Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 230 Entries. Tuesday, January 17 View Page This is how you beat cabin fever in Alaska, leave. My wife and me drove 240 miles South of Nogales, Arizona to Guaymas Mexico for some sun, beach and margaritas.   Tuesday, January 17 View Page Photo goes with above post.   Tuesday, January 17 View Page Snow.......what is that?   Tuesday, January 17 View Page San Carlos, Mexico 5 miles from Guaymas.   Sunday, February 19 View Page Where is all the snow this year......it's up here. Snow is so deep it could delay the start of the season, no where to put the stuff.   Sunday, February 19 View Page Without the plow truck the situation would be hopeless.   Sunday, February 19 View Page Looking out the front door.   Sunday, February 19 View Page Maggie hoping for an early breakup.   Sunday, March 4 View Page The real North Shore........Alaskan style pipeline.   Sunday, March 4 View Page There's a greenhouse in there somewhere.   Sunday, March 4 View Page Another week, another 25 inches of snow on the Peninsula. Like Dale Marshall said "we might be the first growers to grow in an igloo".   Sunday, March 4 View Page Some of these piles of snow are so large there may still be some snow hanging around in June this year.   Sunday, March 18 View Page Patch dogs Maggie on the left and the newest addition to the pug family Harley on the right all ready for season 11.   Sunday, March 18 View Page Season begins in two weeks, one benefit to all this snow the ground is not frozen at all. Down side, I have to shovel most of the interior of the greenhouse. I'll keep the snow cover in place until the last moment to help insulate the ground.   Sunday, March 18 View Page I leave the top rolled back for the winter and allow the snow to insulate the ground. Next weekend I will roll the top back and begin warming the ground for the up coming season.   Sunday, March 25 View Page Dig out 2012 has begun.   Sunday, March 25 View Page A seasons worth of snow compressed to a depth of 48 inches.   Sunday, March 25 View Page Top rolled up, heaters fired up, the ground warming process has begun. Hard to believe with all this snow the season begins with seed germination day commencing in 7 days. Beautiful sunny day high 32 low 6.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Season starts tonight with the 1647 Wallace.   Saturday, March 31 View Page And the 1723 Marshall. Thanks Dale for the seeds! I plan on pollinating both ways.   Sunday, April 1 View Page This is no April fools day joke. While most folks are tilling the soil, I'm trying to find mine.   Sunday, April 1 View Page Maggie is ready for BREAK UP!   Sunday, April 1 View Page Heating up the ground is a priority this time of year. So how do I get it done? Duel interior hoop houses placed over the area in which I will eventually transplant the pumpkin. Start heating from a focal point and work your way out as the season progresses.   Sunday, April 1 View Page Inside on of the interior hoop houses. A 1500 watt heater placed inches in front of a 5 gallon bucket of water which sits a few inches into the dirt. The water in the bucket is around 120 degrees and the heat transfer is intense in the local area directly under the bucket. These buckets are placed very close to where I will eventually transplant the ft long pumpkin plant in about three weeks. By then the soil temps will be in the 70s.   Sunday, April 1 View Page My assistant Maggie helping log in entries on to big pumpkins.   Sunday, April 1 View Page The 1647 Wallace and 1723 Marshall in the germination box with the thermostat set at 92 degrees max. this generally keeps the soil in the 88 to 92 degree range.   Saturday, April 7 View Page Saturdays mid day snow fall.   Saturday, April 7 View Page Later saturday the sun came out and made for a beautiful afternoon. Still corridors of snow to navigate around the pumpkin and tomato greenhouses.   Saturday, April 7 View Page Eight days into a 150 day season and still mountains of snow to deal with out here.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Easter morning for the 1723 Marshall on the left and the 1647 Wallace on the right. In about three hours they will be moved to the greenhouse for the remainder of the season.   Sunday, April 8 View Page View of the growing setup under the 1000 watt metal halide light.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Still a few snow drifts inside the greenhouse. No worries they will be long gone by the time the pumpkin plant grows out this far.   Sunday, April 8 View Page The 1723 Marshall and the 1647 Wallace home for the next two weeks until they get transplanted from their 7 gallon containers for the final time. Both good looking normal plants at this stage.   Sunday, April 8 View Page During the evening hours the visqueen is pulled over the hoophouse frame with interior heat provided from a 1500 watt electric heater. Thermostat set at 85 during the day and 65 at night.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Side view of interior hoophouse inside greenhouse.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Sunny Easter morning expected high upper 30s low last night 18 degrees.   Sunday, April 8 View Page Dirt in fish tote for tomato greenhouse dug out so it can begin thawing.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Break up 2012 underway.