Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 29 Entries. Monday, June 2 View Page I think I'll start my diary on this cool, rainy day. This spring has been cool and wet overall. The plants haven't been growing very quickly. I'm only going with two competition plants this year. Here's my lineup with the dates they were planted in the garden: Main plants: 603.5 Muller 03(north)(May 5)...backup 1317.5 Rose 07(May 12) 603.5 Muller 03(south)(May 9)...backup 769 Lombardi 07(May 12) The two 603.5's are planted back-to-back. The backups are planted at the opposite ends of the designated plant areas. Each commpetition plant will have about 600 sq.ft. to grow in. I planted another 603.5 Muller plant in another garden(on May 20), to use as a genetics plant possibly. It had a club root, so I germinated a different 603.5 seed to put in the competition spot. I didn't want to take a chance with the club rooted plant, although it might have done well. Reading a recent post on the club root issue, it seems the plants can do very well, or be duds. If the genetics 603.5 does well, I'd like to grow a small pumpkin on it, and sib cross it. Monday, June 16 View Page My plants are quite a bit behind last year at this point. Getting pollinations by July 10 will be iffy. Warmer weather is forcast, and hopefully mostly sunny. That should help, as my plants are starting to pick up in growth it seems. Tuesday, July 1 View Page I measured the mainvines on my plants today. 603.5 Muller(south)...9'5" 603.5 Muller(north)...7'0"...I accidentally broke about 1.5' off of the main, but may have had to terminate the main anyway, as it was a double vine. I'm training the nearest secondary to the break as the "new" main. 603.5(genetics plant)...5'10'...I plan on just growing the main and maybe two secondaries on this plant. The two larger plants were a little beat up from the wind a few days ago. My pollinations will be later than the last couple of years for me. I just hope to take good care of the plants from here on out, with regular foliar feeding, fish/seaweed soil applications, and Garlic Barrier spraying. So far no Cuke Beetles seen here. My brother, who lives 5 miles away, had them show up five days ago. My current plan is to do sibbling crosses on each of my three plants. Friday, July 4 View Page I noticed the first Cuke Beetles of the year on my plants today. I didn't look too hard, but didn't notice any females in the tips of my mainvines yet. That will give the plants more time to grow out before pollinations, but less time for pumpkin growth. Hopefully the female flower buds will show up soon. Saturday, July 19 View Page My first pollinations of this year: 603.5 Muller(genetics plant)X 603.5 Muller(south plant)...yesterday(7-18)...4 lobes...two males used at 9 AM. 603.5 Muller(north plant)X 603.5 Muller(south plant)...today(7-19)...4 lobes...two males used at 12:15 PM...raining. Tuesday, July 29 View Page I've done a number of other pollinations since my last diary entry. My largest pumpkin hit day 10 today...it's on the 603.5 Muller(north)...with a circ. of 25". Sunday, August 3 View Page Day 15 for the 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin...circ.= 43.5" Day 10 for the 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin...circ. 25.75" Day 10 for the 603.5 Muller(genetics) pumpkin...circ. 25" Friday, August 8 View Page Day 20 for the 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin: Circ.= 57.25"...this pumpkin is mottled yellow and green. It may have a mosaic virus. Day 15 for the 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin: Circ.= 46.75". This may be my only hope for a good weighoff pumpkin. Day 15 for the 603.5 Muller(genetics) pumpkin: Circ.= 37.75". It's on a very small plant, grow mainly for the seeds, and I used it as a pollinator. Wednesday, August 13 View Page The following measurements were taken today at 5 PM. 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin...day 20...Circ.=67"...S-to-S= 47.75"...E-to-E= 49". OTT of 163.75", for an estimated 104 lbs. 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin...day 25...Circ.= 65"...this pumpkin looks to have a mosaic virus, I'm guessing. I may pull this plant soon...we'll see. 603.5 Muller(genetics)...day 20...Circ.= 46" Monday, August 18 View Page Day 25 for pumpkin on 603.5 Muller(south)...Circ.=85", S-to-S= 58.5", E-to-E= 60.25". 