Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 88 Entries. Monday, February 20 View Page The sun sets over the patch before the real work begins.   Saturday, February 25 View Page Getting ready for 2017! (Hopefully) have solved the drainage problems, and will be making soil amendments in April, per recommendations of Western Labs.   Sunday, March 5 View Page Gardening can take a lot out of a person.   Monday, March 6 View Page Rudimentary sketch of this year's patch. Exact square footages subject to change.   Sunday, March 19 View Page Ridiculously warm today and tomorrow, but we know that it's way too early to plant outdoors. Thus, I'm passing the time by conducting some germination experiments. I'm starting 72 seeds from my 128-pound watermelon from last year. 18 seeds apiece for soaking times of 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours, respectively. All of them will go into the incubator at a temp of 85-90 degrees. The experiment is to determine which soaking time may work best for when I start the premium seeds in about five weeks. Samantha approves.   Monday, March 20 View Page To all of my dissenters on the Other Non-Pumpkin message board: Your opinions have been noted, and filed accordingly.   Saturday, April 15 View Page Started (2) 1823 Cotterman this evening. Waiting another week to start the 1948 Werner and 1512 Butler. Why wait to start the second set? In the Oklahoma climate, I've found that simply keeping the plant alive until the beginning of October to be the greatest struggle.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page Cover crop.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page First tilling.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page Soil amendments added.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page Amendments tilled in. Ready for planting some time after these next few days of rain.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Triple cot on the 1512.4 Butler. Will wait it out to determine if this will earn a spot in the patch.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page 1512.4 Butler and 1948.5 Werner under the ghettofabulous grow light.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Started a pair of 305 Mudd seeds this morning.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Current temp at 1:35 p.m. Based on the forecast, it's going to be a while until anything is planted outdoors.   Monday, May 1 View Page Two 318 Kent up in less than 72 hours. Best ever for me. Still waiting on the 305 Mudd seeds, which have reached 120 hours.   Sunday, May 7 View Page 318 Kent roots eight days after seed starting. Roots on AGs were even better when transplanting, but I forgot to have my phone in hand to take pics. Product: Mark's Mixes Root Keeper.   Sunday, May 7 View Page Left to right: 318 Kent (2), 1704 Clementz (2), 1948 Werner. Different start dates. Werner is at 16 days after seed start. The lonely start in the yogurt container is the 1395.5 Clementz. I had to segregate it because the ants found it, but they seem to have disappeared.   Sunday, May 7 View Page All four 236 Terry came up in 66-78 hours! Nice surprise after both of my 305 Mudd failed.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page 1948 Werner and 1704 Clementz (2) went into the ground this evening, complete with wind/hail helmets at the ready. After all, this is Oklahoma in May.   Monday, May 22 View Page 1704 Clementz at 23 days after seed start.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page Oklahoma sunset over pumpkins.   Thursday, May 25 View Page A look at the final tilling before weed barrier implementation and irrigation layout. 55 Vester cantaloupes in the foreground, watermelons in the center, and AGs in the distance.   Thursday, May 25 View Page Six 55 Vester cantaloupe hills, started today. Will narrow down to the best three later.   Thursday, May 25 View Page Set up the first of four IBC totes this evening. Allowing it to remain full overnight to check for stability.   Thursday, May 25 View Page Double-planted 236 Terry melons in the foreground. Another 236 Terry to the right in the background, and a 318 Kent to the left.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Black 6 mil "weed barrier" now in place over the tilled, empty ground among the pumpkins, watermelons, and cantaloupes.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page 1704 Clementz, at 32 days after seed start, is getting ready to touch down with a little assistance. Already has a thick stump for its size, and is very firmly rooted.