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Mostly sunny skies last week with day time highs in the mid 40s and night time lows in the lower 20s to upper teens.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Houston we have a problem. Not what you want to see on your preseason #1 plant. Apparently the 1647 wallace has what appears at this stage to be a double vine issue. To bad, I was looking forward to growing this one and crossing it with the 1723 Marshall both ways. With the season already 1/10th of the way over, it is not going to happen. I may grow it out in a 30 gallon container in the tomato greenhouse, but it is out of the race this year.   Sunday, April 15 View Page A close up of the 1647 Wallace. You can make out the opposing leaves and two individual vines. It appears as the vines have grown and expanded they have caused stess on the stump area below the cots causing and early split. I have never encountered this problem on a young plant. There are always going to be gentic problems involved in this high risk hobby, just part of the game.   Sunday, April 15 View Page On the other side of the coin, it is always nice to have an ace in the hole. It was evident early on the 1723 Marshall is a stud. Day two above ground, the root system was 2 inches out of the peat pot. I had to use great care transplanting into the 7 gallon not to disturb the well established root system.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Top view of 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Side view of interior hoophouse growing setup.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Top view of 1647 Wallace on the left and 1723 Marshall on the right spending their final four or five days together before transplant day. Around April 19th or 20th the 1723 Marshall will get to rule the greenhouse when it hits terra firma.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Looking out the South door. Still lots of snow hanging around.   Sunday, April 22 View Page View of the greenhouse looking towards the SW. Weather for April has been great so far, today being no exception. Sunny skies with a high of 50 and a low of 27.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Well the selection process has been made the 1723 Marshall gets the pumpkin greenhouse and the 1647 Wallace is relegated to the tomato greenhouse. It will be used primarily as a pollinator and to grow a pumpkin out as well. I plan on running the main out over the right hand side of the fish tote and then down the front side and then bend it to the left and then out the front. Could still get a 300 to 400 lb pumpkin off this plant even off this small of utilized space.   Sunday, April 22 View Page A close up of the 1647 Wallace. It had some early issues but looks to have made the turn. The stump area below the cots split wide open all the way to the roots, basically flat, it now has healed and is looking good. The main I initially thought could have a double vine turned out to have three first true leaves all in a cluster. It had a slow to develope main so it looks like it will end up being a normal plant which is great, I really want to make this 1723 x 1647 cross.   Sunday, April 22 View Page 1723 Marshall unleashed. This plant gives me the shivers.....in a good way.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Implementation of the Marshall Plan.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Another look at the 1723 Marshall, was transplanted late evening on April 20th. Root developement was simply amazing on this plant. Maybe a glimse of what made Dales 1723 such a phenomenol pumpkin.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Top view of the 1723 Marshall day 22.   Sunday, April 22 View Page View of interior hoophouse growing setup. Again 1500 watt heater blows heated air through duct work towards 5 gallon bucket of water at its terminus. This acts as a humidifier to couter the drying effects of the heater and insurance shoule the heater were to fail at night. Cover is pulled over at night and comes off around 10am and at 7am after May 1st. Ground temperature at 6 inch depth currently 70 degress.   Sunday, April 22 View Page View of pumpkin greenhouse looking towards the Northeast.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Lake ice slowly degrading but still firm enough to walk on.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Looking east from our porch. Still plenty of snow hanging around, fortunately this past weeks weather was sunny with temperatures running above normal or there would be more yet. High temps last week ran from the low to mid 50s with night time lows averaging 25 degrees due to the clear skies at night.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Lake ice still holding firm though slowly degrading.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Front yard on the South side. We are going to go into May with some large piles of snow this year. Most folks are mowing their lawns this time of year a few days ago I saw a guy snow blowing his lawn.   Sunday, April 29 View Page It looks good on this side of the greenhouse but I still can't walk all the way around due to 3ft of snow on the other side.   Sunday, April 29 View Page 1647 Wallace looking good in the tomato greenhouse.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Tomato plants have no idea what they are going to have to put up with sharing space with the 1647 Wallace.