Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 515 Entries. Thursday, January 11 View Page These three trees were supposed to come out weeks ago. Still waiting on the tree company to come and drop them for me.   Thursday, January 11 View Page Approximate path of the sun. Removing these trees should give me several more hours of sun per day. Still not a perfect scenario but much better than it is now.   Saturday, January 13 View Page Watermelon scion to gourd and AG rootstock grafting attempt #1 = EPIC FAILURE. Left them in dark, heated, 100% humidity healing chamber for 5 days and this is what I found today.   Friday, January 19 View Page Trees came down this week. I have a ton of cleanup to do once it warms up. Before/after pic   Friday, January 19 View Page Lots of firewood here   Sunday, January 28 View Page Tomato seeds I have for the team challenge   Tuesday, February 27 View Page My Bourbon Red turkey sure is a handsome guy. I call him Butterball. #imnotyourdinner   Sunday, March 18 View Page Finally got all the trees cleaned up from the yard and garden. Now all the big pieces need split. Anybody wanna help? Haha   Sunday, March 18 View Page Burning the last of the brush. I ordered a subsoiler which should arrive later this week. #1 I hope it fits my tractor. #2 I hope it helps with my soggy soil.   Monday, March 19 View Page 8 yards of old mushroom poop delivered today. It’s broken down real good.   Monday, March 19 View Page Three hours later and it’s moved to the garden. Thank goodness for my tractor.   Tuesday, March 20 View Page Happy Spring!!! Haha it’s snowing. Crazy weather.   Monday, March 26 View Page Added about a yard of mushroom manure to my raised bed. Hoping to build a 12’ tall trellis for a long gourd. Gonna grow a gigantic field pumpkin in there as well. Haha! Look out Ted.   Saturday, March 31 View Page Subsoiler is too big for my tractor so it’s now for sale on Craigslist. My tractor could not get it completely off the ground but I was able to hook it up in the garden and do some digging. Just hard to make turns and back up but did a decent job. If it sells I’ll buy a smaller one. If anybody is interested let me know. I’m near Export PA. Jayyohe@yahoo.com   Saturday, March 31 View Page Here’s what I’m left with after about an hour of dragging the subsoiler through the mud. Hope it helps dry things up so I can spread my compost run the tiller and send in soil samples. Getting pushed for time now.   Sunday, April 1 View Page Last years veggie garden will be this years 2118* patch. Only 400 sqft but this spot gets more sun than my regular pumpkin patch. Spread some compost and tilled a few spots so I can pull a soil sample in the near future. Put 5 pounds of pumpkin pro, gypsum, and a bunch of crushed egg shells on in the fall. Nice crop of winter rye came up in the fall and stayed green all winter. Just starting to grow again. Will til it in once things dry up a bit. Still way to wet and 10 day forecast not looking good.   Tuesday, April 3 View Page Drying my mud for soil tests. Ugh   Wednesday, April 4 View Page Should be ready to plant around mid August.....Ugh   Sunday, April 8 View Page Got tiller hooked up today. Now looking for a dry spell so I can spread compost and til it in.   Tuesday, April 10 View Page Experimenting with keeping the test plants really close to the T5’s along with a fan to keep the young leaves from getting damaged. So far so good.   Tuesday, April 10 View Page Soil test results came today. Big patch.   Tuesday, April 10 View Page And small patch. Gonna add some Sulphur to try and bring the ph down a bit.   Thursday, April 12 View Page Added 6 Easter Eggers to the flock this morning. Can’t wait for those green and blue eggs.   Thursday, April 12 View Page Added 3# of aluminum sulphate th lower my ph and tilled it into the small patch. The tiller works great but wish it tilled deeper.   Thursday, April 12 View Page Big patch to wet to till on the bottom side but I did the top and it wasn’t to bad.   Saturday, April 14 View Page Future home of a 2118* Jutras. 400 sqft   Saturday, April 14 View Page Left 2118* Jutras. Middle 2118* Jutras. Right 2002 Tobeck. Thanks Joe and Cindy.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Home of a bazillion red worms. Future garden compost. Fresh horse manure. My neighbors wish I lived on a farm.   Sunday, April 15 View Page Here we go again. Ugh   Monday, April 16 View Page Went in for their bath tonight. Into germ chamber in the morning.   Tuesday, April 17 View Page And.......it’s still snowing in Pittsburgh. GO AWAY WINTER!!!   Thursday, April 19 View Page Still waiting on my two 2002 Tobeck’s and one 2118* Jutras to sprout. Soaked some backups in case the AG’s don’t germ. All my squash backups germed so I should be good there.   