Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 143 Entries. Friday, April 24 View Page Great day to start a diary. 3 days of exellent temps and lots of sunshine in the forcast. My lineup for (09) 1536 Vankooten (1142x998) 1287 Vankooten (1142x1097) 1144 Graham (1287x sibb) 664.5 Liggett(1005x1097) Backup plants are the 840 parks and my 812(994Huntx 1287).All seeds germinated in 2 days accept the 664 which did germinate but is rather sluggish compared to the rest.The fingers are crossed for this one.Good luck to all growers this season. Wednesday, April 29 View Page The 664.5 Liggett is really picking up . Looking very healthy and thick. This one seemed to require a little more attention than the others so i'm both curious and excited about working with this plant . I'll have to post some pics soon. Friday, May 8 View Page After 3 days searching the house upside down for 1 of 2 digital cameras and 2 chargers we finally found them. At their friends house. lol. All plants are really thriving this year. The 1536 was a very easy seed to germinate , has beautiful color and is starting to thicken up nicely. My 1144 is the largest plant and also very healthy and thick. The 664.5 has definitely improved the most concidering the slow start it got off to. I think it also is looking great . The 840 parks is 5 days younger than the rest and sits beside my 812 which also looks good but will only stay if something happens to the 840. What can i say about the 1287. It looked exellent last year and it looks great this year.It is located beside my 1144 . I think these plants are all off to a great start this year. Pics of all plants will be posted tonight. Friday, May 8 View Page 1287 Friday, May 8 View Page 1144 Friday, May 8 View Page 812 Friday, May 8 View Page 840 Friday, May 8 View Page 1144 Friday, May 8 View Page 1144 Friday, May 8 View Page 664 Friday, May 8 View Page 1287 Friday, May 8 View Page 1536 Friday, May 8 View Page 1536 Monday, May 11 View Page Wind gust's up to 90km/hr here last night.Wind fence blew down and a couple of fence post snapped off flush with the ground. If the frames had of been removed and the plants were on there own yesterday. It would have been a very short season for me. 10am (1deg c) feels like -5. North wind comes straight in off the ocean and is brutal at times. Then again theres nothing like living beside the atlantic ocean. Wednesday, May 13 View Page The 1144 , 1536 Vankooten , 1287 Vankooten are all vining now.The 664 Liggett and my 812 are just starting to show a sign of vining . The 1144 is a brute of a plant but shares a frame with the 1287 Vankooten. This will be the last season for the 1287 in my patch so i may remove the 1144 . The last few nights have been very cold here in Donkin. (-4deg c )last night. I sure hope the electric heaters hold up. Monday, May 18 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten(plant1) Monday, May 18 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten (plant2) Monday, May 18 View Page 1144 Graham Monday, May 18 View Page 1287 Vankooten Monday, May 18 View Page So far 1536.5 Vankooten is turning out to be a real joy to have in my patch . It was the first of my seeds to germinate and as you can see is a very agressive plant.It is planted in what i consider the best location in my patch. The forcast is looking great this week. Ya gotta love it. Thursday, May 21 View Page OK. I just got in from the patch after making some brutal decisions. My 1144 planted beside the 664 Liggett is now toast. The plant was twice the size of the 664 and i usually don't go against the ol gut. I sure hope the 664 lives up to my expectations. Both 1536 Vankooten plants were the best in the patch. The plant with alot of yellow at the stump is gone away. The last plant to get cut today was another 1144.This is it for the 1287 Vankooten in my patch so i decided to keep it. Thursday, May 28 View Page The 1536.5 Vankooten is now 5ft. Although it seemed to want to flat vine at approx 2.5 ft it has since come out of it and is looking great. Secondaries are growing nicely also. Very fast growing plant. The 1287 Vankooten and the 664.5 Liggett are approx 2.5 ft. Quite a bit slower than the 1536 but are still great looking plants. Sunday, May 31 View Page The 664.5 Liggett has finally decided to give in and lay down. 3ft of vine and about 80 bamboo sticks to get this baby to submit. The 1287 Vankooten isn't too