Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 83 Entries. Monday, March 1 View Page Today I'm starting my first public diary. I'm hoping it will of some intrest to others! I have a tendancy to be too serious so on occasions I'll try to lighten up. Here's some of me closest friends. This is what we do when we're bored. Pretending not to be 50++ Tuesday, March 2 View Page I don't think my english is as bad as my typing and grammer in these posts so please forgive all future mistakes. I was able to plow under the winter rye a few days back, and yesterday I worked the ground just enough to give it a light bust and I took soil samples. I wanted to get it done before the next round of wet weather. This is the pumpkin patch with House Mountain in the background. Tuesday, March 2 View Page Watermelon and a few cantaloupes will go in this patch. I plan to grow several under a plasticulture system just as I do the commercial melons. I also intend to experiment with some pruning techniques similar to AG's. Much of my weed control will be handled chemically in the melons. Tuesday, March 2 View Page Well 9 pumpkin plants may be a bit much but I want to use the pollen from these in a multi-year project with greenies. Pictured are: 696.6 Van Hook 09, 1116 Traylor 08, 1118 Peters 08, 1258 Wallace 09, 1363 Werner 07, 1445.5 Werner 09, 1500.5 Revier 08, 1568 Connolly 08, 1596 Wallace 09. Thanks for the seeds everyone!! Tuesday, March 2 View Page A modified plasticulture method will see these squash seeds. This line-up is: 969 Jutras 08, 1097 Razo 07,975 Andrews 07, 1221.5 Werner 07, 1236 Vincent-McGill 09, 946.5 Carlson-Peterson 06, 1086 Carlson-Peterson 04 Thanks again for the seeds!! Friday, March 26 View Page With only about an acre left I decided to take some time away from pruning the peach orchard to kick off the 2010 melon season. All the seeds got soaked for 20 minutes in 90 deg water and put in their bags for what I hope is a short stay in the incubator, its set at 99 deg. My line-up consists of at least one of each of the following: 175 Bhaskaran, 180 Bhaskaran, 214 Bright, 225 Bright, 129 Cantrell, 191 Holloway, 194 Holloway, 209 Kent, 213 Kent, 243.5 Kent, 259.2 Kent, 195 Knight, 199 Knight, 164 White and several generic Cobb Gem. As soon as we get some dry weather I'll pull plastic on raised beds. I've decided to raise them all in a modified plasticulture system. Sunday, March 28 View Page After watching Michigan State dash the hopes of our Volunteers in reaching the final four I decided to lift myself up by kicking off the 2010 AG season by starting some seeds for my squash genetics project. With luck some of these will go to local fairs and early weigh-offs across the southeast. If you know the date of any early weigh-offs, drop me an e-mail (assuming they survive). Im not opposed to driving a couple hundred miles. The 946 C & P and 820 Lovelace are squash, the other four are squash/pumpkin crosses which should come orange. The plan is to cross the crosses with each other. One out of each four seeds of the resulting crosses should produce a greenie with 50% new genetics for squash growers. Sunday, March 28 View Page After 48 hours there are 14 melon seeds popped and planted and back in the incubator. Still waiting on 8 more to pop. I'll start back-ups in 48 hrs for the ones that don't pop. Monday, March 29 View Page The first signs of life after 24 hrs in the incubator. The first 12 have been moved to the lights. Two more popped today so they got potted and into the bator they went. Now its off to the peach orchard to see how much pruning I can get done. The trees will be blooming soon! Tuesday, April 6 View Page Just about done pruning and just in time! Now I can get to the cucurbits. Tuesday, April 6 View Page Beautiful weather has allowed me to get the patches ready. Here's the CC watermelon patch with irrigation and plastic mulch in place. I did fumigate at the same time. Pre-emergents will go on in about a week. Tuesday, April 6 View Page AG field, same deal but no pre-emergents here. Tuesday, April 6 View Page Is there any chance one of these boys will be around at sunrise tomorrow? Saturday, April 10 View Page A light frost this morning with temps at 33 got me to wondering about the temp difference between the plastic covered beds vs the bare ground. The first readings were taken at 3:00 PM with air temp at 69. This was the temp 3 ft from the center of plastic, on bare ground. Saturday, April 10 View Page The difference was 15 degrees. I hope to check a daylight tomorrow to see if any heat is retained. Sunday, April 11 View Page A tough decision was made this morning. Do I chase a