Friday, April 20 View Page The town I grew up in has a leaf recycling program that they turn into compost and offer it back to the public. I went and got a trailer load today (about 2 yards). I dug deep into the pile and it was broken down pretty good. Mostly looks like dirt. It was a lot of work to load and unload by myself but should be worth it in the end. Gonna hopefully get a couple more loads next week. Most of this load went on my brand new veggie garden. My dad used it back in the day in his garden and his dirt was like black gold.   Saturday, April 21 View Page Thanks to Ted Cope for sending me a couple 2002’s. The first two I tried were damaged and I was not successful in getting them to germinate. I have another shot at it thanks to Ted. Thanks buddy, much appreciated.   Sunday, April 22 View Page I built this 12’ trellis for long gourds. Field pumpkin(s) will also go here.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Gotta be better than last years system.   Wednesday, April 25 View Page Left is 1821 Checkon. Three in grow bags are all 2118 Jutras.   Wednesday, April 25 View Page Misc backups   Thursday, April 26 View Page Nice sunny day so the plants got some sunshine today.   Thursday, April 26 View Page Busy afternoon. Got a load of leaf compost. Prepped all planting sites with a heavy layer of leaf compost, half a bale of peat moss and a 4 cubic foot bag of perlite. First I broadforked the planting sites and then added amendments then broadforked it all in. Still some really wet spots Hopefully the stuff I added will help with that. I’d like to get the plants out in the hoops next weekend.   Friday, April 27 View Page I broadforked about 500-600 sq ft of the lower, wettest area of my main patch this afternoon. I REALLY hope it helps dry it up some. I need to do the rest of the patch but it’s gonna have to be done in small increments.   Saturday, April 28 View Page Finished broadforking the rest of the patch. Dug up lots of clay.   Saturday, April 28 View Page These are my three 2118 Jutras plants. All were started the same day.   Saturday, April 28 View Page 1701 Jutras with 3 cots   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Moved huts. Final tilled. Replaced huts. Ready to rock.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Bigger view of main patch. I’ve added 14+ yards of mushroom manure and composted leaves to the main patch. It’s looking much better now. Plants will go out very soon. Good luck everyone.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Veggie patch...I mean giant pumpkin patch. Haha. I might be crazy but I’m gonna grow a pumpkin in my 20x20 veggie patch. Who needs veggies anyways? Walmart sells them cheap. Added about 10-15 bags of humus, a yard of mushroom manure, gypsum and bunches of crushed egg shells in the fall. Fingers crossed. 1821 Checkon gets the nod for this spot.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Soil temp readings. Left are inside hoops. Right are outside hoops. Looks like my hoops increase temp by only 4-5 degrees at approximately 6 inches deep.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page First in the ground. 1821 Checkon in a 20x20’ patch.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page 2nd one planted 1844 Holub. Competing against a questionable looking 2118 Jutras. As seen in next picture.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page The iffy looking 2118. Facing off with a 1844 Holub. These are the only two plants I have competing. The rest of my plants were single planted.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page This 2118 got the primo spot in the patch. High hopes for this one.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Last but not least. 2002 Tobeck. When I was digging the planting hole it was still pretty wet deep down. Kinda concerning but nothing I can do about it now. Fingers crossed.   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Goodies added to my planting holes. A pinch of this and a handful of that. I can’t give away all my secrets because Ted and James read these diary entries. Lol   Wednesday, May 2 View Page First watering including these.   Thursday, May 3 View Page Long gourds went into the germination tank this morning. Thanks for the seeds James.   Thursday, May 3 View Page She wants to run already.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Overcast weather and lows expected to be in the mid 40’s the next three nights, I decided to run the space heaters and each plant got a big LED spotlight pointed at it as well. The light probably is a waste but at least I know I’m trying. This is the 2002 Tobeck which is my youngest plant.   Sunday, May 6 View Page Just me tending to one of my babies. 