Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 32 Entries. Tuesday, June 17 View Page Hi All, I'm Tom V from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and I have been growing giant pumpkins for a few years now. Last year was my personal best. I grew the 604 Bosworth seed, and the pumpkin from this seed grew to 610 pounds. Tuesday, June 17 View Page One of the new products that I tried last year was Livingston's Blend Compost that is made here in Spotsylvania County. This is a picture of the covered compost curing area. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The first step in the composting process is to collect wood from the county residents at several convience drop off centers. With all the thunderstorms that we have had this spring, there can be a lot of trees that come down. This picture is of a stockpile that they will shred in a large tub grinder. Tuesday, June 17 View Page Once the wood is shredded, they store it under this canopy to keep it at a constant moisture content. The compost operators make sure to filter out any plastic or other waste that would not decompose. Tuesday, June 17 View Page Then the compost operators mix the mulch with stabilized biosolids from the waste water treatment plant. Air is blown into the pile by the blowers in the picture to keep the aerobic microorganism populations happy. If they are happy, they continue to consume the high carbon and nitrogen contents of the compost pile. Tuesday, June 17 View Page As the microorganisms metabilize the organic material they generate quite a bit of heat. These piles stay above 120 degrees (F) for about fourteen days, and as high as 160 degrees for about three days. These high temperatures kill off all harmful bacteria. Tuesday, June 17 View Page After 21 to 28 days the compost is removed from the pile, and put through a trommel screen (3/8 of an inch) that filters out the finished material from the larger unfinished material. The finished material is sent to an outdoor storage pile, and the unfinished material is put back into the mix again. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The final product is a fine grained compost. I used the compost as a mulch last year, and was able to grow a 610 pound pumpkin. Previously the area had just been grass, and I had not amended the soil with anything else. Tuesday, June 17 View Page This year I am growing two plants, the seed from my 610 pumpkin (604 Bosworth selfed), and the 1402 Bosworth. I planted both seeds on April 28, and kept them inside until May 24th. We have had such a wet May and June so far. I am hoping that we get rain on a regular basis this summer. Wednesday, June 18 View Page This is a picture of the 1402 Bosworth, and I would estimate it to be about three feet in length, and starting to grow quickly. Wednesday, June 18 View Page And here is the 610 Valentour 07. It had a split running lengthwise at the base that seemed to slow it down. It has continued to look healthy, so I am going to keep it. I went out to look at the plants this evening and found several clusters of squash bug eggs, so I scraped the eggs off, and sprayed both plants down with Talstar One. I will keep an eye on the plants because the squash vine borer may be here any day. Tuesday, June 24 View Page I took measurements of the two plants today. This is the 610 Valentour at a length og 3 feet. Tuesday, June 24 View Page And this is the 1402 Bosworth that has realy taken off. It measured five feet this evening. I also sprayed with Talstar, and Alaska Bloom 0-10-10. I have not seen any squash bug eggs since last week. I will keep checking daily. Tuesday, July 1 View Page I sprayed again today with Talstar and molassas, and took measurements. The Valentour 610 was 4 ft 8 inches. Tuesday, July 1 View Page And the Bosworth 1402 was 8 ft 8 inches. Last year I solarized the soil where this plant is growing. I did not fertilize the plant this week with a foliar feed. Instead, I mixed the 8-52-8 in with some activated charcoal into the soil. It is a new technique, and I hope to see some results by the end of the season. Wednesday, July 9 View Page The 1402 is looking good and growing fast. Today the vine length was 13 ft. I sprayed Talstar, molasses, and Alaska Bloom 0-10-10 on its regular weekly schedule. Wednesday, July 9 View Page The 1402 has a female flower at 11 feet from the stump, and it looks like it will open tomorrow morning. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Here is the Valentour 610 that is guarded by my schnauzer Abby. The plant is trucking along at 7 ft 8 inches. It is a little behind the 1402, but it has a female flower at 7 ft, so I think it will catch up quickly. Thursday, July 17 View Page The Bosworth 1402 is growing vigorously, and is very healthy. Saturday, July 19 View Page This is the first pumpkin set on the plant. The day 10 measurements are 17-17-23 which is estimated at 6 pounds. Saturday, July 19 View Page And here is the 610 Valentour, and I polinated the first female flower today at 12 feet from the stump. I hope it takes, the temps have been in the high ninety's. I have it covered, and have ice around the bloom. Monday, July 28 View Page Well I went away on vacation, and I had good news when I got back. My Bosworth 1402 was healthy, and weighed in this morning at 52 pounds at day 18. Monday, July 28 View Page Here is another picture of it. The bad news yesterday was that we had a strong thunderstorm that broke a lot of leaves off. I guess it was time to trim off some secondaries! I cut, and treated the cuts with some Captan powder, and put some compost around the vines. You can also see in the pictures that I have been lifting the vine, so the stem is not stressed like my plant last year. Tuesday, September 2 View Page It has been a little while since I posted the last picture, but there has not been to much to report. This is my Bosworth 1402 at day 53, and it is probably about 180 pounds. Tuesday, September 2 View Page This is the back side. It has just about stopped growing. Tuesday, September 2 View Page Here is one grown off of my Valentour 610, and it is still putting on weight. Tuesday, September 2 View Page I originally did not think this pumpkin would make it since it had two gouges in in when it was pollinated. The scabs look like a pair of eyes to me. Friday, September 26 View Page I enlisted a crew from work to help me load up my pumpkins. Thanks guys I really appreciate your help! Saturday, September 27 View Page It wasn't the biggest, but I had a great time at the State Fair. Some of the other Virginia Giant Vegetable Growers were there, Kreig Obriant is in white, and Barry Shrum has the camera. Saturday, September 27 View Page My son entered one that came in right behind mine. Thanks Barry for bringing the scale and digital read out. Sunday, September 28 View Page It was a good group of pumpkins that are on display through next weekend. Congratulations to Mary DelPopolo, and her husband Joe for their 1007 pound first place pumpkin. Excellent first year to Dustin Price who came in second place at 796 pounds. My sites are set high for next year. Sunday, September 28 View Page Today I cleaned out the pumpkin plants. I was losing the battle with powdery mildew, so I decided to retire the plants. Here is a picture of the cover crop of buck wheat that I am growing in the place that I will grow a pumpkin next year. Next week I will till it under, and plant crimson clover and winter peas.