gobbler around the woods or follow through with my temp test? Sunday, April 11 View Page The difference was 4 degrees. The air temp was 38. I can see where this could help on cool nights after we remove the hooop house. Disadvantages, not sure? Tuesday, April 20 View Page Pre-emergents were applied about a week ago to the watermelon patch and we haven't had a rain yet so I took a water hose and washed off the plastic so I could plant without fear of any damage to my plants. Yesterday they went in the ground. The line-up has changed slightly due to lack of germination of 8 of the 214 brights and all 4 of my 175 bhaskarans. I've added 3 cobb gems to see how they do under the same management. Tuesday, April 20 View Page It will be interesting to see if the pre-emergents will take care of the curly dock and nutsedge that started to come up before I sprayed. The dock is turning yellow, and there is always roundup. Tuesday, April 20 View Page Five of the six early AG plants went in the ground also yesterday. I decided to cull the 841 Turner and re-start another one. I have found that starting theses seeds in a mix that has any ferts is a big NO NO. I cooked most of the early group and had to re-start most of them. Still debating on whether or not to try my last 946 C & P to replace the current one that looks stressed. The rest look good to me. Thursday, April 22 View Page Its over for this one, my last 1056 Hebb. My 622 Grande looks just as bad. Thats right they were in the ground for three days!! The little striped beetles from $#@!! I couldn't believe there were over 75 on this one plant. Both plants had their stems weakened so bad they couldn't hardly stand. Didn't see any yesterday. Got out the Stihl and Pyreth-it, and BAM!! The other three seemed to avoid the onslaught but they got a dose also. I will start another 622 and while I at it another 946. My line-up is in a state of flux since a couple of hopefuls decided not to show their cots. Sure hope this isn't a sign. Sunday, May 2 View Page Third time's a charm. It took 11 seeds and three tries but I got a 214 Bright to come up, now if I can keep from killing it. If it hangs in there I'll replace a Cobbs Gem. So far I managed to massacre too many good AG seedlings to mention. I'm trying to isolate the problem(s). When and if any make it to the vine stage I'll update my line-up. The melons look ok and pics to follow when the wind and rain stops. Monday, May 17 View Page I'm taking a break from thinning peaches to catch up on this diary commitment. It appears that a bumper crop is in store if we can eliminate about 80% of these little guys in the next two weeks. Monday, May 17 View Page Lets start with the 191 Holloway. I'm pleased with the way its doing. Monday, May 17 View Page This is the oldest 225 Bright in the patch. Its in the top 3 as far as agressiveness. I'm strongly considering removing the plastic mulch on some of the plants just to see if there is any noticeable difference between the two growing methods even though it would not be highly controled. Monday, May 17 View Page This is the one I refered to as my ugly duckling. When this 209 Kent first sprouted the cots had holes in the center and were curled under. Its amazing what a little sun can do. Its a little behind the the larger plants but ahead of others. Monday, May 17 View Page Here's the pic of the 209 Monday, May 17 View Page I've started 4 cantaloupes with the hope that there will be some sort of weigh-off in columbus. This is a 40.44 Cantrell. Also started is a 46.6 Westfall, 50 Gibson and a 44 Holloway. Others are to follow for later weigh-offs. Monday, May 17 View Page I think I'm trying all the ways to kill AG's. So far in 2010, underwater, then over water. Put up wind breaks one day late. Miss calculate fertilizer for foliar feeding. Didn't use Admire soon enough so many plants looked like hand crocheted doilies balanced on a toothpick. This is a survivor that is starting to run, a 1116 Traylor. Monday, May 17 View Page Correction!! This is the 1116 Traylor. The other pic is the 1236 Vincent-Mcgill. I have high hopes for both. Monday, May 17 View Page I hope none of my strawberry customers come across the one that left this. Plants are on 14 inch centers which puts him at over 4 ft. Monday, May 17 View Page Won't be long now before the sweetcorn wind break will be in place. Ambrosia!! It's the second best bi-color we've ever raised, but germinates good even in cooler soils. Wednesday, June 16 View Page Great father's day present from my son and daughter-in-law. Our nineth grandchild, Lena. 7# 10oz, EE 20.5" Sunday, June 20 View Page Initial results are in, the pre-emergents