2118 Jutras in this hoop. To bad you can’t see it. Lol   Sunday, May 6 View Page Second round of giant maters ready for the germ tank. I was 5 for 5 on the first set 2 weeks ago.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 1844 Holub trying to stay warm.   Sunday, May 6 View Page 2118 Jutras growing well   Monday, May 7 View Page Heat and lights on all night. Wonder what my neighbors think?   Tuesday, May 8 View Page Swapped out my AG tires for some Turfs.   Tuesday, May 8 View Page 1821 Checkon with some sunburn. Dang it!   Tuesday, May 8 View Page 2002 Tobeck doing well   Tuesday, May 8 View Page 1844 Holub Squash is my fastest growing plant. This one is competing against a 2118 Jutras and is winning.   Tuesday, May 8 View Page The competing 2118   Tuesday, May 8 View Page 2118 Jutras also with a little bit of sunburn but otherwise doing great   Wednesday, May 9 View Page Round one of giant maters ready to be transplanted to bigger pots. Round 2 is in the germ tank. Same seeds as round one.   Friday, May 11 View Page Some boring progress pictures. 1821 Checkon in the front. 1408 Zappa in the rear.   Friday, May 11 View Page Up next is my 2002 Tobeck.   Friday, May 11 View Page 1844 Holub doing real well. Almost time to start getting the main to lay down. If I get a fruit set on this plant it will be named Gangrene. Thanks to Ted for letting me steal his name.   Friday, May 11 View Page My favorite plant, the 2118 Jutras, is a bit yellowish looking. Waiting for advice to try and green it back up. If I get a fruit set on this plant it will be named Pickles.   Sunday, May 13 View Page Plants are starting to take off but forecast for next week + is looking cloudy and rainy. I rigged these LED spotlights above my plants to give them a little light boost. 2118 Jutras.   Sunday, May 13 View Page 1844 Holub   Sunday, May 13 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Sunday, May 13 View Page 1821 Checkon   Tuesday, May 15 View Page Got the fence installed for my Long gourds and field pumpkins. Unfortunately the 2 149.5” Eaton seeds I started never germinated. But I got some of my dads 108.5” PA State record seeds up so we’ll be going with those instead.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page First round of giant maters ready to go in the ground. This is my first attempt at big tomatoes so who know what will happen. I hope I don’t let my team down.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page 2 weeks in the ground. 1821 Checkon   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Two weeks in the ground. 2002 Tobeck. This plant is a few days younger than the rest.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Planted outside two weeks ago today. 1844 Holub Squash.   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Last but not least. 2118 Jutras Squash planted in the ground on May 2nd. Two weeks ago today. Can’t wait til they all lay down. So nerve wracking.   Thursday, May 17 View Page A little trick I saw Shannon Engel use to encourage my plants to lay down. Can you see it?   Thursday, May 17 View Page All my plants are reaching for the stars.   Thursday, May 17 View Page They should all be down in the next few days. Growing at a good pace now.   Thursday, May 17 View Page I wish they would all hurry up and get down and boogie.   Thursday, May 17 View Page Main patch view. Very happy so far. Backups are outside the hoops.   Thursday, May 17 View Page I’m participating in the WOW field trial. Here’s subject #1   Thursday, May 17 View Page And subject #2   Thursday, May 17 View Page Other giant maters went in the ground today. Experimenting with different fertilizer.   Thursday, May 17 View Page This one got the regular WOW Super Starter Packs.   Thursday, May 17 View Page My daughter Nicole wanted to try a giant mater. It’s gonna be the blind leading the blind on this one.   Thursday, May 17 View Page Nicole’s bushel gourd. She only has about 60 sqft for this plant but she insisted she wanted to try. You go girl.   Thursday, May 17 View Page 14 year old seeds from my dads PA state record. Hope he sends us some good luck from heaven.   Thursday, May 17 View Page Squeezed in a couple 226 Houston melons at the bottom of the big patch. If they get in the way of the pumpkins and squash they will come out.   Saturday, May 19 View Page 3 plants almost down and running. 1844 Holub being stubborn. See pics 2118 Jutras   Saturday, May 19 View Page 1844 Holub   Saturday, May 19 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Saturday, May 19 View Page 1821 Checkon. Against the far wall is a 1408 Zappa backup plant that is gonna have to come out soon as the 1821 is running it over.   Sunday, May 20 View Page Wind breaks went up this weekend. That’s my backup 1701 Jutras Squash.   Sunday, May 20 View Page 2118 Jutras Squash is first on the ground.   