Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 324 Entries. Thursday, February 4 View Page Ladies and Gentlemen... Thursday, February 4 View Page Start your engines... Thursday, February 4 View Page and fasten your seatbelts... Thursday, February 4 View Page Cause we need to fly...Fly to look where they make this famous KurbisWein... Friday, February 5 View Page =We want your heads. Why on earth they want my head??? Friday, February 5 View Page Palm beach race track? Just wait to see their race cars... Friday, February 5 View Page Living legend, Trabant AKA "Trabi", dang those are still on traffic. 20 miles/hour to wall and pedals are in your lap;) Still i want one of those! Saturday, February 6 View Page Köln Cathedral. Or just small part of it. I need to buy better camera. Just wonder what workers thought back then when architect showed drawings, "Boyz, I designed this small church,you guys have 5 months to build it up" Saturday, February 6 View Page Pre-game warm-up! Kölsch!!!!! Saturday, February 6 View Page Los Tres Broz! Glühwein! Saturday, February 6 View Page Köln-Hamburg soccer game. 50 000 monkeys drinking and making noise!!! Just a bit difference than in soccer games in Finland when there is 573 people watching;) Score: 3-3 Sunday, February 7 View Page Flying Rhino at Dortmund;) Sunday, February 7 View Page Pre-game Dortmund-Frankfurt! 70 400 drunken monkeys;) Sunday, February 7 View Page That is one huge stadion! Sunday, February 7 View Page 2 games, total 11 scores aint bad at all! Gotta go again some day!!! Back to the original point, I was looking that Pumpkin wine... Sunday, February 7 View Page Didnt find wine but we got this very nice pumpkin from Düsseldorf Marketplace. Too bad that Airport security didnt let us to bring it back home. That would have made perect wine,LOL. Overall very good trip with good company! Thursday, March 11 View Page Giant parsnips and part of giant tomatoes sowed in last few days. More tomatoes to come,beetroots later also. Might start giant cons next weekend. Boliwian Rainbow pepper photo per request. This plant has been sowed 2/2008 and has been now overwintered twice. I cant get cool place for it in winter so they always looks like beaten somewhere during coooold season and might loose all leaves. However those are tough plants and will soon make new leaves when there is more light available. This one is just starting to bloom, gonna be my bonchi project and see how many years this still grows. Same plant last August: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=118495 Nice;) Wednesday, March 17 View Page They are up and running:) Back left...Hmmmm...Country Record here I come,again:) Will germ few more later to aim for GPC weigh-off end of September. Thanks for tomato seeds Timm´s and Harp´s!!! You Rocks!!! 3.67 of mine...Nice to see that few has planted those in States and Canada. Well quite many in Finland too and most likely few in Europe...I think I should put soon up some kind of contest for biggest tomato of 3.67... Stay tuned... Wednesday, March 17 View Page K, you Rocks too:)Maybe your seeds make big surprise this year... Friday, March 26 View Page Went to look patch today. Oh my... Friday, March 26 View Page More than 2 feet of snow. Day temps just above 32 F. Record so far here 39 F,woohoo. 2007 26th of March was 64 which is all time highest in whole Finland on March. 2008 we got 26th March 1 feet of wet snow. 2 foot we have now want melt down in any near future. Last two year patch has been gunpowder dry on late April and still it was ready to go 17th of May. In case you dont know Finnish system is that town cultivate patches every Spring. Two good Springs and mid may readiness. This Spring with that much snow...Maybe ready to go just before Autumn frosts;) I will decide late April if I grow any AG´s or squashes there. Filed pumpkin for sure and some other giant veggies too. Friday, March 26 View Page At least home yard is almost melted,NOT! Will have nice beer cooler here still on Midsummer party! Friday, March 26 View Page Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....My tiny "homepatch" somewhere there behind that 6 foot layer of hardpacked snow. Shoveling,shoveling and little more showeling. Should be ready to plant out early May like last year. 1 Squash here and so far it looks like that 800* Neily is my project "green boat" Friday, March 26 View Page So much for wining. And it wasnt wining,REALLY! At least weather puts some challanges for FIN growers, records might not ever be same than in better places but those are still records. Okey, here we go. Giant white gem Parsnip from EGVGA promo. And most likely future record holder cause this one might be only one growing in Finland this year;) If I dont kill it inside it will be planted on big bucket. Friday, March 26 View Page Future FIN rec. tomato somewhere there? I have also one of my 3.67 on bucket which was sowed on January. Looked real bad while ago but now its speeding up. Lets see if I can get first place position on EURO contest early June... Friday, March 26 View Page Goliath´s, Jala´s and Olotillo´s growing nicely:) Hmmm, what was FIN rec. for tall corn...HA! Monday, April 19 View Page Kaarina... corns are only sidedish. You should focus on your pumpkins closely. I made some arrangements and lets say that you really need to grow under good stars this year in prior to beat me. Heating cables might help you little but not as much as you may think. Last year was pure accident and wont happen again. Watch closely, spy if needed but remember to watch your back... Because: 800* Neily with couple back-ups will be on ground sooner you say "I give up" and monter maker pumpkin with its back-ups will also be planted very soon...Greenies on ground on April,bite that! So what was bet this year in our biggest pumpkin/squash competition...? If you dont fit inside your kin I can borrow mine,np! Remember that you need to wear one of those skin-tight slalom suit next winter;) Yes, miracles happens once and while and one of them happened allready I think... I do love smell of aged horsemanure:) Monday, April 19 View Page I tried but it wasnt possible to get whole corn on picture, sorry K these are growing BIG! Monday, April 19 View Page Sounds like competition to me! Im ready,you? Monday, April 19 View Page Game? Your talkin about our ultimate grower of the year competition, right K? Tuesday, April 20 View Page So...What giant veggies we both are growing this year...? Tuesday, April 20 View Page K, how are YOUR heating cables? Friday, April 23 View Page Snowing again, nice:) Friday, April 23 View Page Au naturel, I dont need cables so im going without them snowing or not. Poll time might be late and first frost comes end of August. Go with you have,right. Maybe I wait still one week before I choose my line-up. No hurry, no rush with weather like this. Saturday, April 24 View Page teaching fish to swim... Sunday, April 25 View Page 9am filed and then soaked 8 hours following seeds: 1140 Stevens, 1240 Bogie, 1185 Kline, 1283 Grande Squash´s: 1236* VincentMcGill, 905* VincentMcGill and 3 of 661* Rivington. All seeds now in paper towel method. I had few plants started allready but it seems that soil I was using was way too strong and first true leaves burnt and turned papery freaking badly. New soil for these seeds and I hope problem is solved. Well if it isnt soil related I might be screwed...fingers crossed. K, thanks for tip! I have 4 plants left from earlier batch, took them up and removed old soil,planted in new soil. Need to see now for week if they survive or not. Gonna name these plants after I decide to grow or not. Live and learn,thats missio for 2010:) Monday, April 26 View Page Busy morning! Sowed toms for weigh-off 26th of September. 