Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 342 Entries. Sunday, February 1 View Page Well this is my first entry of the 2009 growing season. My patch is asleep under 14 inches of snow. Sunday, February 1 View Page This is my line up for the 2009 season. The big boys!(1568 Connolly and 1536.5 Van Kotten)also the state champs (1467 Perham and 1392 Breznick)and 1255 Van Kotten and 695 Young and 1184 Barker and 906 Boyce and 871 Cadieux and Don Langevin's (1689*1689-selfed.I think this should be a good year if they all come up. Got my fingers crossed. Sunday, February 1 View Page These are the back ups just in case others don't work out. (1537 Stelts and the 1019 Horton) Sunday, February 1 View Page I am also going to try the Green ones. This is what i got ( 900 Haist UOW and 500 Hull UOW ) The 500 is a ( 848 Mackenzie * selfed great blood line !!!! Wednesday, February 11 View Page well today it hit a high of 54 .Maybe we will get rid of some of the 20 inches of hard packed snow that we have on the ground. Six more weeks till spring (not coming soon enough) Saturday, February 21 View Page Well today was the great benson fishing derby. A great way to pass a cold winter day in vermont. Saturday, February 21 View Page While it was a slow day on the ice i did have 1 flag ( that is when a fish takes the bait) and we all gathered around to see what it was ???? Saturday, February 21 View Page What we got was a nice walleye that was 6.52 pounds. That is the first one i ever caught. Well worth geating up early and dealing with the cold temps. Friday, February 27 View Page Well today was a very wet rainy day here in vermont. Lost most of our snow that we had. Hit a high of 57 today. Lots of water every where. But good news we are getting closer to planting only 2 more months can't wait!!! Sunday, March 1 View Page Well today it got up to 29 degrees and with all the rain we got late last week the stream next to my house has started to run again. It was frozen solid since late november. Getting closer to spring everyday.Can't wait!!! Wednesday, March 11 View Page well we are about half way though what has been the longest month of the year so far. Got up to 58 today with some heavy rain over night. Patch is starting to clear off nicely now but i am sure we will get more snow before the end of this month. Wednesday, March 11 View Page My son thought it would be a great chance to get his 4 wheeler out and see how it would go in the snow that we have left. He had a ball on it. Felt like spring !!!! Saturday, March 14 View Page Well today was a beautiful day in vermont got up to 48 and sunny. Perfect late winter day.I built a stand today for my grow light. Also i started my giant tomatoes today. Saturday, March 14 View Page I started 2 2.90 Strange seeds. Saturday, March 14 View Page And 1 2.75 Strange seed. Saturday, March 14 View Page And 3 seeds that i had got from Don Langevin when i ordered some of his 1689 Jutras crossed seeds. They should be 10 days or so till they are up. Will let you know how they do. I gave them a drink of Neptunes Harvest seaweed and tucked them in . Sunday, March 22 View Page Well I have 1 of my 6 seeds up at 7 days . It is a 2.75 Strange that took its time coming up but you know how the first plant of the year is . It takes forever but now it is up and the growing season is on !!! Sunday, March 22 View Page I also have 1 of Don Langevins seeds up that he sent me. Just broke up through the potting soil tonight. I also have 2 others that have come up through but could not get any pictures. The time has come ones again to grow some giant Tomatoes !!! Monday, March 30 View Page Well today i got my seed pack from the PNWGPG it had a couple realy good seeds in it. Couple good onces were the 1027 from Erin Huff and the 1247 Pugh. And Erins 782 greenie. Really GOOD SEEDS CAN'T WAIT TO GO THEM !!! Monday, March 30 View Page My giant tomatoes are doing well but not growing as fast as i would like. Monday, March 30 View Page Another 1 of my giant tomatoes falling behind the others Monday, March 30 View Page Thinking my plants my be to cold so i bought a heat pad for them and my pumpkins that i will soon be starting. Saturday, April 11 View Page well the new patch area is finally dry and i can start to get the season under way. I am going to make this new patch 60 feet by 70 feet which is 4200 square feet. This should be enough room for me to do what i want from now on. Saturday, April 11 View Page one more picture of the area before i start work on it Saturday, April 11 View Page Tomatoes are doing better since i put them on the heating pad. Still 1 month till i can put them in the ground. Should be big by that time Sunday, April 12 View Page Got the ground turned over yesterday and just needs to be tilled but not today . Easter sunday !!! Will have to do it another day.But don't have to many left till the season starts. Sunday, April 12 View Page Another picture of the new patch. Got alot of work left to do !! Sunday, April 12 View Page And yes there was alot of rocks in that clay soil. This is not easy but i have done it before. I will show you the rock pile after i am done. Sunday, April 19 View Page well i got most of my tilling done on my new patch and added four loads of cow manure and horse manure. That is alot of work and hopefully it will pay off in the fall. Sunday, April 19 View Page And yes there were alot of stones in the new patch. Lots and lots of loads with the kabota and 5 gallon pales Sunday, April 19 View Page I spread out the manure to all spots in the patch and i know that what i have will not be enough. More work ahead of me but for now looking good. Sunday, April 19 View Page My poor tiller is getting beat to death with all those rocks but it is still going strong. Sunday, April 19 View Page One more picture of the new patch starting to come together Saturday, April 25 View Page well today is the 25th of april and it is time to start the ag. Today was a beautiful day here in vermont. And what a day to kick off the growing season Saturday, April 25 View Page I socked all my seeds ina 3 % solution of hydrogine peroxide and water for 2 hours and then added some seaweed fert. from neptune harvest Saturday, April 25 View Page These are my supplies that i used today to get my pumpkins started what a great day Saturday, April 25 View Page This was the high temp here in castleton vermont . Normal high for this day is around 68 so what a day Saturday, April 25 View Page This is my germination chamber . it has a heat pad in the bottom and a small in the top bax so it stays nice and warm perfect for germinating. Can't wait to see what comes up. Got some realy great seeds in there with lots of potental. Got my fingers crossed. Saturday, April 25 View Page This is a couple of my seeds tucked in and hopeful will be up in a couple of days. Saturday, April 25 View Page I used some old ice cream containers to plant my seeds into the are bigger then those 5 inch peat pots. Should work out ok. Tuesday, April 28 View Page well today is tuesday and i have 2 seeds that have split in the side and should be standing tall wednesday. Can't wait to see them standing tall. Oh the two seeds are the 1467 Perham and the 1568 Connolly. So far so good hope to see more split tomorrow. Wednesday, April 29 View Page My big hitter is up and is looking great. ( this is the 1568 Connolly) The year is starting off good right now i have 10 out of 12 seeds up so far. Wednesday, April 29 View Page Some of my other ones that are up are this 1 which is the 1467 Perham Wednesday, April 29 View Page And the 1537 Stelts Wednesday, April 29 View Page And 1 more is the 1392 Breznick Thursday, April 30 View Page The 1537 Stelts is in front so far in the plants that i have going. Thursday, April 30 View Page The 