Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 171 Entries. Tuesday, March 1 View Page It won’t be long now… hoping to get back on track from a terrible year last year and get back into the swing of things again! T Minus 42 days until we start.   Friday, March 25 View Page I’m back at it! I’m hoping to make a huge comeback from a tough year last year in the patch. 20 yards of sand just got delivered this morning to help with the drainage! Let’s do this   Friday, March 25 View Page Go time   Saturday, April 9 View Page And we’re off! Been waiting for this day since last July. Comeback time this season. Very important for me. Seeds are in pots with a soil temp of 78 degrees. 4, 1184.5s and 4, 1223.5 Norm Gansert. the best two from each will go in the hoop house to compete on May 1st.   Saturday, April 9 View Page The seeds had a nice 8 hour soak this morning!   Saturday, April 9 View Page Germination chamber is looking nice! Seeds will be happy when they pop :).   Thursday, April 21 View Page Well that’s one way to transport a greenhouse over to my patch! Thanks Woody! Can’t believe we did it   Thursday, April 21 View Page Incredible   Sunday, April 24 View Page It’s planting day!   Sunday, April 24 View Page Let it begin!   Wednesday, May 18 View Page It’s time for a Plant update! I’ve been slacking this year on updates but I’ll keep you updated every week starting NOW! Wow. This has got to be the best start I’ve ever had. This is one of my 1184.5s shown in this picture. She is the most aggressive plant I’ve grown and I couldn’t be any happier! Just about a month old.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page It’s time for a Plant update! I’ve been slacking this year on updates but I’ll keep you updated every week starting NOW! Wow. This has got to be the best start I’ve ever had. This is one of my 1184.5s shown in this picture. She is the most aggressive plant I’ve grown and I couldn’t be any happier! Just about a month old.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Let’s try that again.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Yes that is a secondary! This plant means business. Slowly lowering the secondary   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Secondary’s taking off!   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Stump view. That secondary headed the direction of main is definitely something I’ve never seen. A good thing!   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Stump view. That secondary headed the direction of main is definitely something I’ve never seen. A good thing!   Wednesday, May 18 View Page As mentioned in April I made the decision to grow 3 plants this year in this 2400 SF patch. My 1184.5 shown in the previous post will be getting 1,000 SF to grow in. This is a SECOND 1184.5 that I will be growing. So two of my 1184.5s this year. She’s looking fantastic with the secondary’s starting to take off under those leaves. She will be getting about 700 SF to grow in.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Norms seeds never disappoint! I’m growing the 1223.5 again as it produced an estimated 1275 pound orange beauty in 2017. She was slow in the beginning but has really picked up! Gorgeous plant with secondary’s popping   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Norms 1223.5 and my second 1184.5 back to back. Both will be getting 600-700 SF while my other 1184.5 will be getting 1,000 SF in a separate hoop house   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Norms 1223.5 and my second 1184.5 back to back. Both will be getting 600-700 SF while my other 1184.5 will be getting 1,000 SF in a separate hoop house   Sunday, June 5 View Page Back on track after a rough week last week   Tuesday, June 14 View Page First pumpkin of the season pollinated this morning on the 1223.5 Norm Gansert! Man this plant is once again growing great as it did in 2017 for me with my estimated 1275 pounder. A nice 4 lober on it at about 16 feet with 16 secondary’s behind it. My est 1275 pounder in 2017 was at 13 feet with 16 secondary’s behind it. Hmmm. Will see if this will be my keeper. I have two more close to the tip opening in the next 5-10 days. Let it begin!   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Nice 4 lober!   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Nice long stem   Tuesday, June 14 View Page Norms plants never disappoint me   Wednesday, June 15 View Page My 1184.5 from 2020 is once again showing it’s power this year. This is the 1184.5 that I plan on growing to 800-1,000 SF. Currently 20 feet by approximately 30 feet wide at the longest secondary’s   Wednesday, June 15 View Page My 1184.5 from 2020 is once again showing it’s power this year. This is the 1184.5 that I plan on growing to 800-1,000 SF. Currently 20 feet by approximately 30 feet wide at the longest secondary’s   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Gorgeous color on all the plants this year   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Here’s my other 1184.5 that’s back to back with the 1223.5 Gansert. Will be 600-700 SF in a few weeks. As you can see I’m turning the vine to avoid the fence. Pollination a week or two away with my other 1184.5   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Here’s a beauty on my future 800-1000 SF 1184.5. Opening in 3-5 days. 19 feet out with 20 secondary’s behind it. There’s another in the tip that will likely open in just over a week at 20-21 feet which would have 23-24 secondary’s behind it. Tough decision.