Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 158 Entries. Thursday, March 19 View Page Another season begins with a pic of the patch, taken on March 15th. You can see the compost and leaves blended with the soil. I didn't get everyting as well worked in as I would have liked to last fall. Its hard to tell in the pic but we have raised the level up likely close to a foot!   Friday, March 20 View Page On my left is my growing partner & next door neighbour Brian McGill. The pumpkin is our patch best 1170 Vincent-McGill 08 (998 Pukos x 1041 McKie)   Saturday, April 11 View Page Starting Watermelons today: 239 Leonard 08 Canadian Record 267 Edwards 08 Michigan State Record Starting two of each.   Sunday, April 12 View Page Started some tall corn tonight. 3 x Norm Craven strain, 3 x John Butler strain. Seed was planted directly into moistened Promix, innoculated with RTI Micohrriza and JumpStart, in 4" coco pots. The pots were presoaked in warm water, then placed in zip loc sandwich bags to retain the moisture. All are placed on my seed starting pad.   Monday, April 13 View Page All 4 melon seeds sprouted by tonight (48hrs from start of soaking) and are now in coco pots with innoculated promix. Seeds were soaked for about 13hrs.   Thursday, April 16 View Page Up and doing well!   Sunday, April 26 View Page Started the AG's today: 998 Pukos, 1370 Rose, 1156 Hunt, 3 x 993 Vincent-McGill 3 x 995* Vincent-McGill, 3 x 1132* Vincent-McGill, 2 x 792* Olsen. Filed and soaking in H20 at 80F. Will leave them for 8 hrs. then into my germination container and damp paper towels.   Sunday, April 26 View Page For those that have never seen one, here is the 998 Pukos, seed number 135. Thanks to Dave Pitura for supplying the seed.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Here is a pic of the 993.2 Vincent-McGill 08. 772 Poirer x 998 Pukos. The pollinating plant grew our 1170 patch best last year. We are very excited about the potential of this seed. It will have a prime spot in this years patch. We are planning on crossing it with the 1370 Rose.   Tuesday, April 28 View Page Germination update: 998, 1156, all 993's, 995*'s, and 1132*'s germed after 36hrs. Planted into Promix same as for melons. Rose and the Olsen twins are still in the germinator, with no signs of life. I have had this before so no worries yet. Back ups are in the wings. Interesting notes: The squash seeds are the most aggressive as usual with most germinated at the 24 hr mark. The 993 seeds were some rejected from the main seed lot as pre-germinated in the pumpkin. All are looking good!   Thursday, April 30 View Page Still no life out of the 1370 Rose or the Olsen Twins. Started a 1207 Young and an 800* Neily, last night.   Saturday, May 2 View Page Update: No life out of the 1207 after 4 days !@#$%^&*(. The 800 produced a nice sprout at 36 hrs and is potted up. The 1370 Rose, finally developed a weak sprout and is now potted. We will see if it gets going. The Olsen Twins are still on the heat but no luck.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Seed starting Update: 1207 Young looks like a no go. Started a 904 Stelts this morning. Brian has 4 nice 1170 Vincent-McGill plants started. All are doing very well. We may be going with one of these. The 1370 Rose has not emerged feom the planing mix. I little digging proves the seed is rooted. Other seedlings are doing well. Will need to be transplanted to gallon pots in a couple days. Started Long Gourds tonight. 3 x 119 Vincent 08 (123 UOM), 3 x 125 Urena (moma of the 119), and 3 x 118.5 Eaton 06, mother of the new CDN record 124 Eaton 08. The plan will be to use the 118 as the pollinator for the other two. Although it has been wet, the patch is drying out again. I borrowed a chisel plow from my brother in law. I plan to deep chisel the patch, then cultivate and rototill to get down deeper than in the past. We should have the soil test back in the next day or two. I hope to have all tillage, amendments added, heating cables in and hoop houses erected before it rains again.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page I picked up the chisel plow on Sunday from my brother-inlaw and got the patched worked deep last night. This thing will go down at least a foot.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page I took the afternoon off work today and got the whole patched roto-tilled with my classic Troy Built Horse tiller. This tiller was bought by my grandfather over 30 years ago...still going strong!   