Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 71 Entries. Thursday, March 19 View Page finally got the hoop house done for state fair pumpkin and tomatoes. Started 3 seeds on March 13th and all germinated. March 17 put in heating cables. looking to have in the ground on March 21st or 22nd.   Thursday, March 19 View Page Growing my own 180 O'Brien13. All 3 seeds germinated.   Friday, March 20 View Page All 3 seeds sprouted. 1 came up a day sooner than the other 2.   Saturday, March 21 View Page Planted today, maybe in a couple weeks we'll have a keeper.   Sunday, March 22 View Page Planted all 3 plants 3-21-15, maybe in a couple weeks we will have a winner.   Saturday, March 28 View Page plants 1week after planting. Also, tomatoes are coming up.   Saturday, April 4 View Page Plants are looking good @ 14 days after transplanting them. best plants for state fair I've had over the last 3yrs. hopefully they lay down with in the week.   Wednesday, April 8 View Page I was going to start the 886Stevens/Hopkins(2328xself), but :( it was all but empty. I accidently dropped it on table and it had that hollow sound. That's my luck. back to square 1 for big my giant plant.   Friday, April 10 View Page The 180's are doing well and I have a clear winner, but I'm waiting until the middle plant is laying down. It's has been out performing the other 2 since germination and its vine is 2x's as thick. Also, the 1189 Stevens/Hopkins (2009Wallace x 2328Meier) germinated in 30hrs and is in soil and will spend couple of weeks in a 10 gallon pot. The 1189 will have 1500sqft to fill.   Friday, April 17 View Page And then there was 1. 180 @ 28days about 5ft. happy with plant so far, as it is starting to push out secondary's and root along the vine. Also, started an 800Neily, because it may take awhile to germ. 1189stevens/Hopkins is happy in it's large pot. Waylen planted his local fair kin.   Friday, April 17 View Page Planted 2 of 3.30 May 4.57 MacCoy Open with 1 pouch of WOW Starter Paks ron sent last yr. and I will compare them with 1 planted with out.   Friday, April 17 View Page pic of second tomato with starter pak.   Friday, April 17 View Page And tomato without starter pak.   Friday, April 17 View Page The kids and I made the state fair kin a motivational sign and placed it at the opposite side of the hoop:)   Friday, April 17 View Page While I'm at it I'll post the starting line up for my 3rd. season. 2015 At my house in IN of course I planted my 180 for state fair. Waylen will grow his 161(772Zappax274Barenie) form 2yr.s back. 1718Weston(1676.5Daletasx1312Weston), 1754Daletas(1495Steltsxsibb),1719.5(Daletas(1676.5x2009Wallace) And 1 squash the 800*Neily. At my parents in IL I Will grow the 1189Stevens,Hopekins(2009x2328), 340estO'Brien(1422.5Matesax1312Weston) [both 20%+ and will have the 1719.5 as pollinator to keep my heavy crosses going.] 1 of theses 2 squash will be grown 853*Hefner(924*Jutrasxself) or 1218*5Morris(1064.5*Dawsonx1246.5*Vincent)   Saturday, April 18 View Page My wife gave me these as a gift for our 1st date:)   Wednesday, April 22 View Page 2nd 800neily germinated today @ about 36hrs, the 1st didn't make it after germinating. 4/22/15   Thursday, April 23 View Page stated all seeds today.   Friday, April 24 View Page my 180 growing nicely @ over 9'. Sides starting to break the canopy.   Friday, April 24 View Page side view of 180.   Friday, April 24 View Page Tomato #1   Friday, April 24 View Page Tomato #2   Friday, April 24 View Page Tomato #3   Saturday, April 25 View Page All Giant squash & pumpkins germinated except the 1754Daletes14. Also, most watermelons and long gourds germinated.   Friday, May 1 View Page the 180 doing well @ about 14' long and 10' wide. Temperatures will be warming into the 80's for highs and 60's for lows. looking for pollination in about 10-14days. Also, all other plants will be planted this coming week.   Friday, May 8 View Page Looks like I will be pollinating within 3days, if I have a male? Plant looks great and side vines are growing well, most of them will be terminated within 7days. side note: all AG's and squash are in the ground.   Sunday, May 10 View Page What a fitting pollination on Mothers day. Very healthy with 5lobes. only had 1male open today, but the 3 from yesterday were in the fridge and were also used. I hope it takes. I was shooting for may 10-14pollination so it works perfect. this yrs. plant is 2.5 x's as big as last yrs. that produced my 795 at the state fair, looking for good things to happen. only time will tell.   Friday, May 15 View Page Finally got the LG trellis done and planted 3LG along with melons. Plants are looking better with the heat. This is the picture of my state fair plant. I am very pleased with how it has grown.   Friday, May 15 View Page Looks like the pollination from May 10th took and is growing well.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Made it to 10dap. Overall plant health is good with the main being over 30ft. Temperatures are terrible. Need some sunshine and warm temperatures.   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Another shot of 10dap kin. cir.28"   Thursday, June 4 View Page things haven't worked out to well for the early plant. set was good and gaining 5incc/day until someone kinked the vine, let's just say it kind of slowed her down. But, a new pollination today gives me 60+ days, so we'll see. plant is really healthy. other plants are around 4ft. and growing good with warmer weather. starting field pumpkins tomorrow and am on my third set of LG and melons (cold and animals suck).   Friday, June 26 View Page not the best start here in west central IN/East central IL. with all the rain the IL patch is almost as bad as last yr. and Between the 2 patches I have made 1 pollination for this fall. If I'm lucky I will have a pollination set on all plants by the end of the month, but they will be 20-25ft out. Doubtful if we make it to the IN state fair this yr. with the changes they have made. With 2 sets and tomatoes not looking great it's not worth it, with no guarantee and having to register this early. I'm still chasing moles. we've gotten 2 and sprayed for grubs but they are tearing the hell out of everything.