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Here’s that pumpkin in the tip on the 1184.5 after the 19 footer   Wednesday, June 15 View Page SVB trap is up   Wednesday, June 15 View Page .   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Norms plants never disappoint me. Here’s his 1223.5 that grew my estimated 1275 pounder in 2017. A gorgeous plant with nice leaves!   Wednesday, June 15 View Page I pollinated a nice 4 lober off the 1223.5 yesterday. 16 feet out with 16 secondary’s behind it. Ill likely go with the next one or even the one after which would have several more secondary’s behind them.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Here’s the next pumpkin on the 1223.5. Opening in a few days   Wednesday, June 15 View Page And here’s the one after on the 1223.5. Would have 4 more secondary’s behind it at 21 feet out. Decisions decisions…   Thursday, June 16 View Page Potential keeper opening tomorrow on my bigger 1184.5. About 20 feet out with 20 secondary’s behind it   Thursday, June 16 View Page Here’s that other pumpkin in the tip that looks to open in a week. This one would have 25,26 secondary’s behind it at about 21 feet out. Quite a bit more secondary’s. Decisions decisions.. we’ll see how the lobes are on both   Thursday, June 16 View Page Here’s that other pumpkin in the tip that looks to open in a week. This one would have 25,26 secondary’s behind it at about 21 feet out. Quite a bit more secondary’s. Decisions decisions.. we’ll see how the lobes are on both   Thursday, June 16 View Page Over the winter I bought some giant eggplant seeds in an auction that are a strain of the WR at just over 6 pounds. We’ll see how close I can get to the record this year! I decided to grow them in 20 gal trash cans with pro mix as the root system doesn’t take up much space like a pumpkin does. The trash cans also help me keep the nutrients in their system longer. They are looking great so far   Thursday, June 16 View Page I’m growing another butternut squash this year! Hoping I can beat my PB of 65.5 pounds   Thursday, June 16 View Page I’ve got the butternut squash behind my bigger 1184.5 to fill in that area. It will have about 300 SF to grow in. I’ll turn the secondary’s up towards the white fence   Thursday, June 16 View Page Can’t forget about the giant sunflowers!   Thursday, June 16 View Page Aggressive secondary’s right out of the gate on the butternut squash   Thursday, June 16 View Page Loving the color   Thursday, June 16 View Page I have two giant butternut squash growing. Started this one a bit later than the one in the last picture. Will be a later pollination for sure but they don’t take too long to reach full potential   Thursday, June 16 View Page I have two giant butternut squash growing. Started this one a bit later than the one in the last picture. Will be a later pollination for sure but they don’t take too long to reach full potential   Sunday, June 19 View Page There’s a lot to update on the last 3 days. Your looking at my bigger 1184.5 plant. It’s a perfect plant with really nice presentation   Sunday, June 19 View Page The first pumpkin i pollinated on it on Friday looks trash. Hasn’t done anything and with night temperatures in the 40s until Tuesday that certainly doesn’t help!   Sunday, June 19 View Page This will be my keeper on my bigger 1184.5. At just over 20 feet out with 24 secondary’s behind it. The good thing is it will be opening during summer weather and not fall weather! Shouldn’t be an issue with this one   Sunday, June 19 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is moving right along. The first pumpkin I pollinated is 5 days old. I’ll likely go with the next one or the one after as they are in a slightly better vine position with a few more secondary’s behind them   Sunday, June 19 View Page Pollinated this pumpkin on the 1223.5 Gansert yesterday. 20 secondary’s behind it.   Sunday, June 19 View Page The 3rd pumpkin on the 1223.5. At least 22+ feet out. Ultimately this one has the better vine position over the other two. There’s plenty of options on this plant and I can always work around the vine positioning   Sunday, June 19 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is a gorgeous plant. This is only one side of it   Sunday, June 19 View Page Here’s my smaller 1184.5. A gorgeous plant. It won’t be long till I’m all terminated   Sunday, June 19 View Page I pollinated my hopeful keeper on my smaller 1184.5 this morning. Gotta be close to 20 feet out with 18 secondary’s behind it   Sunday, June 19 View Page Giant butternut squash is starting to take off!   