Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 65 Entries. Monday, January 14 View Page HOPEING FOR MY BEST YEAR EVER ,,,,BUT WHAT THE HECK WILL I GROW >>>>>>>HHHHHHMMMMMM Tuesday, January 29 View Page well so far ,my thoughs are the 845 bobier ,,for sure ,,,,1689 jutras for sure ,,my 668 and 667 from 06,664 liggett ,,,and waiting on couple others,,,only time will tell,,,hmmmmmmmmmmmm Tuesday, April 1 View Page FINAL LINE UP,,,FOR 2008) (HOME PATCH) 845 BOBIER,2000 1184 RONDEAU,07 664 LIGGETT, 854 GERTCHY,07 955 BRINKLEY, 667 HAMPP, 668 HAMPP, 846 CALIA, 919 RICHARDS, THE BACK UP WILL GO IN COUSINS PATCH,,,,,AS FOLLOWS 355 BUGLIO,,,,725 LEWIS,,,,,1224 PLATTE,,,,,,1194 CHRISTEN Wednesday, April 9 View Page WELL HERE WE GO )started my fair plants today,,,,,they are >>>1347 Wallace ,,and the 1184 Rondeau,,,,both in seaweed water as of ,,12;08 pm Friday, April 11 View Page today I started a few more seeds to hit local fairs with they are as follows,,,,,,(854 Gertchy) ,,,1177 conley x 668 Hampp,,(355 buglio),,1110 wallace x 1225 Jutras,,(320 Hampp,),05,,,560 , vanderpool x 955 conley>>>>>>all seeds got filed and put in seewead water,, Friday, April 11 View Page 1347 wallace also got started ,,,april 9th Friday, April 11 View Page opps guess I already posted that (1347),,lol...kids driveing me nuts today. Sunday, April 13 View Page WOW,,but not to my supprize,,the first one up ,,and the winner is ,the 1347 Wallace,,,,,3;00am Tuesday, April 15 View Page april 14th the 1184 Rondeau came out of its shell ,,,12hrs later after the 1347 ,,,april ,,15th- 3am the 854 gertchy arrose,,,,,,and 12;00noon time the 355 buglio,,is up ,,,,these will be my fair plants,,,long as everything goes well,,,,,all will be in out side huts by sunday,,the 20th Tuesday, April 15 View Page april 14th the 1184 Rondeau came out of its shell ,,,12hrs later after the 1347 ,,,april ,,15th- 3am the 854 gertchy arrose,,,,,,and 12;00noon time the 355 buglio,,is up ,,,,these will be my fair plants,,,long as everything goes well,,,,,all will be in out side huts by sunday,,the 20th Friday, May 2 View Page updates ,,,,,all fair plants were in huts on april ,,19th Friday, May 2 View Page (updates) checked on fair plants on april the 28th all, look good ,,frost warning tonight so covered all plants with remay ,,,,fair plants are ,,355 bugilo,,,,1347 wallace,854 Gertch,,,,,1184,,was put in another patch,,but is looking really good ,,, Friday, May 2 View Page 28th started (845 bobier) ,,(846 calia),,(668 HAMPP),(667 hampp),(919 richards)temp is between 80 and 90 degrees Friday, May 2 View Page april 30th 845, 846, 668, are up,,,,two days for old seeds,,I must be doing, something right,,,may 1st 667 and 919 are up ,,,thats 100% germanation,,,,,years off to a good start. Friday, May 2 View Page so far, all seeds look good ,,but the 919 is very aggressive,,,the cot leafs are very green and 50% wider then the others ,,,,so far my though, for crosses are as follows,,846 x 919 ,,,,919 x 846,,,,,, 845 x 846 ,,,my 668 and 667 ,,two pumpkins on each plant for pollinations,(668 x 845 ,,,668 x 846) ,,,,,,,,(667 x 845 ,,,,,,667 x 846),,,will attemp this by pollnating on the first secondary vine,,,turned towards the back ,,,set at about, 15 feet out ,,,,will let pumpkin,reach up to 100lbs, or better,,, then cut,, from main ,,,for the main pumpkin at 12 or 15 feet,,dido on the 667 ,,,,doing this for crosses,,both the 845 and 846 are getting rare,,,, Tuesday, May 6 View Page First dissaster of the year ,,,,,lost all three fair plants due to damp cold , soil,,,,should have bought the heating cables ,,replaced the fair plants with 877 and 1125 schaffer,,these plants are very healthy ,so should be able to make up some lost time,,,redid all huts to keep heat in better,,,big lost but you got to take it as it is ,and move on,,lost plants were ,,,,355 bugilo,,1347 wallace,,,854 gertchy,,,,,special,thanks to Larry Schaffer,,,,877,,1502 x 1125 schaffer,,,,,1125 schaffer,,,1170 