Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 28 Entries. Sunday, May 5 View Page I’m starting this diary in hopes to help some growers learn a few things I have found works for me growing long gourds. I have been asked how l start my LG seeds. First cut the tip just a little and then sand all the edges really well. Put them in warn water for six hours. Place them in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in a 80 degree area. In about 48 hours check them and you should start to see some of the roots popping through the tip of the seed. Some will take a half a day to a day longer. The ones I just started I had very good germination rate for long gourds 17 out of 18.   Thursday, May 9 View Page Long gourd trellis that was made in 2006 at that time a 12 ft high trellis was big enough to grow a world record. My son and I built this one on the 4 of July holiday weekend my plant was three ft long when I planted it on it. It turned out to be the first long gourd over 125 inches 126 1/2 WR   Thursday, May 9 View Page This is the trellis I grew the 159” LG on last year but still had to dig a hole so it wouldn’t hit the grown .It was on the 14 ft high side there’s a 14 ft high x 16’ x 12’ wide and the 12x12 x12 side by side. It’s a trellis that can be moved with my tractor. This 2024 season will be the fifth time I have moved it to a new location.   Thursday, May 9 View Page On the move to a new and improved trellis.   Thursday, May 9 View Page I’ll try is again 14ft high x16ft long and 12 ft high x 12 ft long side x side   Thursday, May 9 View Page Hopefully right side up   Monday, May 13 View Page Thanks to my good friend Steve Sperry for the help we raise the roof and deck on the trellises in the new location.   Monday, May 13 View Page It took some doing but turned out real nice already to go for the 2024 season 16 foot high 12 feet wide 28 feet long.   Monday, May 13 View Page should be ready in a few weeks when weather warms up. Hope to put the drip tape and weed mat down this week.   Sunday, June 16 View Page It’s been two weeks since the LG plants have been planted they are about four ft tall. Looking back at last years pictures I would say there about a week ahead. I have seven plants on the trellis five on the west side and two on the east side. There’s three 121 two 115 one each 154 and a 159. Got the weed mat and drip tape down that’s most the work done.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This my 150 sq ft plant it’s a 1093 Jutras from last year. It’s a 2365 Wolf x 1109 Sq. Going to self it and try to get a green one next year maybe if I try 10 I can find one green one.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 1139 from last year it turn out to be a white pumpkin i was hoping it would stay green this year it’s back to orange SOB. Going to x it with the 1109 Sq.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 475 it’s a 810 Cantrell x 1109 sq it is green but has a double main. Will see if I can get one on a side vine.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 1109 Sq in the GH it’s two days old today.   Sunday, June 16 View Page And it’s a very uniform six lober haven’t had many of those.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is the 2501 growing in the GH great plant out 16ft 10 sides on one side 9 on the other.   Sunday, June 16 View Page And a three lober hasn’t seen many of those but have had a lot on this plant. they tend to go heavy let’s hope it does.   Sunday, June 16 View Page Sorry this looks more like the 2501 pumpkin.   Friday, June 21 View Page Trying something new this season to hold up the leaves at my walk way. last year at a pumpkin picnic, Andy Wolf was mentioning that he had seen caution tape being used. I thought it was a good idea.   Friday, June 21 View Page This is at the age of your fruit between 10 to 20 days. You have a chance to shape the bottom of your fruit to try to make the stem and blossom perpendicular as much as possible. This the 2501 it is at 13 dap. Just starting to get going last couple of days with the heat we’re having.   Friday, June 21 View Page Also using the tape at the sides of the greenhouse to keep them from getting damaged when I drop the curtain when we get bad weather.   Friday, June 21 View Page Tools They make your work a little faster in your patch. Small shovel tape to broom to reach those roots that pop up every now and again that you want to cover. Telescoping prunes to pick the male flowers so you don’t have to get into the plant. Wolf extension stirrup oh lockdown weeds in a hurry and my favorite a homemade cultivator.   Friday, June 21 View Page Made from a 4 inch paint roller heated up with a torch and flattened with a hammer. You can buy the extension handle at Lowe’s for $17 to go from 6 feet to 12 feet. It will be the best tool you can get for less than $25 guarantee, I’m sure you’ll like it.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 1109 Sq 23 dap 239 lbs doing 33 lbs per day. Growing 720 Sq Ft inside green house. Going to be a high wheel of a fruit with the six lobes it has.   Sunday, July 7 View Page Out door addition have another 250 plus ft to be close to 1000 sqft plant by some time in Aug.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 2501 29 dap 348 lbs doing 34 per day nice shape. Have about 900 sqft of plant with about 200 sqft to fill. This the earliest pollinated fruit I’ve ever had.   Sunday, July 7 View Page Lg are about 18 ft long maybe too far along for this time of the season think I may do some pruning to slow them down.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 150 sqft plant it’s my 1093 DQ from last year it is a 2365 Wolf x with the 1109 sq. I self it and hope to select a green offspring from it next year it’s 14 days old today.