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page not much time to post with work and patch care, but finally have sets on all AG's and Squash. melons and LG are horrible. State farm AG's are misfiring on all cylinders. 886Stevens/Hopkins x 1754Daletas sets are 2-4days old 1718Weston x 886 set is 5days 1719.5Daletas x 886 is at 11dap and is the most promising 1754Daletas x 886 is going ok with 4dap 800Neilly x self is 3dap looking good 1218.5Morris x self is 12dap but have set with 800* 4dap 170Barenie x 1754Daletas is at 6dap Other AG's at my parents were flooded too long and will just let them go. All FP look good   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 180O'Brien for state fair not much to say here.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Here is the 800Neilly   Wednesday, July 8 View Page here is the 1719Daletas Best chance for pb this yr. be hind it is the 1754Daletas   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1719Daletas x 886Stevens Day 10 pic @ 26"cc. If you look back at the beginning of my Diary you will notice the 886 appeared to be hollow but there was an embryo about 1/4" with 1 cot so I gave it a try. it turned out to be very good growing plant but has been forming. Just thankful I could get pollen from her.   Sunday, July 12 View Page It appears we've lost Waylens fair pumpkin at about 30DAP. 244OTT. No noticeable reason plants healthy no heat. We will pollinate last kin on main tomorrow. Everything else is doing ok for now. 1719.5Daletas is king of the patch at 800sqft with 14dap @ 46". cut all flowers and tertiary growth off this evening (only took 1.5hrs and 100mosquito bites).   Tuesday, July 21 View Page I stopped this beautiful lady to pose with the fair kin.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page and another pic. very tall and odd shaped. (not my wife she's short and nicely shaped;)   Sunday, July 26 View Page No state fair this yr. BES this morning.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Another early exit on competition Kins. Now just a competition to kill all the small stuff.   Friday, September 4 View Page 800neilly didn't pan out. plants awesome, but every set had BES no matter the size(25#-200#). I will try again next yr. plant will be pulled this weekend along with the 1719.5Daletas. I've tried to set a dozen more kins, but all start dying at BE. LG's are growing great best ever, but the ends get soft and shrivel up, but continue to grow. main focus is to eliminate moles for next yr.as no roots = 1/2 the size fruit or less. they are so bad I've actually been looking for new home and property.   Monday, September 7 View Page pulled 1719.5 plant today. 9kins 30-120# all BE died.   Monday, September 7 View Page and pulled. took forever. 800 tomorrow.   Wednesday, September 9 View Page Stem split 2weeks back and the little drainage caused the vine/stem junction to rot.   Wednesday, September 9 View Page a few days with the fan running, nothing special, but still growing for lawn ornament.   Monday, September 14 View Page 1189Stevens,Hopekins(2009x2328) was drowned out, but I managed this 200#kin that was open pollination, but was the only plant there.   Monday, September 14 View Page here's the 161O'Brien side vine with stem split and half vine, but still growing.   Monday, September 14 View Page another shot of 161   Monday, September 14 View Page plant pic of 161   Monday, September 14 View Page here's my melon on 70sqft plant.   Wednesday, September 23 View Page Small kin has some rot on the bottom, so I cut it off cleaned and sulfured. Will pull out tomorrow, set on end and put fan on it. hopefully I can save it. 100% my fault, as I didn't put anything between the ground and kin.   Friday, October 9 View Page Going to the Fair Oaks WO tomorrow, should be fun. It's the first time I've had to make a pallet for a kin, now I just have to get it loaded. too much hard word growing pumpkins, but it sure is fun.   Friday, October 16 View Page Here is a picture of my biggest castor bean plant. (approximately 18')   Friday, October 16 View Page Here is the base.   Saturday, October 24 View Page time to get started on next yr. pulled the last pumpkin 2 days ago, 240#uow O'Brien 15(161O'Brien13 x 886stevens/hopekins14. I will grow this seed along with 1676.5daletas12 for next yrs. State fairs(IN & OH) I hope.   Saturday, October 24 View Page Got lucky this yr. only had to unload it by hand. so far I have 16yds. and 4 to go.   Saturday, October 24 View Page good exercise or we are just crazy?   Saturday, October 24 View Page Now time to spread and till.   Sunday, October 25 View Page Gathered up some leaves to mix in. Tomorrow I'll clean out a chicken coop and get some more manure.   Monday, October 26 View Page Collected about 1.5yds of chicken coop this and that, along with 2 wheel barrels of old pig manure. Just 2 more yds of cow manure to go.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page About 2-3" of leaves spread on the patch.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Just about done tilling. I like the way it looks.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Finally tilled and winter rye planted. A bit late, but it's in. Forecast for a warm Nov.   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Wife and kids got me a tasty cake!   Tuesday, November 3 View Page My youngest said I needed a piņata. lol   Tuesday, November 3 View Page Was hoping a 2009Wallace, 1985Miller or maybe 1921Weston, but no such luck:(   Wednesday, November 4 View Page Keeping cover crop watered. Just love the way patch looks:)   Wednesday, November 18 View Page The winter rye is coming up well, some thin spots, but over all looks good. not sure how thick it needs to be.