cooperative either. The 994.5 Hunt (842x898)i grew last year to 812 was a small vined plant and very easy to manage. I polinated it with the 1287. The 812 is moving along rather nicely but doesn't resemble the 994.5 at all. It is the spit of the 1287. I may keep it and use the 840 Parks for pollen only. Wednesday, June 3 View Page The 1536.5 Vankooten is now over 8ft and only a couple of days away from out growing the greenhouse. This plant is blowing my mind.It is over twice the size of the other plants in the patch. Friday, June 5 View Page The 1536.5 Vankooten has out grown the greenhouse and is now on its own. A little risky this time of year on the cape but i guess i'll have to deal with it. A pumpkin at 8ft on june 5 . Thats a first. I guess i'll have to start knocking them off the vine like you did last year Jeff.lol Sunday, June 7 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten Sunday, June 7 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten Tuesday, June 9 View Page The 664.5 Liggett at 5 ft. Tuesday, June 9 View Page The 1287 Vankooten at just over 5ft. Both the 664 and the 1287 are a little behind the 1536.5 Vankooten but the main, secondaries and leaves are much larger. Friday, June 12 View Page The 1536.5 Vankooten, the 664.5 Liggett and the 1287 Vankooten are out of the greenhouses and starting to look like crap. The weather has been very cool. We need heat in a bad way. Bump outs for the secondaries are a must the next time i grow. Sunday, June 14 View Page A few leaves off the 1287 Vankooten.I'm starting to get very frustrated with the condition of my plants since they came out of the greenhouse. Any advice on what could be causing this would be greatly appreciated. [email protected] Sunday, June 14 View Page Another leaf Sunday, June 14 View Page and another off the 1287 Sunday, June 14 View Page The 812 fresh out of the greenhouse Sunday, June 14 View Page The 812 . Monday, June 15 View Page The 664.5 Liggett Monday, June 15 View Page 664.5 Liggett Friday, June 19 View Page Leaf off the 664 Friday, June 19 View Page Leaf off the 664 . I have a feeling this is about to become a very short growing season. The plants are looking miserable . Soil sample and tissue analysis will be sent off monday. If anyone has an idea what it looks like advice would be appreciated Saturday, June 20 View Page Female on the 1536 Vankooten at 8ft. Saturday, June 20 View Page The 1536 Vankooten at 11ft. Sunday, June 21 View Page Turns out to be a 5 lober on the 1536. Just a little to early. Sunday, June 21 View Page Second female on the 1536. Just shy of 11ft. Tuesday, June 23 View Page 100mm of rain the last couple of days and lots more in the forcast for the rest of the week. I wonder if they will drown this week so i can enjoy a little summer this year.lol Thursday, June 25 View Page The 664.5 Liggett is putting out an incredible rooting system . With a little luck everything in the patch will be pollinated with the 664.5 Saturday, June 27 View Page 664.5 Liggett with the first female showing at 10ft. What a nice low growing plant Saturday, June 27 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten. Not a bad lookin stem Jake. Sunday, June 28 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten x 664.5 Liggett . Tuesday, June 30 View Page Daisy. Thursday, July 2 View Page A blanket of fog , daytime highs of 13deg c , overnight lows of 11 deg c and at least 140mm of rain in the last week and a half has sure put a shit kickin into my plans. The 664 liggett has had 2 females on the end of the main since forever. All plants have been moving at a snails pace. There might be some hope for you after all Jeff. lol Friday, July 3 View Page The 664 Liggett. This is an awesome plant . Secondaries on both sides fill out perfectly and love to put out females. It has a very thick yellow main vine that is easy to work with. The females are there. I just need a little heat this week. Sunday, July 5 View Page The 664.5 Liggett just loves to throw these out. This is on a secondary. All plants will be pollinated with it and i'm thinking very heavily on selfing the 664.5. Wednesday, July 8 View Page Schooner Pond. Anyone looking for seaweed Thursday, July 9 View Page 664.5 Liggett Saturday, July 11 View Page Pollinated a 5 lobe on the 664.5 Liggett this morning. 