Tuesday, May 5 View Page Tess helped me dig some pits today. I am doing this a little different this year. I am not using any peat moss in the planting mounds, just the good top soil mixed with extra mushroom compost. The soil is well mixed down a good 10".   Tuesday, May 5 View Page Installed 40ft HD soil heating cables in 3 of the planing sites using the Kirk Chenier method.   Tuesday, May 5 View Page Another view... Got the hoop houses up over the three planting sites with the heat cables. They are calling for rain tonight, so I wanted to get these finished. 4 more to go. Seed starting update: The 1207 shows some signs of life after 5 days, although a its a little funny. No visible sprout, but swelling on the side of the seed (I removed seed coat). I potted it tonight. 904 Stelts, sprouted and potted. 1 x 119 Vincent LG sprouted...very fast...potted Started 60, 993 Vincent-McGill's tonight....that's right folks 60....all were rejected seeds from the main lot as already germed inside the pumpkin. We has started several of these and they all seem to sprout. These will be used for fund raising and back up plants for the 4-H club   Friday, May 8 View Page My kids are the best! Ryan and Amanda   Saturday, May 9 View Page The patch is basically ready, although i haven't spread any kelp or humic acid yet. I only got these three hoops up before the rain. We had another 1/2" last night. Things are fairly damp. Conditions are very good in the hoops. We will be able to set out three plants early this week in these. The question will be which three?   Saturday, May 9 View Page Here is a typical plant from our early germination's. I like them a little larger before they go in the ground. This one is one of the 1132*'s   Saturday, May 9 View Page The 904 Stelts broke ground yesterday and looks like it will be the one to make the cut albeit late. The 1370 Rose is finally poking through the dirt and I can see a little green on the 1207 Young as well. I will hold one spot for one of these three. The best plant will win. There will be a couple top genetic plants for some lucky grower.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Our watermelon plants are doing well   Saturday, May 9 View Page The cover crop of winter wheat and clover on the 2010 patch, doing very well.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Here is the 2009 soil test. I fear I screwed things up with all the mushroom compost. The Ca has just about doubled and driving down my base saturation's of K and Mg. I will likely need to add some k-mag. The CEC has also come way up. I have never seen one this high on an Ontario soil. I question the value of adding the humic acid.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Here is the compost test from last falls application. There are a lot more nutrients and Ca than I expected.   Monday, May 11 View Page No life from the other LG seeds as of yet...!@#$%^&* Starting 3 more 118 Eaton, 2 more 125 Urena, and 3 x 114 Vincent's. Calling for frost tonight. I'm glad we are holding off on setting out plants. 998 Pukos and 1156 Hunt are the two best plants followed closely by one of the 1132*'s. I am setting those three plants out daily now hardening them off. I hope to have all in the ground by the weekend. Potted up the remaining pumpkin plants. The 1207 looks like a bust. Its alive, but really abnormal. The 1370 Rose is only slightly better. It might have a chance but we will see in a day or two. The 904 looks like it will be the winner of the last spot. Potted up the tall corn in 1.5 gal pots. They look good. The giant cabbage and Kohlrabi are all down at the Rabbie green houses and are huge. much better plants than last year. They will likely go in the ground this weekend. Watermelons are doing awesome...starting to have some tendrils. I haven't started the giant tomato's yet. Perhaps this weekend.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Plants on the back step this morning, hardening off.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Took the day off today and got all the amendments applied and the rest of the hoop houses built! I applied 35 lbs 21-0-0-24s Ammonium sulfate. 16 lbs 11-52-0 MAP with Avail. 85 lbs 0-0-21-11mg-21s, k-mag. 125 lbs kelp meal, 100 lbs humic acid. The total patch area is about 5000 ft2.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page As 13 is my lucky number, I decided to set out a few plants. Preparing to set the 1132*.