Sunday, June 19 View Page Loving the color on the plants this year   Sunday, June 19 View Page Loving the color on the plants this year   Wednesday, June 22 View Page Decided to go for it on the 1223.5 Norm Gansert! This plant is doing exactly what it did in 2017 for me that produced my estimated 1275 pounder. This pumpkin is 8 days old at 16 feet with 16 secondary’s behind it. Night temperatures in the 40s the last 5 nights haven’t been helping but she’s looking good. Same distance and secondary’s as my 1275 pounder. I’ll let this plant fill in the rest of the 600-700 SF area it has to grow in. Won’t be long! Both my 1184.5s are set to open this weekend or early next week!   Friday, June 24 View Page The 1223.5 Norm Gansert is 10 days old today and has nearly doubled in size in the last 36 hours! Let the fun begin.   Friday, June 24 View Page Unbelievable plant health this year on all 3 plants. 1223.5 Gansert shown here   Friday, June 24 View Page Perfect color!   Sunday, June 26 View Page Pollinated my keeper on my bigger 1184.5 this morning! A decent 5 lober. Much better than the last one! About 20 feet out and she will have 25 secondary’s behind her.   Sunday, June 26 View Page Not sure if this picture will come out upright but the plants are just perfect this year. First year growing 3 plants in this 2500 SF patch and I’m not regretting growing 3 plants instead of two. It’s all coming together so far. Wasting no time on getting back on track from a rough year last year   Monday, June 27 View Page Pollinated my keeper this morning on my smaller 1184.5! My 3 keepers on the 3 plants this year have all been pollinated! It’s off to the races now   Thursday, June 30 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is already a beauty at 16 days old! This pumpkin is reminding me of my estimated 1275 pounder in 2017 that was also off the 1223.5 Gansert before it rotted from soil disease a week before the Topsfield Fair   Thursday, June 30 View Page Upright picture   Thursday, June 30 View Page Starburst!   Thursday, June 30 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert plant is absolutely incredible. Closing in on 700 SF! I plan to be all terminated in a week and a half. The pumpkin better be ready!   Thursday, June 30 View Page My larger 1184.5 plant is looking nice! Here’s the keeper at 4 days old. 20 feet out with 25 secondary’s behind it   Thursday, June 30 View Page My larger 1184.5 plant is closing in on 800 Sf   Thursday, June 30 View Page No question about it. These are the healthiest plants I’ve ever grown   Thursday, June 30 View Page .   Thursday, June 30 View Page Here’s my smaller 1184.5 plant. Back to back with the 1223.5 Gansert. Nice looking plant. I’ll be all terminated in about a week   Thursday, June 30 View Page Here’s the keeper on my smaller 1184.5. One heck of a stem! Cut the main past the pumpkin due to lack of space. Looking good at 3 days!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Pumpkin update! The plants continue to amaze me this year. Here’s my larger 1184.5. This pumpkin is 10 days old. Nice and round!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Plenty of plant to push her!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is turning into a beast! 22 days old and has to be closing in on 100 pounds. I’ll start measuring at day 30.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page No complaints on the 1223.5 plant. It’s a gorgeous plant. 750 Sf. I’ll be all terminated in less than a week   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Here’s my other 1184.5 on the smaller plant. Looking good at 9 days   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Plenty of plant behind her   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Giant butternut squash is looking great! Growing it behind my larger 1184.5 to fill in the space.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Giant sunflowers are taking off   Thursday, July 7 View Page Morning picture of the 1223.5 Gansert plant. Just perfect!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page This year is shaping up to be something special after last years struggles. Here’s my 1184.5 on the larger plant at 17 days old today. She’s going to be a nice tall pumpkin with nice ribs!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Loving it!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page There’s plenty of plant behind her to push her well over 1,000 pounds.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is an absolute stunner! 29 days old today. One of the smaller pumpkins I’ve had at this age but with an extremely healthy plant she’s going to cruise to the end. I’ll take measurements in a few days   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Unreal   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Unreal   Wednesday, July 13 View Page She’s a fatty!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Grow em big!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page .   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Starting to pop over the canopy   Wednesday, July 13 View Page .   Wednesday, July 13 View Page My other 1184.5 is 16 days old and has a real nice shape like the other 1184.5! Very excited to see these 1184s put on a show   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Hills of leaves in the patch! 