Monday, May 21 View Page Opened hoops all the way today. Was a gorgeous sunny 80 degrees.   Monday, May 21 View Page When I went to put the plastic back up this one was poking out. Growing fast now.   Monday, May 21 View Page 2002 Tobeck also about to grow out of my makeshift hoop house. This structure was built to shade my pumpkins but used it in a pinch when I didn’t have enough hoops for my plants.   Monday, May 21 View Page These two are testing my patience. Neither one wants to lay down and run. I removed the kickstand leafs from both plants plus another big leaf on the 1844 that was holding it up in the air. Making very slow progress to the ground.   Monday, May 21 View Page My pride and joy of the patch. She got my best spot and it shows. Can’t wait to see what she does. I look to be at least a week ahead of where I was at this time last year with all my plants. Other then the two squash that don’t want to lay down, all is going well.   Wednesday, May 23 View Page Gonna be in the 40’s tonight so closed all hoops up tight. Here lies the 1821 Checkon.   Wednesday, May 23 View Page Left 1844 Holub. Right 2118 Jutras. Both touched down today. Thought this was gonna be an easy choice but the 2118 is catching up fast. Hmmm decisions decisions.   Wednesday, May 23 View Page Picked this up to take care of watering duties while I’m away.   Thursday, May 24 View Page Going out of town for a few days. Prepped plants as best I could. Fingers crossed.   Thursday, May 24 View Page Butterball will guard the patch from intruders.   Thursday, May 24 View Page Noticed some roots starting at the leaf nodes so started burying the main on my 1821 Checkon. Mixed up Pumpkin Pro, Azos and WOW soil and plant booster. Gave liberal dose at each node.   Thursday, May 24 View Page The baby of the patch. She’s doing great.   Thursday, May 24 View Page All doors removed from my hoops and sides raised up. So they are basically just a roof now. Other than the 2002 Tobeck hoop, the rest will stay in place for the rest of the season. Gonna be a tough call here as both plants doing well.   Thursday, May 24 View Page Hoping for great things with this one. The keeper from the competing 1844 and 2118 will be the pollinator for this plant. Well that’s the plan anyways.   Sunday, May 27 View Page While I was away for 3 days the main on my 1821 Checkon grew up against my shade cover and got cooked so I had to remove it and now will train a sidevine to take its place. Pretty bummed but nothing I can do about it now.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Rest of the plants looking good. The competing squash are to the point where I need to decide who stays and who goes. The 1844 has a slightly longer main but the 2118 is putting out way stronger secondaries. Probably decide tomorrow or Tuesday. Babies showing up all over now. Even on secondary vines.   Sunday, May 27 View Page She will have to come off but glad to see them.   Sunday, May 27 View Page 2002 Tobeck around 6’ now   Sunday, May 27 View Page See pic   Sunday, May 27 View Page I should have removed the hoop from this one but to late now. Baby squash at tip. 7.5’   Sunday, May 27 View Page Nice and green.   Sunday, May 27 View Page Looks like Ted’s patch. Haha. I hate weeds in the patch. Where did they all come from? Ugh!!!   Monday, May 28 View Page My gut was telling me to go with the 2118 so I pulled the 1844 Holub out today. So this plant will now be referred to as 2118 Jutras B since it’s my second 2118 plant. New plan will be to sib each one when pollinating. Pinched off baby at 6 feet.   Monday, May 28 View Page Planted 3 field pumpkins today. Really only have room for one so best plant stays.   Monday, May 28 View Page 91.5 Zappa   Monday, May 28 View Page 91.5 Zappa #2. All three of my plants are selfed 81 Wolf seeds.   Monday, May 28 View Page So excited to be growing this seed. Two of them actually. This is 2118 Jutras A. Had to build dirt up near the wooden frame to help the plants get up and over.   Monday, May 28 View Page Side view of 2118 Jutras A. Sidevines chugging now.   Monday, May 28 View Page Big tomatoes. Doing okay I guess. Don’t see any blossoms yet.   Monday, May 28 View Page Planted 2 of these plants. The other one looks really bad. 226 Houston Watermelon.   Monday, May 28 View Page 2002 Tobeck starting to get rolling.   Monday, May 28 View Page Still upset about losing the main on this one. Next pic shows new main.   Monday, May 28 View Page New main   Thursday, May 31 View Page I’m hoping the heat is the cause of what seems to be lackluster growth the past few days. Other than my 1821 Checkon, my plants have stalled on secondary growth a bit.   Thursday, May 31 View Page This plant is struggling with sidevines on the left side. Not sure if it’s the path of the sun or the heat or who knows.   