203.75" OTT, for an estimated 189 lbs. This pumpkin grew an estimated 17.0 lbs./day for the past 5 days. Day 25 for the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(genetics)...Circ.= 52" Day 30 for the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(north)...Circ.= 70.25". Saturday, August 23 View Page 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin...Day 30...Circ.= 101", S-to-S= 68", E-to-E= 68". OTT 237", for an estimated 289 lbs. This pumpkin averaged an estimated 20.0 lbs./day for the past 5 days. 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin...Day 35...Circ.= 75.75". I may pull this plant next week, and get a cover crop going. 603.5 Muller(genetics)...Day 30...Circ. 61.75" Monday, August 25 View Page Here's a pic of my 603.5 Muller(south)fruit. It was taken two days ago when the fruit was at day 30. I like the shape it's taking on. Monday, August 25 View Page Here's a pic of my 603.5 Muller(genetics) pumpkin, taken today at day 32: Monday, August 25 View Page Another pic of my 603.5 Muller(genetics) pumpkin, taken today at day 32: Monday, August 25 View Page Here's a pic of my 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin taken two days ago on day 30. This is the pumpkin I think may have a virus. Some of the later leaf growth is two-toned mottled green in color. Monday, August 25 View Page Another pic of the 603.5 Muller(north) pumpkin. It could make an interesting porch sitter. Thursday, August 28 View Page Day 35 for the 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin...Circ.= 112.5", S-to-S= 75.25", E-to-E= 73.75". OTT of 261.5", for an estimated 383.5 lbs. This pumpkin grew an estimated 18.9 lbs./day for the past 5 days. I won't post measurements on my other pumpkins at this time, as they aren't growing that much each day and are relatively small. I may post pics of them later on. Tuesday, September 2 View Page Day 40 for my 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin...Circ.= 120.75", S-to-S= 80.75", E-to-E= 78.75". OTT= 280.25", for an estimated 468 lbs. This pumpkin averaged an estimated 16.9 lbs./day for the past 5 days. Sunday, September 7 View Page Day 45 for the pumpkin on my 603.5 Muller(south) pumpkin. Circ.= 126", S-to-S= 84.5", E-to-E= 81.75". OTT= 292.25", for an estimated 529 lbs. This pumpkin averaged an estimated 12.2 lbs./day for the past 5 days. Friday, September 12 View Page Day 50 for the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(south) plant: Circ.= 130.75", S-to-S= 86.5", E-to-E= 83.5". OTT= 300.75", for and estimated 576 lbs. This pumpkin averaged an estimated 9.4 lbs./day for the past 5 days. Wednesday, September 17 View Page Day 55 for the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(south) plant: Circ.= 134", S-to-S= 88.25", E-to-E= 85.75". OTT= 308", for an estimated 617 lbs. This pumpkin averaged an estimated 8.2 lbs./day for the past 5 days. Friday, September 26 View Page Day 64 for the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(south) plant. Circ.= 138", S-to-S= 91", E-to-E= 88.75". OTT= 317.75", for an estimated 676.5 lbs. This pumpkin averaged and estimated 6.6 lbs./day for the past 9 days. We plan on loading this pumpkin up tomorrow, and taking it to the Delano weighoff on Sunday. I hope to get more accurate measurements on the pumpkin when its on the pallet. Wednesday, October 1 View Page On Sat., Sept. 27 the pumpkin on the 603.5 Muller(south) plant was harvested. It was weighed at the weighoff in Delano on Sept. 28. It weighed 753.5 lbs. So it went about 10.5% heavy to the estimate. It won the prize for "prettiest pumpkin". I remeasured the circumference today, but will leave the other measurements as they were, as it's hard to remeasure these the way the pumpkin is on the pallet. The final measurements are: Circ.= 138.75", S-to-S= 91", E-to-E= 88.75". OTT= 318.75", for an estimated 681 lbs. Here's a pic of the pumpkin in my dad's pickup: Wednesday, October 1 View Page Another pic: Wednesday, December 31 View Page I wanted to post a few more pics of the pumpkins I grew this year. This is the 753.5 Wallace 08. Wednesday, December 31 View Page Another of the 753.5 Wallace 08. Wednesday, December 31 View Page One more of the 753.5 Wallace 08. Wednesday, December 31 View Page Here's another pic of the "bumpy" pumpkin. I'm guessing it was around 350 lbs. or so. Wednesday, December 31 View Page This pumpkin was grown on the 603.5 Muller, on a very small "genetics" plant. It got pecked bit from our chickens. I didn't get a final weight or measurement, but guess it was under 100 lbs.