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Drip irrigation system put in place during the week in preparation for the onslaught of growth from the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, April 29 View Page 1723 Marshall, beautiful well balanced plant.   Sunday, April 29 View Page Main at 3ft on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, April 29 View Page 1723 like a young puppy fixing to go on a growth spurt. Hard to believe at this time next month this plant will have filled the greenhouse and we will have a some pollinations done.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Will this stuff ever melt. After a very sunny and relatively warm April the month of May has taken a step back into a cloudy, cold, windy pattern. Highs last week were in the low to mid 40s with two night time lows of 20 degrees back to back. In fact those two days were May 1st and 2nd, welcome to May at latitude 60.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Lake ice still holding, though I would not want to walk on it at this stage.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Pic goes with above post.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1723 Marshall suffered a set back this week. On Monday I noticed the leave fringes on the emerging leaf cluster on the main had a crispy edge. I immediately had a flashback to 2006 when I had a similar issue with the Wallace 1068 main and it eventually self terminated itself at the 14ft mark. From the information I garnered at the time it more than likely was a sun burnt tip of the emerging main. It looks like a similar senario except this time except the main will self terminate at 7 ft. We did have some very intense sun for almost two weeks and there is a chance the tip of the main could have been fried with refracted light being focused much like a magnifying lense even though it was in a greenhouse and never exposed to direct sunlight. My own fault for not being vigilant to the matter, I guess I need to shade the main during these brilliant sunny days even though in a greenhouse. It didn't work out so bad in 2006 when I grew the first over a 1000 lbs in Alaska on a secondary. With the 1723 plant it might be a blessing in disguise as well.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Although this picture is some what fuzzy you can see the two appendages hanging from the right of the tendril. The one to the immediate right of the tendril is the last leaf on the main and the other the end of the main. Much like running to the end of a rope. The new main in all likely hood will be the last emerging secondary on the main.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Last secondary on the compromised 1723 main will be trained as the new main.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1647 Wallace starting to assert its dominance in the tomato greenhouse. If I'm not careful there won't be any tomatos this year.....lol.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1647 and tomatos sharing living space. This could quickly get out of hand.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1647 Wallace went double everything on me earlier this week and has now come back to normal.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Well, maybe not all the way normal. I'm not sure if the first female on the main at 2ft is normal. With the insane genetics on this plant it could probably grow a 1000 lber if it wasn't for the fact that it would crush its own stump. Nothing surprises me in this hobby any more.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Yes, we still have snow on the ground and like I said earlier, some of this will likely be around in the shady spots come June.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Lake ice finally breaking up. Weather for the week was below average with mostly cloudy skies, rain, snow, sleet, and hail showers combined with a constant moderate cold North wind made for slower growing conditions. Highs for the week ranged from the mid to upper 40s with lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.   Sunday, May 13 View Page 1647 Wallace pollinator plant. If this plant looks smaller than it was last week, it is. On Wednesday another first for me as the main split open 2 feet all the way back and through the area where it was double, basically rendering the main useless. I cut the main back to a strong secondary that looks normal and it is now the replacement main. Even after all this I still plan on using this plant as a pollinator to the 1723 and maybe get a pumpkin off this plant in the end.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Stump on 1647 Wallace. The split that occured early on below the cots that went all the way to the roots has healed.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Tomatos coming along. Growth was slower than what should have been due to the cloudy cold conditions.   Sunday, May 13 View Page 1723 Marshall had a good week despite sub par growing conditions. I think this plant actually likes it better when it is not getting a full blast of sun. That's good, because we can go weeks around here without any real sunny days.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Burying leaf nodes on main and secondaries on the 1723 Marshall plant. Once the roots get established out the top side of the main I will remove the excess dirt and re-expose the main. Much like Dales 1634 plant I am staking leaves early as they look like they are top heavy and start to give way at the base once they are fully mature. A small price to pay if it can grow 1700+ lb pumpkins.   