4 feet tall   Wednesday, July 13 View Page All my sunflowers are blooming early this year for some strange reason but my main focus is the pumpkins! I’m hungry for 1500   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Another view of the 16 day old 1184.5   Saturday, July 16 View Page The pumpkin on my larger 1184.5 plant has reached 20 days old. I’ll start taking measurements on day 30. The plant is expected to be all terminated by Monday with 1,000 Sf to hopefully push her well over 1,000 pounds   Saturday, July 16 View Page The pumpkin on my larger 1184.5 plant has reached 20 days old. I’ll start taking measurements on day 30. The plant is expected to be all terminated by Monday with 1,000 Sf to hopefully push her well over 1,000 pounds   Sunday, July 17 View Page My second 1184.5 has reached day 20 today. I’ll start taking measurements day 30. One heck of a stem. Great start!   Sunday, July 17 View Page My second 1184.5 has reached day 20 today. I’ll start taking measurements day 30. One heck of a stem. Great start!   Saturday, July 23 View Page Sad day today. I lost one of my 1184.5s due to rot in stem. It was doing 30 pounds a day at 26 days old with an estimated weight of 240. This heat and humidity is out of control. Down to 2 pumpkins   Saturday, July 23 View Page It’s always depressing when this kind of stuff happens but I’ve still got two other pumpkins. The 1184 I lost was the one on the smaller plant   Saturday, July 30 View Page Pumpkin update! The 1223.5 gansert continues to blow me away! Estimated at over 500 pounds at 45 days old. Growing 22 pounds a day. Let’s get this thing to 1,000 pounds.   Saturday, July 30 View Page What a stunner!   Saturday, July 30 View Page What a stunner!   Saturday, July 30 View Page .   Sunday, July 31 View Page Update on my 1184.5 before I go on a vacation for a week but I’ll be driving back Thursday to check on them. My 1184.5 is 35 days old with an estimated weight of 531 pounds and averaging 32 pounds a day. It’s been very consistent at 32 a day. I’d like for higher gains but this 100 degree heat we’ve been having doesn’t help. Consistency matters more though! On track to blow my 1184.5 out of the water   Sunday, July 31 View Page An absolute beast   Sunday, July 31 View Page Can’t ask for a “heavier” looking pumpkin   Sunday, July 31 View Page The plant continues to amaze me. I should be able to keep the 30+ Pound gains going for quite a while longer   Sunday, July 31 View Page The two beasts in the patch   Sunday, July 31 View Page The mustard is coming in well to fill in the area where I recently lost my other 1184.5. Still stings when it was doing 30+ pounds a day at just 25 days old. Oh well!   Sunday, July 31 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert. My 1184.5 is only 20 pounds behind and is set to pass it up tomorrow!   Sunday, July 31 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert. My 1184.5 is only 20 pounds behind and is set to pass it up tomorrow!   Sunday, July 31 View Page Interesting perspective of the 1223.5   Sunday, July 31 View Page What a beauty   Sunday, July 31 View Page .   Sunday, July 31 View Page .   Sunday, July 31 View Page .   Sunday, August 14 View Page It’s been a rough august in the patch. Several issues but I’m continuing to keep the plant and pumpkin alive on my 1184.5. My 1184.5 is 49 days old today with an estimated weight of 904 pounds and averaging close to 20 pounds a day. 47 days until the Topsfield Fair   Sunday, August 14 View Page The plants are now just feeling the affects of the 100 degree weather we had for 2 weeks. I’ve had to do several surgeries since Monday on the main vine. Several fans to dry the main vine out but whenever they look dry then just ooz again the next morning.   Sunday, August 14 View Page Yesterday I lost a secondary on my 1184. I came home from work and half the leaves were wilting. I cut the vine and noticed rot throughout the vine on the inside. I then found a leaf node that was rotten so the rot likely came from that leaf node and traveled through the vine. I chased the rot and came to clean vine but decided to just cut the entire secondary as there was only 4 feet of it and didn’t want to risk it going into the main vine   Sunday, August 14 View Page There’s still plenty of plant to push this pumpkin well past my PB of 1184.5. We’re looking at a 1300-1400 pounder if she makes it   Sunday, August 14 View Page This is one hell of a solid looking pumpkin. An absolute Boulder. Feels extremely solid when I thump it. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if she was over 1,000 right now   Sunday, August 14 View Page Another view   Sunday, August 14 View Page Biggest stem I’ve ever had   Sunday, August 14 View Page .   Sunday, August 14 View Page .   Sunday, August 14 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is a stunner. Closing in on 800 pounds. Slowing down big time but still pushing. Can we crack 1,000? Time will tell! I’ll try and take the HD award with her at the Vermont weighoff at the end of September   Sunday, August 14 View Page Wow…..   Sunday, August 14 View Page Don’t let the stem end fool you… crazy shape!   