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page almost ready   Wednesday, May 13 View Page ok..its in the ground. Each mound was prepared with two double handfuls of humic acid and kelp meal as well as a generous helping of JumpStart and RTI humic Acid   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Next comes the 998 Pukos. I see I made a mistake in the last post. We are adding RTI Mycohrrizal inoculant   Wednesday, May 13 View Page This years 998 is in the same location as last years. Also planted tonight was the 1156 Hunt. All three of these plants are in the hoops with the heating cables. The soil temp with the hoops open is a steady 85F. All plants received a 2L dose of fish/seaweed solution.   Friday, May 15 View Page Germination update: we have two 119 Vincent's and 1 x 118 Eaton now germinated. We also have 1 of the Lyons Giant Pear gourds germinated.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Planting day this morning for three more pumpkin plants. 993.2 Vincent-McGill, 800 Neiley *, 995 Vincent-McGill*. Finally some nice weather coming.   Thursday, May 21 View Page Here are our Giant cole crop plants. Gigante Kohlrabi to the left. Northern Giant and Flat Pole cabbage to the right. Hopefully they will be in the ground tonight   Friday, May 22 View Page I was able to set out my cabbage and Kohlrabi plants last night. I direct seeded some giant sunflowers. I also managed to plant some regular potatoes and onions ;-) The last pumpkin plant, the 904 Stelts was set out this morning. After spending a few days at the Rabbie Green House, it perked right up although a little smaller than the other plants is doing fairly well.   Monday, May 25 View Page 267 Edwards Watermelon, planted out yesterday, May 24th.   Monday, May 25 View Page 239 Leonard Watermelon, set out May 24th   Monday, May 25 View Page The 800 Neily*. One of the better plants. Our plants are defiantly behind normal and last year due to the cold weather early on.   Monday, May 25 View Page 1132 Vincent-McGill* doing well.   Monday, May 25 View Page The 904 Stelts plant doing well for only being in a few days!   Monday, May 25 View Page The 1156 Hunt plant is the poorest plant. It is yellow and not growing very well. I think the heat cables got the soil a little too hot under this one! We have an extra 1170 Vincent-McGill waiting in the wings if this one dosn't pick up soon!   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Its been a while since my last entry. Cold wet conditions have really held back our plants and I have to admit, I contemplated pulling the lot! Here is the 998, now the best plant and really starting to take off   Wednesday, June 10 View Page 1132* neck and neck with the 998 and very aggressive.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page The 1156 Hunt coming along. I almost pulled this plant, but I'm glad now that I didn't. The rest of the plants are behind these three, but not far   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Our Giant Kohlrabi. It looks like we had some seed issues from P&P seeds and this is our only one   Wednesday, June 10 View Page One of the giant cabbage. I'm not sure if this one is Northern Giant or Flat Poll...lol   Wednesday, June 10 View Page A shot of the cover crop on next years patch taken tonight. This is wheat/ Rye/ red and yellow blossom sweet clover. It will be cut for hay likely on the weekend and them allowed to regrow, before spraying with roundup and plowed down   Friday, June 19 View Page Removed the hoop houses today from the 998 and the 1132*. Pictured here is the 998. Still behind normal but catching up.   Friday, June 19 View Page When I pulled out the plastic, I found a nice crop of pumpkin roots. I inoculated them with myco and buried them. The roots were at least two feet out from the drip line.   Sunday, June 28 View Page Pumpkin plants are progressing, although way behind normal. 998 Pukos continues to lead the pack with the main out 12-13'. Smallest plant is the 995* with the main at 8-9'. Females are showing up at 6-8 feet. I am just ignoring them and will wait for females further out. Buried side vines on the 998 and 1132* today. Removed all tertiary buds and tendrils. Inoculated all nodes with RTI Mycrohizze and JumpStart. Shade structures erected over growing tips of main vines. Misting system set up and on timers misted 5 min out of 15min all day. LG's are starting to clime. I was late getting them in the ground but the plants look great. 