1x 5.416 Harp -09/ 2x 4.39 Timm -09/ 2x 3.7 Timm -09/ 3x 3.67 Mantyniemi Gonna keep best of these. Monday, April 26 View Page Toms today. Sowed 7th March. Monday, April 26 View Page 5.58 Monday, April 26 View Page 5.416 Monday, April 26 View Page 4.41 Monday, April 26 View Page 3.67 Monday, April 26 View Page 1.48 This looks way difffrent than others. Im starting to think that Kaarina gave me some cherry tomto seeds;) Monday, April 26 View Page 1.32 twins little smaller than others but looks nice. Monday, April 26 View Page 3.67 hell yeah! Actually this was started on Jan. Only for germ test and went real poor later.repotted and gave it more sun. Lots of flower buds coming. Need to re-pot again to its final growing place.. Monday, April 26 View Page 3.67 once again. Two main branches. Monday, April 26 View Page Used to be 215 Mäntyniemi 16 months ago. I hope toms and kins are going different way;) Tuesday, April 27 View Page Tuuuuuukka Rask!!!! Go Bruins Go!!! Tuesday, April 27 View Page 1140 Stevens, 1240 Bogie, 1185 Kline, 1283 Grande Squash´s: 1236* VincentMcGill, 905* VincentMcGill and 3 of 661* Rivington. All germed and potted today. Fingers still crossed that new potting soil is good to go. Tuesday, April 27 View Page Daydream or not I see big things growing soon:) Saturday, May 1 View Page Wow Kaarina, early start for ya this year! Well if ya think your plants were big when planted out just wait when you see mine if I ever get them on ground on May... Monday, May 3 View Page Ready to go on Thursday I think... Monday, May 3 View Page Not much space,gonna make it little wider and longer later... Monday, May 3 View Page Who´s peeking there? Monday, May 3 View Page 1236* Vincent/McGill Ummmmmmm.... Monday, May 3 View Page Just in case I kill my plants before town has cultivated and marked allotment... 1283 Grande -09 Monday, May 3 View Page 1240 Bogie -09 Monday, May 3 View Page 905* Vincent/McGill -09 Monday, May 3 View Page 1140 Stevens -08 catching up others... Monday, May 3 View Page 1185 Kline -09 up with two 661* Rivington -08 Still waiting secret weapon which was filed last Friday to sprout. No more starters this year. Tuesday, May 4 View Page Satan´s Tuukka Raaaask!!! Go Bruins Go! Wednesday, May 5 View Page 1236* last time in pot... Wednesday, May 5 View Page 1236* hit the soil today 12am. customised bucket worked nicely and got planted without any damage to root system. Game on K! Now I only need nice and warm sunny days... Friday, May 7 View Page This guy seems to be little early here... Friday, May 7 View Page 159.50 Joynson watermelon making first female too:-P I have two of 159.50 growing, well cant get them on ground in looong time...Bright side, watermelon country rec. only 9 lbs so wont do much harm to keep them potted for while longer. K, I think you are so screwed;) Wanna buy my other plant? Flight tickets to LB and its yours;) Hows our GOTY competition going on now,ha! Friday, May 7 View Page And picture would be fine too,LOL Saturday, May 8 View Page Leaves getting wider and stronger, stems thicker and plants taller:) All pumpkin plants moved in their pots today to heated greenhouse and will stay there untill allotment is ready to go. Has been too cold to keep them in balcony and low air moisture has caused some leave problems, turned papery again but now i act right away. Few from earlier batch has also been on greenhouse for week now and they have been recovering nicely. Sunday, May 9 View Page Started few field pumpkin seeds along with two marrows. Wednesday, May 12 View Page Lets go with big risk...Giant sunflowers x5 planted. One Wizard Colorado tough, One Tall Horde from Belgium and 3x Vincent 185", couple Vincent´s had splitted below cots but on ground they went,lets see... Along with sunflowers is 11 RMGVGA Indian Corns. Nice weather should last for while now, I have still few Indian corns inside if It turns too cold. Digged big holes for 3 giant corns too, didnt plant them yet but...hmmm...maybe soon.... Wednesday, May 12 View Page We dont feed Lassi at home so he has learnt how to look food from woods... Chives are his favorite:) Saturday, May 15 View Page Summer!! Been 75 couple days which is very unusyal in Finland. Nice weather going to continue about week now. Allotment cultivated by those lazy city-workers on 14th evening, they will mark it on Monday morning I guess so Monday 17th evening is Planting day,hopefully... Today is official hoop building day, im going to build this point only small hoops and might make them larger later. Got 220 pounds lime yesterday at good bargain, zero euros suits for me:) Ferts... organically this year....Two different, one with high N and other with high K.So maybe and just maybe Im able not to kill my plants this year,LOL. Wizard/Horde/Vincent sunflowerts planted beside house wall, few indian corns also and two Goliath and one olotillo giant corns. Few giant corns still on buckets if first one did not make it...Finland...We might get still frost... 1236* on hope spot was just sitting there for week, now with warmer weather it has started to grow second leave. Slow and steady and so on.... 2nd October weigh-off this year... Tuesday, May 18 View Page Are we having fun yet? 5.32 Timm -08 and looks to me that this one will make huge... Thursday, May 20 View Page 2 of 159.50 Joynson watermelons making nice sidevines now. Gonna plant on allotment early June, getting little colder for while so they can be in buckets to wait new heatwave... Thursday, May 20 View Page Rinne is freaky;) Thursday, May 20 View Page Deb.......... 4.41 Timm -09 Thursday, May 20 View Page Tomato set-up:) Thursday, May 20 View Page 2 Goliath and uno Olotillo corns. Gonna plant today one more Goliath there. Thursday, May 20 View Page Longest Goliath bathing on balcony. Leaves coming from left corner of pic. is from my best Olotillo, Olotillos should grow taller than Goliath´s...Hey, we have roof on stairway somewhere 20 or so foot.Morning sun there and biiig windows.....That would be freakyyyy...And again neighbours loves me,yeah right;)HMMMMMM.... Thursday, May 20 View Page 1236* on home, didnt do anything in 10 first days on ground but is now picking up nicely. Thursday, May 20 View Page 661* Rivington on allotment. All allotment plants are planted 17th May and so far I havent kill any of them...;)So while they are still alive lets take a look what im growing this year. Thursday, May 20 View Page 905* front and 1132* Vincent/McGill squashes. 1132* suffered badly on home but its getting better now. This is only douple planted hoop. Thursday, May 20 View Page Luca wanted to "grow" his very own pumpkin this year. He said it should be showstopper so 631.4 Jaser -07 is the choosen one(500 Northup remake) Thursday, May 20 View Page "Not So Secret Weapon" is four days younger than rest of the guys. This looks good... Thursday, May 20 View Page 1240 Bogie -09 Thursday, May 20 View Page 1283 Grande -09 Thursday, May 20 View Page I also sell camping tickets this year right after I have started to kill plants on hoops;) Thursday, May 20 View Page K put your beets on ground, they dont grow in small pots! Thursday, May 20 View Page THERE´S MONKEY BEHIND THAT ROAD SIGN!!!! Thursday, May 20 View Page 9pm and still 77F,did they change countries while I was sleeping? Sunday, May 23 View Page Not so secret weapon getting stronger and thicker...Overall all plants on patch growing nicely. We are getting colder period now so luckily my plants had 7 good days to develop root structure. 