Sunday, August 14 View Page You can clearly see the blanket line. I’ll be uncovering her during the day to get the color by the stem all the way around the pumpkin   Sunday, August 14 View Page Another view   Sunday, August 14 View Page And just like that it’s over! Can’t believe this crap. Phytophera   Friday, August 19 View Page It’s been a tough week in the patch but I’ve got some good news that I certainly didn’t think I’d have after the Sunday disaster. First off. It’s not over as I thought it was on Sunday. I have several diseases and insect infestations in the patch BUT nothing that will likely go directly into the pumpkin and rot the pumpkin out. In previous years I’ve had disease that completely rots out the pumpkins and wipes out the plants but that does not seem to be the case as I previously thought on Sunday. What have I done since Sunday? I’ve been drenching and spraying the patch with several fungicides and pesticides. Now this won’t eliminate the diseases I’m dealing with but it will suppress it and keep the pumpkins hopefully growing which they currently are and have put on the pounds over the last few days. I’ll have to stay on top of the fungicides and pesticides until the end of September to keep them alive! Not giving up is key in this situation. Let’s do this and get them to the end!   Friday, August 19 View Page The 1223.5 Gansert is turning red! I’m going for the HD with her   Monday, September 5 View Page Local news station visited the patch last week! Here’s the link if anyone is interested https://www.wcvb.com/amp/article/young-pumpkin-king-prepping-gourd-topsfield-fair/41018952   Monday, September 5 View Page Local news station visited the patch last week! Here’s the link if anyone is interested https://www.wcvb.com/amp/article/young-pumpkin-king-prepping-gourd-topsfield-fair/41018952   Sunday, September 11 View Page On Friday I’ll be harvesting this beauty to bring to the Vermont Giant Pumpkin Growers weigh off up in Vermont on Saturday! She will be the first of the two pumpkins to make the big comeback from last year. This beauty is estimated at just over 800 pounds.   Friday, September 16 View Page Harvest day for the 1223.5 Gansert! Vermont bound tomorrow   Friday, September 16 View Page What a year it’s been. After last years struggles I made a promise to come back stronger in 2022 and I have done it!   Saturday, September 17 View Page On the way to Vermont!   Saturday, September 17 View Page .   Saturday, September 17 View Page Arrived in Vermont! Up next!   Saturday, September 17 View Page Arrived in Vermont! Up next!   Saturday, September 17 View Page Let’s go! My pumpkin came in at a whopping 908.5 pounds at the Sam Mazzas Farm Weigh off in Colchester Vermont to make the HUGE comeback from last year and took 11th place out of 22 pumpkins. Grown off the 1223.5 Gansert. Bigger than what I estimated it at. One of the biggest pumpkins I’ve grown yet and we’re not done yet!   Monday, September 26 View Page The countdown is on! On Thursday I’ll be harvesting my 1184.5 for the Topsfield Fair on Friday. Has an estimated weight of near 1100 pounds. Good luck to all at the weigh offs!   Monday, September 26 View Page .   Thursday, September 29 View Page Today is harvest day! Headed to the Topsfield Fair tomorrow   Friday, September 30 View Page Today is the day! I will be headed to the @topsfieldfair for the 7th year in a row with a giant pumpkin! Last year I only had a 300 pounder but the comeback I promised for this year has become a reality! My PB stands at 1184.5 back in 2020. We’ll see if I can beat it but either way a huge accomplishment in the patch this year! Hope to see you at 4 PM today in the Arena!   Friday, September 30 View Page .   Friday, September 30 View Page I have arrived!   Friday, September 30 View Page I have arrived!   Friday, September 30 View Page I have beaten my PB of 1184.5 pounds back in 2020. Now introducing 1197 POUNDS as my new PB! 11% HEAVY! Let’s GOOOOO   Friday, September 30 View Page .   Friday, September 30 View Page .   Friday, September 30 View Page .   Friday, September 30 View Page .   Friday, September 30 View Page An incredible feeling!   Friday, September 30 View Page What an amazing season! Huge comeback from last year!   Friday, December 9 View Page Some might say pumpkin season is over but I’ve still got my biggest pumpkin I’ve ever grown on display with my Christmas lights! (Over 50,000). I replicated the pumpkin patch with wrapping green lights around bittersweet vines in the walkthrough display with the vine and pvc pumpkins stretching a few hundred feet from the driveway to the pumpkin!   Friday, December 9 View Page The house! Over 30,000 Christmas lights on it   Friday, December 9 View Page Drone view of the display! You can see the vine I replicated of the pumpkin patch starting from the driveway all the way to the replicated pumpkin patch made from bittersweet vines and green lights wrapped around them to make it look like a vine   Friday, December 9 View Page Hard to believe this beast is still alive! Can’t believe it. Was grown from my 1184 and my 1184 also lasted through December. Hmmmm! Strong genetics!   Friday, December 9 View Page .