119" Vincent, 125 Urena and 118 Eaton are the line up. New individual trellis's not totally completed. Trellis's are now 156" high. Direct seed giant sunflowers doing well at about 30" high. Watermelons are starting to take off .....finally. Giant pear Gourd doing well. Transplanted Giant Tomatoes today. 2 x 5.58 Timm, 5.32, 5.0 Timm, 4.29, and a 2.65 Vincent. All got a drink of 10-52-10 solution. Giant cabbage and kohlrabi are developing nicely. I have done only one early insect control about two weeks ago. Have not had any bugs since. Have not applied any pHortress yet, but should start soon. Two applications of tea so far, one bacterial and one fungal. Time has been scarce and weeds are a big challenge. I am taking a few days off later in the week and hope to get caught up. Pictures to follow soon.   Friday, July 3 View Page The first pollination of the season surprisingly goes to the 993 Vincent-McGill...woohoo. Pollinated a nice 5 lobe female at about 8' with the 904 Stelts this morning. Although closer than I would like, it is time. Hopefully we will get another chance further out in the next few days. This plant has developed surprisingly quickly. Tomorrow morning we will be pollinating a female on the 998 Pukos at 11-12ft also with the 904 Stelts. This 998 is a great plant. It is a good 25ft wide with the first 3 sets of secondaries all at the edge and turned back into a spider pattern. The main is likely out 15'+. The plants are all dark green with excellent growth and all the vines are reaching as they clime across the ground. This tells me my N level is where we want to be. Did an application of seaweed and pHortress last night. Rain the last few days has hindered patch work. Vines are buried on all but the 800 Neily* and the 995 Vincent*. Getting the weeds under control has been a challenge but I am gaining.   Saturday, July 4 View Page The 998 Pukos plant and my dog Harley   Saturday, July 4 View Page This mornings pollination of the 998, crossed with the 904 Stelts. Only a 4 lober and one deformed lobe.   Saturday, July 4 View Page A few across the front of the patch..yes there are some weeds left to right, 998, 1132*, 1156 Hunt   Saturday, July 4 View Page The New LG trellis's still under construction. Now 156" high.   Saturday, July 4 View Page The 125 Urena plant, I got from Chris & John Lyons...thanks guys.   Saturday, July 4 View Page The giant Kohlrabi...looking good!   Sunday, July 12 View Page A roof shot today. The patch is in pretty good shape. Spent most of the weekend catching up.   Monday, July 13 View Page Day 10 for the first pollination of the season, on the 993 Vincent McGill. A dismal 18.5" this morning...:-( The moma was 23.5 on day 10. I may have to go with the next set. These cool nights are taking a toll. going down to 9C tonight....brr!   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Here is the 1st pollination on the 998 Pukos x 904 Stelts at 10 days. CC is a disappointing 22", but not unreasonable give the weather. This fruit is at about 11 feet and a 4 lober. I have another 5 lobe pollination at about 13', that we may go with, although I really like the shape and stem on this fruit....decisions...decisions!   Wednesday, July 15 View Page 10 days today for the first pollination on the 800 Neily. 23"CC, a real nice shape and nice long stem. I have two more pollination's further out on this one as well.   Sunday, July 19 View Page Spent the day working on the water system. We pump from the bay, about 1200 ft to the holding tank and then irrigate from there with a second pump. The @#$%^&* pump to the bay wouldn't prime. Finally got it going late this afternoon. Got a good watering of the patch done after that. I decided to cull the first pollination on both the 998 and the 993. The second pollination on the 998 was 22" on day 10 and a 5 lobe flower compared to a 4 lobe for the first and only 20" on day 10. If nothing else, there are about three more side vines before the pumpkin. The 993 was a tougher call. the first pollination had several scars that would defiantly effect the final fruit. Similar situation with the measurements and a six lobe flower. Both fruit will be culled in a series of three cuts. 5 think the rest are keepers. I will post some pics soon   Wednesday, July 29 View Page Sorry...but I haven't had any time for updates! fruit set on all AG plants. Went with third pollination on the 998 Pukos plant. Day 20 today, 167.5, ott. Best in the patch so far! 1156 Hunt, day 20 yesterday 166" ott. Both doing well. All other doing well. Pics to follow soon. We did not get the huge rains that they did in other parts of the province. Two inches on the weekend. It had dried out enough I watered for a couple hours last night. 