Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 78 Entries. Sunday, April 6 View Page I have decided on the following seeds for this year: 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) 772.2 Poirier 2006 (500 Northrup x 1332 Werner) 479 Krautmann 07 (670 Daigle x 1370 Rose) My goal is to produce pumpkins that have both good size and color, and to cross these genetics to increase this potential.   Friday, April 25 View Page The weather has been so bad I am not sure if I am going to be able to get my seedlings in the ground before they start to form a vine. I am considering putting sandbags around the patch.   Friday, April 25 View Page Finished filling all the sandbags I have. I am about 10 bags short, so I went to the internet and Googled "sandbags", seems the only source of replacement is somewhere on Long Island...I am sure they will all be used up by the time I get any...will search for another source.   Friday, April 25 View Page Got advice from a heavy person....ah hitter from LI to save sandbags for future problems. Made a note in my diary, hard to read because of all the rain. I was told once that a good story is only 10% true. We will see if I can continue to find 10%, I think so.   Thursday, June 5 View Page I am going to post some pictures soon because someone asked me to. I believe that this time of year everything can be perfect or disasterous and still turn out great, or not. The best plants in early June will split on you, and the worst plants will give you a new PB, go figure.   Thursday, June 5 View Page i broke off the first two side vines on this one, but it has already produced male blossoms, i am stupid and it is trying to tell me something.   Thursday, June 5 View Page The 1062.5 Stelts. This plant has shown me that you can never count anything out. It is in a new patch, did not have any frost protection at all. It is an animal, over 7 feet of main vine and 3 feet of first side vines. I hope that my prediction is that this seed is one of those seeds that can go way over the top.   Thursday, June 5 View Page The 904 Stelts, won out for the main patch spot over the 1062 and go figure it was a perfect double vine. They have since split with 2 perfect main vines, one will be the mother of my new PB, and the other will be just a motha...LOL   Thursday, June 5 View Page 843 Reiss, one side of my orange and big connecton...   Thursday, June 5 View Page 772 Poirier, the other end of my orange and big connection.   Friday, June 20 View Page 772 Poirier, I broke the main vine off trying to "help" it out, others have varmits in their patches, I have myself to watch out for.   Friday, June 20 View Page 843 Reiss, started off slow but is picking up the pace now, 2 weeks to go and I need for all the plant growth I can get.   Friday, June 20 View Page 904 Stelts, my 2 headed monster. Started off with a double main vine, separated alone at about 4 feet, now it has 2 perfect main vines, this one is going to be fun to train, as long as I do not "help" it too much.   Friday, June 20 View Page 1231 Pukos, I have very high hopes for this one, I broke the first side vine trying to "help" it out, since then it has done well without my "help".   Friday, June 20 View Page 1062 Stelts, the big surprise in my patch this year. It lost out to a main patch spot to the 904, so I put it in a place I am preparing for next year as a test. It is doing better then any other plant I have, go figure. I am going to pollinate one on this one today, about 12 feet out, will use the 904 as a male.   Saturday, June 21 View Page Today we had the hottest day in about a month, 83 degrees or so. Full sun beating down on the plants, and they did not like it at all. I know that is not very hot, but they are not hardened to hot weather. They were all flagging horribly, I am sure the leaves will not recover. I gave them all a good drenching of water, wait and see now.   Saturday, June 21 View Page 6:40 PM here and it has been about 2 hours since the water drenching. About 60% of the leaves have shown some recovery, the rest are toast. Another year of challenges, but then every AG grower understands challenges. Who has a perfect environment? And no, I will not build a green house just for my AGs, I want to find out what I can do without them. I feel like Don Quixote fighting the windmills, but if I ever win, man will that be a special moment.   Monday, June 23 View Page 843 x 1062, 6 lobes   Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1231 x 904 5 lobe 904 x 1231 4 lobe   Friday, June 27 View Page 1062 x 1231 5 lobe 904 x 1062 4 lobe   Saturday, June 28 View Page 843 x 1062 4 lobe   Monday, June 30 View Page 1231 x 1062 5 lobe   Monday, July 7 View Page 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) x 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace)   Monday, July 7 View Page 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) x 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace)   Monday, July 7 View Page 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace)   Monday, July 7 View Page 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) x 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue)   Monday, July 7 View Page 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace)   Saturday, July 26 View Page This year I am proving again that I am a very good newbie grower. If only this wasn't my 6th year groiwng giant pumpkins..... 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) x 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) This one is growing in a wheel shape. The weather is getting better so I am hoping to see some good growth this week.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) x 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) A very white, nicely shaped pumpkin.