1467 Perham is in a close second. It is also looking really good. Thursday, April 30 View Page And then there is the 1568 Connolly that is the tallest of them all so far and is also looking good. Friday, May 1 View Page My 1467 Perham is still doing great. Nice dark green cots and growing aggressively. Friday, May 1 View Page My 1537 Stelts is still the best of all my plants. I also have good news i have one more plant up. It is the 900 Langevin. So i am up to 13 out of 14 plants. That is a good average for my real first year growing atlantic giants. Learned alot from this site and owe alot to all the people that throw out really good info. Thanks all !!!! Friday, May 1 View Page Oh my tomatoes are starting to look a little better in the last week and are still growing. Hope they make it to the garden in to weeks. Friday, May 1 View Page The 1568 Connolly is still doing good and hope it picks up on growing. I expected it to be my strongest plant but the season is still young. Saturday, May 2 View Page I finally recieve my secret weapon today. It is a load of 3 year old eurasian milfoil that was taken out of the local Lake Bomoseen. This may be what those giant pumpkin plants want to grow in .We shall find out. Saturday, May 2 View Page Well my 1537 Stelts is still growing the fastest out of all my plants. It has gone from a back up to the leader of the pack. Go baby grow. Sunday, May 3 View Page Well today finally i have finished at least the planting area of my patch. It has been a lot of work and should pay off. I hope !!! Wednesday, May 6 View Page Well today was the day to get most of my plant into the ground. It was a wet day and i didn't have anything going on so it was perfect for planting. I put in the ground the following plants. 1568 Connolly,1537 Stelts,1536 Van Kooten,1467 Perham ,1392 Breznick, 1255 Van Kooten,1184 Barker,906 Boyce ,900 Haist squash, 871 Cadieux.All were looking great and all had therefirst true leaf opened up. Sunday, May 10 View Page My wife Tracey and i built 3 hot houses today for my plants. It has been cool here in vermont and i know they need it warm to keep growing. Was about 56 today and very windy. Sunday, May 10 View Page I also got my last 3 plants in the ground today . They were the 1019 Horton , 695 Young , ang a 900 Langevin with its weird 3rd cot leaf. Sunday, May 10 View Page This is a good picture of the 900 Langevin and it's 3rd cot leaf or badly torn cot leaf !!! Sunday, May 10 View Page The local girls were up checking on my patch late this afternoon. They came in handy earlier in the spring with all the compost that they supplied me with Sunday, May 10 View Page My bleeding hearts are finally up and looking great. Also the bumble bees love them. Sunday, May 10 View Page I only had 1 seed this year that didn't come up. That seed was 1 of my 2 squash seeds. It was the 500 Hull . It never even pushed out a root. What a disapointment but oh well. I did 13 out 14 seeds this year not to bad for a new grower. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Well monday night it got down to 37 and tonight they are call in for frost . I hope we don't but i am covered .Yesterday beening monday 5/11/09 i planted my 7 giant tomatoes. They don't look to good today but they should be fine. been having trouble with them this hole year so far but they have keep fighting to stay around.I hope they make it!!!! Thursday, May 14 View Page Does anyone know what this is on 3 of my plants? I noticed it yesterday. They were the last 3 plants that i put in and all have it on them. Looks like someone sprayed gray paint on the cot leaves. Any help or comment would be appreciated Sunday, May 17 View Page Well this was a real shocker this morning when i went out to check on my plants. This was 1 of my best growers this year and now it is broken in half. I have stacked it down and am seeing if it will heal it self but i am afraid it is n't going to. I will leave it for 2 days to see !!!! Sorry it is the 695 Young. What a kick in the ___ !!!!! Sunday, May 17 View Page 1 more picture of one of my kids that i don't want to let go of. ( That is what it feels like)Hate to let it go!!!Hope it makes it. Tuesday, May 19 View Page Last night it got down to 28 degrees ang we had a hard frost. All plants looked ok after i looked at them late tonight after i got home. Tuesday, May 19 View Page Also my watermelon seeds have come up. I had 3 out of 7 seeds come up not a good average but i have something to work with. First year for these. We will see how they do. Wednesday, May 20 View Page 1536 Van Kooten is probly my biggest p;ant out of all of them right now. It looks like it is about to shot out . This weekend it is going to get warm and that should help out all of my plants Wednesday, May 20 View Page This is another good plant that i haven't talked about but i think it is going to do good for me this year, It is the 906 Boyce.This was a long and very orange pumpkin that was grown about 12 miles from my home.This plant loves the vermont soil. Time will tell with this one. Hope it grows a big one. Wednesday, May 20 View Page Here is another plant that is doing good it is the 1255 Van Kooten. As you can see i have alot of water bottles in my hot houses. They are there to keep my plants warm at night. It is still cold here at night so every little helps. Wednesday, May 20 View Page And 1 more that i have not shown much. This is the vermont state record 1392 Breznick . This was probly the best looking pumpkin that i have ever seen. It was dark orange and perfectly round. Hope it will grow me a nice 1 also . Got my fingers crossed !!! Wednesday, May 20 View Page And this is my 1568 Connolly i know it don't look like much but it has a great blood line. And has alot of potential. Hope it is a good plant for me !!! Wednesday, May 27 View Page Today was a very wet day here in vermont. We have had 1.59 inches so far and more to come. Wednesday, May 27 View Page My sunflowers are up and doing good so far. Wednesday, May 27 View Page And todat the 27th of May. I planted my giant watermelon plants. There was only 3 that came up out of the 7 that i planted . This will be the first year for these. Hope to grow one at least. Wednesday, May 27 View Page this is my biggest plant as we speak. It is the 1536 Van Kooten. Likes my vermont soil so far. It is along way from home up here in the northeast !! Wednesday, May 27 View Page This is also a plant that is doing great here in my vermont soil. It is the 1255 Van Kooten. There is not much difference between these two plants. both growing great Sunday, May 31 View Page This is my 1536 Van Kooten and it will be on the ground running in the next 2 days. It grow about 10 inches today alone. Sunday, May 31 View Page This is my 906 Boyce. It has just about grown up and out of its small hot house that i had made for it. It is growing great so far this year. Sunday, May 31 View Page Another good plant of mine. It is my 1255 Van Kooten that is also out growing its hot house. Will need to come out in a couple of days. But not tonight because we have a frost warning out . Hope it will warm up soon so my plants can finally take off and grow like they want to. Sunday, May 31 View Page My 1392 Breznick is also doing great. It has taken off after i finally got a hot house built for it a week and a half ago.It loves the heat and really is growing great in there. Sunday, May 31 View Page Starting to get some size to those leaves. This is my hand over one of the leaves of my 1536 Van Kooten. Monday, June 1 View Page Last night it got down to 29 here witha heavy frost. My plants still look good because they are in the hot houses still. Hope this weather is about over and we canget the sun back and some warmer weather. Monday, June 1 View Page Today the 1536 Van Kooten is