1240 Bogie almost running now...Healthy looking leaves on every plants so quite optimistic so far...Knock knock... Sunday, May 23 View Page Rohnny Im not sure but with my little experience I think your tomatoes grows better if you keep those flowers attached to their plants. Somehow it does not make sense to cut them off for takin pics. Might be hard to get them back on plant even if you have gallon of Clonex to use. Just my two finnish eurocents but little do I know. Sunday, May 23 View Page This is the way to do it Salsaboy;)(BTW, this one is from my 3.67) And doing this way results could be... Sunday, May 23 View Page Something like this:) Tuesday, May 25 View Page Proudly member of Team Lunatic!!! Tuesday, May 25 View Page Dewalt went down today. Duct tape is actually very good friend with old carage windows when you need to build hoops;-) My both greenies were only in hoops made with shadecloth so now they have very nice glasshouses. Havent had much luck with greenies previous years so thought to put more effort to them. Kids on the block sure loves to throw some rocks now... 1283 Grande making douplevine, I hope she gets back on right track little later. Other plants looks happy, of course you would like to see them little bigger but its still May. Could it be that Im not able to kill anything before June,WOW...Well theres still few days to go... Thursday, May 27 View Page Whats the recipe of growing Estonian Pumpkin Record? Take one Crazy Fin grower and send him to Estonia for one growing season... Give him few good seeds and instructions of seed starting etc. Give him also couple test seeds to play with...After few weeks... Get call from Estonia that Lunatic 232 Mantyniemi -08(1226.5 Klime x 1171 Toftness) has outgrown everything else there and are placed on best place and pampered with care... No I just didnt woke up from nap:) Estonian Record is 170 LBS...Lets see if we can get new country on Pumpkin Map after this season... I have sent seeds to locals on Estonia couple of years now but maybe it takes to get one Finn there to grow and show locals how its done...Long way to go and grow...120+ days of pure sweat and manure shoveling before weighing... Thursday, May 27 View Page BTW, not even single flying rock so far..knock on forehead... Thursday, May 27 View Page Patch dogs are old school, I have trained security watermelon against uninvited growers...Shes still smiling but next time...wont be that gently... For all new growers...thats what tendrils are for... Thursday, May 27 View Page From left, 4.39 Timm/5.416 Harp/3.77 Timm/3.67 Mantyniemi These were started 26th of April and have been quite lot on balcony. However I will gave them little extra lights now to keep them stocky. Weigh-off date and place changed, not 26th of September but 2nd of October. So little extra pounds for pumpkins. Plan with these tomatoes are that I try to keep few fruits untill weigh-off and carry whole plant to weigh-off. Would be nice way to show visitors how different giant veggies are grown. Too bad that im not able to take my giant beetroots raised bed there;) Thursday, May 27 View Page I think that my corns are having big problems. Look how tiny leaves they are making right now outside... Luckily they all are alive so far. I bet K´s corns have outgrown mine like mad;) Thursday, May 27 View Page Well well well...Who´s here... Mr. Tarkkinen had finally guts to show up in sandbox... Free translation to his first entry: "Hi im little mickey mouse from Finland and I dont know damn thing about giant pumpkins. Last year none of my seeds didnt germ so I begged on my knees few super plants from Miika The Great Lunatic. He also said me what to do with them. I thank Geat Lunatic from bottom of my heart to show me right track. This year I killed my best plant and got back-up you know where from...On the picture is my tiny looking from last year." Welcome Mr. Tarkkinen and remember... October second...It was familysizepizza.... I will take number 14 with extra Jalapenos,please:) War has begun...2010...whos gonna get biggest pumpkin ever in Finland without using greenhouse... Friday, May 28 View Page This could get ugly...Assembled security cameras, electric fence and movement detectors on allotment...Feeded my security watermelon and placed her near entrance of allotment road...Mr. Tarkkinen....Just try to pass those...If ya made trough ya still need to get over moat filled with all that extra oil BP has put on ocean...Movement detectors will launch lighter... P.s burning oil feels real good on butt cheeks...Possible eruption of Katla Volcano aint nothing compared to this... Friday, May 28 View Page ...collected some slugs... Friday, May 28 View Page ...placed them on shipping box... Friday, May 28 View Page ...Delivery complited... Friday, May 28 View Page ...close-up of label... Friday, May 28 View Page BTW empty Roundup bottle under fence, you can throw it to trash can, I dont need it anymore;) P.s one of your heirloom slug was heading to hoophouse, thought that mine are better ones so picked that heirloom and throw it away. Saving this way your plants costs only 75€/hour +VAT. Due date is 3rd of June,thank you. Friday, May 28 View Page Got call from local hunting store that their biggest slingshot was just bought. Second call came from rock minery, mystery Volvo wagon loaded all rocks and drive away without paying...This cant end up nicely... Friday, May 28 View Page Mr. Tarkkinen...I hope you had lot of rocks on trunk to get that extra weigh for crashing all the eggs...Otherwise...Big army of those little fellas on your property... BTW, your biggest plant looks to have potentiality to be first over 500...Time to play hard... Friday, May 28 View Page Time to give little credit to Mr. Tarkkinen, last year was his first with good seeds, right away biggest ever in Finland without greenhouse. He is one to watch if we have nice Summer this year. He has also done good work by spreading this Lunatic hobby to new countries, lot of his crosses are now growing in former Yogoslavia area. Nice to see on Autumn results of those plants. But... 2010...Another year,another war...Last year weights does not count much on 2010...Play hard,play fair... 2nd of October...Familypizzaaaah!!! Saturday, May 29 View Page Luca has been helping three former years and now Lassi is also working on allotment. Dont know how easy it is to water when can is filled with sand:) Saturday, May 29 View Page Second tallest corn today:) Pumpkins...Third year on allotment, never seen any plant vining before 12th June... Well two plants down and running:) All are making quite big leaves and looking enjoying despite cold weather. This just might be THE year for me when im able to pollinate early July instead of late July/early August... Stress factor to MAXimum when season has gone little further... Monday, May 31 View Page May has gone to its end and no plant were killed this month. Thats something to open Champagne;) Closing picture of Month is my 1283 Grande -09 plant. This plant started slowly on patch and went douple but is now back on normal mode. And normal means agressive this year... While some of plants are running horizontally this little sucker decided to practise some climbing...Tip of vine rising cool way over those big leaves:) Need to start to take main down... Tomatoes?Biggest fruit about...BIG! Not very exited of shape thought, might take that one off if I get better looking starter on next cluster. Corns...Brad I think you should be at least little worried by now...K´s corns sure looks tough to beat...;-) Marrows...Planted on allotment today Beetroots...Growing as well as sunflowers! Yeah and something else too.. Tuesday, June 1 View Page Tuija, I would have done Dog kebab, its so Yummyyyyy:-P Brad...Now you need to look after FIN beetroots too...Could it be anyone else than Finn who says on radio that will almost douple giant veggie WR...ummmmmm... Im not only here off meds;-) Tuesday, June 1 View Page Fruiting season on balcony has begun. This beaty is from worldfamous 1.48 Rinne seed...Not biggest fruit on balcony but my best chance to taste K...LOL. Tuesday, June 1 View Page (Note to myself: if there is even slim chance that my pumpkins are not going to reach 1500 LBS this year start to call allotment as "genetics patch") Thursday, June 3 View Page Ugh! 159.5 Joynson´s planted back to back in Tiipee. Apaches and Cherokees are welcome if I get few pounds of Buffalo meat. Thursday, June 3 View Page "Dad I can juuuump!!!" Thursday, June 3 View Page "Lassi, little practise wont hurt you, right?" Thursday, June 3 View Page 905* Vincent/McGill ribbon to normal vine. Still 1132* V/M on background. Will wait few days to make decision. 