2" more rain today. all fruit in the day 20-day 25 range and ramping up. Hot and humid here the last few days with nice warm nighttime conditions. LG's are still behind, reaching the top of the new trellis this week at 156"! hoping for pollination's by late next week. Still trying to get water melons set. Mega-blooms set on three of six tomato plants.   Thursday, August 6 View Page ok...Finally I have time to post some pictures. This is the 998 Pukos fruit, crossed with the 904 Stelts. day 28 today.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Next in the line up us the 1132 squash, crossed with the 800 Neily. Day 31 today. 240 ott on day 30. Not likely a record breaker here, but all the pumpkins are running behind normal about 3 days in growth ac compare to last year. The squash developed a small half moon split in the blossom about a week ago. I treated it with fun. powder and its seems to have healed over. by gosh...its green!   Thursday, August 6 View Page The 1156 Hunt crossed with the 998 Pukos, day 29 today. This pumpkin is the surprise in the bunch, doing very well.....You'd be proud Phil!   Thursday, August 6 View Page The 800 Neily squash, crossed with the 1132 Vincent-McGill 08*, day 32 today. This squash was 245" on day 30, below the benchmarks, but our best bet at a WR. Time will tell. Very nice colour on this one.   Thursday, August 6 View Page The highly popular 993 Vincent-McGill fruit, crossed with the 904 Stelts. Day 28 today, defiantly the runt of the litter but what a colour! I doubt this one will make 1K but I bet its popular at the weigh off! Unfortunately the 904 is much lighter colour than expected.   Thursday, August 6 View Page The 904 Stelts, crossed with the 998 Pukos, day 31 today, 241" on day 30, same story different pumpkin. All numbers are behind a few days. the pumpkin is a decent shape and growing well. All plants are very healthy and the pumpkins should all be a decent size come weighoff time baring any unforeseen problems.   Thursday, August 6 View Page Moisture levels here is almost ideal. We have had some timely rains, but not too much really. We just need more heat. We had a few nice warm nights last weekend, but in general things are still very cool. Applying compost tea on a 10 day schedule, adding FoliCal and Actinovate to the tea (thanks Jordan). Applying pest control on a 9 day interval, adding Lithovit now at about 1 1/2 oz per applocation. Last spray added SuperMan, foliar maganese. Foliar seaweed add at 3% solution with all sprays. Also adding 250-500ml seaweed to the tea application. I have not applied any drench material in about three weeks as the plants are all showing adequate Nitrogen uptake.   Saturday, August 8 View Page 1156 Hunt day 30 yesterday 256.5 ott. 998 Pukos day 30 today 259.5", both over the benchmarks. Our 998 plant last year was 260" last year at day 30. So, I guess we are doing ok. We have at least three that could go north of 1200, assuming the weather holds.   Monday, August 10 View Page Measured the 998 Sunday morning and the thing grew 5" in circ and a total gain of 37lbs in 24hrs!...   Saturday, August 15 View Page The new LG trellis. Lg's are behind. Just started pollinating on Monday.   Saturday, August 15 View Page Another view. No Lg's visible. Will we have any for the weigh off season?   Saturday, August 15 View Page There is some disease on the stump area of the 127 Urena. Not sure what it is exactly. I cut away some leaves to let the sun in and sprayed an ample application of fungicide   Saturday, August 15 View Page Ryan and his Giant Pear gourds   Saturday, August 15 View Page One of several.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Day 40 for the 998 Pukos today 318.5", 681 lbs, ADG over 30 lbs over the last 10 days...wooohoo! The fruit is ahead of last years 998 at the dame age and ADG's are higher so hopefully a new patch best here. 1156 Hunt a close second for size or age and ADG (average daily gain) All the rest of the fruit are gaining 26+ per day and all but one should reach 1000 lbs (touch wood). The 995*, planted up on stony lonesome, is trailing. measurements are similar to our 788 last year, but this seed always goes heavy so looking for 800+ on this one. LG's pollinated early last week are starting to take off. We should have a few for the weigh off season. 