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Double leaf on the 1704 Clementz. No other signs of doubles or genetic issues, though.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page 1948 Werner looks good in this pic, but is struggling to remain rooted and upright. It has a thin stump thus far, and I had to add some bamboo sticks and extra soil around the stump simply to keep it from falling over. Never had this problem before.   Thursday, June 8 View Page 1704 Clementz at 30 days in the ground, and 40 days from seed start (37 since germination).   Friday, June 9 View Page The other 236 Terry.   Sunday, June 11 View Page What happened to the other two melon pics from June 9? They were visible both on the app and the full website, then vanished. Data issues?   Sunday, June 11 View Page The 1704 Clementz features some lengthy leaf stalks, despite enjoying unlimited sunshine for its 33 days since outdoor planting. Must be a genetic thing.   Tuesday, June 13 View Page Seamed the first 40% shade tent (about 500 square feet) together this evening. Creating the second tomorrow, and hoisting both tomorrow before the heat arrives on Thursday.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Patch panorama test with upload.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page 40% shade tents are up. 1704 Clementz in the foreground, and 1948 Werner in the background. Will add more shade and remove the 6 mil weed barrier as the vines grow.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page Third and fourth tanks went up today. One for the giant watermelons, and the other for the giant cantaloupes and edibles. Might work on rainwater guttering for those two in 2018.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page 1704 Clementz is as healthy as ever, with the main out to 18 feet. Pollination date on 6/22 or 6/23 at 13 feet, and a later prospect at 16 feet.   Thursday, June 22 View Page First pollination of the year is a 1704 Clementz x self. Not liking the presentation of the lobes, but I need to give it a try. 13 feet on the main, 70 degrees at pollination.   Thursday, June 22 View Page Arrangement of five frozen water bottles and a fan around the newly pollinated 1704 Clementz. Ready for the styrofoam cover!   Thursday, June 22 View Page Styrofoam cooler goes over the top, and now we wait...and refresh frozen bottles.   Saturday, June 24 View Page Applied Anthesis to the 1704 Clementz at 13 feet on the main this morning.   Sunday, June 25 View Page Final full plant view of 1704 Clementz before I had to pull it today, courtesy of YVD.   Sunday, June 25 View Page A closer look at the YVD which had halted all growth for over 48 hours.   Sunday, June 25 View Page At least someone managed to enjoy the fruits of my labor. That plant was so heavy that it felt as if I was dragging a body. Well, I guess I was...   Sunday, June 25 View Page Transplanted a 55 Vester in its place after inoculation. Transplant was very rough, so we'll see if it survives. If not, I'm going to grow giant sunflowers in that space.   Sunday, June 25 View Page 1948.5 Werner at 16 feet on the main will open in the morning. This is my only remaining AG, and there are plenty of males which also will be opening in the morning. This plant has been growing like a boss for the past week, with no evidence of disease. Only time will tell, as the leaves of this plant were only two feet from the infected plant when I pulled it this afternoon.   Monday, June 26 View Page Four prime candidates this morning.   Monday, June 26 View Page Symmetric four-lober at 16 feet on the main of the 1948.5 Werner. Pollinated at 6:38 a.m. and 66 degrees.   Monday, June 26 View Page Pollination setup for the 1948.5 Werner at 16 feet on the main.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page DAP 1 on the 1948.5 Werner at 16 feet on the main. Looking great, but I'll set a few more.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Tarp setup for the 1948.5 Werner. I'll be adding a white sheet over the top once I dig one out of the back of the garage.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page 318 Kent x self, DAP 3.   Wednesday, June 28 View Page Applied Anthesis to the 1948.5 Werner at 16 feet on the main.   Saturday, July 1 View Page Five lobes on the 1948.5 Werner at 20 feet on the main.   Saturday, July 1 View Page 1948.5 Werner, 20 feet on the main, 6:55 a.m., 71 degrees and cloudy, under the cooler. DAP 5 at 16 on the main to the right.   Thursday, July 6 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 10, 32" cc. It's going to receive the full, proper setup on Saturday.   