Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 113 Entries. Monday, April 21 View Page Pumpkin seeds started in peat pots with miracle gro seed starting mix, placed in indoor tabletop heated green house. Sunday, April 27 View Page Progress of seeds after 6 days in greenhouse. Sunday, May 4 View Page Tilled side lawn to create new pumpkin patch. Placed Sul-Po-Mag on entire patch and tilled again to mix into the ground. Will build hoop houses tomorrow and plant pumpkin seedlings. Monday, May 5 View Page Hoop houses are up with the help of my wife, seedlings are planted, and fertilized with Neptune's 2-5-1 fish fertilizer. Hopefully will see some progress in a couple of days. As of right now, House #1 has a 944.2 Deanna Lloyd (1038 Emmons x 842 Eaton) which is orange in color, House #2 has a 756.5 K. Dowdy (881 Beauchemin x 471 Beachy) which is a green squash, and House #3 holds a 757 Grande07 (1502 Wallace x 805 Pukos) which I obtained thanks to the generosity of The Biz in CO! I'm still waiting for the seeds from The Wiz to emerge..... Monday, May 19 View Page Tilled 9 pounds of osmocote 14-14-14 into the patch today! Pumpkins all seem to be dong well in hoop houses, had to replace first plant with backup 687 Berard. Fertilzed all of them with miracle gro 15-30-15. Hopefully we get some sun in the next few days to speed up growth. Biz will try to get photo of plant this week uploaded! Tuesday, May 20 View Page Here's a pic of the Berard - this one replaced the 944 that didn't make it once it was moved from inside under the heatlamp to outside in the hoophouse. Tuesday, May 20 View Page Here's a pic of the Green Squash in the hoophouse. The thermometer is reading at around 60 degrees, which is warmer than the 50 degrees it was outside today - the hoophouse is deinately protecting the pumpkins from all the breezy days we've been having! Tuesday, May 20 View Page Last but certainly not least, here's a pic of the 757 Grande from The Biz - so far so good! Thursday, May 22 View Page Planted giant sun flower seeds, radishes, and corn today! Sunday, June 8 View Page Took down the hoophouses this morning, re-tilled the patch and added fish emulsion after building up mounds around each of the 3 pumpkins. Sunday, June 8 View Page Berard (Orange): 1st day without hoophouse. Sunday, June 8 View Page Grande 07 (White): 1st day without the hoophouse Sunday, June 8 View Page Grande 07 (White): 1st day without the hoophouse. Main vine started and a tendril is growing!! Sunday, June 8 View Page K Dowdy (Green): 1st day without the hoophouse. As with the Grande 07, the main vine is growing and tendrils have appeared! Saturday, June 14 View Page Main vine on Grande starting to fall... others soon to follow. Sunday, June 15 View Page Berard standing tall! Sunday, June 15 View Page K Dowdy green squash still standing tall! Sunday, June 15 View Page The Biz has his landing gear down! Tuesday, June 17 View Page Sprayed the pumpkin vines for the first time this year with my 3 in 1 garden safe! Wednesday, June 25 View Page sprayed vines again Thursday, June 26 View Page Squash plant vine at 4 feet, longest of all three, one female too. Other vine has one female too, no males on either plants. Friday, June 27 View Page squash female about 3 feet out Friday, June 27 View Page patch picture Friday, June 27 View Page Do you think this plant will make it? We had some strong winds and heavy rain and when I got home to look at the patch this plant was on its leaves. Friday, June 27 View Page first male flower Friday, June 27 View Page Here are my cucumber plants that I got from my mother, so I planted them right into my compost pile, going to watch and see what happens with them. Sunday, June 29 View Page Buried the vines today, and slowly starting to turn Berard around. Monday, June 30 View Page Sprayed vines tonight, no signs of svb yet, maybe some ccumber beatle damage. Sunday, July 6 View Page Sprayed vines today, fertilized with miracle gro, saoked the patch, have one female on two plants hope to pollinate this week. Monday, July 7 View Page All 3 vines have one female at 8 feet out, should be pollinating 2 of them this week. The Biz vine is 100", mr greenie is 104" and Elliot is 110" as of today. Tuesday, July 8 View Page All three vines are now starting to throw out secondaries, increased the fertization program. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Berard 687 pollinated today self x2, K. Dowdy 756.5 pollinated today with Biz 757. Second female on Biz today on secondary vine. Thursday, July 10 View Page Sprayed plants again tonight with 3 in 1. Friday, July 11 View Page The Biz's vine now has 8 females on it, none though ready to be pollinated. Sunday, July 13 View Page K Dowdy day 4 is at 8 inches. Berard is at 7.5 inches circumference. The Biz vine is at 13 feet, K Dowdy is at 13 feet, and Berard is at 15 feet. Patch was soaked today and hand tilled, and all side vines were buried as well. One leaf from K Dowdy vine measered 20 inches in diameter. Sunday, July 13 View Page Picture of the patch! Monday, July 14 View Page Both pumpkins at day 5 are 10 inches in circumference. Tuesday, July 15 View Page Berard pumpkin 12"s, K Dowdy looks like it stopped growing will probably cull it. Wednesday, July 16 View Page sprayed vines today, the biz plant has a female that will open tomorow. Thursday, July 17 View Page pollinated female on Biz self x 3, have two more females on other 2 vines ready to be pollinated tomorrow. Thursday, July 17 View Page Biz flower was a 6 lobe female. Friday, July 18 View Page Pollinated Berard self x 2, K. Dowdy self X 1, all three vines now have at least one pollinated. Culled first squash off k. dowdy turned from green to yellow and was shrinking.Day 9 measurement on first pumpkin Berard is 16 iches. Friday, July 18 View Page Spraying is working saw first vine borer moth dead! Friday, July 18 View Page Day 9 pumpkin. Friday, July 18 View Page Patch! Saturday, July 19 View Page Day 10 first pumpkin at 18" circumference. Sunday, July 20 View Page Day 11...21"cc.....Day 3...8"cc...Day 2....6"and6"cc. Sunday, July 20 View Page Berard vine is 21', K.Dowdy is 20', and the Biz is 19'. Monday, July 21 View Page Pollinated second pumpkin on the Biz vine today self x 3, 5 lobe female. Monday, July 21 View Page Day 12 Berard 23" circ. Tuesday, July 22 View Page Day 13 Berard pumpkin 25"cic., Day 5 the Biz pumpkin 10", cut off side vine and cut node roots for pumpkin expansion, wife was busy in the patch today moving the pumpkin to get it perpendicular while I was at work. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Day 14 Berard 28" and day 5 Berard 10". Day 5 K. Dowdy 10" Sprayed vines this morning with 3 in 1. Just need to get some sun for more growth. Patch is really starting to get filled in now. Will start to think about ending secondary vines soon. Will probably pollinate one more on Berard plant tomorrow it will be an open pollination. Thursday, July 24 View Page Berard day 15 is 29" circ. placed shade cover over pumpkin, raised the vine a little to relieve stem stress, and wife moved pumpkin again to get it almost perendicular now. Day four Biz is now at 6" circ. K. Dowdy hand pollinated with the Biz x2, but left to be open pollinated by the bees too. No special treatment for this one, and same for the next Berard female. Will try to get three set on each vine then go with the best growth rate, still deciding if I will keep two on one vine. Monday, July 28 View Page Got home from vacation today, and one(Biz plant) of my pumpkin's top split from the bottom due to much rain. Patch is pretty filled in now, starting to think about terminating secondary vines. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Culled #2 Berard, #1 k. Dowdy. Day 8 #2Biz is 12"circ. #3 Berard 3" circ. open 7/25-7//29. #2 k.Dowdy day 5: 4"circ. #1 Berard day 20: 37c29s28e for 25lbs. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Pumpkin on Berard plant may be the keeper. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Patch! Tuesday, July 29 View Page Split! Ouch! Too much rain! Tuesday, July 29 View Page Pollinated K. Dowdy self x 1 Thursday, July 31 View Page The biz day 10 is 17"circ.,,yellowing of tips of leaves most likely downey mildew. Berard pumpkin 41c32s31e. Pollinated 5 lobe biz self x 3, pollinated 4 lobe berard self x3. Friday, August 1 View Page K.Dowdy day 3 is 9"circ., The biz day 11 is 20"circ., berard 43c35s32e for 110ott. Saturday, August 2 View Page K.Dowdy day 4 is 10", The biz day 12 is 22". Saturday, August 2 View Page Pollinated K. Dowdy (self x 3)5 lobe female Sunday, August 3 View Page Elliott 46,37,34=117, greenie day 5=12,biz=25c Sunday, August 3 View Page greenie Sunday, August 3 View Page shading elliott Sunday, August 3 View Page shading th biz Monday, August 4 View Page elliott 48,38,35e=121, greenie day6=13,biz=27c. Monday, August 4 View Page Wife pollinated the greenie today open on side vine near hydrangea 4 lobe. Tuesday, August 5 View Page sprayed 3 in 1 today Tuesday, August 5 View Page Berard day 5=7",Biz day5=7",greenie day3=9",greenie day7=16". Tuesday, August 5 View Page Pollinated K Dowdy self x3 Wednesday, August 6 View Page greenie day 8=20" finally landed on the ground. Thursday, August 7 View Page Day 29 Berard 53c40s,37e=130ott.,Day 17 Biz 32c,27s26e=85ott, greenie day 9-20c, day 5-12c. Friday, August 