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) I really like the color and the shape of this pumpkin. The stem is only 2 inches long so I had to cut the vine off directly after the stem to avoid stress. This is the cross that I wanted to make also, I just got a gut feeling about it.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) This is the best I have in my patch right now. Good color, nicely shaped, perfect stem with no stress, now all I need is for the weather to hold so that she can take off.   Saturday, July 26 View Page 772.2 Poirier 2006 (500 Northrup x 1332 Werner) x 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) I broke the main vine on this one so it took me a while to get a secondary trained as the new main vine. This is a perfectly round one right now and I can already see the nice dark color potential that it is famous for. This the other cross that I really wanted to make this year. When I saw the 843 Reiss at the weigh off I new it would be perfect. It was also a very nice round shaped AG with great color.   Sunday, July 27 View Page I visited my friend Michaels patch today. He is growing a couple of my 560 olsden 06 EST (845 Bobier x self). He is truly a "just for fun" grower. His patch is about 2 miles away from his house on the edge of one of his fields were his cows graze. I call his pruning method the "Jungle Pruning Style"...LOL   Sunday, July 27 View Page He has three pumpkins set. In this picture you can see how white the AG is, the Bobier genetics are obvious.   Sunday, July 27 View Page When I saw this one I couldn't believe my eyes. The stem is real long. I measured it, 7 inches. In 6 years growing I have never seen one that long, hope it is a good sign for him.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Visited Michaels patch today. For a beginner he is doing very good.   Sunday, August 3 View Page I really enjoy looking at this one from Michael, the stem is super long.   Sunday, August 3 View Page 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace)   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace)   Sunday, August 3 View Page 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue)   Sunday, August 3 View Page 772.2 Poirier 2006 (500 Northrup x 1332 Werner) in the front and in the back is the 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose)   Sunday, August 10 View Page Well, it appears that this is not going to be a very good year for me. The weather has gotten a lot better, but the anticipated growth just isn't there. What is that saying....wait till next year.... This is a picture of my 1231 Pukos. 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) x 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) Estimated 443 lbs. 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) x 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) Estimated 429 lbs. 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) Estimated 340 lbs. 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) x 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) Estimated 441 lbs.   Sunday, August 10 View Page Not only is this not a very good year for me, I can't even post a picture correctly, that is a picture of the 904 Stelts, not the 1231 Pukos.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page This is a view looking from above the pumpkin. If you can imagine a clock the splits are at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page Here is a view from below the stem looking up, the split is at 6 o'clock. Yuo can see the split that is at aproxiamately 9 o'clock also. Any advice is welcome.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page After taking a look at Dan Bowles diary from 2006 I decided to act. You can't see the slits I made in this picture, but I am guessing in a week or so if it doesn't go through to the cavity they will be obvious. At least this year I am trying to fight which makes me feel better.   Sunday, August 17 View Page 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) x 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) est. 517 lbs, this one is going to go heavy, nice thump to it.   Sunday, August 17 View Page In front the 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) est. 430 lbs. In back the 1231.5 Pukos 2005 (1446 Eaton x 1420.5 LaRue) x 904 Stelts 2006 (1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace) est. 538 lbs. this one is going to go waaaaay heavy, thumps like a rock. You can see the blow dryer I have been using on the stem. Thanks to a lot of help, specially from Jos and Dan I believe we have saved this one.   Sunday, August 17 View Page Went to a patch tour yesterday, one of these long gourds is measuring about 107 inches and is still young.   Sunday, August 17 View Page A pic of the growers at the patch tour, rumor has it that one of these growers has a pumpkin on a 1041 Mckie that is about 800 lbs. already.   Monday, August 18 View Page Applied another dosage of blow dryer to my stem split on the 1231.5 Pukos.   Tuesday, August 19 View Page Lots of rain and high humidity equals a lot of condensation on the pumpkins. The split was soaked because of it even though I have it covered. Put the blow dryer on it for about 30 minutes and everything looks fine. I guess if I want this one I am really gonna have to fight for it.   Saturday, August 23 View Page Martina told me today that she wanted to make a scare crow. We have never made one before, so this is a first for us. The decoration gourds round out the picture I think. I am proud of her, she did a great job.