Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 60 Entries. Sunday, April 12 View Page This is my new allotment. It still needs a lot of work, and I'm working it by hand, so it's slow going! I am hoping to grow 2 plants this year. I've managed to clear one patch and I'm now working on the second. I'm aiming for 200 sq ft per patch.   Sunday, April 19 View Page So this year's line up is planned as the 1528 Paton from last year. With thanks to Ian and Stuart Paton for being very generous with their seed at the Southampton show last year. My second plant is the 978 Geyelin from 2013. With thanks to Dandytown in Nottingham. Let's hope with the extra space I have at the allotment this year I can do these seeds justice. My PB from last year is only 110 lbs, so that's my (first) target for this year. Of course my line up is dependant on the seeds germinating!   Friday, April 24 View Page Sulphate of Potash, Lime, Compost and Chicken manure pellets added to both planting sites. All ready to start my seeds and put up the hoophouses. I also need to extend the patch on the right...hopefully I will manage to keep ahead of the plant growing.   Saturday, April 25 View Page Seeds filed and soaking. x2 1528 Patons and x2 978 Geyelins.   Saturday, April 25 View Page 4 seeds soaked for 4 1/2 hours and then placed in damp cotton wool, a plastic bag, a plastic tub and then placed on a shelf in the airing cupboard.   Sunday, April 26 View Page First mini hoop house up. Thankfully we had some rain overnight.   Monday, April 27 View Page Both 1528 Paton seeds have germinated at the 48 hour mark. Next stage potting them up and waiting for them to break the surface.   Thursday, April 30 View Page As there is no sign of life from the 978 Geyelin so far; I've started some 'back ups'. Another 978 and a 766; both from 2013...as I really wanted some orange in my patch :)   Friday, May 1 View Page Here are the two 1528 Patons poking their heads up, so I promoted them from the airing cupboard on to the front bedroom windowsill....already I can see they have an aggressive streak...probably as there is 2009 Wallace in their lineage.   Sunday, May 3 View Page The 766 Geyelin has germinated at the 60 hour mark. Into a pot it goes for a warm night in the airing cupboard.   Sunday, May 3 View Page The 1528 Patons are doing well, with sprouting their first true leaves. They spent a few hours outside today in the 'light rain', beginning the hardening off process as they will be outdoor grown plants. Now they are sat next to the French Door ready to go outside when the sun is out.   Wednesday, May 6 View Page The 766 Geyelin has poked her head up, so has spent the day on the windowsill filling up on chlorophyll.   Thursday, May 7 View Page The third 978 Geyelin appears to have germinated...although the sprouting root looks a little odd....I potted it up into it's pot to see what happens.   Saturday, May 9 View Page So the 978 Geyelin is reaching for the sky...with her roots...maybe she's into yoga!!   Tuesday, May 12 View Page The 978 finally figured which way is up. The seed casing needed a little help, but she's greening up nicely today.   Wednesday, May 13 View Page This looks like the 1528 Patons are queueing up to climb into the car ready for the trip down to my patch. We Brits love to queue :)   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Both 1528s planted in my reconstructed mini tunnel. After last week's winds I gave up and just collapsed it until today. I think my new allotment catches a LOT of wind....   Tuesday, May 19 View Page The 766 Geyelin is nearly ready to go in the patch... Here's a quick picture (with my peony in bloom) between today's heavy rain (and hail!!!) showers.   Tuesday, May 19 View Page Here's the 978 Geyelin, now that the leaves have discovered which way is up, they look healthy. However I can only see one true leaf on that stalk...maybe the second true leaf is buried below the soil line.   Saturday, May 23 View Page The 1528 Paton pair, the plant on the right seems to be the favourite.   Saturday, May 23 View Page The 766 Geyelin and 978 Geyelin planted out into the patch today. I'm not sure the 978 is going to make it as there is still no 2nd leaf. Hopefully the 766 on the left will make it.   Monday, June 1 View Page The 1528 Paton, still relatively small, but I have a small PB to beat. The winds got up in the UK this week and my small tunnel seems to have managed to survive, giving my plants some wind protection.   Monday, June 1 View Page The 766 Geyelin, still a little way behind, but looks like it will survive my administrations.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 2 days away from home for a family wedding; so of course when I get home and see them I'm very sure they have grown. These are the 2 1528 Patons...the plant on the right is beginning to vine and I did some vine burying and weeding this evening. I haven't quite got the nerve to cull the other plant yet....maybe next week :)   Tuesday, June 16 View Page This one is for Dandytown. My 766 Geyelin...which isn't quite yet at the vine burying stage :D   Friday, June 26 View Page I'm obviously expecting LOTS of scorching British sunshine with the shade I've put up over the 1528 :D   Friday, June 26 View Page I'm obviously expecting some scorching hot British sunshine, so I rigged up a shade for the 1528~ I can live in hope   Friday, July 3 View Page Male flowers opening on the 1528.   Thursday, July 9 View Page On arriving at my patch this afternoon when I finished work I found this flower open on the 1528....so that's an open pollination then... Not too much of a problem as I probably won't be growing my own seeds next year.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page A shot of the patch early this morning. I did go down to try a pollination, but nothing is ready. This is the 1528 Paton with the small 766 Geyelin on the plot behind, which looks like it will have to be pulled.   