8 View Page Day 30 Berard 53c41s38e=132ott, Day 10 greenie 23c.,Day 6 greenie 14c. Saturday, August 9 View Page Day 11 greenie 26c, Day 7 greenie 15c. Monday, August 11 View Page Day 33 Elliott 55c43s39e=137, Day 9 little greenie 15c, Day 13 Greenie 32c23s24e=79, Day 21 The Biz 39c32s31e=102. Tuesday, August 12 View Page Elliott Tuesday, August 12 View Page Mr. Greenie Tuesday, August 12 View Page The Biz Wednesday, August 13 View Page Finally had a sunny day today, was able to fertilize the plants. Luckily the patch is on a slight incline or it would be a flooded patch from all the rain we have had here. Lightning bolt struck a tree across the street from my house to close for my liking! Nobody hurt that is the good thing. Friday, August 15 View Page Day 37 Elliot 58c45s40e=143ott, Day 17 Mr.Greenie 41c29s31e=101ott, Day 25 The Biz 44c35s34e=113ott. Saturday, August 16 View Page sprayed 3 in 1 today Sunday, August 17 View Page Day 39 Elliot 60c46s41e=1470tt, Day 19 Mr. Greenie 45c33s34e=112ott, Day 27 The Biz 47c38s35e=120ott. Sunday, August 17 View Page Elliot Sunday, August 17 View Page Mr. Greenie Sunday, August 17 View Page The Biz Monday, August 18 View Page Fertilized patch today, and sent my registration in for some flowers I am going to enter in the state fair. Tuesday, August 19 View Page Pulled out 8 vine borers today out of the vines, I am sure there are more, I think all the rain we had affected the usefulness of the 3 in 1 spray. Next year will have to use systemics did not want to but to put all this time and effort and see the vines go down to an insect really sucks, only good thing is it is almost the end of the season so I will just ride them out and hope for a 100 lb. in my second year. Tuesday, August 19 View Page Tremor [email protected] Jim, Feel free to email me if anyone should offer you conflicting advice. We'll set them straight. Imidacloprid (systemic) is good insurance to back up a solid contact spray program but neither alone is worth the risk. Forget every other "opinion". This works. Worry only about the active ingredient names. Both of these products are now off-patent so brand names mean nothing now. Imidacloprid at .3 lbs active ingredient per acre THREE times. 1st...preplant (alone to the soil) 2nd...week #3 soil again (with Bifenthrin foliar to leaves the next day) 3rd...week #6 soil again (Bifenthrin foliar .33/gal again) then Bifenthrin every 2-3 weeks at .33-.5 oz/gallon foliar. Last time...(I must sound like a broken record by now LOL) CONTACT AND SYSTEMIC Never trust either alone. Bifenthrin & imidacloprid. Sure; there are several other consumer-grade contacts but they all present some form of compromise. Bifenthrin & imidacloprid. CONTACT AND SYSTEMIC. There are no other items worth considering unless you have a commercial pesticide applicators license. Wednesday, August 20 View Page Fertilized the pumpkins today. Wednesday, August 20 View Page Day 42 Elliott 61c47s42e=150ott. Day 22 Mr. Greenie 50c35s37e=122ott. Day 30 The Biz 51c41s38e=130ott. Saturday, August 23 View Page Fertilized pumpkins today, sprayed dahlias for japanese beetles need to enter blooms in state fair perfectly. Sunday, August 24 View Page Day 46: Elliott 63c/43s/48e = 154 ott Sunday, August 24 View Page Day 26: Mr. Greenie 55c/37s/40e = 132 ott Sunday, August 24 View Page Day 34: The Biz 55c/40s/43e = 138ott Monday, August 25 View Page Mr greenie 56c37s41e=134ott. Wednesday, August 27 View Page Mr. Greenie 61c37s41e=139ott. Friday, August 29 View Page Mr. Greenie 62c41s44e=147ott. Sunday, August 31 View Page Elliot 67c50s44e=161, Mr. Greenie64c43s45e=152,The Biz61c47s43e=151ott. Sunday, August 31 View Page elliot Sunday, August 31 View Page mr greenie Sunday, August 31 View Page the biz Tuesday, September 2 View Page Mr. Greenie 65c44s46e=155ott. Friday, September 5 View Page Brought Elliot to the Hillsboro County Fair - the final measurements were 72c51s46e=169ott. official weight was 129 lbs. The pumpkin went 14% heavy. It was still growing when I gave it the ax. Still have 2 more growing, hopefully they make it to October 18th. Sunday, September 7 View Page Mr. Greenie 68c47s48e=163ott. The Biz 65c49s45e=159ott. Sunday, September 7 View Page Mr. Greenie with skin slip Sunday, September 7 View Page the biz Monday, September 8 View Page Sprayed patch with 3 in 1, lots of powdery mildew, hope plants can survive to October 18th. Wednesday, September 10 View Page Mr Greenie 70c47s49e=166ott. Sunday, September 14 View Page Mr. Greenie 72c48s49e=169ott. The Biz 69c50s46e=165ott. Sunday, September 21 View Page Mr. Greenie final weight 155 lbs. Sunday, October 19 View Page Final weight of the Biz=135 pounds. 71c51s48e=10ott.