powers x 998 beachy Sunday, May 11 View Page Well sence last update ,,the weather here has not been good ,,really need a good warm up ,and and some sun ,,or the rest of these plants,,could be in trouble,,looked in huts yesterday,,plants seem to be ok,,but not growing ,hardly at all,,,,,please God ,,,send the sun our way!!,,,,,,,,but just in case of ,,any more plant lost ,back ups are in Thursday, May 15 View Page Back ups started as of today ,,,,are as follows ,,,725 lewis ,,,,998 pukos selfed ,,,,,475 wells 1180 Daletas x 869 Calia,,,,,WENT IN HEAT BOX AT ,,10;45PM Sunday, May 18 View Page updates ,,,,877 schaffer ,,1125 schaffer, 846 calia,919, richards,,,667 Hampp ,,,668 Hampp,,,,all look like a go ,,the 877 schaffer is, in the lead ,,biggest plant so far ,and very healthy,,,Back ups will be in this week sometime ,,1404, Mckie,,and 725 lewis ,,will be going in main patch,,,,,secret plant on the way,, watermelons planted,,are as follows ,,,225 white,, 178 mudd, 198, brinkley,,,,Victor James seeds all got planted ,,every seed! speical patch this year ,,just for watermelons 19 PLANTS TOTAL,,and for the watermelon fest IN FRANKFORT OHIO ,I`ll be holding this year ,,,sold over,70 plants to the public and friends ,,should be a good turn out !! cousins patch will be growing AGS,,AS FOLLOWS ,,410 HAMPP ,,363.5 HAMPP,,,654 TROY WILL CROSS WITH 919 RICHARDS ,,OR 846 CALIA ,,NOT SURE YET,,,,,ALSO THE OTHER 725 LEWIS ,,PLANT TWO#,,,,THE 845 BOBIER GAVE TO MY BUDDY LARRY SCHAFFER,,,,WITCH I GET FIRST BIDS ON POLLIN,,HA ,HA,ALSO GAVE THE 664 LIGGETT AND 1225 JUTRAS, GAVE TO DAN KURTS ,,WITCH I ALSO GET FIRST BIDS ON POLLIN ,,,,BEING IN NEW SOIL AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT,,,IS THE REASON WHY THESE SEEDS WERE GIVEN TO PROVEN GROWERS,,,WITH GOOD SOILS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE,,,GOOD LUCK GUYS!! Wednesday, May 21 View Page updates>>the 725 lewis and 475 wells both are up and looking good the first true leafs are just now starting to show,the secret plant is also up ,,and has a ,two inch tap root ,,witch to help it out , I pulled the seed shell off and is now under a grow light.Pics will follow soon ,,just for you Boom! Wednesday, June 11 View Page well, just came in from patch ,,the 877 schaffer, is now at 7 feet,,,,with it`s 2nt pumpkin on it,,had to start burying side vines today ,,,at three feet out ,,,will pollinate at ten feet out ,,on this plant ,,this will be my ,Indiana fair plant,,,,,,668 Hampp four feet ,,,846 calia 5 feet ,,919 richards,,4 1/2 feet,,667 hampp3 1/2 feet,secret plant no feet ,but catching nicely,,Pics will follow. Saturday, June 14 View Page all these pics were , taken june 2nt,,first plant is what we`ll call the secret plant ,,at two weeks old ,,plant is doing really well in it`s new home Saturday, June 14 View Page this is my 667 Hampp ,,taken a day before the flood,,looking good as it`s mother did . Saturday, June 14 View Page this is my 668 ,,also doing well Saturday, June 14 View Page 846 calia ,,,,,likeing this plant >>>thanks Eddy Z ,,for this seed and the 919 Richards! Saturday, June 14 View Page this is the 919 richards Saturday, June 14 View Page heres the 877 schaffer,,,my biggest plant and a very fast grower Saturday, June 14 View Page pic of the over all patch Saturday, June 14 View Page this is june the 3rd ,,day after the storm,,plants ,made it threw ,4 inches of rain ,,and high winds of 50 and 60 mph winds ,,,and a river of water,,,,,,,,,lucky for me ,I put these wind blockers up the day before! Saturday, June 14 View Page this is the pic of the run off,,day after the storm,,next to my patch Saturday, June 14 View Page this picture ,is a ditch next to the patch,,that runs right toward the 667,,,,,,,,just missing the plant by four feet Saturday, June 14 View Page heres just some pics ,after the after math of the storm Saturday, June 14 View Page this is where ,all the water ,is running into from the creek Saturday, June 14 View