Sunday, May 13 View Page First female on the 1723 plant about 5ft out on a strong east side secondary. Nice to see normal looking females, one less thing to worry about.   Sunday, May 13 View Page End of the damaged 1723 main, you can see the stub pointing skywards. I buried the leaf node right behind the terminus of the main. The last secondary on the main incurred damage as well from what ever caused the initial trauma. It terminated itself as well after producing two leaves. The actual replacement main is the second to the last secondary from the end of the original main.   Sunday, May 13 View Page New main on the 1723 Marshall. The plant hardly skipped a beat, it looks like it knew exactly what to do by itself, I just stayed out of its way.   Sunday, May 13 View Page First female on the 1723 Marshall replacement main. I am just glad to see a female although it is to early for a go the distance set, it bodes well for the future on the new main.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Now all we need is some warmer night time temperatures and it is off to the races.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Could we have another future pumpkin grower? My granddaughter Alexi Ann will be an accomplished grower by the time she is 6 years old if she continues to live with us.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Picture goes with above post.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Finally open water.   Sunday, May 20 View Page A little over 4 weeks till the longest day and there is still snow hanging around in the shady spots. Weather was all over the place this week. Highs ranged from 45 to 64 with lows from 28 to 44. Mostly sunny, with clouds off an on and winds alternating from the SW to the North.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Finally, have the 1647 Wallace under control and growing in a normal manner. Maybe just maybe, I will get to use it as a pollinator to the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Have been hand pollinating tomato flowers all week.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 1723 Marshall on the run.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Pollinated 1st female this year on a strong east side secondary this morning.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Close up, good size to this female on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Not much symetry on the lobes with this female. Looks like it could be a four lobe. Self pollinated with three day old males at 8:30 am and one newly opened male at 11:00am. If nothing else test the plants capabilities out on this pollination.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 1723 Marshall plant looking towars the East. Very wide plant since I lost the main at 7ft and the replacement has re-establishing itself.   Sunday, May 20 View Page New main on 1723.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 1st female on the new 1723 main. Should open in about a week. Good candidate for a keeper as well as the next one.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Close up of the 1st 1723 female on replacement main.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Partial solar eclipse reached its maximum around 4:40 pm on the Kenai Peninsula. Even though it was cloudy I still used a #9 welding lense placed in front of the camera as a filter.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Another look at the partial solar eclipse using a different camera mode and #9 welding lense.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Look what is still hanging around at the top of the driveway.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Since I got rid of the main all together the 1647 Wallace has been a model plant, none of the earlier chaos I endured for the first 4 weeks of this plants existence. I was even able to use a one day old male off this plant to pollinate a 1723 female in the other greenhouse this morning.   Sunday, May 27 View Page First female on the 1647 Wallace replacement main. When ready for pollination it should be about 6ft from the stump. Should be able to pollinate it with the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Kinda looks like my season so far, chaos. I wouldn't have it any other way. First female on the 1723 Marshall replacement main about 14 ft out from the stump. Your guess is as good as mine as to how many lobes are here, pollinated with one day old male from the 1647 Wallace. Risky pollination considering the fact that I used a single day old male flower.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Side view of the first female on the 1723 Marshall replacement main. Good location, have to see what happens.   Sunday, May 27 View Page This is strong secondary I was using on the 1723 Marshall as a possible backup to the replacement main in case something happened. Like this..........imagine growing these two twins out, they would kill each other...lol.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Lay of the land on the 1723 Marshall, one of the luxuries of having no true main I'm into pollinating every thing and sorting out the mess later. So far I've set six pumpkins and pollinated a seventh this morning.   