worked quite well. It did NOT work on nutsedge. The fumigant I used under the plastic worked quite well on the nutsedge but there were a few escapees that pierced through the plastic only to meet their maker. I drove over the rows spraying right beside the plastic. You can see how far the boom reached. Sunday, June 20 View Page I used the tiller on all the patch that was not under plastic to try to eliminate the nutsedge but all it did was make it mad. I think it also moved some seeds closer to the surface that did germinate. Can you imagine how much weeding I would of had to do. Again you can see where the boom reached. Sunday, June 20 View Page My first delima of the season. Do I keep this open pollinated melon (on 6-8) on the 213 Kent. Its slightly smaller and longer and lower with better vine position than Sunday, June 20 View Page this one. But this one was hand pollinated on 6-7 with the 214 Bright. Better girth here. Slightly shorter. Genetics or size? What to do? Feel free to e-mail suggestions. Sunday, June 20 View Page Largest of the patch is this one, an open pollinated (6-2) 199 Knight. 14 day ott 87. Most of the hand pollinated mellons have not turned out to be the best growers. I found the blooming melons too late to quarantine. Next year, more room per plant and control vines better. Sunday, June 20 View Page Looking forward to getting 14 day measurements on this and two others tomorrow AM. This was pollinated by the 214 Bright and is on 243 Kent. Did have to pull a 225 Bright today, vine had something going on that wan't good. Pulled both of the Cobb Gems. Not worth the time, pear shaped fruit and slowwwww growing compared to CC. Sunday, June 20 View Page Pumpkin patch is just ok. Not getting enough attention to grow a really big one. This year is for squash cross genetics. For the third year I'm battling something. Notice the bottom 4-5 leaves. The first sign is curling down similar to heat but they never recover, turn pale and stop growing. Sample going to lab in AM. Third plant this year, same row. I plan on putting some of Ron Rahe's crosses in their place just to see if there is any disease resistance in them. Tuesday, June 22 View Page There won't be many pic of this one. Too hard to get to. Had to put it up on blocks. Terrible location but it was the best one. Open pollinated on 6-7 on 225 Bright (#2). OTT on day 14 was 93 Tuesday, June 22 View Page I really hate that Smokey (Chris) had to pull his 209 because here is mine and I love its shape. So far the largest 14 day ott I have at 101. Pollinated by the 214 Bright. With any luck I'll be able to pollinate the 214 with the 259 Kent in the am, I have one set on it from the 213 and a couple of opens. Tuesday, June 22 View Page This is the correct pic of the 243 Kent at 14 days. Today most decisions were made on keepers. Shape made the decision most of the time. Fortunately most were easy. The tough one on the 213 Kent worked out fine. After comparing daily measurement they were nearly identical so I went with the known cross. I'll deal with the vine position. Sunday, June 27 View Page Just one blind left to build but the keeper hasn't been chosen yet. Its on the 214 Bright. Sunday, June 27 View Page Late start for these guys but I'm just tinkering here. This is a pair 4.1 Rahe's. Total of 4 up and will probably keep them all. I want to see if they catch what the others died from. I may not spray some of them at all. Sunday, June 27 View Page This is the earliest pollination that I've kept. Its on a 969 Jutras squash and crossed with a 841 Turner which is a cross itself. Hopefuly this is the first of a group of crosses that will ad some newer genetics to the greenies. Sunday, June 27 View Page Well that was the right pic of the 969 but it was crossed to this plant, 1221.5 Werner. It is the only straight squash cross I've made so far. This is crossed to the 841 Turner. This is from the two most agressive early plants I have. Maybe one of them will make it to an early weigh-off. Sunday, June 27 View Page Long day! Friday, July 2 View Page Another pic of dying plant. Got results back from state lab. Yellow vine disease confirmed. Friday, July 2 View Page Berries getting ripe here in TN. Finally payday!! Monday, July 5 View Page First casualty of the mid-season. I'm sure it was yellow vine decline. Mellon stopped growing 5 days ago and vine started yellowing 2 days ago. Today alot of brown leaves so it was pulled. Monday, July 5 View Page This is the melon, OTT 140 - EST 85.1, Actual 79. Vine was a 199 Knight. Saturday, July 10 View Page This is YVD in my 1424.5 Werner. Noticed the leaves at the tip about a week ago starting to