Thursday, May 31 View Page 2002 Tobeck is a little yellow looking. Hmmm   Thursday, May 31 View Page This is the plant that broke the main while I was out of town. The new sidevine main is starting to grow pretty good now. In a week I doubt I’ll even notice a difference. Strong sidevines on this one.   Thursday, May 31 View Page Long Gourds battling for a trellis spot. The one on the left is starting to vine.   Friday, June 1 View Page First attempt at a big watermelon. Had a second plant but bunny rabbit ate it. Bad Bunny!   Saturday, June 2 View Page The babies are setting up perfectly right now for mid June pollinations. They should land farther out than the are now by the time they are ready. Hopefully my sidevines kick it into high gear real soon.   Saturday, June 2 View Page 2118 Jutras B   Saturday, June 2 View Page 2118 Jutras A   Saturday, June 2 View Page 2118 Jutras A   Saturday, June 2 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Saturday, June 2 View Page 2002 Tobeck. Still a bit yellow.   Saturday, June 2 View Page Male flowers started opening today on both 2118’s   Sunday, June 3 View Page Plant is kinda square shaped because of the new main needing to catch up. Wish all my other plants had sidevines like this.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page 1821 Checkon is chugging along. The rest of my plants are rather stagnant.   Tuesday, June 5 View Page Mega Bloom???   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Long gourd is reaching for the trellis.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Plants seem to be liking the warmer temps. Wish this one would green up a bit.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Closing in on 14’ but sidevines suck   Sunday, June 10 View Page Should open this coming week   Sunday, June 10 View Page Better sidevines in this one   Sunday, June 10 View Page And another baby at 13’   Sunday, June 10 View Page This plant is my best grower. It’s in my space that we grew veggies in last year. 400 sqft. Wish it had more room.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Baby on the 1821   Sunday, June 10 View Page In the tip   Sunday, June 10 View Page Me before heading out to the Slayer concert. Lamb of god also played and they rocked the place. I made a short run through the mosh pit without getting pummeled. Haha   Monday, June 11 View Page Males are literally stacked on my 2118 A Jutras   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Gonna have first pollination tomorrow. Next female is at 16’. Really hope one of these two take. Will be sibbing with 2118 Jutras B.   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Ready for tomorrow morning   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Locked away from the bees. 2118 Jutras B   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Next female on 2118 Jutras A at 16’   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Wish plant size was bigger but it’s coming along I guess.   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Not sure what’s going on here. Have this on both squash plants but not the AG’s   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Double vine   Tuesday, June 12 View Page You can see the sidevines now in the picture   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Bushel gourd. Stupid bugs.   Tuesday, June 12 View Page Looks like a double to me. Not seeing any good megas on my plants. Well maybe one but it’s a secret.   Tuesday, June 12 View Page 2002 Tobeck. Very low to the ground plant. In worst spot in the patch but doing well.   Wednesday, June 13 View Page 2118 Jutras A x 2118 Jutras B   Wednesday, June 13 View Page Will have my second pollination of the year tomorrow. This will be 2118 Jutras B x 2118 Jutras A.   Thursday, June 14 View Page 2118 Jutras B x 2118 Jutras A. 13’   Thursday, June 14 View Page Both squash plants flagging really bad today. Put up some tarps for shade. It did help.   Thursday, June 14 View Page Not impressed with the mega blooms on my giant maters. How am I supposed to help my team with this crap? Lol   Thursday, June 14 View Page Giant watermelon is running.   Thursday, June 14 View Page So are the field pumpkins   Thursday, June 14 View Page Two of them are falling the wrong direction. This one is not.   Thursday, June 14 View Page Whoever hits the 2x4 first stays.   Thursday, June 14 View Page Should open Saturday   Thursday, June 14 View Page Have two females on the new main on the 1821 Checkon that look to be a few days out still. The plant is filling in the 400 sqft very fast now. Growing WAY better than the rest of my plants.   Saturday, June 16 View Page Pollinated the 2002 Tobeck with 5 1821 Checkon males. Nice 4 lober.   