Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 45 Entries. Saturday, February 23 View Page 2008 lineup after a few(lol)changes.We'll see how long this one lasts. Monday, March 10 View Page Something to cheer about after another winter storm and a foot of snow....germination after a week of Big Zac,2.75,2.90,3.50lb.tomatoe seeds. Tuesday, May 13 View Page All the seed in the previous lineup pic have germinated except for the 286 which was only started 2 days ago.The 746,588,280 are in the ground,heating cables,2x3x4ft covers.148 Kline,211 Leonard watermelons in pots,waiting for warmer nights..Second round of 2.7,2.9,3.5lb Strange tomatoes have recently sprouted.Using mychor fungi,seaweed and fish for the first time this year. Wednesday, June 18 View Page Cold weather till June,a heat wave,hail and cuccumber beetles on the same day...but still in the game....Plants that had shelter and heating cables are 8-10 ft long.Should have some pollinations within a week-588 Young,746 Snyder,280 Strange,planted early May....all other plants were in the ground after last frost warning at the beginning of June...4ft long-660 Dill,804 Vincent-McGill...3ft long-751 Horton*,115 Strange...2ft long-588 Young,892 Dill,827 Lyons*,583 Makarchuk*...1ft or less-148 Kline,211 Leonard watermelons...3.5,2.9 lb Strange tomatoes-first group flowering,second at 8inches......although all but one of my seed choices germinated,I had difficulty this year with germination in general.Not sure why as I used same control,temp and moisture, as last year.Went through a few seeds to have success,some seed on first try,some on second or third attempt.Maybe seed that I am using two years in a row is losing energy with age(or maybe I'm losing it) Wednesday, June 25 View Page 588 Young(736 Young x 710 Companion).Heating cables gave this plant a boost.Unfortunately this great plant is on a 120 sq ft plot,backyard,fenced for raccoons(hopefully).588 seed produced a thick,neon orange pumpkin for me last year and once again,female flowers everywhere.Pollinated today with the 660 Dill 06(810Dillx1016 Daletas),reverse cross of the 736 Dill 06(I'm thinking the same parent plants)which was a nice orange and produced the 696 Dill and stunning 975 Kline.660 plant is at 10ft,first appearing female at 8ft. Friday, June 27 View Page Second pollination on the 588 with the 660.First female looking good with growth and shine.Plant is 14ft,pollinations at 10ft.Another main vine pollination in 2days. Sunday, June 29 View Page Fast growers these days of hot weather include the 280,746,751*,804,all 10-15ft.Females starting to show.The last 3 seeds germinated on the first try so I have some spares for the future.The 280-plenty of seed,LOL...Continuing drench of fish and seaweed plus cuke beetle prevention program... Thursday, July 3 View Page Two more pollinations on the 588.Will have to be "open" though as I had a surprise from two females.Could have sworn it was going to be 1-2 more days as of 4pm but things happening fast on this plant.That's 5 pollinations on 7 ft of main vine.The second female is at 18 in.circ.,long stem....First pollination today on the 280 at 10ft.,with the 588.Plants are all healthy,dark green.Keeping my fingers crossed.... Sunday, July 6 View Page First pollinations yesterday on the 660(selfed)at 12ft and 804(open,with help)at 6ft,probably not to keep.Tomorrow,first on the 751* at 10ft,second on the 660 at 14ft,first on the 746 at 18ft.Watermelon plants slowly growing(148's),planted a 211 Leonard. Sunday, July 6 View Page The 588 fruit at 10 days is 27cc.Will slow up as the plot is small but I would like to break the plot record of 450lbs(880 Greer seed).I'm really encouraged by the shiny,squeeky surface of the fruit,nice round shape,decent stem. Thursday, July 10 View Page 588 Young(second fruit) at 13 days-44in.cc(miscounted days, previous post) Thursday, July 10 View Page 660 Dill,two selfed pollinations. Friday, July 18 View Page 588 Young at 21 days-68 in.cc.I'm surprised at the good colour already as the fruit is always covered. Friday, July 18 View Page 280 Strange at 15 days-45in.cc. Friday, July 18 View Page Successful pollinations-660 Dill-12,14ft;746 Snyder-18,21ft;583 Makarchuk*-7ft;751 Horton*-12ft;892 Dill- 9ft;804 Vincent-McGill-10ft(first one at 6ft cut off by vandal).Difficulty setting on 115 Strange.Not sure why,healthy plant,grew for two people last year.Watermelon plants small,tomatoes starting to show promise. Tuesday, July 22 View Page 588 Young at 25 days-78 in.cc. I am surprised at the color considering the fruit is always covered. 280 and 660 in the 50-60 in cc range. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Pumpkins at my cousins' place in the country coming along.Late planting with frost end of May. 751* basketball size, 892,804,567*volleyball size, 588,827,baseball size. 804 had more bad luck.Hired hand ,inspite of instructions from cousin to keep out of plots,roto tilled around base of plant to weed.Wish I had turned the first secondaries behind.Fruit is set at 16ft(not 10 as written)so lots of root left. Hmm...mychor fungi,boards to walk on and roto tilling....what a Strange combination... Thursday, July 31 View Page 660 Dill plant.I think I'm doing this one right with trimming,burying,Holland's mychor,fish and seaweed.My largest plant at about 350sq ft,in the ground at the beginning of June.Green cloth around fruit,foliage,as camoflage.Hoping for no human interference here.Seems like the grower needs to color up too. Thursday, July 31 View Page 660 Dill 06(810x1016) x self (25days,215 OTT).Has really started to go. Thursday, July 31 View Page 280 Strange 07(851 Companion x 891 Northrup) x 588 Young at 27 days,173 OTT. 8x20ft backyard plot. Thursday, July 31 View Page 588 Young x 660 Dill at 34 days,208 OTT Monday, August 4 View Page 751 Horton(open,20-25 days).Nice plant around 300 sq ft,too much rain,no sun for a few weeks Monday, August 4 View Page 892 Dill(open,20-25 days,49 cc).300sq ft plant.Previous pic 751 is 63 cc. Monday, August 4 View Page 567 Makarchuk*(open,20-25 days,48cc).Not in a good location,too wet,too cloudy.A snake vine of 12ft,this fruit is a pleasant surprise. Monday, August 4 View Page 804 Vincent-McGill(open,20-25 days,56cc).Environmentally challenged plant,180sq ft.I'm happy,considering the events,clouds and monsoon rains. Monday, August 4 View Page 746 Snyder(open,20 days or less,lol,56cc).This one is 100km from home.350 sq ft plant.If the sun shines it is really going to go,21 ft from stump. Monday, August 4 View Page 660 Dill is at 230 OTT.I could have a PB in a month with some luck. Thursday, August 7 View Page 660 Dill at 245 OTT,only 2 hrs of sun last 3 days.Some other plants getting pale leaves,too much rain. Monday, August 11 View Page Watch what you wish for.Two sunny days in a row,first time in three weeks.Fast growth,Three stem splits.746 gone(hole right through cavity).588 ,892 in the country, beginning splits.588 seems to be holding off as I made an incision from the split back up along the stem towards the vine.Care not to puncture cavity,relieves pressure where stem touches fruit.Did the same for 892 which is at 65 in.cc.,beautiful dark yellow,miniture of 892 pumpkin. Tuesday, August 12 View Page 660 at 259 OTT.Getting hit with PM in some other plots,even with prevention.Too wet. Monday, August 18 View Page Stem incision worked for 588(no larger split but not for 892.Too bad as the fruit was dark yellow already,looking to go neon orange eventually.I give the fruit about 25%chance at this point.746 Snyder still growing with a split right through cavity.Thick walls!!Must be 100 lbs now.Discovered small stem split at 4 o'clock position on the 660,five days ago.Slit the stem which is now widening,no largening of split on fruit since then.660 in pic is at 268.OTT....watermelons didn't work out this year,tomatoes up to 2.2 lbs.Original Zac seed producing round shapes,Strange seed producing flatter,multi bulging fruit,each seed typeproducing a few green ones looking 1.5-2 lbs now.Think I need to do a better soil prep for the maters next year.Plants lack vigor look.Weather or soil? Tuesday, August 19 View Page Stem split on 892 Dill is into the cavity.Too bad as I like the color and shape.Both fruit on the 588 aborted(basketball size).Lots of bad luck with splits and aborts. Tuesday, August 19 View Page 115 Strange.Looks like a torpedo.We did have enough floods lately,lol. Tuesday, August 19 View Page 804 Vincent-McGill.Hope to do a better job with this seed next year as I like the potential and the modest result I have considering..... Friday, August 22 View Page 280 Strange at 210 OTT. Monday, August 25 View Page 660 is at 280 OTT,averaging 8-10 lbs a day.Kind of happy with the moderate growth as the stem split is stable.Coloring to the soft reddish orange,like the 730 Dill on the GVGO/AGGC listing.Getting to a PB now. Tuesday, September 2 View Page 660 Dill at 287 OTT,a PB for me.Should be close to the chart as it's thumping solid.Stem split is stable,chugging along at 5-10 lbs a day. Saturday, September 6 View Page 280 coloring up.Could end up like mother fruit. Sunday, September 14 View Page 660 Dill at 290 OTT. Monday, September 15 View Page 588 Young(x 660 Dill)at 264 lbs,2nd place Brome Fair,228 OTT,2% heavy,120 sq ft plot. Monday, September 29 View Page 660 Dill at 289 OTT.12 days to VGVGA weighoff. Sunday, October 5 View Page 660 is 129-79-78=286in.I hope my math or quick measurements have been off recently and not the pumpkin shrinking,lol...280 in pic is 213in,120sq ft plot. Saturday, October 11 View Page 563 Strange 08(660 Dill x self),12th at the VGVGA weighoff,9% heavy. Tuesday, October 14 View Page "Hey,don't forget me!".....fall prep before the harvest....280 Strange at 213 OTT,214 est....208 bathroom scale.... Sunday, November 30 View Page germination test-563lbs..4/4..., 264lbs...didn't bother as I found 20,2inch sprouts when opening the fruit,lol...