Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 127 Entries. Sunday, February 7 View Page Test Germs have been extemely successful!!!! C'mon Spring!!!! Saturday, April 3 View Page Upper 70's to 80 degree days in end of March and 1st of April have my cover crop scream'in!!! Ammendments will be added in a week and tilled in. Should be on track for a early May planting;) Saturday, April 3 View Page Finally got a tree planted that I always want to grow.... Meader Persimmon..."Fruit of the Gods" Sunday, April 11 View Page 213.2 Kent is Up!!!!Should be nice and hardy for transplant in the next couple of weeks? Sunday, April 11 View Page Big Zacks!!!;) Wednesday, April 14 View Page Busy last few days...tilled in 3yds. of leaf compost,cover crop of cereal rye plus a few other ammendments. Installed 40ft soil warming cables and put up hoophouses also managed to get irrigation up.... Sunday, April 18 View Page 450.5 McMillan '08 this one might just end up as a back-up? Sunday, April 18 View Page Big Zacks starting to take off.... Thursday, April 22 View Page Filed and Soaked, Tuesday(4/20)at 5:00PM. Wednesday morning seeds where placed inside damp paper towel and baggy into a 88-90 degree germination chamber.Thursday Morning seeds where than removed from paper towel and placed into damp pre-heated Pro-Mix BX. (993.2 had a visable tap root already protruding from seed casing). Big Thank you to Pap,Ron and John for the seeds this year. Thursday, April 22 View Page Germination Chamber Thursday, April 22 View Page 213.2 Kent 08' starting to develop second true leaf. 239 and 197 Leonard are also doing well. Big Thank You to Chris and Darrell for seeds this year. Thursday, April 22 View Page I've got a great head start on two U.O.L. 70" McMillan 09' Long Gourd seeds (106.50" Lovelace 07' X Sibb). I'm now waiting for a 134.25 Johnston/Butler 9' seed to germinate hopefully in the next few days. Big Thank You to John for the seed this year. Thursday, April 22 View Page Big Zacks are really starting to grow recently been feeding them a weak solution of coffee and Neptune's Harvest. Thursday, April 22 View Page 42 degrees above ground inside hoops and a toasty 79 degrees 4" below!!!!hoping to put plants outside into hoops in ~10 days? Saturday, April 24 View Page WooHoo!! they all are up!! Tuesday, April 27 View Page 213.2 Kent 08', Started this seed on April 5th just starting to develop it's third true leaf. Tuesday, April 27 View Page 993 Vincent-McGill looking great on day 8...... Tuesday, April 27 View Page Very excited to see first true leaf developing on the 1110 Wallace that lost it's second cot.The size of the remaining cot is definately large enough to support the development of first true leaf. Second 1110 seed should pop thru the starter mix by tommorrow afternoon.Both will be planted in hoop and the most aggressive of the two will prevail;) Tuesday, April 27 View Page Germinated a 1236* Vincent-McGill seed for "Squash Kid".Wow!! what a aggressive healthy squash seedling!!!Hope it grows him a "Hulk"!!! Thursday, April 29 View Page Alot happens under the lights in just two days...The 993 Vincent-McGill is really developing fast.. Thursday, April 29 View Page And I was worried about just one cot!!With genes like these you just can't stop the 1110 Wallace.First true leaf unraveled and the second is already showing. The second germed 1110 is up about a 1",has spit it's casing and is already spreading out it's cots,it's enjoy life under the lights Thursday, April 29 View Page *1236 Vincent-McGill is an absolute animal!!! Friday, April 30 View Page Great day to get plants out to the "hardening-up chamber"!! 