905* is reverse of 1236* which I have on homepatch. 1132* was shitty plant earlier but has been picked up speed. Hmmm...I think most fruits off 1132* has gone way heavy... Didnt douple plant any other hoops and shouldnt done on this hoop either, dang. Would flip coin if I had any. Talking about low budget growing,LOL. Still waiting 661* Rivington going from douple to normal. Other plants? They are Muchos Grandes and doing quite ok... Yo Biz! Has anyone told ya that 1283 Grande´Z knockin on roof windowZ...Need to get that Bad A** plant down! Sunday, June 6 View Page Got call from Mr. Frost last night...This season does not go usual way, few last years last frost early May. Food pumpkins were covered and thats how they look. Not 100% dead but will set me back over week now... Sunday, June 6 View Page 80.7 Baggs giant marrow took hit too but not that bad... Sunday, June 6 View Page Bright side zuchinis under triple layered cover are blooming. Better to start thinking about next year. Wait! 661* Rivington from douple to normal vine:) Giant watermelons as well as Sugar babys survived:) All corns, beets and lonely parsnip alive and well. Last but not certainly least... Spotted first female today!Something I have never seen early June neither even late June... 1240 Bogie was first to producing femme fatale;) Maybe I need to say thanks to "product C"...Or it is just because of Lunatic... 1283 Grande and youngest plant 672.6 Stevens growing nicely now, both looks to become thickvined plants. Squashes little slower but growing nicely. Someone said "I have a dream"...Im saying I have THE plan...Dont know success yet but hey Mr. Tarkkinen...That XL pizza tastes soooo goood! You better get your plant pollinated soon....Im coming and getting over... Monday, June 7 View Page 4 beetroots on raised bed. Growing nicely now:) Monday, June 7 View Page Planted out my both 159.50 Joynson watermelons last Thursday. There were one female open and thought that why not try after I got these on ground. Well here she is now at DAY4:) Pollinated today also one to second plant. Small plants still but would be nice if I could get keeper set on June. 50 LBS watermelon in Finland? Hmmmmmmmmmm.... Tuesday, June 8 View Page Sunday mornin needed to order two police and two ambulance to our house, was school ending weekend and there were little case... Luca woke up and saw me on yard with polices... Monday evening just when kids went to bed this little bird landed next to our house... Tuesday, June 8 View Page Valuable work, thats what they are doing:) Tuesday, June 8 View Page Sorry Luca, dad dont know how to fly these things... Well, Tuesday...Im only missing UFO:s now... Camera battery loaded... Tuesday, June 8 View Page Found out today official reason why my chat always gets frozen... Tuesday, June 8 View Page ...it was ABDUKTION after all!!! Dont know whatta hell they are doing with my 1236*, laying eggs or making base camp? SVB´s we can fight back but how to get rid of these little bugs? Hmmm...if they can travel that far,lemme think...Alien poop! Best fertilize on whole Universum,WOOHOO Im so going to beat you badly;-) You know who you are...Bad one,Bad one... Next time you open my hoop and compact soil I need to borrow few machines from Tuija and take little patch tour on Village of Tarkkinen;-) Thursday, June 10 View Page Brad...How´s your Corns? Mine making tassle´s early June, Im gonna so beat you...LOL Thursday, June 10 View Page Squash picture of the day. 1236* on "homepatch". 4,5 hours sun on that place, oh well... at 3 feet and running but does not look very strong. One big leave under main removed, one broken. But...It has started to grow faster now so looking forward... Allotment...;-) K, Pollen Cab was polished and gastank was half full...Good that you got your morning session done:) Damn you are way ahead of me...But...when tailgate drops... Friday, June 11 View Page Project 3.67 Mantyniemi mater started...Mission impossible...One glassed balcony, one 3.67 plant... Friday, June 11 View Page Mission to grow 3 fruits on that one plant so that total weight of those fruits reach minumum 5 LBS. Yeah, thats not much for 3 fruit total weight...There will be catch on this project... Okey, lets see THE Plant and THE container where mission will be accomplished or bloody failed... Friday, June 11 View Page Hell yeah;) 2.11 gallon bucket sounds kind small right? I kind of forget this plant too long in that bucket and didnt feel comfortable to up-pot it anymore. So we have those three maters there growing now, all branches have been cutted and suckers removed. Zero vegatative growth, everything to those fruits... I kind of heard that cant get even 3 LBS out of those so here we go;-) 5+ and Im ok with it, 6+ would be exellent...Stay tuned... Friday, June 11 View Page Watering Project plant will be quite a Challange...Too dry...too wet...How to find balance... Friday, June 11 View Page Project 3.67 Mantyniemi circumferences today: Fruit A: 9.00" Fruit B: 10.25" Fruit C: 8.25" Will check these again after 5 days:) Saturday, June 12 View Page 12th June 2008 my best plant and plant that grew my pb of 232 LBS looked this: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=85476 Nothing to brag but got pb out of that one. 2008 I took patch pics 12th june and 19th, 26th and so on. So decided to do same way this year. Its no sense to compare growth to other growers, I just want to know if I have improved or not...Lets go out... Saturday, June 12 View Page First meet Tamarillo tree(Solanum betaceum) on stairway. I sow these late January this year. Luca calls them "rapid plants". Grew one few years ago up to 15 feet and we took fruits out of it three years a row. Now waiting to get fruit next year. Two of these on stairway. Saturday, June 12 View Page It was little rainy but beatiful morning. Riverside looked very nice and green...Need to fishing some day... Saturday, June 12 View Page Lassi was enjoying his "hide and seek" games on woods... Saturday, June 12 View Page Then I started to get signs that it aint gonna be normal Summer day... Saturday, June 12 View Page Wind started to get more power... Saturday, June 12 View Page 1.32 Rinne decided to grow horizontally new WR tomato for me... Saturday, June 12 View Page Tall sunflowers and corns bend on heavy gusts... Saturday, June 12 View Page Those bended even more... Saturday, June 12 View Page Started to wonder if there is category for horizontally grown sunflowers... Saturday, June 12 View Page Got more signs that we are facing big problems... Saturday, June 12 View Page ...Two of tall corns just couldnt take it anymore...And these are on quite windsafe place... Saturday, June 12 View Page ...Unlike allotment which is very sensitive to wind specially when it blows from Sea like today... Saturday, June 12 View Page ...At this point I decided not go to allotment. If road signs are falling down without MonkeyZ on them it cant look good on allotment.... Saturday, June 12 View Page Just in case that I need to look my hoops from neighbour citys tomorrow and compost what are left from plants... Pictured Luca´s 631.4 Jaser(500 Northup remake) Pic tooked 10th June. By that time this guy was third longest plant on allotment. Quite improvent compared to 2008 season. Im doing something right I think. Deb...Wheres weeds???...;-) Luca is looking forward to get orange beaty on Autumn, I truly hope that if there is disaster waiting on allotment at least this guy is alive and well. Fingers crossed, will take a look tomorrow. Sunday, June 13 View Page Alive and well:) Go Celtics Go!!! Dang wrong jacket again... Needed to repair few hoops after storm but all plants survived. Deb, theres few weeds for you;-) I dont have machines so I weed and turn soil with fork...Blisters coming this year... Turning soil and weeding as plants grow bigger. Still very satisfied growth so far. Left side of picture is 661* Rivington in glass/plastic hoop. Its still smallest on allotment but after main straightened from douple vine