Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 26 Entries. Monday, March 31 View Page My last pollinated female on 26th July is a real good one. It is already bigger than all of the others, at a similar growing time, and shows all the characteristics of being a "Biggie". After 4 days it is bigger round the middle than a regular CD. Fingers crossed. Saturday, April 26 View Page Great news, all 5 seeds germinated, and, will be heading into the pots tomorrow. I love this time of year. Wednesday, April 30 View Page all five seeds in pots now , two of which are showing signs of breaking the surface already. A little worried about the 1462, as it showed signs of "illhealth", to say the least about it, but, I,ll keep it going until nature decides to end the plant. Thursday, May 1 View Page All five seeds have made it to the surface, even the 1462 gibson, which I thought was going to be a problem. Looking healthy, and the weather around here is steadily warming up. Today it reached a high of 16 degrees, last night 8 degrees, so I,m looking to plant out in my greenhouse somewhere around mid May. Monday, May 5 View Page All five seeds up and doing very well, but, the 925 Razo is easily 50% bigger than all the rest, and is going to have to be installed into the greenhouse tomorrow. Saturday, May 10 View Page 925 Razo really doing very well. 2nd real leaf now showing, and , this should be open inside 3 days. 1462 Gibson a little farther behind, with only 1st real leaf showing, though not fully extended as yet Thursday, May 15 View Page 1462 is a very disappointing plant. I should have seen it coming as it was a weak seedling from the start, so, now I go select another seed to replace it. Will try the 1521.5 Razo and the 1005.9 Werner. Thursday, May 22 View Page 1050.9 Werner just breaking from the seed shell today, and, looks much healthier than the 1462 Gibson. 925 Razo has 4 real leaves and progressing well, with vine starting to show. Picture next time Saturday, June 28 View Page back after a break. 925 showing 3 pumpkins, which should be ready to pollinate within the next 2 weeks. very healthy and strong plant, no signs of disease. 1005.9 very backward, but may come on a little. Daytime temps down in low 20,s, nightime in single figures alot of the time. so much for global warming Monday, June 30 View Page 925 now showing 4 pumpkins, all of which should come to pollination around the 12th july.Excellent plant with a main vine and 2 secondary vines of equal size and vigour. Top dressing every 3 days with seaweed drench and a liquid fertilizer every 7 days. Keeping the nitrogen low due to strength of plant. Picture in next entry. 1005.9 improving and may be a candidate for an end of season show at halloween in Virginia, County Cavan Wednesday, July 9 View Page I just pollinated my 925 razo with it's own pollen as there was no other male available. Plant is the best I,ve ever produced. Very healthy and vigorous. Daytime temps about 17 degrees, with little sunshine, and cool nights, which can go below 8 degrees. not perfect growing weather. Friday, July 11 View Page 1st pollination is showing great potential even at this early stage. it has doubled in size in 2 days, and, is now the size of a small orange. No,2 pollination very promising and , no,3 not likely to survive as there is evidence of stem split where the pumpkin has emerged. No, 4 average size but healthy. Gave a big feed of seaweed, tomato feed+ f/blood and bone, and a very small 20N, 15P, 15K, just to boost the plant into action Friday, July 18 View Page 3 pumpkins still going strong on the 925 razo, but one on the secondary vine shows signs of cracking at the joint where the pumpkin joins the vine. I,m letting another vine, also a secondary, grow from about 3 feet from where i pollinated my first female, just to have something to choose from.Last season I ended up with only one pumpkin from early August, and , thankfully it survived to produce a 724 lb. My biggest yet. Saturday, July 26 View Page 4 pumpkins pollinated on plant, although the no,1 is showing signs of stem split. i have used all methods to stop this, and, it certainly has slowed down, but, I,m resigned to losing it. No 3 is catching up, so I,ll probably end up using this one. Wednesday, July 30 View Page Had to eliminate my No.1 pumpkin due to rot on the stem. I tried to control the rot with fungacide, to no avail, and when I finally got the courage to cut the fruit off, I checked and found the rot was all the way into the pumpkin itself. Never mind, i still have 3 others going strongly Thursday, July 31 View Page DAtes mixed up, but last pollinated on 26th July is going very well. Already bigger than a regular CD around the circumference. No 3 on plant measures in at 82 ins, No4 68 in, and now No 5 growing well. Could be a candidate for end of season festival in Virginia, Co. Cavan, at the end of October Friday, August 1 View Page No.3 measuring in at 94ins, a gain of 12 in 3 days, No 4 in at 79 ins, + 11 in 3 days. No.5 continues to impress. and, is like a small football Monday, August 4 View Page Number 3 now at 109 inches, an increase of 10 on the previous measurement. It's a horrible gnarled shape, but if it works out who cares. Have not measured No.4 today, and No 5 still growing best, but lots to catch up on. Tuesday, August 5 View Page Going from strength to strength on No.3 which piled on 5 lbs yesterday. ott from 109 ins, up to 115 ins. I figure it should start double digit increases in weight by next weekend, once it gets over the 100 lb mark. Weather a cool 20degrees average, damp, but nighttime temps holding up to 12/13 degrees, so most growth at night. Very healthy plant, but most males showing little or no pollen over the past week. Just as well that phase is not required now. Thursday, August 7 View Page Cool night last night, temps down to 11 degrees, but fruit grew to 126 ins on the ott scale. Plant very healthy still, so will feed heavily todaywith fishblood/bone, seaweed drench, and a little 9N7P5K, just to maintain the growth pattern. from 91 ins on 1st to 126 today is only reasonable, but I,m expecting the weather to improve slowly from now on, so maybe we will get the larger growth we expect. Saturday, August 9 View Page No 3 doing quite well, putting on 6 inches yesterday, to bring total ott to 136 inches. No.4 just hanging in there not getting much bigger, and, No.5 burst open last night. No3 has almost doubled in weight this week, so heres hoping it continues for another 8 weeks. I have my doubts. Saturday, August 9 View Page No 3 doing quite well, putting on 6 inches yesterday, to bring total ott to 136 inches. No.4 just hanging in there not getting much bigger, and, No.5 burst open last night. No3 has almost doubled in weight this week, so here,s hoping it continues for another 8 weeks. I have my doubts. Sunday, August 10 View Page No.3 had a disappointing night only up by 2 ins on ott.Now at 138 ins. Everything seems rather tired right now. trying to defeat the elements is tough Tuesday, August 12 View Page Sad day. Last hope is now in the history books. I pulled plant and pumpkins today, due to massive fracture on pumpkin. Must be the weather. Raining steadily for almost 6 weeks, with only periodic dry spells in between. I,ll remove all soil and replace it with old manure, over 3 years old, for next season. Thursday, September 25 View Page Started 5 seeds yesterday, wednesday.1250.5 kline,1209 kline, 792kline, 1462gibson, 925razo. Some for myself, some for friends who are starting growing pumpkins for the first time. I plan to start 2 more for myself in about 2/3 weeks as backup, in case of very cold weather. Thursday, September 25 View Page Started 5 seeds yesterday, wednesday.1250.5 kline,1209 kline, 792kline, 1462gibson, 925razo. Some for myself, some for friends who are starting growing pumpkins for the first time. I plan to start 2 more for myself in about 2/3 weeks as backup, in case of very cold weather.