76 degrees out with not alot of wind. Friday, April 30 View Page These guys should be ready for the Hoops in the next couple of Days.... Sunday, May 2 View Page 993 Vincent-McGill in the Hoop. Let the games Begin!!! Sunday, May 2 View Page 1110 Wallace in the Hoop.Both where placed in after dinner on May 1st. Sunday, May 9 View Page 993 starting to vine.... Sunday, May 9 View Page Long Gourds seem to be doing well for their first full week in their hoop.Should be placing the 3rd plant in this week (121.75 Johnson/Butler) Sunday, May 9 View Page the 1110 Wallace single cot plant has really done some growing in it's first week out in the hoop!!The other germed 1110 is next to it as a back-up if need be;) Saturday, May 15 View Page 993 still moving along, even with the cold snap from the previous week....Day 26 since filing and soaking seed. Saturday, May 15 View Page 121.75 Johnson/Butler LG ready to go in the ground.... Saturday, May 15 View Page The 1110 Wallace twins are keeping up even with this cold snap.... Sunday, May 16 View Page Planted the 121.75 Johnson/Butler Long Gourd under the Trellis today. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 993 Vincent-McGill is into "Kickstand" position.....next few days expected to be in 80's should really start seeing some movement. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 1110 wallace (single cot) into "kickstand mode" as well,the back-up 1110 is keeping right up. Wednesday, May 19 View Page first plant closest to the front got "cooked" during a warm day and a poorly ventilated hoop. It's starting to grow out of it now thankgoodness;) The plants from front to back are the U.O.L. 70" McMillan 09'(106.5" Lovelace 07' x Sibb) (front and middle) and the 121.75" Butler/Johnston 08'(125.75" Urena x 114.5" Jutras). Sunday, May 23 View Page 993.2 Vincent/McGill moving right along!!!With average temps in the upper 80-85 and night temps in 60's it should be touching the other end of the hoop by this time next week!! Sunday, May 23 View Page 1110 Wallace plants are doing great as well....Going to keep them both for a little while to make sure which one will prevail? Sunday, May 23 View Page Long Gourds have found their "bridge" to the trellis and should be well on their way skyward by this time next week... Sunday, May 23 View Page 213.2 Kent and 197 Leonard will be placed in the ground sometime this week.Both are just about ready to start running and need to come out of the 2 1/2 gallon pots.We should be out of the woods as far as frost by now? Friday, May 28 View Page Did a Drench yesterday of 2 gallons of warm water with 1 oz. Neptunes Fish and Seaweed and 5 oz. Bayer Tree and Shrub to both plants Monday, May 31 View Page Day 42; The 993 Vincent-McGill is touching the end of the hoop with best developing secondaries out about 30". 1110 Wallace doing well also touching end of hoop with mainvine, best secondaries out about 24". They are loving this mid to upper 80's the last week with average night temps. in the 60's. Probably remove hoops this week and build some wind blocks? Monday, May 31 View Page Long Gourds are "shooting" upward with the 121.75" Butler/Johnston in the lead!! Wednesday, June 2 View Page Watermelons starting to run..213.2 Kent(top) 197 Leonard(bottom) Wednesday, June 2 View Page Big Zacks have been in the ground a few weeks now and are starting to really grow.... Wednesday, June 2 View Page 993.2 Vincent-McGill First female showed up at about 7 1/2 ft. Uncovered the hoops today as the secondaries where starting to push on the sides of the plastic. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1110 Wallace starting to "stretch"... removed plastic from hoop today. Thursday, June 3 View Page Sprayed a mixture of 1 oz. Daconil and 1 oz. Neptunes Fish and Seaweed to 2 gallons of water. Foliar application. Rain the last 2 days with warm nights have me really wanting to start my fungicide program.Early prevention methods should help me along during the PM days of August. Friday, June 11 View Page last Saturday,(6/5) severe winds caused 6 large mainvine leaves to bend over. On Wednesday (6/9) on decided to remove them and apply Captan to the cuts.Thursday evening I Sprayed a mixture of 1 oz. Daconil and 1 oz. Neptunes Fish and Seaweed to 2 gallons of water.This morning(6/11) First males on the 993.2 opened!!At the 9ft mark lies the first Female,she should open on the 17th or 18th? Friday, June 11 View Page Long Gourds are now putting out secondarys on their steady climb to the top of the trellis.Watermelons are coming along nicely with secondarys starting to spread, will post pictures this weekend.Big Zack tomatoe plants are really starting to grow and should do well with the warmth and humidity back for the weekend. Friday, June 