Sunday, May 27 View Page First pumpkin set on the 1723 Marshall about 8ft out on the first east side secondary. This is the kind of pumpkin that can derail any logical plans you might of had. Is it possible to get any where growing a pumpkin out in this location? I may get to find out. Pollinated May 20th solar eclipse day.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Another pumpkin set on an east side secondary just below the above pumpkin. This one was a four lobe self pollination on May 22nd. Good stout looking pumpkin.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Under the 1723 canopy.   Sunday, May 27 View Page 1723 quickly filling in the blank spaces in the greenhouse. Awesome plant and with from what I can see an impressive root system.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Another look at the first pumpkin set on the 1723 Marshall. I love the shape to this one, just wish it was in a more traditional location, like 16ft out on a true main.   Sunday, May 27 View Page 1723 replacement main taking off.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Maggie taking a break from hunting mice, shrews and voles. Her young running buddy Harley has scored some kills this week evidenced by some of her trophies she has brought into the house.   Sunday, May 27 View Page More dock renovation this summer. Weather for the week was again all over the place. Highs ranged from low 50s to 70 degrees with night time lows from low to upper 40s. Rain showers from mid week on.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Yea I know Maggie it is a depressing sight. As predicted some snow has survived into June at the side of the road at the top of the driveway in a well shaded area. The longest day of the year is only 18 days away. Weather for the week was up and down. Early in the week clouds, light showers, North wind and cool temperatures with highs barely into the 50s with night time lows in the mid to upper 40s. Late Thursday the weather finally broke for the better and by Saturday mostly sunny skies with a high of 71. Second time this year we have reached 70 or above at this location.   Sunday, June 3 View Page 1647 Wallace plant although small looking good.   Sunday, June 3 View Page 1647 female, plan on pollinating with the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Tomatos and 1647 Wallace coexisting better than I ever imagined. They must have worked out a truce.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Summer in full swing.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Maggie and the Alaska State Fair lifting ring. The new mark to beat 1287 lbs. Had Dales' 1723 not had a tiny hole on the under side we both might be retired right now....lol. As it is, I fully expect a new Alaska state record this year as I like the looks of Dales' and my 1723 plants.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Day 14, four lobe basketball size pumpkin on the 1723 Marshall. Don't get to excited it is set about 6ft out on the first right side seconday. It was a big long female when I pollinated her initially as a backup but has now due to unfore seen events has moved to the front of the pack. It has a nickname already " Ring of Fire " appropiately named since it was concieved during a solar eclipse and the way this season has gone so far I feel like I have been in a ring of fire.   Sunday, June 3 View Page "Ring of Fire" sitting on a piece of pulp mill fabric layered with an inch of sand.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Another shot of the "Ring of Fire". Stems on these pumpkins have been very short and thick. Could make for some fun later in the season.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Another pumpkin set just below the "Ring of Fire" on another secondary. Eleven days old and about cantalope size. Culled six young pumpkins this week.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Speaking of eclipses.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Another pumpkin set about 10 ft out on the first west side seconday. Ten days old as well and about cantalope size, huge short stem.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Second female on replacement main due up for pollination in about a week. My gamble with using a single one day old male off the 1647 Wallace on the first female on the new main didn't take. Wasn't a great location that's why I took the chance, one thing I wasn't counting on though was the next female being 10 ft further down the main. Basically moving the next pollination date 7 days later into an already short season. Up coming female is in a great location and by that time will have a lot of power in the plant so I plan on pollinating for sure. One thing I have noticed there is a larger than usual spacing between the females on this plant. Could be a trait of the 1723 genetics, but hey, I'm all for it if it grows big pumpkins.   Sunday, June 3 View Page New main on the 1723 Marshall in the fore ground heading east.   Sunday, June 3 View Page 1723 Marshall plant and young pumpkins.   Sunday, June 3 View Page Looking west at the advancing main on the 1723 Marshall.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Ring of Fire, day 20, this one is not going to set any records. Still projected as a backup.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Ring of Fire and companion pumpkin to the left.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Final shot of this young pumpkin as Saturday was culling day. No problem setting pumpkins on this plant. Every pumpkin has set with the exception of one.