mood it has grown well considering on weather we been having lately. More like beetroot growing weather... Need still figure today stakes and wire for sunflowers, looks that I lost only one of seven I have. Close call this time,knock knock... Tuesday, June 15 View Page You Know...Faces on sandwiches etc. First I thought one of my mater having some weird disease...Second look told me something... Tuesday, June 15 View Page Its a MAP! Map of USA! Doesnt matter that we are missing part of California and Florida, okey, maybe Mexico has turned bit too but its still THE map... Now...Take your World Atlas and compare...Mater map shows major eartquake and and Pistil is pointing at... Des Moines, Iowa! Dont know if Don Young is growing giant maters so this sure must be sign that he is going to have WR pumpkin after 2010 Season,WOW! No problem Don, I accept all your 2010 crosses,LOL. Tuesday, June 15 View Page Meanwhile on my allotment:) Luca´s 631.4 Jaser was first to open male flowers. Female on tip... Now good weather pleaZe and we might have set on June...If todays weather continues it will be pollinated few days after our October weigh-off,LOL. Wednesday, June 16 View Page Project 3.67 mater: Fruit A 10.85" Fruit B 12.20" Fruit C 10.30" All fruits gained around 2" circ in five days. Considering bucket size I feel this was pretty good. Not much sun or warm during these days. After next five days new measurements with picture. Thursday, June 17 View Page Lassi helping on vine covering;-) Sunday, June 20 View Page Tuija... Im still in...4 Beets growing and this was first to show root above soil. Circ around 7" or so. Pop can picture next time....Or with oil barrel... Sunday, June 20 View Page Week ago 661* Rivington was half shorter. Still smallest plant on allotment but growing out of his home now... Sunday, June 20 View Page Hmmmmmm.... Sunday, June 20 View Page 1240 Bogie -09 Female on previous picture half way on this pic, wont be pollinated. Sides starting to grow now nicely, lot of staking in next days. 1240 now about 8 feet. Way ahead anything I have grown earlier,nice! Sunday, June 20 View Page 1283 Grande Also around 8 feet, little faster to developing sides than 1240. I have slow sides mostly cause plants were on buckets lill too long. Overall they are looking great on my standards, vines are thick etc. so this would be fun... Other plants: Luca´s 631.4 Jaser around 6 feet, lill female on tip... 905* V/M around 4 feet. 672.5 Stevens...Watch out...She´s Animal... I need to take hoops off latest 24th June, will be going my grandfather´s 90 years B-day party and stay there five days...Oh well, plants all alone,buuhuu... Im considering to build greenhouse for one plant from all hoops I have now after we get back from trip,will see... Want to hire watering crew! Well still few days to figure out plans for those 5 days. Tomatoes on balcony...Niceeeee! Maybe I should take pics soon... 1236* V/M on home 5 feet with no sides, dand shading trees,grrrrr. Sunday, June 20 View Page 4.41 Timm Should ripen somewhere early/mid July... Monday, June 21 View Page Project 3.67 Mater (2.11 gallon pot) Fruit A 12.60" Fruit B 13.80" Fruit C 12.30" Slowing down a bit but all fruits should easily go over 1 LBS, 5 LBS together is challange...But within reach... Pictured cool megabloom on 5.416 Harp:) Tuesday, June 22 View Page Oh well...Lassi decided that 1/3" day wasnt enaugh and ripped this guy off. 1.64 LBS was final weight today. Little less what I thought. More power to better fruits now on 4.41 Timm plant... Thursday, June 24 View Page Mr. Tarkkinen .... http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=135329 Six males.... I guess only one of those was open today morning... You are picking them bit early... For weekend pollinations...Want some 1283 Grande/1240 Bogie Pollen for your Faskell female? Go and get some Stud Pollen... Thursday, June 24 View Page Yeah...Corns and Luca´s two tamarillos on stairway was too much for neighbours,thank you very much. Olotillo corn was bit over 10 feet with pot and no tassle, would have made FIN record easily there. Tried to move it outside and broke stem. No corns for me this year. Few beside huse wall but dont expect much of them, maybe pb but not much more. Waiting that somooene comes to look how many pots I have on balcony and tell that there is risk that balcony collapse... so...WTF= Welcome to Finland to grow some giant veggies... Thursday, June 24 View Page 1240 Bogie -09 Female on tip:) 1283 Grande -09 and 672.5 Stevens -07 also very strong plants. All have started to shoot sidevines now very rapidly, still small but growing good space. Should be able to get all those tree pollinated latest July 10th which would be great in Finland. 2008 my pb came from July 25th pollination...Hmmm...Not country records for me but from 232 LBS -08 to 500+ 2010? Maybebayby... 5 days Holiday from tomorrow, hope that everything is alive and well when we come back... Lot of weeding and forking when we are back... I can feel blisters allready;-) Thursday, July 1 View Page MuchoZ GraciaZ Dos BroZ! Arrived today... Will do my best and bit more... 1283 Grande...MuchoZ Bueno...Looong fruited flower opening soon, around 20 dayZ before than flower that has grown my pb...mmmmmm..... Monday, July 5 View Page 1283 Grande x 672.5 Stevens (4 nice lobes) Around 12 feet. Pollination season started 2-3 weeks earlier than what has been normal for me. Monday, July 5 View Page 1283 Grande July 5th x 672.5 Stevens Monday, July 5 View Page After pollination 1283 wanted to play Turks Turban, no bees allowed to mess around. Same protection was used before pollination. Tuesday, July 6 View Page 905* Vincent/McGill x 800 Neily @ 7 feet, plant not growing well. 631.4 Jaser(Luca´s pumpkin) x 1240 Bogie @ 9 feet first 8 day old pumpkin will be removed tomorrow. Third opening in couple days. 672.5 Stevens x 1283 Grande @ 10 feet 1240 Bogie x 672.5 Stevens @ 12 feet Tuesday, July 6 View Page Luca´s 631.4 Jaser What a flower! Tuesday, July 6 View Page 905* Vincent/McGill Looking thought to keep next flower which will open 11-13th couple feet further. Thursday, July 8 View Page 800* Neily x 661* Rivington @ 7 feet. Was poor plant which I was planned to throw away but havent guts...Started very poorly on patch but now starts to look better every day. No other females on sight so I hope this on takes. Still 661* to be pollinated in few days and I have all plants on fruits. Couple security pollinations still next week. Thursday, July 8 View Page Patch owerview 8th July:) Thursday, July 8 View Page Luca´s huge sweet corn field with few onions. He´s looking forward to eat first homegrown corns. Tassles started to form to biggest corns so we should easily get them ripen before first frosts. Thursday, July 8 View Page 1240 Bogie 5th July. Normal Finnish Summers are cool and there no much growth in week. We have had now expectionally good weather so plants are growing even without greenhouses. Lets see same plant 3 days later... Thursday, July 8 View Page 1240 Bogie 8th July. I tried to find something to complain about that plant but its too picture perfect! Hopes fruit grows same way than plant itself... I might be doing something right this year:) Saturday, July 10 View Page 100 Starr Field pumpkin. Germinated around mid May. With current heat we have(80-85 on days and getting around 90 next week) field pumpkins have finally started grow nicely. I have removed first females on every four plants I have, gonna wait more foliage before letting they to bloom. Two weeks maybe before I start to set pumpkins on them. Saturday, July 10 View Page 631.4 Jaser Decided to try sand for keeping moisture and burying vines. First all weeds removed and dried few days on growing area,then lot and lot of sand on top of everything. Dont know yet how good this works but at least it looks nice:)Might even keeps soil warmer later on season which is kind of important when your growing area are near Nort Pole... On backround left 800 Neily*, center 1283 Grande THE BiZ, and right 1240 Bogie. Couple plants still to bury with sand. Saturday, July 10 View Page I have been saing that give us Summer 2003 back and pumpkins will grow in Finland...Yeah I didnt grew back then...But... National weather central announced that we are braking 7 years old stats now, Im sweating but plants will love the weather. 