curl slightly. They get a glossy look, kind of leathery looking. Similar look to flagging but flagging has a "soft" look while these are rigid. Progression has made it to the stump and I will most likely pull the plant. Sure would like it to hang in there until I can harvest seeds. Wonder if the seeds carry over the bacteria? Saturday, July 10 View Page Normal flagging and normal color. No glossy yellowing here. Saturday, July 10 View Page I have a 820 Lovelace that had several tips showing signs near the main end and I cut main back to the first lateral which had been growing in the opposite direction. This was done about a week ago and so far so good. Its the closest thing to a success story I have battling YVD. ALL other prunings have failed. Saturday, July 10 View Page 1236 Vincent-McGill was not spared either. Pic was taken 7-6 and pulled yesterday. This was after multiple prunings. Friday, July 16 View Page Now I have a confirmed schedule for giant cantaloupes. Last year I didn't record date so growing these for a weigh-off this year was just a guess. Seeds started 4/19/10, planted outside 5/12/10, pollinated around 6/12/10, and now the harvest. Total 88 days. This is the best of 2 so far it was grown on a 40.44 Cantrell and weighed 39 lb 10.5 oz at the post office. OTT 116. Since it was open pollinated I'm not going to save seeds. I still have plenty from my 40.44 and others with known genetics. Still have a good 44 Holloway going and will harvest as soon as I see color. I did start 7 seeds on 6-13 so maybe one or two will make it to a weigh-off. Friday, July 16 View Page Here is a pic of the 39.65 Cantrell Tuesday, July 20 View Page Sold a cull yesterday. Had a stem to die on the 164 White. One of my peach customers saw it, wanted it and now we're both happy. Estimatd weight 76 lb. Vine still looks good so I may try to get another set. One advantage to late sets is you have a good idea which pollen to use. Tuesday, July 27 View Page New personal best and what I believe is a new tennessee state record cantaloupe. Weighed at Corryton post office on 7/26/10 and witnessed by Sharon Lynch (postal worker) and Neal Denton (knox county ag extension agent) pictured on left. Grown on a 44 Holloway and pollinated by a 50 Gibson. I hope to get an even bigger one to a GPC weigh-off. I want to thank the Kents for stopping by and I hope the peaches were good. Saturday, August 7 View Page This is the first female I've noticed on a cantaloupe that is on a primary or main vine. It was 2.9 cm long on a 64.8 Robb and sibb pollinated Saturday, August 7 View Page Typically the females appear on a thin side like this one on the other Robb plant. It was crossed back to its sibb also. Saturday, August 7 View Page Well I lost the pumpkin that I wanted to take to Indiana. It was still griwong but developed a nasty spot on the bottom edge. I decided to harvest it before it went down to get the seeds. OTT was 262 for an estimate of 386 lb. Saturday, August 7 View Page The wall thickness was incredible but there again I haven't cut open very many. The blade length of the knife is 8". This was grown on a 841 Turner and pollinated by a 1221.5 Werner so hopefully 50% of the seeds will produce a greenie. For ever more it will be known as 386 Cantrell 10 EST. Sunday, August 8 View Page :( Lost a stem on my 259 Kent today. OTT 165 with an actual wt of 133. I did everything I could to kill this vine early so the 259 will most likely get another chance next year. I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing with this seed. :) The bright side is I still have 11 others going. Monday, August 9 View Page 286 Cantrell 10 EST Well again today I've lost another one. YVD has had this vine for some time but I kept the fruit on the vine as a back-up for Indiana. The vine and fruit was very agressive until the YVD showed itself and then the fruit STOPPED but the vine has tried to hang in there. I've noticed some vines seem to have some resistance to this disease or they can fight it off longer. OTT 236. This was on a 1271 Sperry and pollinated by a 946 C&P* A good number of seeds were harvested which is what I'm really after this year. Monday, August 16 View Page I want to thank the IPGA & the Indiana State Fair for making my first GPC weigh-off so enjoyable. I met alot of great people several of which were intrested in these melons. Most of them were showing me their pocket knives. The longer melon on the left is now 165 Cantrell 10(B)(209 Kent X 225 Bright). The fatter one on the right is now 165 Cantrell 10(A)(243 Kent X 225 Bright). These were pollinated with different 225 Bright's. The pollinator of (B) was lost to YVD, the