Page another pic of the same field Saturday, June 14 View Page heres a pic of the bridge,,that got washed out going into town Saturday, June 14 View Page another view Saturday, June 14 View Page 178 Mudd watermelon Saturday, June 14 View Page 225 White Saturday, June 14 View Page this is a pic ,,of my little boy Malachi taking a nap ,on the way to a fishing trip Saturday, June 14 View Page this is my two best pumpkins ever,, Saturday, June 14 View Page hey Judy,,Sarah says your rideing kiddy rides with her at the fair,,ha ha Saturday, June 14 View Page Malachi playing ,,the karate kid Saturday, June 14 View Page Malachi with his first bass of the season ,,about three lbs, were guessing Saturday, June 14 View Page ok,,,,, this is the secret plant four days after the storm Saturday, June 14 View Page 667 four days after the storm ,,and the rest of the pics that follow Saturday, June 14 View Page 668 Hampp Saturday, June 14 View Page 846 calia Saturday, June 14 View Page 919 Richards Saturday, June 14 View Page 877 scahffer,, out four feet Saturday, June 14 View Page first bloom on the 877 schaffer plant at four feet out Saturday, June 14 View Page ok,,,this is the buddy conley ,,here in ohio ,,on the left ,,,witch alot of people get him mixed up with the Steve Connally,,,and the good looking guy on the left is ME ,,,,,,HA HA Saturday, June 14 View Page ok,,,this is the buddy conley ,,here in ohio ,,on the left ,,,witch alot of people get him mixed up with the Steve Connally,,,and the good looking guy on the left is ME ,,,,,,HA HA Saturday, June 14 View Page oops,,, thats Buddy Conley on the left and the good lookin one on the right is me Rob Saturday, June 14 View Page well(: when ever the next pic comes up ,,i`m on the right not the left ,,lol Monday, June 23 View Page 6/18 /08,,,,applied,,seaweed,,and set enhancer,,,,6/19/08,, applied warrior tea,,today burried vines ,,plants are out to >> 877 scahffer 14 feet,,,,668 Hampp- 8 1/2 ft,,667 Hampp 9ft,,846 calia,,,12ft ,,919 Richards 10ft,,,secret plant,,,lost all leafs ,,due to birds ,,littlebit of a set back ,,,but it is recovering nicely,,,should be able to pollinate the 877 ,,,around the first of next week,,,will try to pollinate,with 1368 liggett or 846 calia witch ever I have pollin from Thursday, June 26 View Page today applied seaweed,,, set enhancer,,,calcium,things are looking good ,,expecting alot of rain for the next three days ,,,hope we make it threw ok. Friday, July 4 View Page pollinated ,,july 3rd,,877 Schaffer,,,,x 1317 rose,,5 lobes,,,today July 4th pollinated 846 Calia x 919 Richards,,5 lobes,,,,,,178 Mudd has it`s first watermelon,set on at three feet out ,,,,,,same goes for the 225 white,,,,also three feet out,,both have long shapes to them .Back to the rest of the pumpkins ,,,,all plants are doing well ,,,next one to pollinate will be the 668 Hampp x 845 Bobier,,,,,then the 667 Hampp will make the same cross ,,,667 x 845 Bobier,,,,over all coments ,,things are really looking good ,,the calia plant is about the only plant i`ve seem to had any problem with ,,,,where the side vines took alittlebit longer to vine ,,but now are ,,starting to shoot out better,,sprayed Warrior, tea, yesterday morning before the rain ,,got here ,,and had light , steady rains ,,soon after,,for two hours,,tonight also looking for a few more showers. Sunday, July 6 View Page pollinated the 668 this morning at 810 am,,with the 845 bobier 2000,4lobes,,not sure if I mentioned ,I added my 410 to the main patch ,,it`s about two weeks old ,,and growing really fast ,,really impressed with how it`s doing!410 =525 smith x 606 clark,,,I`m big on orange ,,and got real curious,, about it`s color ,,,there is about four or five other people growing it ,,and I could have waited ,,but I wanted to give it a run for it`s money ,,sence i`m ,in really good soil this year,,this pumpkin stuff really is addicting! Wednesday, July 9 View Page july 8th pollinated 919 Richards x 846 calia july 