85-90F at least next five days and sunny,WOOHOO! Been allready 75-85F from end of June now. Whats normal finnish Summer weather like? 60 and rain...Little different right now... No wonder why plants look way different every day:)Dang, why my fruits are allready DAY20+ by now. Cause I would then blow them.LOL. I can smell lot of pb´s from Finland coming Autumn.... Saturday, July 10 View Page (And if I would have pre-read previous post I would wroted why my fruits arent DAY20 by now) Sunday, July 11 View Page 905* Vincent/McGill x 800* Neily Not sure if first took, will go with this if possible. @9 feet on main. Sunday, July 11 View Page Sorry but couldn´t resist not to post this pic. Too cool looking female on sidevine of 1240 Bogie:) First on main DAY5 and looks to be growing. Will set second on main 12th-13th and chooce from them two later. Monday, July 12 View Page Luca pollinating 661* Rivington:) 661* Rivington x 800* Neily Monday, July 12 View Page 661* Rivington plant. After slow start it really took off with current weather we are having. Monday, July 12 View Page Luca´s 631.4 Jaser DAY6........................ Tuesday, July 13 View Page 1240 Bogie x 1283 Grande This will be culled if first one starts to grow good speed... Tuesday, July 13 View Page I looked to my previous seasons, best DAY10 meeasurement for me has been 22.5", average has been around 18" Hmmmm....Somehow I think that Im going to laugh to those measurements later on this week...Yes,yes I know that DAY10 does not mean much but still... Wednesday, July 14 View Page 1283 Grande x 672.5 Stevens 631.4 Jaser x 1240 Bogie Both second fruits on main, first fruits DAY9 and DAY8. Going most likely with first fruits. Tomorrow still two just in case pollinations and im done. Ha, previos years my first pollinations have been later than last pollinations this year. Thursday, July 15 View Page Just in case: 672.5 Stevens x 1283 Grande (6 lobe) 631.4 Jaser x 1240 Bogie (5 lobe) Thursday, July 15 View Page 1283 Grande DAY10 Friday, July 16 View Page 631.4 Jaser DAY10 Not filling left side yet as well as as right side. Will keep eye on it cause... Friday, July 16 View Page one of these might get chance to grow instead of 10 day old fruit. these are 5 feet further on main. Decision latest on Sunday. Friday, July 16 View Page 672.5 Stevens DAY10 Friday, July 16 View Page 1240 Bogie DAY10 Friday, July 16 View Page 1283 Grande DAY11 All fruits gained just under 4" to just over 5" in 24 hours, 1283 made biggest gains:) Friday, July 23 View Page hmmmmmmmm..... Friday, July 23 View Page hmmmmmmm.... Going to rain cats and dogs tomorrow but I think I need to go out to play... Thanks Lunatics!!! Saturday, July 24 View Page Luca´s 631.4 Jaser DAY10 We removed bigger fruit when this was DAY4 and fruit after this one yesterday so it should pick up speed now. Symmetrical fruit, much better than earlier and more plant to feed our orange beaty... Saturday, July 24 View Page 661* Rivington DAY12 Saturday, July 24 View Page 1240 Bogie DAY18 Saturday, July 24 View Page Not much luck with corns this year. All Goliath´s are making ears and lonely Olotillo is slooow. Saturday, July 24 View Page Nice flower but way too low. None of my sunflowers will reach 10 feet,grrr. Sunday, July 25 View Page 1283 Grande "ANTARCTICA" DAY20 CC 61.8" OTT 144.5" 75LBS Best DAY20 for me ever, previous best have been OTT 125" Also special day, this same day 2 years ago I pollinated pumpkin that grew my pb of 232LBS. So I think Im just a little ahead this year,ha! I took yesterday OTT´s from all pumpkins but placed fabric under this one after measurement so cant tell accurate gains. Anyhow 1240 Bogie was without fabric both days and gained 14 LBS from DAY18 to DAY19...someone would think thats nothing but its something new for me. Weather during that period was very cool and we are now back to pleasant weather. Looking forward to seeing 20+ LBS day somewhere soon. Might be very close to get one or two pumpkins near 200 LBS by end of July which would keep me on right track to get one over 500 LBS by weigh-off time,hmmmm. Sunday, July 25 View Page ANTARTICA Wide and ribbed butt forming,whoa! By 2008 OTT chart and 61.8" CC ANTARTICA would end somewhere between 800-899 LBS... Yeah, not here but 500+ would make me smile. Nice to reach chart first time thought:-) Monday, July 26 View Page 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE" DAY20 OTT 139.5" 67LBS CC 59.5" Monday, July 26 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" DAY20 0TT 146.5" 76LBS CC 63" CC increase 5.5" last 24 hours. Best that I have ever seen. Tuesday, July 27 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" DAY15 OTT 114.5" CC 48" increase tad over 5"/24 hours COLOUR= quite pale green,NOT! Thursday, July 29 View Page 99F (37.2C) in middle Finland. Broked all time highest set on 1914...... Last two years we didnt even reach 86F(30C) once...... I feel that my pumpkins love this weather........... Friday, July 30 View Page 1283 Grande "ANTARTICA" DAY25 OTT 184" 142LBS Blossom turning in very sharply, knock on wood... Friday, July 30 View Page Oh well.... 800* Neily went soft on bottom. Two sidevine pollinations tomorrow. Saturday, July 31 View Page 631.4 Jaser DAY17 CC 50" Saturday, July 31 View Page 661* Rivington DAY19 OTT 156" CC 67.5" Too bad that im not able to measure this tomorrow, would be plenty over 1200 pounds benchmark at DAY20... Saturday, July 31 View Page 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE" DAY25 OTT 172" Moderate daily gains so far, nice colour coming... Saturday, July 31 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" DAY25 OTT 190" CC 84" Has picked up speed nicely now...Not far behind my pb weight anymore... Wednesday, August 4 View Page 1283 Grande "ANTARTICA" DAY30 OTT 214" Just shy of my pb... That dill ring doesnt look too good. Dont know if im able to get that one to hit scale...Still almost two months to go... Wednesday, August 4 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" DAY23 OTT 187" Love THE colour! Wednesday, August 4 View Page 631.4 Jaser DAY21 OTT 165" Prettyyyyy and picking up speed... Thursday, August 5 View Page 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE" DAY30 OTT 195" CC 88.5" Considering plant size she´s growing quite ok. My smallest plant. After fruit was set sides almost stopped growing. Cant complain about colour and shape is nice for eyes:) Thursday, August 5 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" DAY30 OTT 219" CC 98.5" One pound to go to reach my pb...Can I do it in 55 days? Little hard to measure, I went by smallest measurements so... We were away five days and patch was bit dry, watered heavily yesterday evening and again this morning. Cool day today and should then get back to near 85-90F so I hope daily gains will improve... Anyway season so far does not look bad at all... Go Team Lunatic Go!!! Friday, August 6 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" DAY25 OTT 197" CC 87" This one is just even with squash country record of Finland right now.... Well there is at least to bigger squash´s in Finland growing, both of them also off 661* Rivington seed. Another looks pancake like mine and another one is very round. Both having same great colour than mine. Mine is youngest fruit and gaining...hmmm...Maybe underdog will surpass those other two fruits... Friday, August 6 View Page Luca with his future orange monster:) DAY23 Measurements on DAY25...Colour right now... better than expected for fruit that age... Wednesday, August 11 View Page See the problem? Pic taken 11th, fruit pulled 12th. Was around 160LBS. Blossom side turned very soft fast. No rot inside, no scars outside. Dont know what happened. Fruit was covered whole its lifecycle so should not be due to sun. Thats life and life sucks sometimes. Nice colour thought. 