14 day forecast is calling for lows in the 40's late next week so all this sustained growth could come to a screeching halt as we get back into more seasonal weather. Looking at installing floating row covers over several plants.   Sunday, August 23 View Page GVGO Coach Russ Landry and his baby Amerantha. 351" at day 47, on the GVGO patch tour on Saturday.....keep er goin Russ   Friday, August 28 View Page Brian and I spent Tuesday evening building a structure over the 998 Pukos plant. It is covered with a state of the art fabric called Novagryl P-19, similar to Reemay. We are finding a notable difference in daytime temps and growth rates inside the structure.   Friday, August 28 View Page Inside is the 998 fruit, gaining 28 lbs a day yet at day 50 today!   Thursday, September 3 View Page The 993 Vincent-McGill Fruit. 752 lbs est on day 50, Still gaining 15 a day despite the cold weather. Warmer weather for the next week should hold the gains. This one is ahead of its moma for size and gains at the same age so I think we could get 1k+. We lost most of the stump to foaming stump. I am Doctoring it daily. It dosn't seem to have bothered the fruit at all. This thing is a real beauty, and developing nice Calai Motteling as well.   Thursday, September 3 View Page LG's are developing nicely. Longest was 92" last night on the 118 Eaton, day 22! I have 6 gourds on this plant. I just can't cull anymore. We will have to see if it hurts them in the end.   Thursday, September 3 View Page The 800 Neily* at 900 lbs this morning, day 60 this morning. It is ahead of last years 1132 at the same age. Growth has slowed to 11 lb/day. It has developed some deep ribs, hoping it will hold together. Looking for a new patch best squash here.   Friday, September 4 View Page Another view of the 993 fruit.....what a beauty! I think this one is even prettier than the moma.   Friday, September 4 View Page A pic of the foaming stump on the 993.I have been draining daily and treating with Captan. The base of the stump continues to fill with foamy liquid. I started using a fan on it today and am covering at night to keep the dew off.   Friday, September 4 View Page Our other biggie, the 904 Stelts.....how big?...still gaining 15 lbs per day....oh yeah! Starting to get some colour, but very young looking yet.   Friday, September 4 View Page The 1156 Hunt. Approaching 1000 lbs today and still doing nearly 16 lbs per day. Today is day 58.   Friday, September 4 View Page One of my good GVGO buddies was good enough to loan me his mist blower to try out....I like it. It does make life a lot easier and does a far better job.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Our other greenie, the 1132*, day 61, around 800 lbs. It has slowed but still gaining about 11 lbs per day. Should get to 1K, and I expect it to go very heavy.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Our other greenie, the 1132*, day 61, around 800 lbs. It has slowed but still gaining about 11 lbs per day. Should get to 1K, and I expect it to go very heavy.   Saturday, September 5 View Page This 96" gourd was harvested this morning off the 118 Eaton at day 25, to give the rest a better chance.   Saturday, September 5 View Page Noah McGill with his 1170 Vincent-McGill fruit. Day 53, estimated at about 650 lbs, gaining around 10 lbs per day.   Monday, September 7 View Page Q: What do you get when you plant potatoes in a competitive pumpkin patch?......A: A lot of Potatoes. This was the harvest from one hill!   Monday, September 7 View Page One of our Flat Pol Cabbage (Cornish giant.   Monday, September 7 View Page Giant Pear gourds on the plant we got from Chris Lyons. The seed was from Leonardo Urena's big one a couple years ago, Chris couldn't remember the weight. We think they are both well over 100 lbs. The one in the foreground will be picked this weekend for Picton Fair 4-H weigh off.   Monday, September 7 View Page Some of our tall sunflowers.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page A new Personal best Tomato.....3lb 2.4oz, Picked today!   Tuesday, September 15 View Page The 993 just gets prettier every day!. Lost the stump to foaming stump the last week of August. Amputated about 10 days ago. The pumpkin continues to gain 10 lbs per day, even without the stump and loosing about 1/3 of the plant!   