Saturday, June 16 View Page She’s growing. Looks like it’s gonna be hot for next pollination so this might end up being my keeper.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Lots of mater pics coming acha.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Liking the looks of this one.   Sunday, June 17 View Page The next three sets of blooms on this plant didn’t look special so I whacked the entire plant down and just gonna see what this one does. My first ever try at big maters.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Here’s the chopped down plant.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Lucky if this one has a 1 inch stem. Probably asking for trouble. Maybe I’ll get another mega higher up.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This one looks good so far.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This plant is the neighbor to the other 7.07 QTip.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This might turn in to something special.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Looks like she’s growing but hoping for another set a little further out. This one is at 13’.   Sunday, June 17 View Page She’s scarred and also around 13’. Hoping for a set further down the main.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Turning the main because she’s getting close to garden edge. Sidevines finally starting to move.   Sunday, June 17 View Page I forgot to post a pic of my 2118 Jutras A. Fighting leaf burn with both of these squash plants.   Sunday, June 17 View Page 2002 Tobeck x 1821 Checkon   Sunday, June 17 View Page Here’s the plant. Turning the main on this one as well. It’s a pain in the butt to try to grow three plants in a square shaped patch. Next time I’ll stick to 2 plants in this 2500 sqft.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Secondaries are growing great on this plant. Some need terminated already. Should be pollinating Monday and Tuesday on the main. Need one of them to take as I’m running out of room. Fingers crossed.   Sunday, June 17 View Page I have this one covered and have 3 2002 Tobeck males ready for tomorrow morning.   Sunday, June 17 View Page This one should be ready Tuesday. Have to wait and see what’s available to pollinate it with.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Removed wind fences added kelp and tilled it in. Was to exhausted to put the wind fences back up. Hope the weather cooperates until I get it done.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Sorry for all the posts. Last one for this evening. This morning this area was full of half dead weeds. I sprayed gly on them a few days ago. Now they are gonzo. Bottom left is a Red Warty Thing pumpkin.   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Had a couple to pollinate this morning.   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Here’s #2   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Pollination from 6/14 did not take and was removed yesterday.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Filling in patch very fast. Should be pretty much fully grown in by next week. Have two main vine pollinations and one sidevine pollination. Fingers crossed for a good main vine set. Should know within a week or so.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Still have tarps up for some shade. Has one growing on the main at 13’. It will be culled if the next one or two down the main set. Forgot to mention the cuke beetles are here in full force.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Oh these were pollinated this morning.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Fruit from 2118 A   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Pollinated one on the main this morning. Plant is actually bigger than it looks. I’ve swung the first two sidevines, on the right side of the picture, towards the back past the stump. Doing the same thing on my 2118 A plant as well.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Waiting to see if pollinations took. Have 2 now with a third coming in next week. One of these will hopefully be “the one”. All crosses so far are 2002 Tobeck x 1821 Checkon.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page My battling field pumpkins. Hoping one of these plants throws the long females. Lost the 189.5 Steil I had growing. Snapped off at ground when trying to land. I should have supported it better.   Wednesday, June 20 View Page My dad grew his 108.5” long gourd in a dead crabapple tree that he made a ring wall around the trunk and filled with dirt. Hoping pops sends me some good fortune this season. Plant had a couple more feet to go to reach the top of the 12’ trellis. Then I don’t know where it’s going from there. Gonna be interesting.   