664.5 x self. A little something to play with down the road. Saturday, July 11 View Page Your finger tips bleedin yet Ben. lol Sunday, July 12 View Page Second female on the 1536 Vankooten. Approx 16ft Sunday, July 12 View Page Something screwy with that date. lol Monday, July 13 View Page Pollinated the second female this morning on the 1536.5 Vankooten. 1536.5 x 1287 Vankooten (4 lobes) Wednesday, July 15 View Page Pollinated the 1287 Vankooten with the 664.5 Liggett this morning.( 4lobe) and the second 664.5 Liggett with the 1287 Vankooten which was also a perfectly shaped 4 lobe. 1287 x 664.5 664.5 x 1287 Wednesday, July 15 View Page 664 Liggett at approx 14ft. Friday, July 17 View Page Pollinated my 812 with 664 Liggett this a.m. Beautiful 5 lobe female. 812 x 664.5 Friday, July 17 View Page Second female on the 1536.5 Vankooten has been culled. Sunday, July 19 View Page 664.5 Liggett x self. Not to impressed with the position of this one so it most likely will go away soon. The stem has been developing a few small splits as well. Sunday, July 19 View Page 664.5 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten. Much better vine position with this one so it will be the keeper. Tuesday, July 21 View Page 812 x 664 day 4. Tuesday, July 21 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten x 664.5 Liggett. Tuesday, July 21 View Page 664.5 Liggett x self is gone away. The flood gates are about to open. Good luck Ben. lol Wednesday, July 22 View Page 664.5 Liggett day 7. Saturday, July 25 View Page 664.5 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten at day 10.(27in/cc). Saturday, July 25 View Page The main on the 664 at approx 13ft. It started out yellow and has since turned to a bright orange color. It has another female at approx 18ft. I may pollinate it with my 812 (994Huntx1287Vankooten)and go with 2 on this plant. Saturday, July 25 View Page Small stem splits. Small blossom splits. Sap oozing from the stem. Sap oozing from blossom. You name it i got it on all 4 pumpkins. What a great forcast for this week. NO GUTS NO GLORY Kenny. lol Sunday, July 26 View Page 812 x 664.5 Liggett. Day 9 (23cir). Sunday, July 26 View Page 1287 Vankooten x 664.5 Liggett. Day 11 (20in cir) Wednesday, July 29 View Page Second pollination on 812(812x664.5) July 26(4 lobe)16ft Second pollination on the 1287(1287 x 812)July 28(5lobe)17ft Second pollination on the 664.5(664.5 x1536)July 29(4lobe)20ft Friday, July 31 View Page First pollination on the 1287 Vankooten (1287 x 664.5)didn't take and is now in pumpkin heaven. Next in line is the 1287 x 812. A little late in the game but the 812 is doing very well for day 14 and if the pollination takes i think it could make a great cross if nothing else. Friday, July 31 View Page 5 hours in the patch today.Pumped 600gal of water. 20mm more in the forcast for tomorrow. I think i'll take up the shot put because by the time that 30in 1287 abort touched ground i'm sure it was a half mile up the road. lol. Saturday, August 1 View Page 812 Saturday, August 1 View Page 664.5 Liggett Saturday, August 1 View Page 1536.5 Vankooten Sunday, August 2 View Page 1536 Vankooten x 664.5 Liggett in the back. 664.5 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten in the front. Gains each day are fair considering it will be at least the middle of the month before everything is terminated. Tuesday, August 4 View Page 664.5 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten (day20). 80in/cir. Thursday, August 6 View Page 812 Graham x 664.5 Liggett @ day 20. 73in/cir. Thursday, August 6 View Page 812 x 664.5 Liggett. Side on. What great vine position on this one. Tuesday, August 11 View Page 1536 Vankooten x 664 Liggett Tuesday, August 11 View Page 664 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten Tuesday, August 11 View Page 812 Graham x 664 Liggett Tuesday, August 11 View Page 1287 Vankooten x 812 Graham. July 26 pollination. Tuesday, August 11 View Page View of the patch. Sunday, August 16 View Page 812 day 29 Sunday, August 16 View Page Something screwy going on with the pics. Sunday, August 16 View Page 812 day 29 Sunday, August 16 View Page 812 day 29 Monday, August 17 View Page Day 30 for the 812 (255ott) Day 30 for the 664 (265 ott) Monday, August 17 View Page Sorry. Thats day 32 for the 664.5 Liggett. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Pumpkin heaven for the 1287 Vankooten. Pollinated at approx 20ft on the 28 of july. The first pollination on the 15 of july aborted and this one couldn't handle the pressure i guess. I sure hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Tuesday, August 18 View Page 1287 Vankooten x 812 Graham. What a waste of a big,strong healthy looking plant. Thursday, August 20 View Page Thought i would post a few pics of the patch before hurricane bill demolishes it sunday night. This one is the 664.5 Liggett. Thursday, August 20 View Page 1536 Vankooten. Thursday, August 20 View Page 812 Graham. Thursday, August 20 View Page 1536 Vankooten foliage. Friday, August 21 View Page Hurricane Billdoe. Wind gusts up to 135km/hr. Up to 150mm of precip overnight sunday.@#$* Saturday, August 22 View Page 664.5 Liggett Saturday, August 22 View Page 812 Graham Saturday, August 22 View Page 812 Graham side on Saturday, August 22 View Page 1536 Vankooten x 664.5 Liggett Saturday, August 22 View Page 664.5 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten Saturday, August 22 View Page 1287 Vankooten lookin for a little action. Saturday, August 22 View Page 812 Graham x 664.5 Liggett Saturday, August 22 View Page A few pics of the pumpkins before Bill. Ott will be posted the day after the storm. Saturday, August 22 View Page Day 36 for the 812. In the last 24 hours it gained 8in/ott Day 38 for the 664.5 Liggett. 7in ott in the last 24hrs. Sunday, August 23 View Page No damage what so ever from hurricane Bill. The 8ft wind fence did a great job.Expecting big gains this weak if they don't split. Sunday, August 30 View Page The patch recieved a lot of damage from tropical storm Danny. Safe to say it is pretty much @#$%ed. I wonder what it would be like to have a patch stay upright for just one season. Lately i've been having visions of swimming pool sitting directly on top of the patch. Monday, August 31 View Page 812 x 664 liggett Monday, August 31 View Page 664 liggett x 1287 Vankooten Monday, August 31 View Page 812 Graham Monday, August 31 View Page 812 Graham Monday, August 31 View Page 812 Graham Friday, September 4 View Page Blossom end split on the 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page My largest pumpkin (812) went down to a blossom end split yesterday. The pumpkin will be weighed at the local incinerator tomorrow. The ott and weight of the 812 will be posted Sat. Friday, September 4 View Page All i can say Brooks is that a small scar appeared on mine wed evening and the split was there thurs morning. Good luck with your decision. Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Friday, September 4 View Page 812 Saturday, September 5 View Page Stem on the 812. Saturday, September 5 View Page Stem on the 812. Saturday, September 5 View Page The est weight of the 812 was 672lbs (317ott) on sept 3. The pumpkin weighed in at 682lbs. Saturday, September 19 View Page 664 Liggett x 1287 Vankooten. Saturday, September 19 View Page 1536 Vankooten x 664.5 liggett. Rot in the main approx 4ft out from the stump around the 3rd week of august finished this one at 304ott. What a shame. Saturday, September 19 View Page 664 x 1287. I planned on taking the 09 season off and i should have. This was a very tough season for me . Extreemly dry conditions this season. Lots of bad decisions and lots of problems. It did turn out to be a great learning experience and what i think are a few good crosses. I won't be growing in 2010. The patch needs a break and so do i. Look out 2011.lol Friday, October 2 View Page Dad helping out with the loading of the 664.5 Liggett. Friday, October 2 View Page The tripod sure beats the heck out of trying to round up 8-10 strong men.lol Friday, October 2 View Page The 664 and the 1536 loaded and ready for Mileville. Saturday, October 3 View Page Thought i had it made till John Mackinnon pulled in with his beauty off the 1309 Hebb Saturday, October 3 View Page What a great looking pumpkin.(1110lbs) Saturday, October 3 View Page Me , John and DR.Mahood A. Naqvi. The only person missing from this picture is the Chemical King (Kenny Rose). Soon time to get dirty Kenny. lol Tuesday, October 6 View Page The 664.5 Liggett weighed in at 850lbs (+4.8) The 1536 Vankooten weighed in at 662lbs (+5.23) Sunday, October 11 View Page Each year we set up a display with the pumpkins and do a fundraiser for the Donkin Morien JR High school. Approx $800 was raised last year. Sunday, October 11 View Page I couldn't resist taking a pic of these 2 children. Did you ever see anything so beautiful.