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Another final pic, west side set on secondary. Huge short stems are the norm.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Stem view of the Ring of Fire. About half the size of last years 1287 Lucy Lu for day 20.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Maggie and Harley checking out the culls on Satuday.   Saturday, June 9 View Page Up next for pollination this female 22 ft out on the replacement main. Prime location, spent extra time getting a good 90 placed in the main.   Sunday, June 10 View Page This morning a beautiful sight, female in bloom on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, June 10 View Page A normal 4 lobe female, self pollinated with 4 newly opened males and 2 one day old males.   Sunday, June 10 View Page A side view of the female 22 ft out on the 1723 Marshall. Big plant behind this pollination hope it sets.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Blossum end view of the "Ring of Fire".   Sunday, June 10 View Page Took a play out of Don Youngs' play book and made a cover for the stump using plexi glass. The stump from the ground up and 4 inches above weeps as it has expanded. The main is going to be fire hose size. Made the cover out of a 14 inch square piece of plexiglass, four 12 inch length pvc legs glued to the plexi glass using JB weld. Every so often I use a hair dryer set on low to dry the stump. Set up has worked well so far.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Another look at the stump cover on the 1723 Marshall.   Thursday, June 14 View Page New Triumph Tiger 800 I picked up and road down to Nikiski on Thursday. Now I can get to the patch even quicker from work.   Thursday, June 14 View Page Thanks to Don Rosene and The Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage for getting this Triumph Tiger to Alaska. It's going to make checking on the pumpkins that much more fun this summer.   Sunday, June 17 View Page 1647 Wallace female at the 12ft mark on the main. It has taken alot of work to get back to this apportunity again on this plant.   Sunday, June 17 View Page 1647 Wallace plant enjoying a 75 degree day on the Kenai Peninsula.   Sunday, June 17 View Page 1723 Marshall stump and main.   Sunday, June 17 View Page "Ring of Fire" day 28. No numbers on this pumpkin due to it's difficult location but it has picked up the pace. Beach ball size.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Picture goes with above post.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Day 7 for the first pumpkin set on the replacement main on the 1723 Marshall. Grapefruit size.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Side view.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Pumpkin set on a strong west side secondary located in the SW corner of the greenhouse. A four lobe female pollinated on June 14th with 5 males off the 1647 Wallace. Golf ball size day 3.   Sunday, June 24 View Page Sir Roger Forster.........the passion lives on.   Sunday, June 24 View Page After a week of sunny and above average temperatures it is back to rain and cool temperatures. Temperatures on Thursday, Friday and Saturday were all above 70 degrees with the peak temperature coming on Friday with a high of 76 degrees. Warmest stretch of weather since 2009. Night time lows were upper 40s to low 50s. Up coming week is calling for rain and cooler temps.   Sunday, June 24 View Page Finally! I get to pollinate a female on the 1647 Wallace. At the last moment I changed plans to cross it with the 1723 Marshall, just to many quirky things going with some of the pumpkins I've set. Instead, I self pollinated the female with 2 new male flowers and 1 one day old male.   Sunday, June 24 View Page 1647 Wallace female. I like the long stem on this pumpkin.   Sunday, June 24 View Page 1723 Marshall expanding stump and lower portion of main. This main just keeps expanding, if not for the fact for the scar tissue filling in the gaps it would sever all the secondaries coming off the main. The joints where the secondaries attache to the main look like a head of cauliflower. I have kept a hair dryer set on low to keep things nice and dry.   Sunday, June 24 View Page "Ring of Fire" day 35. Who would thing this back up pumpkin set on the first secondary off the main would be leading the pack on the 1723 Marshall plant. Not posting any huge numbers just a nice steady grower with no issues what so ever except for a very short stem. I have kept this pumpkin cooler than past years so maybe it will bode well for growing a little longer and going heavier at the end of the season. I did manage to fandangle my way back to its location and take a measurement this morning. Taped circ 100, ss 66, ee 64 = 230 ott for and est. wt of 265 lbs. Last years Lucy Lu taped this weight on day 25. Definitely an uphill battle trying to over come that deficit.   Sunday, June 24 View Page First pumpkin set on the replacement main day 14 about basketball size. Pumpkin looks great, the stem if you can call it that not so great. This pumpkin had the shortest stem I have ever had on any pumpkin, looks like it is trying to produce its' own by expanding and cracking. Sprayed bleach solution on stem, dried and now have a fan blowing on the stem to help keep it dry. I will give it about a week to 10 days to see where this leads before it possibly gets axed.   