631.4 Jaser now known: 160 EST Luca Mäntyniemi Sunday, August 15 View Page Lassi´s field pumpkin on 100 Starr -09 This plant has 4 pumpkins going... Sunday, August 15 View Page Sea of green:) Every inch of patch is filled. 3 kins and one squash... Even smallest of those 4 fruits is way over my pb...Squash growing best of those 4...Biggest...who knows... Tuesday, August 17 View Page First thing always when we arrive to allotment from Lassi´s mouth: "Where is Lassi´s pumpkin?" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "I think its still growing" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "That´s my bench" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "Okey you saw it" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "Almost done" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "Ready. Good nite pumpkin" Tuesday, August 17 View Page Beat the bet of beet.... Tuesday, August 17 View Page hmmmmmmmmmm.... Tuesday, August 17 View Page hmmmmmmm.... Tuesday, August 17 View Page Maybe... Tuesday, August 17 View Page Reaching to the sky... Tuesday, August 17 View Page Or dropping down fast...Still solid... Tuesday, August 17 View Page "Good nite big pumpkin,sweet dreams and grow well" Tuesday, August 17 View Page "Daddy, it doeZnt need any blanketZ, itZ.... ANTARTICA....!" Saturday, August 21 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" DAY40 414 LBS Day before was under 400.... Cool weather in Finland, been now 65F days and 50F nights and looks that wont go any warmer before next May. this guy currently third biggest on patch but might end up biggest... Grow Girl Grow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday, August 21 View Page "GREEN DAY" one more time:) Sunday, August 22 View Page If you are not blowing Em, you are not growing Em.... Oh Well... Sunday, August 22 View Page Nice smile... Sunday, August 22 View Page Ladies and Gentlemen...Now it would be good time to go fridge and get beverage and little snack. Sit back and enjoy... Coming soon "ANTARTICA VS GLOBAL WARMING" Directors note: its real talent when you have wroted ANTARTICA every time wrong way but always same way wrong:) Sunday, August 22 View Page "Hi, Im Makka Pakka, your guide on this little sad tour during last day of ANTARTICA´Z life" Sunday, August 22 View Page ANTARTICA was very characteric specimen... Sunday, August 22 View Page She got twice pea on her nose cause grower wasnt on town. Too little water turned out to form very bad dill ring... Sunday, August 22 View Page Without that ring...who Know´Z... Sunday, August 22 View Page Maybe she could have become something Special... Sunday, August 22 View Page Stem side was real nice, she looked kind of heavy... Sunday, August 22 View Page Maybe no one notice if I bring her to weigh-off like this;-) Sunday, August 22 View Page Dang, Luca and Lassi noticed that something aint right there... Sunday, August 22 View Page Time to cut her open... Sunday, August 22 View Page Hmmm....this looks thick... Sunday, August 22 View Page "Dad do you really know whats you are doing" Sunday, August 22 View Page PUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunday, August 22 View Page Whoa, looks thick...Is there any seeds there? Sunday, August 22 View Page Gotcha! Sunday, August 22 View Page 90 degrees angle just couldnt hold anymore. Underneath it was freaky thick... Sunday, August 22 View Page "Do I need to eat all of her" Sunday, August 22 View Page Rest in pieces. 1283 Grande "ANTARTICA" EST 455 lbs Weighed on pieces with bathroom scale.... Became.... 562 UOW DMG Mäntyniemi -10 23.5% heavy, whoa I had good feeling her going heavy but that much...Never! If that thing could have made it to weigh-off on Oct 2nd....who Know´Z... But anyway, thats biggest fruit ever grown in Finland without greenhouse...DMG But I still grew it:) One Squash left and two pumpkins....Would be nice to get rid of DMG status when its time to weigh those... Sunday, August 22 View Page 672.5 Stevens Hmmmm... Sunday, August 22 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" Salmoning... Sunday, August 22 View Page ...and growing....If this makes it to weigh-off and goes heavy... Monday, August 23 View Page Greens can smile too, oh well... Wednesday, August 25 View Page Could that mean 1St place at weigh-off? Average for last five days under cool weather was 13.8 lbs/day:) Pumpkins doing 5-10 lbs/day. Sunday, August 29 View Page Deb, this is for you:) 3.77 UOW Mäntyniemi -10 (159.5 Joynson x open) Actually this was huge compared to my sugar babys. 70+ days when picked Aug 17th. Mature seeds,woohoo. Would make great cross with your 0.2 Rebel. Word smallest giant watermelon in 2011... Tuesday, August 31 View Page Found few nice marrows growing near my home. These are from 40.8 Ruegger. Colour pattern is really cool, this plant has 3 fruits growing and biggest should be close to 50 lbs I guess. Plant was placed between rows of strawberries and it has grown like crazy. Longest vines close to 50 feet. Only tiny planting hole and then grown wild around yard. Maybe country rec. marrow from this plant? And no, its not mine. My stupid marrow sits at 10 lbs maybe. Wednesday, September 1 View Page September... 1.5" water in two hours...wait two hours and...pop plus pop.... Luckily small fruits on 631.4 Jaser but still, not great start for september. Pics next time when I go to allotment. Two nights ago light frost, lost few leaves, nothing major. Was close call, next allotment side by mine lost all her cucumbers. Growth now? Nothing to mention. Just hoping to get remaining fruits to scale. Pic from 31st Aug, Lassi playing with 800* Neily fruit. Lost early one to bottom rot, same happened again few days ago on sidevinefruit. This is on main, open pollinated on Aug. 1st. Looks solid without Lassi´s nail marks;-) Wednesday, September 1 View Page Lobotomy surgery? Mouth and eyes by dog or some other animal when she was couple days old. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Club Blow Out:) Wont remove on vine. This with Lobotomy and few still solid ones on 631.4 Jaser. Nice to look how splits turn later on. Wednesday, September 1 View Page 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE" 400LBS Wednesday, September 1 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" 530LBS Wednesday, September 1 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" 572LBS Tuesday, September 7 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" Big,Heavy,Blocky...??? Still growing quite good speed... 2nd Oct. 800+++??? Wednesday, September 8 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" Slowing down, might pass 600 lbs on Sunday. Thursday, September 9 View Page And yes, with great talent you are able to blow out parsnips too:-) Friday, September 10 View Page Leaves of three remaing plants. Older leaves are basically dead, powdery mildew started to show up too. 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE" no measurable growth in 3 days, might pull fruit on weekend and put on display to our yard. 1240 Bogie "LUNA" oozing from stem side, just little growth now. Would be happy for 700+ on weigh-off. 