on the ground and running. ( the race is on ) . Far and away my best plant i have going. Thursday, June 4 View Page My 1536 Van Kooten is about 1 more day from growing out of is hot house. Grew another foot and a half today. Got up to 73 today. Thursday, June 4 View Page My 906 Boyce is also about the grow out of its hot house. I am thinking that this weekend it is going to be time to take down the hot houses and let the plants run. Sunday, June 7 View Page I took some of my hot houses down today and let the plants out to run. This is my 1536 Van Kooten that is out to about 5 feet at this point in the year and still going strong. It has its first small pumpkin on it and hopefully alot more to come . Maybe even a really nice one !!!! Sunday, June 7 View Page This is my 1537 Stelts that has fallen of a bit but is still chuging along and is doing alright. It is about 20 inches out at this time . Not sure why it has those spots on the leaves but looks healthy still. Sunday, June 7 View Page This is another one of my top plants so far. It is the 1392 Breznick. It is abuot 3 feet out as of today and look great. Sunday, June 7 View Page This is the steam on my 906 boyce . It is bigger then the bottle cap already. This is a plant that i am going to have to keep my eyes on because it looks like it could be a great one. Time will tell !!!! Sunday, June 7 View Page This is another picture of my 906 boyce. What a good looking plant !!! Sunday, June 7 View Page I also started my compost tea today in my 55 gallon barrel that i had given to me . T hat stuff really stinks !!!! I hope my plants will like it in a couple weeks. Sunday, June 7 View Page Looks like good stuff right now . Time will tell. Got my fingers crossed. Sunday, June 7 View Page These are my good plants as of today . Front to back we have the 1392 Breznick , then the 1568 Connolly , then the 1536 Van Kooten. Sunday, June 7 View Page Here is a picture of my 1568 Connolly. It is about 30 inches out today and going strong. Wednesday, June 10 View Page My 906 boyce is still going strong. I think i heard that if the leaves get to big that is a sign of to much of something but i don't remember. The leaves are hugh on this plant. Let me know if there is something i need to do to stop them from getting so big. Wednesday, June 10 View Page this is 1 of the leaves on the 906 Boyce. It has 3 that are this big. Wednesday, June 10 View Page Took my 1467 Perham out of his hot house today because he out grow it. This is a nice plant as well grows a little everyday. Still waiting for those summer temps. Wednesday, June 10 View Page My 1536 Van Kooten has the first small pumpkin on it of the year!!! This is what i have been waiting for all winter. Now it is here. Even though i will have to cull it in a couple of weeks it is still cool to have 1 on there. Saturday, June 13 View Page Todat i got all of my hot houses down and all the plants are out in the opening and ready to stretch there legs. Saturday, June 13 View Page My 1536 Van Kooten is still doing great alot of secondary's are growing out and starting the christmas tree pattern. Out to 8 feet 4 inches today. Not bad for a slow learner. Saturday, June 13 View Page My only greenie for this year was removed from its hot house today also. It is doing alright but not expecting much from it . It has been slow since the first day in the patch. Oh it is the 900 Haist. Maybe it will take off if it ever gets warm here and stops raining. Saturday, June 13 View Page This is my 1184 barker that is a little slow on the start also but should take off . I applied some of my tea that i had been brewing for 4 weeks now . Boy oh boy does this stuff stink !!! I made it the way Steve Connolly told to on his video. You can see the ring around my plant were i put it down. Hope it jump starts this plant. Wednesday, June 17 View Page This is my 906 Boyce at 6 feet now. With its hugh 24 inch leaves . No pumpkins or female flowers yet.Secondarys are slow but out to 16 inches. Wednesday, June 17 View Page My 1536 Van Koten is out to 9 feet long and 5 feet wide now. It grow 10 inches today alone. It was a nice day here in vermont. 78 degrees and sunny. Not looking goood though for the next three days. Rain and cool. Hope they still grow .We shall see Wednesday, June 17 View Page My 1392 Breznick is doing great to . It is out to 7 feet 6 inches and has secondary's out to 3 feet. It has almost caught up to the 1536 Van Kooten. Oh this one also has the first female flower of the year on it at 7 feet. Sweet !!!! Wednesday, June 17 View Page Here it is the first female on the 1392 Breznick. I am a proud daddy. Sorry about the picture. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Here is a picture of half of my plants . All looking good so far in the early season. I foliar feed all my plant today with my neptune harvast fish and sea weed. And looks like i got rid of most of the cucumber beetles the other day when i applied the seven to them. I know they will be back and i am ready Wednesday, June 17 View Page My 695 Young is still around after getting broke off early in the season in a wind storm but i am not sure if it is going to be able to support a pumpkin on it. It has three vines coming off it and one is a double vine and the other two have a messed up main vine that doesn't seem to want to run. I will probly let it go and maybe get some males off it to pollinate some of my other plants with. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Some of my giant sun flowers at about 3 feet. Sunday, June 21 View Page Culler the first pumpkin of the year. It was off my 1536 Van Kooten. It was out at 8 feet 6 inches. Sunday, June 21 View Page And wouldn't you know it , it was a 6 lober. Hope there will be more to come this year !!!! Monday, June 22 View Page Today i got home from work and the wind has been blowing hard all day. I went out to check on my plants and found two of them had been rolled by the wind. This is the 900 Haist and it had a small problem. Monday, June 22 View Page This is what happened to it !!!!!!!!! I hope it doesn't hurt it. It is the only squash plant that i have going. Monday, June 22 View Page I also found this on 2 of the leaves and was wondering if any one know what it is. It is on my 906 Boyce. Monday, June 22 View Page Here is a picture of my 1536 Van Kooten taking shape. It has 3 more female flowers on it and growing fast. Can't wait to see what it will do when the sun is out and it is warm. Monday, June 22 View Page Here is a updated picture of 1 of my patchs. Everything is growing good. We need some sun soon . I still can't get the cucumber beetles under control. Sprayed twice already but i think all the rain is washing everything off the plants that i put on. Tuesday, June 23 View Page I tilled my patch tonight and put up some more wind blocking. It has been windy here for the last couple of days. My plants are taking a beating.My plants are all going great and they love the warmer weather. Up to 79 today . Tuesday, June 23 View Page Here you can see my 1467 Perham and the 1536 Van Kooten behind it. Boy that soil is starting to look good. I have put alot of work into it this year. Saturday, June 27 View Page this morning i pollinated two females. The first one was the 1536 Van Kooten and i crossed it with my 1568 Connolly. This is a 5 lobe and looks like a good pumpkin Saturday, June 27 View Page and the other female is the 1392 Breznick and i pollinated this one with the 1467 Perham . This also was a 5 lobe. Hopefully these will take and if not there is more to come . Got my fingers crossed !!!!! Sunday, June 28 View Page today i had another pollination. It was the 1537 Stelts and i crossed it with the 1536 Van Kooten. It is 7 feet out and looks to be ok so far. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is my 900 Haist that is still chugging along even after the main was cracked open about 5 inches last week. It also has a little one on it. !!!!! Sunday, June 28 View Page Here it is the first greenie of the year and my first ever. it will be ready to pollinate first thing monday morning. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is my 906 Boyce. It is out to 12 fet and is pushing14 feet wide. And it to has a little gift for me. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is the first female flower on my 906 Boyce. It is at a little over 10 feet on the plant and the first one on the Boyce of the year. It will be ready to pollinate on tuesday morning Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is my biggest plant still . It is the 1536 Van Kooten and it is out to 13 feet and about 14 feet wide . Growing alot when the sun is out and the rain has stopped.It has 1 pumpkin on it at this time and two more that will be pollinated by the end of this week. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is the 1568 Connolly and it is growing nicely as well. It is out to 12 feet and close to 12 feet wide. No females on it yet but it is going to throw some any day now. I hope it does. Still waiting to see them. Sunday, June 28 View Page This is a plant that i have not talked about yet this year, it was 1 that i was going to keep a secret about but is not growing to good so here it is. Out to 10 feet and not to many secondarys Sunday, June 28 View Page SORRY it is the 1255 Van Kooten. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is the main patch with a couple of the big boys in it. Sunday, June 28 View Page This is my 1467 Perham . This is another 1 of those plants that has huge leaves on it. The other 2 are the 906 Boyce and the 871 Cadieux. all the plants are located in differant areas in my 3 patches. Sunday, June 28 View Page Giant sunflowers are doing good. They are about 5 feet tall and have stalks that are about the size of a half dollar. Sunday, June 28 View Page And the only giant Tomatoe plant that i have left . It is growing really well in the warm weather. It is the 2.90 Strange Saturday, July 4 View Page I pollinated another female this morning on my 1392 Breznick this is the second one on this plant. Todays is out to 12 feet on the plant and was a messed up 5 lobe. I will see what it does . Saturday, July 4 View Page Sorry i crossed the 1392 Breznick with the 1184 Barker.7/4 used 3 male flowers so should be a done deal Sunday, July 5 View Page Well this morning i got up and went out to check on my plants and this is what i found . SVB !!!!! I think there was only 3 of them but not sure. I sprayed all 3 patches tonight and think i got 1 of them at least. Hope i got them all. Time will tell. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1255 Van Kooten is doing good and will have the first female pollinated on it on tuesday. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1467 Perham is also doing good at this point in the season. It is out to 12 feet and i have 1 pollinated on it at 9 feet. The pumpkin is growing slow but everything is with all this rain. We got 6 out of 7 for last week with the rain. Hope we will see 7 days of sun this week but i don't think that is going to happen! Sunday, July 5 View Page 1537 Stelts is another plant that is still chugging along. Out to about 11 feet and has 1 pollinated on it and is growing good. Sunday, July 5 View Page 871 Cadieux is still my smallest in the big patch but still holding his own. This plant is out to 9 feet now and has hugh leaves and a hugh main vine. Hope it will get a female on it in the next couple of weeks to see if it can grow a big pumpkin. We will see. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1392 Breznick is a really good plant. It is out to 15 feet and has 2 pumpkins on it already. I did kill a SVB on it tonight and hope i got anything that it left behind. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1568 Connolly is also a great plant and really taking off with this sun. It has 1 female on it that will be pollinated in the morning. This plant is also on to 15 feet. Sunday, July 5 View Page Here is my best plant at this time . It is the 1536 Van Kooten and as you can see i put up a sun blocker today. I have 2 pumpkins on it and 1 is growing good so far. It is about the size of a football. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1536 Van Kooten crossed with the 1568 Connolly on 6/27. It is 8 days old today . Sunday, July 5 View Page 906 Boyce is the man in the Cole Patch so far this year. It is out to 17 feet and is just a hugh plant. I did see the other 2 SVB on it this morning and sprayed the hell out of it tonight with seven. I have 1 pumkin on it at 13 feet and crossed it with the 1255 Van Kooten, 6/30 Sunday, July 5 View Page 906 Boyce pumpkin Sunday, July 5 View Page 900 Haist is the only giant squash that i have still and it is doing ok. The stem split has healed and the second squash female was pollinated this morning. Sunday, July 5 View Page Here is the female squash on the 900 Haist. It was a 5 lober with a nice long stem. Sunday, July 5 View Page Giant tomatoe is doing good snd i have my first mega bloom on it. Sunday, July 5 View Page Here is a picture of it but it is a little blurry sorry. Sunday, July 5 View Page Here is my daughter in front of my tallest sunflower so far this year. It is close to 6 feet tall Monday, July 6 View Page I pollinated 3 more female flowers today first one is the 1568 Connolly and crossed it with the 1536 Van Kooten. It was a 5 lobe and out to 14 feet and the first on the plant. Monday, July 6 View Page The next one today was the 1467 Perham and i crossed it with the 1568 Connolly. It was a medded up 5 lobe with some seeds in the flower.The second pumpkin on this plant and this 1 is out to 12 feet. Monday, July 6 View Page And the third 1 today is the 900 Langevin and it is out to 9 fet and i crossed it with the 871 Cadieux. It was a 5 lobe . Saturday, July 11 View Page welll today was a sad day for me. My 906 Boyce had a really good grower going on it and with all this rain in the last 2 weeks it couldn't hold together. I cut it off the plant which it had been growing on since the 30th of June.12 days old. It was almost the size of a basketball Saturday, July 11 View Page And wouldn't you know it more rain this afternoon. We got just over a 3/4 of an inch of rain in about 1 hour. And as you can see my patch is really wet now . I don't know how much more they can take. Saturday, July 11 View Page Well before it rained today i got my patch tilled and got my tomatoe cage built. The cage is 6 feet tall and my plant is up to 3 fet as we speak. Saturday, July 11 View Page And when i was working around my tomatoe plant i could see the mega bloom was open and it is huge . Can wait to see what it is going to grow into. Sunday, July 12 View Page Well after all this rain things are starting to become a little strange. This morning i went out to pollinate one of my plants and i found this on the 900 Langevin . Sunday, July 12 View Page Here is the 900 Haist that is out to 15 feet now and i have 3 squash pollinated on it and waiting to see what one wants to step up and be the man. Sunday, July 12 View Page Here is my newest squash on my 900 haist Sunday, July 12 View Page Here is the best plant that i have at this time . It is the 906 Boyce and is off the patch area and out to 20 feet. Lost the biggest pumpkin on it yesterday after all this rain. I have two more on it at this time so hopefully 1 will step up. Sunday, July 12 View Page The west patch is starting to fill in as the two plants grow toward the lawn that is 21 feet from were they were planted. Sunday, July 12 View Page Here is the east patch that