Sunday, June 24 View Page Close up view of the stem from the above photo.   Sunday, June 24 View Page 1723 x 1647 cross in SW corner of greenhouse. In a battle for survival with the above pumpkin. Cantalope size on day what I think is day 10. It at least has a stem but has some crack issues as well.   Sunday, June 24 View Page Second pumpkin set on the 1723 Marshall replacement main day 3. A four lobe pumpkin self pollinated on June 21st. This one actually has one of the longest stems I have seen on this plant. I set it on just as a back up to the first pumpkin on the replacement main due to the stem issues. This is my final pollination on this plant for the year. It is looking more and more likely like the "Ring of Fire" will out last, out grow, the other pumpkins to become the ultimate survial on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, July 1 View Page End of the line for the first pumpkin set on the replacement main on the 1723 Marshall. A real shame as the pumpkin was in terrific shape it just had a very short stem from the start and couldn't adjust for the expansion that came with the growth. It created a tear across the top of the stem all the way through to the cavity of the stem filling it with fluid. I drilled a hole all the way through to the bottom side of the stem to allow it to drain. The next day I noticed it was filling the incoming core of the main with fluid causing it to get soft. From there I knew it was a lost cause and culled it as well as the other two young pumpkins that were left.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Stem on first pumpkin set on the replacement main. You can see right in the middle of the stem the hole that was drilled allowing fluid to drain out. Worked good, except the damage was already to extensive to save the pumpkin.   Sunday, July 1 View Page "Ring of Fire" reigns supreme on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, July 1 View Page "Ring of Fire" day 41. Circ 116, ss 74, ee 70 = 260 ott for an est. wt. of 377 lbs a gain of 112 lbs for the week for ann average of 16 lbs a day. No records here this year which gives me lots more time for other activities.   Sunday, July 1 View Page The most interesting thing on the 1723 Marshall plant this year has been the stump and adjacent area. Now if I could only get the pumpkins to grow like the stump.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Another look at the stump on the 1723 Marshall.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Finally a hook up on the 1647 Wallace. Day 7 for the young pumpkin on the replacement main.   Sunday, July 1 View Page 1647 Wallace pumpkin about the size of a small orange day seven. Might get one about a 100 lbs on this small plant.   Sunday, July 8 View Page You dance with the ring of fire.......you can get burned. Blossom end split day 48.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Probed the pin hole size split with a piece of straw laying in the greenhouse. It easily went through to the cavity.   Sunday, July 8 View Page I was suspicious of the blossum end on this one from the start having a satellite dish like shape.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Very irregular shape on " Ring of Fire " pumpkin. It had a disorganized cluster of lobes when it opened on pollination day.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Top view of the 1723 Marshall pumpkin.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Another angle.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Stem end view.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Final numbers day 48. Circ 126, ss 79, ee 76 = 281 ott for an est wt of 472 lbs. Probably would have fell between 700 and 800 lbs had it gone the distance. Now it's time to go fishing.   Sunday, July 8 View Page 1647 Wallace day 14. I should be able to lift this one by hand at the end of the season.   Sunday, July 8 View Page Sweet 100 tomatoes doing their thing.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Letting " Ring of Fire " hang around as long as it remains in one piece and keeps growing which has been difficult since the pumpkin and plant are now exposed to the Alaskan elements. Circ 132, ss 81, ee 78 = 291 ott for an est wt of 523 lbs for a gain of 61 lbs for the week. I was surprised it grew at all due to the very cool temperatures we are encountering this summer.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Lots of rain this last week at times heavy for prolonged periods has the 1723 pumpkin bursting at the seams as evidenced by the sap.   Sunday, July 15 View Page One of the few highlights has been the stem on the " Ring of Fire" pumpkin. It has expanded well considering how short it was from the start.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Another look at the strange stump and adjacent main on the 1723 Marshall plant.   Sunday, July 15 View Page 1647 Wallace pumpkin 21 days in. About the size of a small basketball. Nothing big on this very small plant maybe I can get on over 100 lbs.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Another angle on the 1647 Wallace pumpkin.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Who says you can't have it all, 1647 Wallace plant, pumpkin, tomatoes, coffee plant all crammed into an 8ft x 8ft greenhouse.