Saturday, July 18 View Page 08:30 call at the plot on my way home from work this morning to find an open female on one the 1528's secondaries...perfect inside (and no camera on me)...so added in 2 male flowers from itself. (So technically still an open pollination)   Monday, July 20 View Page Pollinated a 1528 secondary with a 766 Male   Wednesday, July 29 View Page A DAP 11(x self) and nearer to the camera a DAP 9 (x766); both on secondaries on the 1528. I seem to be very late managing to get anything set on a plant this year.   Sunday, August 2 View Page I'm hoping this DAP 15 (x self) on a secondary HAS taken. I do have a potential candidate on the main vine at about the 23 ft mark, but it is still too early to see if that one has taken. Today has actually been sunny in the UK, which is a very rare event this summer.   Monday, August 3 View Page The 1528 DAP 16, si I did a little pruning today.   Monday, August 10 View Page The 1528 plant is really spreading out now. It has a DAP 26 on a secondary seen in the middle of this shot. There is also a much smaller fruit(?DAP 10) on the main vine...but growing very close to the stem so I may cull it and continue to go with this one on the secondary. The weather in the UK this year has NOT been helpful....oh the joys of growing outdoors .   Monday, August 10 View Page That should read DAP 23 on the previous picture of the 1528.   Wednesday, August 12 View Page 28 DAP on the 1528 Paton. It is now the largest pumpkin in my patch...and I know I am WEEKS behind everyone else :)   Monday, August 17 View Page On our trip to the Drome region in France we visited some beautiful vineyards (and did some tasting)...this is the Clairette wine region around Crest.   Sunday, August 23 View Page So on our return from holiday, I went to visit the patch today. This is the largest/oldest so far at DAP 36 on a side vine...and it looks like she has started to rot around the blossom end. The white areas feel quite soft to the touch. I haven't removed her from the plant yet in case I'm wrong.   Sunday, August 23 View Page Fortunately I have a couple of other candidates on this 1528 Paton, (my last remaining) plant..... This is a DAP 27 on the main vine...unfortunately growing too close for my liking to the main vine itself I did a bit of moving of the vine to give it some slack today...but my gut instinct is that this will impede her growth in the long run.   Sunday, August 23 View Page ...and here is my (nice) surprise fruit I discovered today growing on a side vine at approx DAP 22...I've given her some shade...but I think she's at a faster rate than my original (now poorly) pumpkin. I like the look of this one.   Sunday, August 23 View Page ...and this is a picture of my prettiest/largest of the 100weight pumpkins that I planted so the children might have something to carve. Now that my pumpkin diary is up to date, it's time to drink a glass or 2 of the wine we brought back from France....oh and hello to SaladDoug...good to see your pictures :)   Tuesday, August 25 View Page This is the DAP 29 on the main vine. I've moved the position again to give it some slack...hopefully it will work.   Tuesday, August 25 View Page ...and the culled pumpkin that was definitely on her way out...   Saturday, August 29 View Page At DAP 28 this is now my largest {small} pumpkin..... err...I measured her today and got the grand figure of 35lbs (2st 6lb)...I'll be lucky to beat my PB this year...   Sunday, August 30 View Page At DAP 29, a 3 pound gain since yesterday, not at all impressive, but I'm posting this for my records.   Monday, August 31 View Page ..and when family come to visit for a (wet) Bank Holiday Monday, there is the obligatory patch visit. My 11 year old nephew looks so thrilled.   Friday, September 4 View Page At DAP 34 I'm slowly making progress on this side vineon my 1528 Paton, today she hit the 4 Stones mark (58 lbs)   Saturday, September 12 View Page At DAP 42 now and slowing down even more (!!!!) ...the weather here is cold with maybe 2-3 hours of good sunshine approx. every 3 days....NOT good growing conditions. Just made 72 lbs which is now 5 stone 2 lb.   Saturday, September 19 View Page On DAP 49 she's made 86 lbs (6st 2). That's a Stone per week, and it's only going to slow down as we get less sun.   Thursday, September 24 View Page At DAP 54 she's measuring 105 lb which is 7 1/2 stones. So it looks like a new PB for me this year....that's IF I can keep her going until the show on 10th October, there are a LOT of slugs in my patch enjoying the rainy weather!   Friday, September 25 View Page This is what happens (I think!) when there is too much rain...the joys of outdoor growing and being at the mercy of the (Great) British weather! I'm gutted...at DAP 55 and splits....they are only about 2 mm deep but the longest one is pictured here on the shoulder of the pumpkin.   Saturday, September 26 View Page DAP 56 and here are the splits dusted with sulphur. I don't think they are any bigger thankfully.   Saturday, October 10 View Page 2 of my pumpkins (the nearest 2) begging a lift in the flatbed of another pumpkin grower.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Lining up in Southampton UK, waiting for the weighing to begin.   Saturday, October 10 View Page A new personal best for me at 111lbs (7st 13). I placed 14th out of 15 official entries. Maybe I should call her Nelson.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Congratulations to Mark Josey from Wales who won the HD award.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Congratulations to Mark Baggs for his 1319 lbs coming in second place.   Saturday, October 10 View Page Congratulations to Ian and Stuart Paton for winning today in Southampton. Here checking underneath as she is lifted.