Thursday, June 21 View Page These are supposed to be my fall weigh off tomatoes. Started 5/28   Thursday, June 21 View Page Got some advice from Lee Zappa and pinned down my main and cut some holes under the leaf nodes to hopefully get some rooting. From the looks of other plants I see on BP, I’m way behind.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Not sure if this mater needed a hammock but it got one anyway.   Thursday, June 21 View Page So this mega is at the top of the plant. It’s like the plant stopped growing at the bloom. The stem leads right into the bloom. I’m hoping that’s a good thing?   Saturday, June 23 View Page This is looking to be my keeper as the next one down the main doesn’t look like it took.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Nice long stem on this one.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Not sure if this took. Another long stem.   Saturday, June 23 View Page A little lopsided but gonna go with this one.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Looks like a triple bloom.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Space almost filled up. 400 sqft   Saturday, June 23 View Page   Saturday, June 23 View Page My plants are long and skinny. I’m sweeping a lot of sidevines back past the stump to try and use up all my space.   Saturday, June 23 View Page   Saturday, June 23 View Page That’s just about 12’ to the top.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Field pumpkin taking off.   Monday, June 25 View Page Settled on the stronger of the two 91.5 Zappa field pumpkins. Probably a bit early on this plant but I have 2 more started that I’m gonna try to find a spot for in my main patch. This one has about 150 sqft to grow in. It’s looking good and growing like crazy.   Monday, June 25 View Page View from the stump side.   Monday, June 25 View Page At first I thought this was a three fused tomato but now I think it’s four fused.   Monday, June 25 View Page No pollinations took on my 2118 Jutras B plant. Next one on the main not looking good. Kinda yellowish.   Monday, June 25 View Page This one looking much better. Hope she blooms before I leave for vacation.   Monday, June 25 View Page I would like to introduce you all to Gangrene.   Tuesday, June 26 View Page First female on my 91.5 Zappa field pumpkin. Looks long. Nice.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Got mill fabric and sand under my 3 fruit today. Still nothing set on my 2118 Jutras B plant and I kinda damaged my main vine tip trying to clean mud off of it with 10:1 bleach solution. When will I learn?!?!? Here’s Gangrene at 14 DAP.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 2002 Tobeck aka “Nelly” since Cindy loves horses. 11 DAP   Wednesday, June 27 View Page 1821 Checkon @ 8 DAP. Checkers is her name. Terminated the main vine at the fruit because it just wasn’t working in this small patch.   Wednesday, June 27 View Page Close up. This is actually a secondary I retrained into the main. I have a fan blowing on it now and put some Sulphur on the wound.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Pollinated a backup this morning   Thursday, June 28 View Page Not sure if this ones even going to open but I’m keeping my hopes up.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Don’t EVER spray a 10:1 water bleach mix on vine tips. What was I thinking? Thank goodness this is the only plant I did this to. Will probably have to set a squash on a secondary but have to wait a while since I was pinching them all off hoping to get a main vine set. Dumb dumb dumb   Thursday, June 28 View Page Next sidevine hopeful   Thursday, June 28 View Page Didn’t even realize this opened today so it’s gonna be an open pollination. Will most likely be culled but you never know.   Thursday, June 28 View Page Not thrilled with the shape of this squash. I did level the stem up after taking this picture.   Friday, June 29 View Page 190 Wells BG   Friday, June 29 View Page Got my hose timer set up to run for 1 minute every hour to try and keep plants cool during this heat wave.   Friday, June 29 View Page This is my 2118 Jutras plant that I have no sets on yet. Come on babies.   Friday, June 29 View Page This is my 2002 Tobeck   Friday, June 29 View Page Transplanted my last 5 giant tomato plants today. Gave them lots of Wow starter packs.   Friday, June 29 View Page These are the biggest tomatoes I have so far.   Friday, June 29 View Page This is the biggest mega I have gotten so far.   Friday, June 29 View Page Fruit pics from today.   Friday, June 29 View Page Main vine broke on 2002 Tobeck today. I took this picture this morning before work and looking back at it I see how high off the ground it was. Snapped right where I circled it. Will train a secondary as new main.   