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Weather this summer has been abysmal. According to an article in Saturdays edition of the Anchorage Dailey News the first half of July has been the coolest since record keeping began. I believe the coolest average for the first half of July was 53.5 degrees and this years average is 1.3 degrees below that mark. That may not sound like much but that is quite a margin for an already low mark in a maritime climate.   Saturday, July 28 View Page About the only thing growing these days are tomatoes. The 1647 Wallace pumpkin aborted last weekend so I'm done for the year.   Saturday, July 28 View Page Decided I would carve into the 1723 pumpkin since it split 3 weeks ago. I was surprised that it was in great shape internally. Final est wt was some where around 650 lbs.   Saturday, July 28 View Page Look at the fissure running into the blossom end (top side of pic), never had a chance.   Saturday, July 28 View Page Close up view of fissure into blossom end. There was another fissure on the top side of the pumpkin under a rib valley that hadn't gone through yet.   Saturday, July 28 View Page This pumpkin also had a very deep concave bottom.   Saturday, July 28 View Page I better keep these guys out of the gene pool. To be used as test seeds at a later date or destined to be roasted.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Always great scenery on the 205 mile trip to the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Turnagain Pass about halfway to Palmer from Nikiski.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Agriculture Pavillion on the Alaska State fair grounds, site of the Midnight Sun Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. What a beautiful day it turned out to be sunny and warm highs near 70!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale Marshall & Co arriving with the only two pumpkins for the weigh-off as mine and everyone elses pumpkins went down this summer.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale Marshall with his electric orange pumpkin grown off the 1213 Rhea. What a beauty this one turned out to be!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale unsrewing pallet from snow machine trailor.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Off loading the 1213 Rhea pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Up next, Dales big one grown off his own 1723.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Off loading Dales 1723 pumpkin to the Ag pavillion.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Mardi Robb getting the weigh-off started. Thanks Mardi for another terrific fair!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Rigging up Dales electric orange pumpkin prior to moving to scale. A huge thanks to Kathy Liska for organizing another great weigh-off!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Electric orange on the way to scale.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Here I am guiding Dales pumpkin to scale.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dales beautiful orange pumpkin off the 1213 Rhea. Taped out at circ 141, ss 93, ee 93 = est wt of 736 lbs. Actual wt came out to 771 lbs. The most amazing orange pumpkin I have ever seen!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Hoisting Dales pumpkin off the 1723 Marshall.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Judges Don Carling, Scott Robb and J.D. checking out the underside of Dales 1723 pumpkin. This one was nice and flat.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Lowering Dales big one to scale.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Ok lets get a weight!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Now the 931 Marshall. Congrats Dale on another amazing season!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale Marshall with his winning 931 pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Cabbage fairies posing with Dales electric orange 771 lb pumpkin. They normaly entertain the crowd for the huge cabbage weigh-off but decided to entertain the pumpkin crowd this year. Thanks ladies for a terrific time.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale Marshall flying high again at another Alaska State Fair, single handedly kept the Alaska Midnight Sun Giant Pumpkin weigh-off going.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page A little wink from Dales 931 pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Flawless stem end on Dales 931 pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Dale Marshall and his 771 also take the Howard Dill award. Well deserved, this pumpkin was a stunner as far as color and shape.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page You know your at a pumpkin weigh-off in Alaska when there are reindeer hanging out.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Not only do they weigh pumpkins on this scale but reindeer as well. Gidget did you get a weight on Benjamin?   Tuesday, August 28 View Page What pumpkin weigh-off would be complete without a visit from Steve Daletas! Talk about making me and Dales day!!! From left to right, J.D. Megchelsen, Dale Marshall and Steve Daletas.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page My wife Dana posing with the metal fabricated cabbage in front of the AG Pavillion. Scott Robb won the giant cabbage weigh-off three days later with a new new world record 138.25 lbs!   Tuesday, August 28 View Page A quick stop at Portage on the trip back to Nikiski. Beautiful end to a terrific day at the Alaska State Fair.