Tuesday, September 15 View Page We won first prize and a special (best in class, grains) at the county Fair, with this 12' sunflower   Friday, September 25 View Page Loaded and ready for a weigh off.....where will I show up in the morning and what fruit will I bring???   Sunday, September 27 View Page Our 998 Pukos x 904 Stelts fruit on the scales at Hugli's. It weighed in at 1127 lbs and went a disappointing 7% light! It was the odds on favorite to win all day, but it was not to be! I placed second to Todd Kline's 1145   Sunday, September 27 View Page A side view of the 1127   Sunday, September 27 View Page The guys at Hugli's....Great job to all who made this a great day!   Friday, October 2 View Page Loaded and off to PE!   Wednesday, October 7 View Page We had a big weekend at Port Elgin. Pictured here is my 118.25", 1st place entry from Sunday   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Our 1st place, 50.5 lb cabbage from Sunday   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Our 1st place, 50.5 lb cabbage from Sunday   Wednesday, October 7 View Page 1st Place Tomato 3.23lbs   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Our squash place 3rd on Saturday, 905 lbs 1132 Vincent-McGill 08 x 800 Neily 07   Wednesday, October 7 View Page And a new PB Pumpkin at 1339.5 Lbs, placing 1st at the Sunday weigh off! 9% heavy, 904 Stelts x 998 Pukos....should be a power cross.   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Myself with Phil and Jane Hunt with the biggies in the back ground. My 1339 to the left, the 1678 Hunt in the centre and the 1217.5 Jarvis squash to the right   Wednesday, October 7 View Page Monkey pile on Phil and Jane at the weighing of the 1678!   Wednesday, October 7 View Page The growers after the Saturday weigh off   Wednesday, October 7 View Page A shot of my hardware pile after PE..it looks like I had a good weekend   Thursday, October 8 View Page Hiding under the Reemay is a very big squash!   Thursday, October 8 View Page A view of the "Big Orange"   Thursday, October 8 View Page And from the other side. She will be weighed in on October 17th at Wellington. Still gaining about 3-4 lbs per day!   Thursday, October 8 View Page A rear view with Brian's son Josh. Boy does he ever love this pumpkin!   Monday, October 12 View Page I was forced to remove the Reemay over the squash plant yesterday morning due to high winds and it was still too windy to recover last night. Foolishly assuming that the wind would ward off the frost, I went too bed quipping to the Mrs that I should get up at 3:00am and pull the cover over the plant....well guess what?...a window scraping white coating. As soon as I went to the patch, I could smell the damage. All the vines are now finished. It will be interesting to see if the great squash continues to grow, with 10 days left to Cornerstone. It has been gaining a steady 5-6lbs per day, despite the cold weather. Tomorrow is measuring day, so will see what it did over the last 5. I taped the Big Orange this AM and it had grown 20 lbs over the last 5 days. 4 days until harvesting this one. Also Left in the patch is the 1156 Hunt, taping close to 1200 lbs! It has not changed measurements for the last week.   Wednesday, October 14 View Page A picture of my 185" sunflower at Port Elgin (Sunday). The big squash has slowed to a crawl. Brian and I measured yesterday and was able to "Kirk" another inch out of it, but it looks like it has stalled. Temps continue in the mid 40F area with low 30's at night. I re-dawned the Reemay this morning, to see if I could raise the temps and restart things. Hopefully she is growing on the inside...:-)   Thursday, October 15 View Page Here is the 1339.5 on the scale at Port Elgin   Thursday, October 15 View Page Our 129.5 lb Pear Gourd at Port Elgin (2nd Place on Saturday). Sorry the picture is a little blurry. I placed second to Chris Lyons. He had a 133 lb gourd. Its a good thing too, because Chris gave me the plant...lol. Thanks Chris   Thursday, October 15 View Page A shot of Phil and Jane's 1678 Canadian Champion.   Thursday, October 15 View Page The 1217.5 Jarvis 09* on the podium at Port Elgin. The second larges squash ever grown! Pollinated with the 1132 Vincent-McGill. Excellent choice Joel...I must say.   Thursday, October 15 View Page This my neighbour, Max Johnston's 993. It tapes around 750 lbs and is just about as pretty as ours.   