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Visited Michaels patch today. He has never grown one onver 250 pounds, this year he has already more then doubled his PB.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Check out the stem on this baby, 8 inches long, OMG.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Today was Salsa day. Every year we make salsa from what we grow in the garden, here is the start.   Sunday, August 24 View Page And here is the finished product. Nothing like some salsa from your own garden in the middle of winter.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Had a pretty decent year growing habaneros, chilis and jalapenos. We had to much for the salsa so we canned these also.   Saturday, August 30 View Page Visited Michael's patch today. He is doing great. Here a picture of the stem end of his pumpkin.   Saturday, August 30 View Page Here is a blossom end picture.   Saturday, August 30 View Page A stem picture of my problem child, 1231.5 Pukos.   Saturday, August 30 View Page And a blossom end of the 1231.5, if this pumpkin makes it till 5 October I will truly be amazed.   Saturday, August 30 View Page would help if I included the picture...............   Tuesday, September 2 View Page Random thoughts from a frustrated big pumpkin grower. The first part of the season started off great, 100% germenation, no late freezing temps, and plants that had the genetics to grow a new record. Man was I ready for July. Late June came around and I had some early sets, unfortunately I did not have early set temps, so thngs progressed slowly, never once did I hit a "benchmark". I think I will forget benchmarks next year, unless I get a good one going...LOL July was upon us and the slow start of the early sets were showing a definite pattern of slow but steady growth. No new record here, but at the same time, for my standards not a bad year, no splits yet! August came in like a lion, and so did the split on my biggest pumpkin. I sorta expected as much, so I was calm (yeah right). Contacted Dan and Jos for advice and I am still fighting that split, about 3 plus weeks now, to cool. September is here and from the numbers I have seen from other German growers, I will be happy with a top 10 finish (far from my European record in April..LOL). I still have a chance at a new PB........or...... I wish for all German, and European growers that they set new PB's, have fun, and go heavy.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page Another picture of the 1231.5 blossom end. That is a 12" ruler that easily fits lenght wise into the blossom end. I think it is amazing the way the AG fruit can form and fold itself into almost any kind of shape. It is also amazing the amount of pressure they can with stand. That has got to be somewhere around 400 pounds of pressure pushing down towards the blossom. This fruit is a semi-wheel and leans forward, all of the weight over the blossom. It is still growing, so I expect to go out one day to do my checks and find it split, I mean, how much more can this thing take?   Saturday, September 13 View Page i would love to post what my estimated weights are, but i can't as we have a contest now in Europe to see what my final weight is. some nice seeds are up for grabs for the winner. Here are some of the guesses with the seed the will give: Janni, 365kg, 830 Sandvik 07(1231Pukos05 x 1446 Werner06) Norbert, 355 kg, Einsatz 639 Pugh(500 Wallace x 1068 Wallace) Gunnar, 376 kg, 1 LANGEVIN-Kern vom Seedstock Nr. 2 (400 lbs EST) 1502x1502 Wallace Baumi 352kg und setze einen 985 Werner 06 Roger, 410 kg, 1524 Starr (227 Leland x 985 Werner ) MartinK 388 kg, 1081 Leonzi 2005 (845 Bobier x 898 Knauss) Michl 350 kg. 1242 Checkon 03 (723 Bobier x 815 Checkon) Martin (Cuerbitrix) 359kg AG912Frei07   Saturday, September 13 View Page ok, i think i can post a picture without revealing to much. this pumpkin has been a joy to grow. the stem is split on three sides which require me to dry it with a blow dryer everyday, the blossom end is "this" (picture turning on a light in a room) close to collasping, but it keeps fighting. thanks for the seed Joe, i am giving it my best!   Monday, September 15 View Page i would have sent my hair dryer to abbynormal already, but it is 220 volt, i think he will make it without though. my 1231 is still hangin in there.   Sunday, September 21 View Page 843 Reiss 2007 (1068 Wallace x 1370 Rose) x 1062.5 Stelts 2006 (980 Razo x 1068 Wallace) So we harvested our smallest AG yesterday. The cross has potential as you can see.   Sunday, September 21 View Page The 629 olsen 08 At first I thought, no big deal we picked the smallest one as a yard decoration. Then martina said, you know, a couple of years ago you would have done backward flips for having such a big AG. Wow, she is right, I consider myself lucky. So I introduce the 629 olsen 08, the smallest of my 4 AG's and am proud to do so. Martin, thanks for the seed!   Sunday, September 28 View Page I took a really nice picture at sunset today. In the middle my soulmate (Norm, you are not the only one that has a favorite toy) left the 1231, right the 904 and in the background chocolate (martina named it) the 1062.   Friday, October 10 View Page last pumpkin still on the vine   Monday, October 13 View Page Final results for 2008. 628.1 olsen 08 (843 Reiss 07 x 1062.5 Stelts 06)   Monday, October 13 View Page 649.7 olsen 08 (904 Stelts 06 x 1062.5 Stelts 06) I am planting this one in 2009.   Monday, October 13 View Page 649.7 olsen 08 blossom end.   Monday, October 13 View Page 768.7 olsen 08 (1231.5 Pukos 05 x 904 Stelts 06)   Monday, October 13 View Page 793.4 olsen 08 (1062.5 Stelts 06 x 1231.5 Pukos 05) I am planting this one in 2009.   Monday, October 13 View Page 793.4 olsen 08 blossom end. Went 70 pounds over the chart.