11 View Page Spent the evening after work burying vines, applied Pro Mix BX("poor mans myco";)) at the leaf nodes on all main and secondary vines.Pinched off tertiarys and females on all secondarys.1110 Wallace is doing extremely well and also has a female showing on the mainvine at 9ft. and 12ft. Male flowers on the 1110 Wallace should start opening this weekend? Sunday, June 13 View Page Applied 2 gallons of Neptunes Fish and Seaweed to the plants and then sprayed a gallon of Warrior-Z. Sunday, June 13 View Page Watermelons are doing well but we need more sun and heat. Sunday, June 13 View Page Big Zacks!!! Thursday, June 17 View Page Gave Plants a good foliar of Soluable Kelp tonight including Long Gourds ,Watermelons and Big Zack Tomatoes. First Pollination of the 2010 Season begins with a 9ft set on the 993.2 Vincent-McGill crossing the 1110 Wallace into it in the morning.... Friday, June 18 View Page 6:45 am.,5-lobes crossed with 1110 Wallace.Cool morning with highs in the afternoon of 87 degrees. Friday, June 18 View Page oops better shot......993.2 Vincent-McGill Friday, June 18 View Page 3rd year in a row, in the same Grape vines,a Robin nest.... Saturday, June 19 View Page Plants are doing well,in the 15-16ft range.2 of the 3 Long gourds have hit the top of trellis with one male flower opening probably tonight? Saturday, June 19 View Page The Leaves are looking really healthy 2 days after applying a soluable Kelp Foliar application!!(6tsp.per 2 gallons water in a pump sprayer). Saturday, June 19 View Page 1110 Wallace first female at 10ft due to open in the morning. Planned cross will be with the 993.2 Vincent-McGill.Another female sits at about 12.5ft and than another one around 15ft. Sunday, June 20 View Page First Long Gourd bloom tonight!! Sunday, June 20 View Page 7:00 am pollination,5/6 lobe? 10ft. on the main of the 1110 Wallace,crossed with 993.2 Vincent-McGill. Sunday, June 20 View Page First offical sighting of SVB in my Patch!!Caught her and disposed of promptly!!!Will definately do a Merit drench tonight and probably a spraying of Immunex. Sunday, June 20 View Page Did a 2 gallon drench of Bayer Tree and Shrub to each plant tonight. Also mixed up 4 gallons of Kelp(2tsp)/Daconil(2oz.)/Warrior(6ml) and gave LG's and Pumpkins a through foliar on all leaves,stems and vines. Just a little SVB/PM protection;). Monday, June 21 View Page Two Pollinations on the 993.2 Vincent-McGill this morning at 6:45 am. first one was at 12ft. on mainvine, 4/5 lobe? crossed it with the 1110 Wallace. 2nd one was at 13ft. on mainvine,5-lobe crossed it with Self. Sunny with highs in the 80's ,so I shaded them and put a frozen 2-liter bottle of water next to them to keep cool. Wednesday, June 23 View Page Applied 4 gallons of Bloom Booster (0-50-30)(3/4 tsp. per 4 gallons) and 2oz. Neptune Fish and Seaweed. Friday, June 25 View Page Two Pollinations on Friday the 25th,6:45 am both at 15ft on each plant 1110 Wallace x 993.2 Vincent-McGill,5-lobe and one on 993.2 Vincent-McGill x 1110 Wallace,4-lobe(seeds in the blossom) Monday, June 28 View Page Patch is filling in Nicely!!Vine Burying,dead heading secondaries and culling pumpkins....... Monday, June 28 View Page Saw the first of the season Female Long Gourd on the 121.75" Butler/Johnson.it's at the top of the trellis and should open in the next couple of days? All plants are opening flowers nightly. Monday, June 28 View Page Watermelons are chugging along, secondaries are starting to take hold and I am strategically directing them to maximize the space in the patch.Thw "Watermelon Mansion" is working great keeping them warm and put down some 12-0-0 Blood Meal on Sunday to hopefully get them moving alittle quicker? Monday, June 28 View Page Installed a little Mosquito Control device the other day.They are eating me alive this year with all the rain and hopefully a few tenants move in to the Bathouse to take control of the situation? Tuesday, June 29 View Page Sprayed patch and LG's tonight..Daconil,Neptune's,Warrior,Kelp; 4 gallon cocktail........Pollinated another 5-lobe(seeds in the blossom)at 18ft on 993.2 Vincent-McGill with 1110 Wallace. Wednesday, June 30 View Page hmmmmmmmmmmmm........ Wednesday, June 30 View Page WooHoo!!!First Long Gourd Pollination of the season! 121.75 Butler/Johnson x U.O.L.70" McMillan 09'. First picture on upper left hand shows the flower at 6:00PM tonight and the next series of shots where taken at 10:45 PM later that same night.Picture perfect night, no wind ,temps in the 60's.Hope this one takes;) Sunday, July 4 View Page Day 9 on the 15ft mark of the 1110 Wallace....5-lobe,1110 Wallace X 993.2 Vincent- McGill. 21" CC this is the one I'm going with? Sunday, July 4 View Page 993.2 Vincent-McGill X 1110 Wallace,Day 14 She's definately gonna be pretty......Happy 4th of July!!!!! Pollinated a 5-lobe that opened at the 20ft mark today crossed with the 1110 Wallace. Tuesday, July 6 View Page Watermelons are doing great!!Plants are healthy and leaves are huge!!mainvines out about 8-9ft with multple secondaries now. Male flowers have been blooming since the weekend and with this heat should se a female showing up by the weekend? Wednesday, July 7 View Page Pollinated (8:15PM) the 2nd LG of the season on the U.O.L.70" McMillan 09 crossed it with the 121.75" Butler/Johnson. Wednesday, July 7 View Page Highs in the 90's today.Gave plants a hour long soaking at 4:30PM and also a 4 gallon drench of 10oz. Bayer Tree and Shrub,4oz. Neptune's Fish and Seaweed and 4tsp. soluable Kelp Powder. (Drenched Basil Zone up to third set of secondaries). Wednesday, July 7 View Page 121.75 Butler/Johnson x U.O.L.70" McMillan 09'. Day 8. Saturday, July 10 View Page Culled this one first part of last week...."Remember, there can only be One!!!!!" My Son asked if we can make Pumpkin Pie...;) Saturday, July 10 View Page Day 20 on the 993.2 Vincent-McGill x Self Saturday, July 10 View Page "Squash Kid" is doing well this year. he lost his first pollination attempt on the 1236* but the second attempt was a success!!!(He selfed it) His first attempt on the mainvine of the 480.50 McMillan 08' has been successful great shape on this one and should prove to be a Monster Orange Beast!!!! Sunday, July 11 View Page Got a invite to a venimous snake show tonight!! Got to get close to some amazing snakes Tai Pan Cobra,Rattlers and a bunch of other Vipers But the two King Cobras a Female and Male stole the show!!!Took 5 men to keep them under control absolutely amazing!!! Sunday, July 11 View Page Could use this one to gaurd my patch from the rabbits.... Monday, July 12 View Page Two females now in sight on the 197 Leonard Plant. One on the mainvine and one on a secondary. Both Should open in the next 2 days. Monday, July 12 View Page Little better view of "the Champ"!!!;) Wednesday, July 14 View Page Day 15th on this LG It's sitting at 45" in length growing nice and "Skinny";) I've got another 8 pollinated between all the plants so it should get interesting in the next month. Wednesday, July 14 View Page The "Three Amigos"!!! Wednesday, July 14 View Page For the records: Sprayed the patch on Sunday, 11th with 4 gallons Immunox(4oz)and Soluable Kelp(3 tsp). Sprayed patch Tuesday 13th after afternoon downpour with 4 gallons of Neptune's Fish and Seaweed(4oz.),Daconil(2oz.)soluable Kelp(3 tsp.) and 0-50-30(3/4 tsp.). Wednesday, July 14 View Page Leaves look great...1110 Wallace is putting on the pounds... Sunday, July 18 View Page 5-6"cc Daily Gains. Sprayed patch tonight: 4 gallons(4 oz. Immunox,4 tsp. sol. Kelp,4 oz. neptune's Fish and Seaweed,6ml Warrior-Z). Sunday, July 18 View Page Day 19,63" 121.75 Butler/Johnson x U.O.L.70" McMillan 09' Wednesday, July 21 View Page ...Remember the "Three Amigos" from a week ago? Thursday, July 22 View Page Day 32 993.2 Vincent-McGill X Self Big and Orange!!!! Thursday, July 22 View Page Day 27 1110 Wallace x 993.2 Vincent-McGill Big and White!!! Sunday, July 25 View Page We've had plenty of rain over the last few days,won't need to water for a little while? The next few days show sun and 80's should prove to be a great growing week....... Long gourds are "dripping" and pumpkins are "expanding";) Sunday, July 25 View Page Final cull on the 1110 Wallace...oops!Hey Dad you have one down over here!!! Sprayed the patch tonight,8 gallons(Daconil,soluable Kelp, and Neptune's Fish and Seaweed). Monday, July 26 View Page Day 26,73" for a gain of 10" in 8 days(~1.25" a day). Wednesday, July 28 View Page 993.2 Vincent-McGill Day 38,278"OTT Wednesday, July 28 View Page 1110 Wallace x 993.2 Vincent-McGill Day 33 Wednesday, July 28 View Page "Three Amigos"!!Biggest is U.O.L.70" McMillan 09' X 121.75 Butler/Johnson. Monday, August 2 View Page He got me!!!But I got Him!!!! 4 days ago while inspecting vines I noticed a hole in the mainvine of the 993.2 plant it was a good 4ft past the set pumpkin. I "fished" my finger into the hole and felt a "Squish"? 