Thursday, October 15 View Page Another view. The cross is 993 x 993.   Friday, October 16 View Page Max loves his pumpkin!   Sunday, October 18 View Page Here is the now 1059.6 Vincent McGill 09, on the 4-H float, just before the parade at Wellington on Saturday. The fruit went a little light, about 3%. It placed second and won the Bill Greer Memorial Award for largest grown in the County, along with the Howard Dill Award. It was a very popular pumpkin! The Pumpkin was sold to a Matt Brigdon in Kingston. We will go down to retrieve the seeds on October 30th. A mishap while loading caused the pumpkin to drop about 2 feet, cracking it all the way around...The buyer Still took the pumpkin...thanks Matt!   Sunday, October 25 View Page Well, one of our goals accomplished...a World Record Squash. Pictured here is the 1236 with all the gang after the weigh off at Cornerstone. What an unbelievable feeling! Wow...   Sunday, October 25 View Page I was honoured with the presence of the last two World Record holders, Brad Wursten on the left and Brant Timm on the right. The lighting was a little bad and there was quit a bit of glare on the front of the squash.   Monday, October 26 View Page The 1250 Vincent-McGill 09 on the Scales at Cornerstone. This Pumpkin is 1156 Hunt x 998 Pukos. It went 4% heavy!   Tuesday, October 27 View Page The pic didn't upload the first time   Thursday, October 29 View Page Brian and I with the 1059.6 at Wellington with the Bill Greer Memorial trophy and the Howard Dill award.   Thursday, October 29 View Page Here is my 164" sunflower at Wellington   Thursday, October 29 View Page Group shot at Wellington   Thursday, October 29 View Page Some more shots of the 1236 World Record Squash. Getting ready to weigh!   Thursday, October 29 View Page Russ checks the bottom   Thursday, October 29 View Page Setting her down easy   Thursday, October 29 View Page Brad Wursten and Chris Lyons watching carefully!   Thursday, October 29 View Page Jeff Levey and Russ Landry suddenly attack!   Thursday, October 29 View Page Brad jumps in too   Thursday, October 29 View Page Another shot of the three musketeer's Brad Wursten, myself and Brant Timm.   Thursday, October 29 View Page A stem shot of the 1236...I'm still smilin!   Saturday, October 31 View Page The 1127 carved...happy Halloween!   Friday, November 6 View Page The 1236* on display at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto   Saturday, November 7 View Page The display in front of our house a few days ago   Saturday, November 7 View Page Working at the Toyota "My Giant Vegetable challenge" booth the the Royal. Seed sale proceeds go to help the prize money for the giant veggies at the Royal Winter Fair.   Saturday, November 7 View Page Marc Levy working the crowd.   Wednesday, November 11 View Page Giant Walking Stick Cabbage (kale), believed to be a world record at 15'3", beside my 1st place sunflower at 15' 9" (189"), at the Royal this week.   Wednesday, November 11 View Page First prize pumpkin at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto (1241.5 lbs). This was pumpkin was previously weighed at Cornerstone (1250lbs). I also had 1st Sunflower, 1st Long Gourd, 1st Watermelon, 1st Giant Other (Pear Gourd), 2nd Cornstalk, 3rd Cabbage. The WR squash was not reweighed. Display only!   Thursday, November 12 View Page A shot of our 189" sunflower just before the Royal   Wednesday, November 18 View Page Another shot of my winning pumpkin entry at the Royal. A special surprise was the Banner they awarded for first.   Sunday, December 6 View Page The 1236* made it all the way till yesterday after going on display at the three local Santa Claus parades! I opened it up on Wednesday and removed most of the seeds, and replaced the plug. No worries, because she was still 100% yesterday.   Sunday, December 6 View Page The squash was very uniform in thickness. I was a little surprised at the blossom end. Even though it was so sunken in, it was 4-5" thick! There were only a couple small internal cracks. Overall a very sound fruit, that stood up to two trips to Toronto, three Santa Clause parades and it even bounced off the pallet once! No, the Green Monster is no more...:-(, It is now goat food...They are happy...:-). My wife is happy now too. She says the thing was like the Energizer Bunny...it went on, and on, and on! The seed count was excellent...about 770 good seeds, with only three sprouted!