also is filling in nicely. I am thinking that i should have gone with only 6 plants in there instead of 8. Live and learn. Sunday, July 12 View Page This is the biggest i got at this time it is on the 1536 Van Kooten and is growing really well at this time. Has tripled in size this week alone Sunday, July 12 View Page Here is 1 of the pumpkins on my 1392 Breznick that is doing well also. I have a sun shield up over this pumpkin and the 1536 Van Kooten. Sunday, July 12 View Page Foliar feed all my plants tonight. Finally was able to get in the patch 1 night this week without it raining. Seems nice for a change , and my plants will apprciate it as well. I got 3 plants that are starting to get a brown or lite brown color to the older leaves on them . Hope that they just needed a break from all the rain, and a little food to eat. Monday, July 13 View Page Here is the biggest squash that i have on the 900 Haist. Very long stem.Good placement on the vine and should add up to a nice squash. Monday, July 13 View Page number 2 on the 900 Haist another very long stem. So far so good. Monday, July 13 View Page Here is the 1537 Stelts it is growing good and is measuring at 23/22/30 as of today. Monday, July 13 View Page Here is the 1392 Breznick that is also doing good. It is measuring at 24/25/34 today Monday, July 13 View Page Here is the big boy so far this year. It is the 1536 Van Kooten and this thing is a steam engine. It has gone from 7/11 of 16/24/34 to today 7/13 at 30/28/39 half. Go little man go Saturday, July 18 View Page todfay i had to cull 1 of my pumpkins on my 1536 Van Kooten so i took the 2nd pumpkin i had on it . Final measurement were 30x31x41 and went 31.6 pounds on the bathroom scale.Hate to do it but have to to grow a big 1 Saturday, July 18 View Page Here is the 1392 Breznick at its 21st day and the measure on this one is 36.5x37x51 and growing every day bigger and bigger. Very white colored pumpkin at this time . Hope it darkens up a little. Saturday, July 18 View Page Had another strange looking females today. This 1 was on the 695 young and it was the first female on the plant out at 13 feet. The flower had already opened up and the pumpkin was not ready to be pollinated yet. Sunday, July 19 View Page This should be the man on my 906 Boyce. It is out to 22 feet and i cut the main at the pumpkin. I do have another pumpkin on the plant at 18 feet and is growing well at this time. Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the other pumpkin on the 906 Boyce at 18 feet 17x18x22.5 Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the 900 Haist sqaush that is doing well also it is 10 days old and measures in at 25x25x32 and still nice and green Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the second squash on the 900 Haist it is 6 days old now and is growing still Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the first keeper on the 1255 Van Kooten. It is out at 15 feet and measures in at 16x16x20 Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the 1467 Perham and is also doing well. It is 8 days old now and is measureing in at 14x15x20 Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the 1184 Barker the is also doing ok. It is a week old today and is at 13x13x17 Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the first female flower on the 871 Cadieux (pumpkin) what is this Wendy !!!!! I hope this turns into a pumpkin at some point. Time will tell Sunday, July 19 View Page Here is the 1568 Connolly pumpkin . It is growing well and is starting to show some small ribs in it at a young age.It is at 13 days today and measures in at 21x21x28 Sunday, July 19 View Page Here is the 1537 Stelts that is doing really well . It is at 21 days today and measures in at 36x37x49 Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the 1392 Brenick that is growing great so far. Very white fruit and putting on the pounds every day. It is 22 days old and measures in at 39x40x55 so it is putting on about 12 pound a day as we speak. Hope it picks up a little more by the end of this week Sunday, July 19 View Page This is the 1536 Van Kooten and this was the biggest pumpkin i had growing until today . It is also 22 days old and measures in at 38x36x50. This pumpkin has also turned more of a orange color in the last 3 days. Hope there isn't anything wrong with it.I will continue to measure it daily to make sure it is still growing. Sunday, July 19 View Page And here is some of my giant sun flowers. The biggest ones are about 7 feet tall today but are showing signs of there heads are forming.Probly won't get much more height out of them so hope the heads on them get hugh. Sunday, July 19 View Page Here is a picture of my patch at this point in the year.Still growing good. Hope the rain stays away for a couple more days so i canget caught up on all the vine burying and trimming. Wednesday, July 22 View Page Todays measurements on my pumpkins Breznick 1392 46x47x65 158 inches Van Kooten 1536 42x42x57 141 inches Stelts 1537 41x42x58 141 inches Haist 900 squash 34x33x45 112 inches Boyce 900 27x27x35 89 inches Van Kooten 1255 24x25x32 81 inches Perham 1467 21x21x25 67 inches Connolly 1568 27x27x37 91 inches Barker 1184 20x19x24 63 inches Wednesday, July 22 View Page Horton 1019 17x16x22 55 inches Langevin 900 24x22x30 76 inches Thursday, July 23 View Page here is my 1392 breznick this afternoon. Just measured it again today and it is at 48x50x69. Grew another 9 inches today. Go brez go !!! Thursday, July 23 View Page Here is the 1536 Van Kooten this afternoon. I measured this today as well and it is at 45x45x60. It to grew another 9 inches today!!! Thursday, July 23 View Page Here is my 1537 Stelts that is really putting on the weight. It to was measures this afternoon and it is at 45x46x61 and it grew 11 inches today . WOW THAT IS COOL!!! Thursday, July 23 View Page Pollinated my 871 Cadieux today with my 1536 Van Kooten. It was a 6 or 7 lobe you be the judge. I used 3 males to pollinate it. This is the pumpkin plant that came from a beautiful dark orange pumpkin and it is throwing a green squash !!! I hope it turns orange by october. Time will tell Thursday, July 23 View Page Here is a picture of the 871 Cadieux greenie ???? Thursday, July 23 View Page Here is my 900 Haist and today it measured in at 36x37x48. I think it is getting a little lighter green but should darken up as it grows bigger Sunday, July 26 View Page One more week and the 1392 Breznick is still putting on the weight. As of this morning it was up to 54x56x73 and still nice white color. Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is my 1536 Van Kooten and i think this is the first real issue of the year. I noticed this friday moning when i went out to check on them before i went to work. I don't know if it is done for or not could someone tell me if it is or isn't done. It is still putting on the weight everyday but the end is soft. Sunday, July 26 View Page Another picture of the end of the 1536 Van Kooten Sunday, July 26 View Page I did start another female today on the 1536 Van Kooten . It is out at 27 feet and am going to do one more at 30 feet before ending the main. I hope one of them takes !!!! Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is the 1537 Stelts as of today was at 50x51x71 and starting to be a ugly pumpkin. But it is going to be a big one i hope! Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is the 1568 Connolly and not doing what i had hoped this plant would do so far this year. This is a odd shaped pumpkin that is not to long and probly will get cut off in the next couple of days if i can get onother one to take. Time will tell Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is the 1184 Barker that is doing so so. It is starting to take off and should be ready to put a mat under it by mid week and get ready for the long haul with it without any problems i hope.This is a 1689 Jutras x 1631 McKie cross. Sunday, July 26 View Page The 900 Haist is still doing great and putting on the pounds. Measures 43 x 45 x 58 and still green Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is my 1467 Perham that has taken off this week. It is at 32 x 31 x 44 with a really good shape to it. Sunday, July 26 View Page This is my 1019 Horton at the size of a basketball. Has grow very well this week. It is at 25 x 25 x 34 . It is on a small plant so will see what it can do this summer Sunday, July 26 View Page This is my 900 Langevin that is doing ok. I hoped for alot more out of this plant but haven't seen it yet this year. Hope it takes off Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is a picture of my biggest patch that is filling really good . Should be almost all filled in by next weekend Sunday, July 26 View Page This is my daughter in front of some of my giant sunflowers. Couple are almost 10 feet tall Sunday, July 26 View Page Here is the latest pumpkin ? or should i say squash on my 871 Cadieux . This was a beautiful orange pumpkin last year Sunday, July 26 View Page My only giant tomatoe plant that i have left.It is about 4 and a half feet tall and has ______ Sunday, July 26 View Page my first tomatoe on it of the year !!!! Thursday, July 30 View Page Well have been really busy with my sons baseball team practiced every night this week and have games all weekend.Went out side tonight and measured my pumkins. Thursday, July 30 View Page 1392 Breznick 61x65x91=217 inches / 1537 Stelts 57x59x81=197 inches / 1536 Van Kooten 56x58x79=183 inches / 1184 Barker 46x50x60 = 156 inches / 1255 Van Kooten 50x55x73 = 178 inches / 1467 Perham 40x40x58 = 138 inches / 1019 Horton 31x31x44 = 106 inches / 900 Langevin 37x40x54 = 131 inches / 900 Haist 50x53x70 = 173 inches / 906 Boyce 51X56X67 = 174 inches Doing OK so far this year!!! Friday, July 31 View Page well the rain has finally stopped but not after we had more then 4 inches of rain in the last 72 hours. I hope my pimkins hold together in the next couple days as they soak in all this rain. Should see some really good growth in the next 5 days !!!!!!! Sunday, August 2 View Page Well another week has come and gone and the 1392 Breznick is still my top pumpkin. As of today it is at 66x68x98 and is est. at 272 pounds. Been averageing round 23 pounds a day for the last three days. We have had alot of rain here also in those three days. Sunday, August 2 View Page I had to cut off my 1568 Connolly today because it went down with blossom rot. Its final measurements were 46x54x64 . Very odd shaped pumpkin. I have 1 more on this plant hope it growsa me a big one. Monday, August 3 View Page Here is my 1536 Van Kooten that is days from being taken off the plant from the blossom rot. It measures in at 58x62x82 = 202 inches Still growing good but the end of it is really soft now. To bad was going to be a good one. I have started another hope it can live up to its older brother!!!! Posted a day late because of the site being down Monday, August 3 View Page Here is the 1184 Barker that is growing a very white pumpkin that is not getting to thick but is getting very round and tall it is at 54x58x68 Monday, August 3 View Page And yes we got are daily rain late yesterday that came down very hard for about 45 min. Monday, August 3 View Page Here is my 871 Cadieux that is still green. I am up in the air now if i want it to go orange or to stay green and grow big and dark green . Well i guess we will have to see Monday, August 3 View Page Here is my 1537 Stelts that is still going at a good pace.It is at 61x64x88 and putting on about 16 a day for the last 5 days now. Tuesday, August 4 View Page here is my 1467 Perham that is still going and at 42x42x59 and this was on the 2nd of august. Was having computer trouble so couldn't finish my sunday posting Tuesday, August 4 View Page Here is my 900 Haist that is still nice and green. As of sunday it was at 52x57x78 and still putting on the pounds Tuesday, August 4 View Page This is the biggest grower of the week .It is the 1255 Van Kooten it went from 107 inches last weekend to this weekend it is 58x62x80 which equals 200 inches which is a gain of 145 pound this week alone. Average of 21 pounds aday !!!!! Tuesday, August 4 View Page Here is my tomato plant after i gave it a hair cut. It stands at about 5 feet 6 inches and has 7 tomatos on it Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is the 1392 Breznick that is still putting on the pounds .Today it is at 73x75x109 which puts it around 365 pounds. Starting to look more and more like its mother everyday. Averaged only around 14 pounds a day this week. Need it to warm up to pick up the pace. Sunday, August 9 View Page This weekend was very busy i took my 9 and 10 year old all star team to a tournament and we placed 3rd . Was the last one of the year. Good long season just like pumpkin growing !!! Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is my 1568 Connolly that has finally taking off. It is at 20x20x25 hope it keeps growing Sunday, August 9 View Page Well this will be the last day you see this pumpkin around . I took it after the picture was taken. Its final measurements were 64x65x91.It was rotten on the blossum end and had to cut it.It was to bad because it put on 18 inches this week but i could put my hand through the bottom of it Sunday, August 9 View Page Here i am with the 1536 Van Kooten for the last time Sunday, August 9 View Page It was really thick on the top but the bottom was very thin. Does any one know when seeds are mature enough to keep out of a pumpkin? I got about 100 seeds out of it but are white. Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is hopefully the replacement on the 1536 Van Kooten. Good shap so far. Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is my 1184 Barker that is still very white and is at 63x68x81 and has put on 77 pounds this week !!! Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is my 871 Cadieux that is still nice and green for a giant pumpkin. Anyways it is still growing and is at 38x39x44. It put on 55 inches this week alone. I don't care what is turns into as long as it keeps growing as fast as that every week Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is my ugly pumpkin in the patch and is still putting it on and is at 66x71x97. Put on 21 inches this week!!! Sunday, August 9 View Page Sorry it is the 1537 Stelts Sunday, August 9 View Page This is my 1467 Perham that hasn't grown at all this week and the plant is turning yellow will have to pull this plant very soon.This is a shame Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is the only squash i have growing and it is the 900 Haist and is at 57x63x86 and turning very dark around the blossom end. Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is another ugly pumpkin that i have and it is on the 906 Boyce it is at 64x71x89 and it put on 25 inches this week but had a little problem this week Sunday, August 9 View Page The stem has split on both sides but is not into the heart of the pumpkin. So i am going to go with it and see what it will do never know !!! Sunday, August 9 View Page Here is the 1255 Van Kooten and this is turning into my best pumpkin i got. It is at 70x71x105=246 inches and est. at 322 pounds . It is averageing 17 pounds a day !!! Sunday, August 9 View Page One more picture of the 1255 Van Kooten Monday, August 17 View Page Well another week has gone by and another problem this week . This is the 1537 Stelts and it is at 71x76x106 and will be the last measurement because of this !!!!!!!!! Monday, August 17 View Page When i was gone to old orchard beach this weekend it was up in the 90's and when i got back late last night i checked the pumpkins and this is what i found. Just a heart breaker. It is split all the way into the seed cavity. Hope it has some good seeds !!!!!!! Monday, August 17 View Page Here is the 906 Boyce that has continued to grow this week and hasn't split any further into the pumpkin and looks to be healing ok . Measurement are at 67x77x98 and is getting a bright orange color to it!!! Monday, August 17 View Page Here is the 900 Haist squash that isn't really geting any darker this week the two ends are dark green but the middle is almost white. It is at 60x67x94 Monday, August 17 View Page Here is my 871 Cadieux that is growing steady. Still nice and green and is at 48x52x58 Monday, August 17 View Page Here is my 1184 Barker and is still growing nicely . It is still a lite cream color and is at 69x74x90 Monday, August 17 View Page I do have a couple pumpkins that are growing good for me as long as i can keep them from coming apart. This is the 1255 Van Kooten and has caught up with my 1392 Breznick. It is at 79x80x114 and another very white pumpkin Monday, August 17 View Page Here is my niece with my 1392 Breznick and i think is a great looking pumpkin and looking alot like it's mother. Needs to put the color to it but have time for that still Monday, August 17 View Page sorry the pumpkin is at 78x80x118 on the 1392 Breznick Monday, August 17 View Page Here is my tomato plant that is over 6 feet tall and has a couple nice ones growing on it Monday, August 17 View Page This one is 15 inches around Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the 1392 Breznick that has fallen from the ranks as the big man in the patch this week but still doing really good. It is at 82x82x123 and has broke the 500 pound mark for the year and has hit my goal for my offical 1st year growing atlantic giants. My season i would say was a success!!!! Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the new man of the patch !!!!! it is the 1255 Van Kooten and it is growing at a good rate. Today it is at 83x85x122= 290 inches and est. at 518 pounds. The next week or two will be the last push for more weight for this pumpkin and would like to see 600 pounds time will tell. Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is my 1184 Barker and is growing at a slow pace and this week it is at 72x77x94=243 inches which equals 310 est. pounds Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the 906 Boyce that is a very orange pumpkin that is at 67x80x102=249 at est. 333 pounds. I will probly take this one to the Rutland State Fair next week.Should be over 350 by that time. Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is my 871 Cadieux that is still green and still putting on the weight. It is at 56x59x66=181 inches and a est. 136 pounds Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is my late set on the 1568 Connolly after the first two i lost off this plant . It is at 47x50x65 and is at 24 days old. It is a 1568 Connolly x 1536 Van Kooten 4 lobe. Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is my 900 Haist squash that is at 62x69x98=229 est. 262 pounds but very lite colored still. Sorry about the picture got dark on me. Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the 16 inch tomato on my 2.90 Strange plant. I do have 6 other on this plant that have been started.Hope to get some other big ones on it. Sunday, August 23 View Page Here is the 2.90 Strange plant at 6 + feet tall Sunday, August 23 View Page Here are a couple of my giant sunflower plants with my niece in front of some of the tallest ones. She is 5 foot 6 inchs tall and there are a couple that are twice as tall as she is. Thursday, August 27 View Page well tonight i got some of my friends and family together to move my 1392 Breznick pumpkin to the pallet to take it to the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Vermont. Thursday, August 27 View Page Here is a picture of my friends and my father with it up on its side Saturday, August 29 View Page Well friday night we drove one and a half hours to Essex Vermont to the 2009 Champlain valley Fair to bring up my 1392 Breznick pumpkin and here it is all the way to the left. It was placed beside the biggest pumpkin there so it made mine look tiny Saturday, August 29 View Page Here we go it is being put on the lift to see what the offical weight will be and Kevin says 506 pounds . I did it i broke the 500 pound mark for the year ! That was my goal for the year i did it! Saturday, August 29 View Page Here is a picture of some of the other pumpkins that were brought also. There was 6 total and i got 4 place not bad for my first weight-off. Saturday, August 29 View Page Here is the offical 506 Cole 09 !!!! 1392 Breznick x 1467 Perham / 82x82 1/4x121 3/4 = 286 ott so it went 8 pounds heavy Saturday, August 29 View Page Here it is all set up and ready for the week and a half of showing itself to the world. Saturday, August 29 View Page another picture of the other pumpkins that were there. Some really nice pumpkins for this early in the year Sunday, August 30 View Page Well another week and the 906 Boyce is still growing, but not to much. This week it is at 69x80x104=253ott. around 350 pounds. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is my 900 Haist that is just about done for the year. It is up to 62x70x99=231 ott. around 270 pounds. I t has a small crack that started in the bloosom end but is just on the surface. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is my son Zachary with the 1184 Barker that is still growing well late in the season it is at 73x79x96=248 ott. around 330 pounds and a nice wheel shape to it. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is the 871 Cadieux that is still green and growing well it is at 60x64x72=196 ott. 170 pounds. Wendy Cadieux and Huey Cadieux and Dan Boyce stopped by today and Wendy said that i should have the giant pepper record by the end of the year because this pumpkin looks just like a pepper. Sunday, August 30 View Page Another picture of the 871 Cadieux Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is my big boy of the patch still putting on the pounds it is the 1255 Van Kooten and today it is at 86x90x128=304 ott. which is around 600 pounds. oh ya grow baby grow. i can't believe i broke the 300 inch mark on my first growing year. Hope the luck keeps on my side till the end of the year. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is another picture of the 1255 Van Kooten Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is myself and my 6 foot + tall tomato plant. This plant is doing great and has a couple of really nice tomatos on it. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is a picture of my biggest one. Sunday, August 30 View Page couple others Sunday, August 30 View Page Here are some of my giant sunflowers that i am standing in front of this evening. The tallest one is at about 10 feet 4 inches. Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is my 15 inch head on one of my sunflowers Sunday, August 30 View Page Here is another sunflower head that looks like a bee hive Wednesday, September 2 View Page Been in the 40's the last three nights and my 1255 Van Kooten is still putting on 10 pounds aday. I hope it keeps this up!!! Up to 88x92x129=309 ott. 625 pounds est. Thursday, September 3 View Page Today i loaded up my 906 Boyce that is a bright orange pumpkin and a 14 inch wide sunflower head and this giant tomato and friday morning my wife is going to take them to the State Fair in Rutland Vermont. Thursday, September 3 View Page here is my giant sunflower head Sunday, September 6 View Page Well today was my 10 year olds first football game of the year and we lost 12 to 6. Sunday, September 6 View Page Here is my 900 Haist and the crack that i had stopped has started up again after about 2 weeks of healing.I hope it stops again.Today it is at 64x70x99 Sunday, September 6 View Page This is my 1184 Barker and is about done. The plant is dead !!! I will be moving it to the front lawn by the end of the week to set up my fall display of my pumpkins and other thins that i grew on this year.It is at 74x78x97x249=333 Sunday, September 6 View Page Here is my 871 Cadieux that is still green and still growing.Today it is at 63x67x73=203 Sunday, September 6 View Page Another pumpkin that is on the 871 Cadieux that is at 35x38x48 and also green. Sunday, September 6 View Page And here is another pumpkin on the 871 Cadieux and this one is yellow. I don't know why this is but this one looks like its mother from last year. Sunday, September 6 View Page Here is my big one in my patch it is the 1255 Van Kooten and it is up another 9 inches this week and hanging in there. It has another 34 days till the Vermont Giant Pumpkin Growers weigh-off . I hope i can keep the plant alive till then. Todays measurements are 89x93x131=313 ott. and is around 650 pounds. Sunday, September 6 View Page Took my 906 Boyce to the Rutland State Fair on friday and it got second place there. It was offically weighed in at 370 POUNDS.The 370 Cole 09 With its really orange skin. I think this was the nicest veggie at the fair. Sunday, September 6 View Page I also took first place with my giant sunflower head that was 15 inchs wide Sunday, September 6 View Page But nothing for my giant tomato because there was no others brought to the fair this year. That sucks because i think i had a good one there. I will take it to get weigheds after the fair. Sunday, September 6 View Page I also have tested one of my seeds from my 1536 Van Kooten x 1568 Connolly est. 234 pounds and went down to blossom rot. And as you can see it germinated in 3 days . Should be a great seed next year. Has great genetics. But i only have 90 of them . Definately growing one next year. Sunday, September 6 View Page Another great cross here . The 1537 Stelts x 1536 Van Kooten which was also a damaged pumpkin and went down to a stem split. I have not tested these yet but should be fine. I do have alot of these , there are about 300 of them Monday, September 7 View Page Went up to the Champlain Valley Fair today to bring home my 4 place pumpkin that has been up there for the last 11 days. I think it has put on some color since it was up there . Monday, September 7 View Page The competion at the fair this year. Really great names there from the state of Vermont. Monday, September 7 View Page Loaded up to come home . A hour and fourty-five minute ride to Castleton. Tuesday, September 8 View Page Well i got home tonight and looked into my in box and Dan Boyce had sent me a couple pictures from the Rutland Fair. This is my giant tomato and he had brought over his offical scale and weighted it. Tuesday, September 8 View Page Here is the offical weight 1 pound 14.3 ounces. Not bad for my first and only giant tomato plant i have going this year Saturday, September 12 View Page Today i was out in garden and picked 3 tomato's of my only plant. The 2.90 Strange Saturday, September 12 View Page Here is the first one weighing in at 1.34 pound nice and red. Saturday, September 12 View Page The second one weighing in at 1.39 pounds Saturday, September 12 View Page And the third one weighing in at 1.66 pounds Monday, September 14 View Page Well i have the front lawn display started and here is the line up. Far left is the 370 Cole 09 to the back middle row is the 506 Cole 09 and the far right is the est. 333 Cole 09 and the front left is the 148 Cole 09 and to the right is the 109 Cole 09 Monday, September 28 View Page well the leaves are changing and the season is coming to a end . Monday, September 28 View Page Here is my 1255 Van Kooten. Stopped growing about a week and a half ago and now it is waiting to be taken to the VGVGA weigh off on Oct. 10. Hope it hangs around till that day. It is still white and sounds like a rock when you tap on it. Hope it goes heavy!!! Monday, September 28 View Page Here is my son with a couple of our sun flower heads that we cut Monday, September 28 View Page This one had a nice purple color to it and was my favorite ones for the year Monday, September 28 View Page One my bigger heads off one of my russian giants that shows off its dark colored head another really nice sun flower Friday, October 9 View Page Last night Dan and Holly Boyce and Huey and Wendy Cadieux and Ryan Kent and Jake Traverse helped me get my pumpkin and squash loaded up to go to the Vermont State weigh off on saturday Friday, October 9 View Page another picture of us Friday, October 9 View Page Loaded up and ready to go !!! We will see what they do saturday Saturday, October 10 View Page We got back from the Vermont weighoff and i did really well for my first year. The giant squash went 278 pounds!!! Saturday, October 10 View Page Here is my 1255 Van Kooten placed on the scale ready to be weighed. And the scale says_____ ? Saturday, October 10 View Page And the scale reads 827 pounds!!! I can't believe it i broke 800 pounds on my first year. I am so proud i have worked really hard this year at this and it payed off. Thanks to everyone that has helped me this year and special thanks to mister Van Kooten for the seeds that made up this nice pumpkin.( 1255 Van Kootenx1536 Van Kooten) Saturday, October 10 View Page This pumpkin went 100 pounds over the chart. Measures around 700 pounds and went 827 Saturday, October 10 View Page Some really nice pumpkins showed up at the 09 Vermont giant pumpkin weigh off Saturday, October 10 View Page Here were the big winners today. Left to right. Kevin Companion 997 and Mark Breznick 1153 WINNER and Wilbur Horton 1094 Saturday, October 10 View Page Here is a good picture of the Vermont Giant Pumpkin grower Club in a group picture for the 09 season Sunday, October 25 View Page Here is my daughter out front of our house with some of the pumpkins that we grew this year Sunday, October 25 View Page Here is my 400 est. 09 Cole this year carved out by my kids. This was a 900 Haist squash that turned white on me. Sunday, October 25 View Page Here is my 2 kids ( Zachary and Zoey ) with my 09 506 Cole pumpkin Sunday, October 25 View Page Here are most of them from this year all carved out for hallowen next week Sunday, October 25 View Page here they are all lite up. COOL LOOKING !!!! The kids loved it Sunday, October 25 View Page This is my 09 827 Cole that had 3 faces put on it this is 1 Sunday, October 25 View Page 2 Sunday, October 25 View Page and 3 the kids thought it was cool Sunday, October 25 View Page I had 4 seeds that started to grow in the 287 Cole 09 so i potted them and they are growing great. This was my sqaush that was from a beautiful orange pumpkin the year before so should throw a nice orange pumpkin next year.Not many seeds in this (871 Cadieux x 1568 Connolly) Sunday, October 25 View Page Had 300 + seeds out of my 827 Cole 09 this went 14 % heavy to the chart and was white. ( 1255 Van Kooten x 1536 Van Kooten ) Sunday, October 25 View Page Had 300 + seeds out of my 827 Cole 09 this went 14 % heavy to the chart and was white. ( 1255 Van Kooten x 1536 Van Kooten ) Sunday, October 25 View Page And our youth football team is in the finals or super bowl they call it next weekend after beating another undeated team today 26-7!!!! Go Vipers Thursday, November 26 View Page HAPPY THANKSGIVING SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.I can't wait till the seed auctions start!!!! Monday, December 28 View Page Just want to say early because i do't know when i can get on again so HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOOD LUCK EVERYONE IN 2010