 19 View Page This is all that is left. The pumpkin in the far patch was number 3 to split. I have left the main vine on number 4 because the split is not all the way through yet and I am hoping it will not go through now that I have removed all the vines. What a year. This is probably my last diary entry. It has been an interesting season, not very good, but interesting. I wish all out there in AG land where ever that may be that you have new PB's at your weigh offs. owen