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" best grower if you can say so when speed is like 4lbs/day. Field pumpkins turning to orange, no big ones, biggest maybe 40lbs. But they sure will look cool after carved. Three long weeks to go. Monday, September 13 View Page 7.82 UOW Was cracked lengthwise. my last one and biggest. Biggest beet ever grown in Finland until finnish gals start to pull their beets for weigh-off. Monday, September 13 View Page 7.82 UOW again. Was weighed after all leaves shown on this picture was removed. Saturday, September 18 View Page Well didnt pull 672.5 Stevens "NUTCASE". Around 440lbs now. Has got some pounds still and getting prettier. Dont know yet if Im able to take her to weigh-off, will see later. Saturday, September 18 View Page 1240 Bogie "LUNA" I might be little exiting to see her numbers on scale... Saturday, September 18 View Page 661* Rivington "GREEN DAY" I think this is first shot from stemside. Kind of blocky compared shots from blossom side. Around 630 lbs. Saturday, September 18 View Page Wilson does not feel too good:-D Saturday, September 18 View Page Triplets on 100 Starr. Monday, September 20 View Page Oh My they stoled "NUTCASE"!!! Monday, September 20 View Page "Maybe I need bigger basket?" Tuesday, September 21 View Page 440 EST Mäntyniemi -10 (672.5 Stevens -07 x 1283 Grande -09) Pollinator grew my 562 UOW DMG which was 23.5% heavy. This should go for weekend to local harvest party if we can lift it to van... Thursday, September 23 View Page 440 EST Mäntyniemi -10 Now it looks way bigger and better when sitting on its blossom. Quite good crop of fat seeds:) Not going to harvest party on weekend, owner has "backbroblems"...See, my kins are not that small anymore;-) We try to carve this one on weekend. Tuesday, September 28 View Page If Autumn scenery looks like this... Wednesday, September 29 View Page Next morning leaves looks like this. Wednesday, September 29 View Page 30 minutes later like this. Well bright side killer frost came this year 29 days later than on 3 former years. 3 days to weigh-off, time to make some arrangements. Wednesday, September 29 View Page I dig soil down front of fruits so pallet is same level than bottom of fruits. Wednesday, September 29 View Page Could this pic include total of 1400 lbs of fruits... Wednesday, September 29 View Page Evening leaves looks happy:) Wednesday, September 29 View Page Dinosaur eggs waiting for Friday transport:) Yeah labour not easy to get so we cutted these off today. Dont think they loose much if nothing weight in two extra days cause weather is very cool now. At least they are now on place where I can load them on van Friday evening. Loading might be challenge thought. 1240 Bogie measures little smaller than 661* Rivington but...It sure wasnt easy to move... I think one 1240 was weighed this year 28% heavy...Time to have some daydreams... As much as I was able to look both bottoms looks solid so looking forward to get great improvement to my official pb of 232 lbs. Maybe 500lbs improvement...?...? Okey, goal is to place on TOP3 both pumpkin and squash on Saturday:) Saturday, October 2 View Page Weigh-off morning 7am. Saturday, October 2 View Page Almost loaded. Got ride with Maija´s two pumpkins and one squash. 1240 Bogie almost in. Saturday, October 2 View Page Total 39 entries, tripled last year entries. Saturday, October 2 View Page Some of the bigger ones. Looks to be very tough competition... Saturday, October 2 View Page Kaarina´s pumpkin on front, est clearly biggest so closest to scale. Orange one behind Kaarina´s going to be Estonian record soon... Saturday, October 2 View Page Few more. Number 11 grown by rookie, nice! Saturday, October 2 View Page Quite obvios that Mr. Tarkkinen has come to take Howard Dill Award home with his new Pb... Saturday, October 2 View Page Weighing smaller ones first... Saturday, October 2 View Page My 661* Rivington waiting its turn... Saturday, October 2 View Page 3rd place squash grown by Erkki Takkunen. 671 LBS (304.5KG) 661* Rivington x open Saturday, October 2 View Page I got 2nd place:) 688.9 LBS 661* Rivington x 800* Neily Could be killer cross I think:) Saturday, October 2 View Page Maija Karvinen won Squash competition. Her winner entry weighed....... 716.9 LBS!!!(325.3kg) new SQUASH record of Finland. Congrats Maija, job well done!!! Cross is 661* Rivington x open Looks that 661* rivington seed could be one to try little better growing area than Finland. Im sure that 661* could grow way over 1000 pounder in right hands... Thanks goes to Jordan Rivington for sending bunch of those to Finland 2009 and again early 2010. Thank you Mr. Rivington! Saturday, October 2 View Page New Estonian record and 5th place! 605.5 LBS(274.8KG) grown by Rookie Juha Ollila, job very well done Juha! Im just wondering what he brings to scale next year.... Sundin(not sure which) x 232 Mäntyniemi Juha took seeds to get more ppl in Estonia to grow giants, flesh was given to ppl at weigh-off.Very nicely done my friend! Saturday, October 2 View Page ppl admiring Mr. Tarkkinen´s 4th place and Howard Dill Award winner pumpkin! 630.5 LBS(281.5kg) and new Pb. Helvetin hyvä veto Jouni, Onneksi olkoon!!!!Ens vuonna uusiks! Cross: 1021 Faskell x 1185 Kline Saturday, October 2 View Page Maija Karvinen took 3rd place with his greenhouse monster. Sorry dont have better picture but its on the front here. 661.8 LBS(300.3kg) And yes, pb for her too! Congrats Maija!!! Sorry guys, no idea of cross, will be posted on GPC info page later. Saturday, October 2 View Page So we have two kins to go before 2010 championship is all done. Whos left? Hey, 2009 competitions 9th and 10th place holders did something right on 2010... Kaarina(pb of 186lbs -09) VS Miika (pb of 232lbs -08) Greenhouse VS Allotment Female VS Male 1058 Ghaye VS 1240 Bogie ETC.ETC... Lot of braggings troughout long season, finally tailgates has dropped...Two growers, one scale...one Champ... 1240 Bogie "LUNA" white one on pallet, 1058 Ghaye "SEPI" front of scale. Official OTT for LUNA 310" AKA 629 LBS so its going to be first on scale... Saturday, October 2 View Page Let me introduce to you.... 735.9 Mäntyniemi -10 1240 Bogie x 672.5 Stevens 17% heavy was THE key to get title. I got seed from StCroix Growers promo pack last winter, e-mailed trough season with Alex Bogie and when his smaller one went super heavy(+28%) I started to have daydreams of biggun. Thank you Alex for making that cross last year, super job! And btw, I hope your biggun from 1240 goes super heavy in few days... Dont really understand yet what I did. Two last years my goal has been to break 500 pound barrier. Weather sure helped this year. I think im target next year... Saturday, October 2 View Page We are still friends:) Kaarina´s 2nd place pumpkin went on chart and became... 703 Rinne -10 1058 Ghaye x self Outstanding Prez Kaarina!!! Not many growers in 700 pounds club in Finland:) I know you had high hopes last year and things didnt went as planned, you finally got your price, im so proud for you:) And hey, sorry that you didnt win;-) Need pumpkin on winter?;-) And yes, I almost peed on my pants when your monster was coming to scale, I was sure that she goes heavier than mine. 1000 pounds next year,ok? Saturday, October 2 View Page Result board:) We had great day, great people, great pumpkins and tough competition, just how it should be. Couldnt tell before weighing who wins. Many many pb´s and happy faces:) Saturday, October 2 View Page Bigger ones closer look. OH, if you see "V" it means Squash. Heard that many will try next year for first time. Good job for promoting this Lunatic sport. Too bad that Makka Pakka wasnt on weigh-off, dang. Saturday, October 2 View Page 735,9 Mäntyniemi -10 with TOP3 growers:) Tuesday, October 5 View Page Biggest 2010 solid fruit in Finland. 785.7 lbs grown by Takkunen who take 3rd place on squashes. He thought that kins are way bigger this year and had only small trailer capable of one fruit. If we would have known prior weigh-off he had monster like this home we would figured out how to transport it to weigh-off. I think he leave no fruit home on 2011.... Congrats for awesome pumpkin Takkunen!!! grown off 960 Kline (875 Dill x 846 Calai) Takkunen was on my growing seminar on 2009 and got that seed there. Neither he was awake and listen when I told how to grow giants or thought that I know nothing and got better instructions somewhere else:-D Tuesday, October 12 View Page http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=147519 Lemme think for second.... Race for 1000+ fruit? Are you in? Im in.... Tuesday, October 12 View Page Because...