2 days later I noticed the leaves of the secondarys and mainvine past the hole where starting to look a little yellow? That night I foliar sprayed a mixture of 4 oz. Bayer Tree and Shrub to 2 gallons of water. I then turn the sprinklers on for about 20 minutes to get it washed off the leaves and down to the tap roots of the secondaries and mainvine. 2 days later while inspecting the hole I found this "very sickly" barely alive SVB Larva wiggling back out of the entry hole. HA!!GOTCHA!!!!! Leaves already looking much better and the hole looks to be drying up? Monday, August 2 View Page Day 42 287"OTT 993.2 Vincent-McGill X Self That blossom end has me little nervous? Monday, August 2 View Page Day 37 266" OTT 1110 Wallace X 993.2 Vincent-McGill Another blossom that has me a little nervous? Sunday, August 8 View Page Watermelons popping up all over the place.... Sunday, August 8 View Page Big Zacks!!! Thursday, August 12 View Page Just enjoying the ride...... Sunday, August 15 View Page First single bloom Big Zack of the season!!! Sunday, August 15 View Page Nice melon on the 197 Leonard.... Sunday, August 15 View Page A few females on the 993.2 Vincent-McGill have been popping up here and there? Look at the size of this one!!! Sunday, August 15 View Page Sprayed tonight...Immunox,Kelp,Neptunes. (Left)121.75"Johnson/Butler X U.O.L. 70" McMillan 09'(106.5" Lovelace 07' x Sibb) (Center)993.2 Vincent-McGill X Self and 1110 Wallace x 993.2 Vincent-McGill. (Right) U.O.L. 70" McMillan 09'(106.5" Lovelace 07' x Sibb) x 121.75" Johnson/Butler Saturday, August 21 View Page Day 62....993.2 Vincent-McGill X Self Saturday, August 21 View Page Day 57, 1110 Wallace X 993.2 Vincent-McGill Monday, September 6 View Page Last day of Summer!!!!...."Nope I'm not going to school, I'm staying right here..."....lol;) Saturday, September 18 View Page Almost forgot where I set that down..?? Sunday, September 19 View Page Now it feels like Fall....!!!!!;) Tuesday, September 21 View Page Just a interesting picture of the value of keeping the mainvine as healthy as possible...notice the vascular tissue with multiple holes to allow nutrients to flow through to help feed the pumpkin. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Beauty and the Beast!!! My daughter next to the 1110 Wallace x 993.2 Vincent-McGill.. Sunday, September 26 View Page Went to Cooperstown Saturday with the 1110 Wallace X 993.2 Vincent-McGill.What a absolutely Amazing weigh-off to be a apart of!!Met some great growers and saw some Huge Pumpkins!!!! Sunday, September 26 View Page 772.50 McMillan 10'(1110 Wallace X 993.2 Vincent-McGill)6.0% Heavy Have a now new PB!!!Big Thank you to Pap and John Tuesday, September 28 View Page Think I found a seed for next year!!!480.5 McMillan 08'(1290 Poirier x 819.5 VanHook) "Squash Kid" grew a seed this year and got a late set sidevine pumpkin on a 9ft long plant with only 10 ~6ft long secondarys. The pumpkin weighed in at 169 lbs., 22% Heavy!!!Smooth brillant orange!! Thursday, September 30 View Page 90" McMillan 10' (121.75" Butler/Johnston 08'(125.75" Urena x 114.5" Jutras) X U.O.L. 70" McMillan 09'(106.5" Lovelace 07' x Sibb) Friday, October 1 View Page Ok on the count of threeeeeee!!!!!How about another gorgeous 480.5 McMillan 08' Prodigy!! ;) Tuesday, October 5 View Page WOOHOO!!! Set a new PB over the weekend...898.5 McMillan 10'(993.2 Vincent-McGill X Self). Taped almost right on the money;) Thanks again John. Sunday, October 24 View Page 772.5 McMillan 10' (1110 Wallace X 993 Vincent-McGill). Carved and ready for the little "Ghouls and Goblins" Great seed count inside; should produce the next generation of Big and Orange!!;)