9th pollinated ,,667 Hampp x 664 liggett also pollinated,,another female on the 877 schaffer x 1537 stelts,,20 feet out,,the first one has taken,,x the 1317 rose ,,nice looking fruite,,,but i`ll take the best one in about two weeks. Friday, July 11 View Page today pollinated ,,919 Richards x 846 calia,,20 feet out,,2nt one ,pollinated,,,but the first one looks really good ,,so i`ll probaly keep it ,,same cross.The 845 bobier got pollinated with the ,,664 liggett and reverse,,,the secret plant is now at 9 feet ,,with it`s first female,,,and I love how this plant is growing ,,all side vines are about a foot apart ,,just the way I, like it!all w atermelons have a set now ,,,and final pics have been made,,all pumpkins have been pollinated ,,except for the 668 ,,,first one aborted ,,but the next one to open ,,looks alot bigger then the first one ,,just hope it has good lobes,,over all things are looking better ,,plants are drying out now ,,,after a few days ago ,,getting 2 inches of rain,,,really sets patch work back alot ,,was able to get caught up today. Saturday, July 12 View Page today pollinated,,667 Hampp x 846 calia,,,,, also pollinated 2nt female on the 846 calia x 919 Richards Saturday, July 12 View Page update the 1184 Rondeau,,,,that a gave to a friend of mine ,,was selfed ,,and is doing very well ,,,this thing is the size of a beach ball ,,this plant is going to grow him a 1000#lber ,,3rd year grower,,,and he`s retired ,,and acks like ,,a little boy who just won a peace, of candy,,this guy has alot of health problems,,,,his name is Mackie,,,lets hope for a big one,,,,,his wife says ( Rob, I dont know what i`d do if something would happen to ,, this thing ,,if he did ,, all hell`s going to break loose,,,I said>>>>> just pray Wednesday, July 23 View Page well ,,just came back from GA, today and found a big upset!! in the patch-my 846 calia had yellow vine disease, ,,so I had to pull the plant,,, and the 877 schaffer and the 919 richards ,both deformed ,,culled both,,,so it`s like i`m starting all over again,,from scratch-one left on the 919 on the main looks to be good ,,,but if I loose it ,,the mains gone ,,will have to take one off a side vine,,,877 schaffer also will be on a side vine -on the other hand I got alittlebit of good news ,my giant watermelon have really , kicked into gear,,and have great shape!and the rest of my plants look to be ok ,as of now. Monday, August 11 View Page Well heres the update ,,,my nitrogen levels are to high ,, big plant ,but no fruit,,have had three get to 42 lbs and abort,,three others aborted at the size of a softball,,,this was on the 877 schaffer plant ,,witch just for experiment,,`i`ve cut off four side vines to see if I can get one to set on this plant ,,the stump on this plant is 17 inches cir ,,on the good hand ,I have one pumpkin, on the 919 richards, at 64 inhes in cir,,,witch is 80lbs-gaining five inches a day-alittle scary-my 668 is at 51 inches cir, gaining two inches a day-very nice shape to it,,the 250 simpson is about the size of a soft ball ,,and the plant is very huge and looks very healthy ,pumpkin is set at 18 feet out,,looks to be a go ,,will pollinate another one on this plant as a back up,,,watermelons are doing well ,,the 161 rigsby 07-is at 19 inches long - my 93.5 pounder from 07 is at 16 inches long ,,more wide then long ,,,it`s going to be a heavy one -109 rigsby is at 12 inches long -225 white and 178 mudd both at 8inches long ,,but not worried, at all these are for the October weigh offs-over all ,,it`s not going to be my best year ever,,but theres always next year, but we live and learn I guess ,,if I can just pull off a nice orange one for the pumpkin show i`ll be happy Wednesday, August 13 View Page well things are starting to look up here ,alittlebit,,919 richards taped71 ,cir-25#lbs in two days-gaining 12.5#a day-the 668 Hampp-gained 5inches-cir-gaining 6#lbs a ,day,,250 simpson gained two inches,can`t wait to see what this plant does.