Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 38 Entries. Friday, May 5 View Page I guess that it's time I start my diary, post a few pictures and ask a question or two. I spent Saturday and Sunday tilling and setting up the drip lines. Here is half the patch tilled. I wanted to get down deep so I moved the soil back as I made progress. I think I was able to till down 12-15 inches. It took me almost 7 hours over two days to till the almost 1000 sq. ft.   Friday, May 5 View Page Same picture as the last but at a different angle. I did not realize how much soil I had moved when I tilled until I had to spread it back out. In the picture is my brothers Montgomery Ward tiller that I use.   Friday, May 5 View Page Here is the skeleton of one of the hoop houses after I buried the T-tape that extended past the frame. I looked at my diary from last year and some of my pictures look almost indistinguishable.   Friday, May 5 View Page I consider this seedling to be normal and healthy. It came up quickly and has been kept under a grow light. Compare this to the next and let me know what you think.   Friday, May 5 View Page This plant’s stem appears to be almost split in two. There appears to be a tiny formation of what may be a first true leaf on each side. This does not look like any of my other plants and not normal. Has anybody else had any experience with this? Any thoughts, comments or recommendations? As noted before, I will be growing two plants this year. I started other seeds for my brother and a few other friends. I have seven seeds currently growing and I plan to start a couple more tomorrow just in case these do not make it.   Monday, June 26 View Page I had some trouble this year with my seedlings. An 845 Bobier that I won via Joel Holland had the stem split noted above. A 1200.5 Urena which was pictured above as "normal and healthy" never put out a second leaf. Finally a 1048 Wallace that I transplanted died after a few days. I had planted some back-ups a week and a half after my primary plants went in to give to friends but I ended up using those myself and starting some others for them. Here’s my 943 Holland ’05 (805 Pukos ’00 x 1260.4 Weir ’01) taken a few days ago. It’s probably 8 feet or so. There have been a few male flowers open but I have not noticed any females starting yet. This plant has been easy to grow. I may have to take out a few leaves here and there to give a little more space between.   Monday, June 26 View Page A straight on shot of the 943 Holland.   Monday, June 26 View Page Here is my 943.5 Brown ’05 (1005 Miller ’04 x 1446 Eaton ’04). The main vine twisted around the 5 ft mark so I had two vines growing on the right side so I simply cut one of them off to save some space between them. It’s a little slower growing than the 943 but starting to come on nicely. I’m also helping my nephew grow a 736 EST Holland ’05 (1,260 Weir x 1,127 Holland). That plant was started during my third round of seeds so it’s three weeks behind where I’d like it to be. The two noted above are a couple weeks behind where I’d like them to be. I guess that’s what happens when you grow giant pumpkins.   Tuesday, July 11 View Page I pollinated a 5 lobe female on the 943 Holland yesterday about 11 feet out on the main. I pollinated a 5 lobe female on the 943.5 Brown this morning. It is approximately 13 feet out on the main. Both are open pollinations.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Here's a pic of the pumpkin pollinated last week on the 943. I have some chemical burn on this plant so I am going to pollinate another on the main vine tomorrow and if it looks okay I may go with it.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page I pollintated this pumpkin on the 943.5 Brown this morning. In the background is the pumpkin pollinated last week. I'm going to have to measure how far out the pumpkins are. I'd guess that they are 12 to 16 feet out.   Tuesday, July 18 View Page Here's a picture of first 8 feet or so of the 943.5 Brown plant. This plant has really grown well with tall leaves and multiple females on each vine.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page I pollinated a 4 lobe female on the 943 Holland this morning. Since I'm not interested in marketing the seeds I pollinated it with 4 males from the 943.5 Brown and left the males next to the female to make sure the bees finish the job (they always do and were already present at 6:30 this morning).   Saturday, July 22 View Page This is the pumpkin on the 943.5 Brown that was pollinated on July 10th. It's in a good position and has a nice long stem.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Here's the pumpkin on the 943 Holland. It was pollinated July 11th. It's in an okay spot though the pumpkin lacks shoulders. I know it's still early, its just a different shape. We'll see if it grows some.   Sunday, July 30 View Page 943.5 Brown on July 30th.   Sunday, July 30 View Page 943.5 Brown plant on July 30th. It's well trained, just all over the place.   Thursday, August 3 View Page 943.5 Brown on August 3rd. I think it's around 15 ft out on the main vine.   Friday, August 18 View Page 943.5 Brown taken this afternoon. It's not on pace to set any records but it's still gaining steam.   Friday, August 18 View Page 943 Holland has started slow. At this point I do not expect too much from it.   Saturday, August 26 View Page 943 Brown as of this afternoon- it's still growing 15-20 lbs per day. It's measuring bigger than my 705lber from last year. We'll just have to wait and see what we get.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Another shot of the 943 Brown. It's starting to get a little lopsided on one side.   Sunday, September 3 View Page 943 Brown taken a couple days ago. We have a long way to go and it's still growing... I've been trying to keep the white flies contained. They showed up a couple weeks ago. I have not yet noticed any PM yet. Hopefully my spraying keeps it at bay.   Sunday, September 3 View Page Here is a stem shot. You can really see how much liquid is oozing. I’ve read that it should not hurt anything but seeing how much is running off kind of makes me wonder. Should I wipe it or simply keep it open and let the sun and air work their magic?   Sunday, September 3 View Page Here's a picture of the 736 EST '05 Holland at my brothers house. They had trouble pollinating and could not get one on the main. They have two on two side vines that I expect to be nice porch pumpkins. They are nice looking pumpkins, just pollinated too late.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Here's a shot of the plant. It's still in pretty good shape. I'm still combating the white flies. I have been mistakenly calling the 934.5 Brown a 943.5 Brown.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page 934.5 Brown is still growing. Though not too much.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page A side shot and measurements: 148 circ - 95 front to back - 100 side to side A total of 343 or roughly 800 lbs estimate.   Monday, October 9 View Page Here's a picture taken a couple weeks ago of my daughter sitting on top of the 934.   Sunday, October 15 View Page 934 as of today. I'm guessing that the measurements are anywhere from 353 to 358. It seems that everytime I measure I get different figures. I have not tried taping it or anytihng like that. I imagine we'll measure at the Borchard Farms weigh-off this Saturday. I'm guessing that it will be in the low 900's, on the light side.   Sunday, October 15 View Page A shot from a little more on the side. It is starting to color up a bit.   Sunday, October 15 View Page I pulled the Holland plant out today. This is a shot of both pumpkins. I have not measured the Holland pumpkin but it's probably in the mid to upper 500's. As you can see, the 934 plant still looks great.   Sunday, November 5 View Page It's time I finish the diary. Here I am clearing the way to move the big guy out. Taken 10/20.   Sunday, November 5 View Page We had to do this the old fashion way. Here are the seven of us tipping it forward to get the tarp underneath.   Sunday, November 5 View Page With some muscle we were able to set it up on the pallet and get it strapped down.   Sunday, November 5 View Page Here we are at Borchard Farms waiting our turn to get weighed.   Sunday, November 5 View Page Final measurements were 160 circ. - 103 side to side - 100 front to back. Official weight was 966 lbs.   Sunday, November 5 View Page Here's the last picture of the year. My 3 year old daughter Emma on the 966. See you all next year!