Thursday, July 6 View Page DAP 12 on the 318 Kent. Time to start really pushing the beneficials.   Thursday, July 6 View Page 236 Terry #1 is about to outgrow its quarters. I'll be setting up the tents this weekend.   Thursday, July 6 View Page 236 Terry #2.   Sunday, July 9 View Page Say hello to my little friend, the 236 Terry #2.   Tuesday, July 11 View Page 1948.5 Werner at DAP 15, 124.5 OTT. Starting to ramp up at 12 lbs in the last 24 hours, after 6.5 lbs the previous day.   Sunday, July 16 View Page 1948.5 Werner, 20 DAP, 175 OTT (125 lbs). Waiting to see if the Anthesis delays the gains.   Sunday, July 16 View Page 236 Terry #2, chugging along at four pounds per day.   Sunday, July 16 View Page 318 Kent moving at only two pounds per day. The tapered shape is not exactly ideal.   Sunday, July 16 View Page 236 Terry #1 is starting to move again. Four pounds per day for the past two days.   Friday, July 21 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 25, 214 OTT, or 227 lbs on the 2017 GPC chart. Up 24 lbs after 19/20 for four days. Will she blast off? One thing for certain is that I need to extend the growing surface.   Sunday, July 23 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 27, 229 OTT.   Sunday, July 23 View Page I have only one pumpkin to photograph this year, and only two children who are excited about the 1948.5 Werner.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page No additional caption necessary.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 30, est. 348 lbs. We'll see if it can get that 24-lb/day monkey off its back once the highs go down to the 80s for an extended period, beginning Friday.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Stem on the 1948.5 Werner. No signs of any cracks yet, but I have sulfur powder at the ready. After taking this pic, I managed to boost the main in order to reduce stem stress.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page Blossom end of the 1948.5 Werner. Couldn't ask for much better at this stage.   Wednesday, July 26 View Page One of my 236 Terry melons (#1) went down to rot on the bottom, despite growing on an elevated, ventilated surface for all of its life. 51-pounder went to the sheep. Down to two melons now.   Monday, July 31 View Page DAP 35 and est. 466 pounds, but after reading some of the diaries, it might be time to feed it to the sheep, and go fishing.   Saturday, August 5 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 40, and an estimated 560 pounds. Nothing spectacular, but still doing better than average for Oklahoma.   Thursday, August 10 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 45, estimated 658 pounds.   Sunday, August 13 View Page Successful pull of six inches to the right with the help of family and a friend. We'll see if we have to do this again in September.   Tuesday, August 15 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 50, 318 OTT/741 lbs. Already looking to see if Bloomfield, Iowa, on 9/30 would be a good fit.   Sunday, August 20 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 55, 328 OTT/811 lbs. Slowing down, and weighing my options.   Friday, August 25 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 60, 335.5 OTT/867 lbs. Still researching a reasonable solution if this were to finish in the middle of September, as I don't trust it to hold on for 2-3 weeks on the vine after it's done growing.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Using a round bale with the ring and sling to figure out the tractor's limitations, and how much to shorten the straps for next month's pumpkin lift.   Wednesday, August 30 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 65, 343 OTT/923 lbs. Still coasting at 11 lbs/day. It's a shame that Steve Marley holds the sole authority to DQ this sound fruit, wherever I may take it.   Monday, September 4 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 70, 346 OTT/947 lbs. Cruising in to a finish.   Thursday, September 7 View Page I'm going to make a shameless attempt at making my pumpkin look huge.   Saturday, September 9 View Page 1948.5 Werner, DAP 75, 349.5 OTT/974 lbs.   Sunday, October 1 View Page Final destination for a pumpkin which went way light, especially to the 2017 chart. A highly disappointing 820 pounds, so it wasn't worth making the 900-mile round-trip to Bloomfield. It was a good idea to pre-weigh with two scales to confirm the low weight. Oh -- and the zoo was willing to pay a far greater amount than how this would have placed at Bloomfield. Shooting for Republic in 2018.