pollinator of (A) is still going. Monday, August 16 View Page Lost the vine to this squash to YVD but it manage to fight it off long enough to get it to Indiana. I loved the dark color and the shape. I was very pleased with the rate of growth considering the lack of care this plant got prior to the YVD. If I can get another seed this will most likely get a real shot next year. Monday, August 16 View Page It's official! My 2010 ag season is terminated. In stead of continuing the season with a couple of young, open pollinated ag's I decided to plow under and eliminate all the plants. Hopefully this will help to eliminate the carriers of the YVD before hibernation time this fall. I've already plowed under my commercial pumpkins due to pooooor fruit set. I've been able to save some seeds for the greenie project and I'll be trying to find a few good green crosses for next year. The melon patch is still going along with my late cantaloupes. I'll clean them up as soon as possible but not until they're done. Tuesday, August 17 View Page Of the five controled pollinations on my two Robb cantaloupes this is the only one that took. Fingers are crossed and the launch sequence has begun. This is NOT the one on a primary vine. Actually its on the other plant. If I can keep it alive i will save it for seed no matter how it looks or grows. If need be I'll keep another one on this plant for show. Tuesday, August 17 View Page This is one on the other Robb plant. So far this plant is starting with longer melons than I'm use to. I've culled a couple that didn't have that full figured look. Tuesday, August 17 View Page A chance meeting at a local convnient store has put me in possesion of distant cousin of our Carolina Crosses. Can you see the resemblance? Yes its fully mature and I harvested seeds and I don't like the way these taste either but they do smell good. Wednesday, August 18 View Page Half the orchard is harvested and peaches have been traveling all over the east. The vast majority of our customers are locals but I still find it hard to believe that some people will plan their vacation around being able to pick peaches and taking them home. Had a really nice pair of sisters down from Kokomo,Indiana yesterday. Most people make day trips. I really love it when someone tells me they are from Georgia - The Peach State Wednesday, August 18 View Page Watermelon Weekend! That's what I'm calling it. Since I don't even like the smell of watermelon and I need to harvest seeds from the two 165's this weekend I'll let my customers eat all the watermelon they want here at the orchard while they last. Wednesday, August 25 View Page After seeing this I tend to believe that more than one cantaloupe can be supported by a single vine. There are back-ups on both vines that these came from. Wednesday, August 25 View Page The inside of the 243 Kent Wednesday, August 25 View Page The inside of the 209 Kent Wednesday, August 25 View Page Everyone had a good time at our first watermelon weekend with lots of melon being consumed and seeds collected. The seed count was very good in the 209. The 243 had alot of blanks but plenty of seeds to mail this fall. Thursday, September 9 View Page I discovered something new! Cantaloupes will send out some roots. I don't know how much they help or if they are needed at all because today I found another half dozen or more culls that were split. This pic is from a plant that just wasn't getting it done. I let a fruit set too early and it ripened at 26.63 lbs. I've got another one to pull in a day or two that is starting to ripen. Thursday, September 9 View Page Although I haven't been very competitive on the scales this year I've had a great time at the weigh-offs that I've attended. Getting to meet so many good growers, some heavy hitters in the melon world and just a bunch of great people has been an honor for me! I'm really looking forward to Bear Wallow! This one weighed 151 (officially) at the TN State Fair with an unofficial weight of 158 when it was harvested on 8/19/10. I'll weigh it later today to see what the unofficial scales say later today. It'll be interesting to see how much they say it lost or how bad off they are. Thursday, September 9 View Page The anticipation was almost to great. After his wife Janet had just weighed in her melon at 260 lbs. Chris Kent could barely stand. Then the number was announced "two hundred sixty four pounds." A new Tennessee state record!! Thursday, September 9 View Page Congats to the Kents and everyone else at the fair!! Thursday, September 9 View Page After seeing what a real melon looks like I figured its time to get serious. Look out Chris! :)