Friday, June 29 View Page Planted 2 more field pumpkins. 91.5 Zappa   Saturday, June 30 View Page Ready for tomorrow morning. Have more cooler and ice packs ready to go as well. One of my last chances at getting something set on the main. Should have a bunch of sidevine pollinations this week as well. Gonna be tough with this heat and humidity but I’m ready to roll. Gotta get something set this week as I leave for vacation next Saturday.   Sunday, July 1 View Page 2118 Jutras B x 2118 Jutras A. Beautiful 5 lober. Going under the cooler with a coffee can sized chunk of ice. Will swap out ice pack later today with a fresh one.   Sunday, July 1 View Page Trying some Wow tea.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page @ DAP 3 it’s looking good. Removed ice and cooler this evening.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page This ones on a sidevine @ 2 DAP. Removed ice and cooler from this one as well. Have another sidevine squash opening tomorrow on 2118 B.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Biggest I’ve ever had at day 20.   Wednesday, July 4 View Page Another sidevine pollinated this morning   Thursday, July 5 View Page Last pollination on 2118 Jutras B. I’m not pollinating anymore as I’m out of room. If one of the last 4 don’t take, the plant is getting pulled.   Thursday, July 5 View Page First melons started showing up today.   Thursday, July 5 View Page Getting bigger and bigger.   Friday, July 6 View Page It’s growing   Friday, July 6 View Page This is the plant that the squash in the last pic is growing. I have 5 squash pollinated on this plant and will cull down to one when I get home from vacation.   Friday, July 6 View Page Fastest growing fruit so far. I won’t be home to take day 20 measurements.   Friday, July 6 View Page Weakling of the patch.   Friday, July 6 View Page Not much plant though. And unfortunately the sidevines have slowed down big time.   Friday, July 6 View Page Up 53 lbs in past 3 days   Friday, July 6 View Page Plant that Gangrene is growing on   Friday, July 6 View Page Decorative pumpkins   Friday, July 6 View Page Time for tomatoes   Friday, July 6 View Page Weird shape   Friday, July 6 View Page I’m liking this one   Friday, July 6 View Page Doesn’t look like it pollinated fully but does look to be all fused. Small plant   Friday, July 6 View Page Plant for last tomato pic   Friday, July 6 View Page Guessing this will open tomorrow. Very small plant. See next entry for plant pic.   Friday, July 6 View Page Never grew melons before.   Friday, July 6 View Page Patch overview. Lower half of patch has a couple field pumpkins to fill in the empty space that the giants were originally supposed to grow into. Unfortunately most of my sidevines pretty much stopped growing or slowed down a bunch.   Friday, July 6 View Page Field pumpkins are near the milk crates. 2118 Jutras A is at right. Top center is 2002 Tobeck. Top right is 2118 Jutras B plant.   Friday, July 6 View Page 91.5 Zappa field pumpkin and 108.5 Yohe Long Gourd on the trellis.   Friday, July 6 View Page Playing around with the panoramic feature.   Monday, July 9 View Page South Dakota is AMAZING   Monday, July 9 View Page Custer State Park   Thursday, July 12 View Page Made it home with an hour of daylight left. Cut it close with the fan placement on the 1821 Checkon.   Thursday, July 12 View Page 1821 Checkon is starting to ramp it up. Doing 20 lbs per day at 23 DAP.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Area is completely filled. Even let some grow up the fence but they mostly got scorched from the heat last week.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Last hope on the main vine for my 2118 Jutras B plant. Looks like she took so that’s a relief. Will keep a backup for another week before cutting it off. Main vine is tiny where the squash is.   Thursday, July 12 View Page This is my backup on a sidevine. Total plant size is around 600 or so sqft.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Not putting on the gains. Around 11 lbs per day. Not sure why she’s not happy.   Thursday, July 12 View Page Gangrene is averaging 20ish lbs per day. Wish it were more but doesn’t everyone wish that?   Thursday, July 12 View Page Best tomato as of right now. Garden looks dry even with the sprinklers going while I was away. Everybody gonna get a big drink in the morning. Then spray insecticide and fungicide in the evening. Back to ferts this weekend.   Friday, July 13 View Page Day 30 numbers are in.   Friday, July 13 View Page Named this gal “Checkers”. She is my best grower. Should crack 300 lbs by day 30. My best growing pumpkin ever.   Friday, July 13 View Page Not even sure what this means but here you go. Haha   Friday, July 13 View Page This one is on another 5.24 Borgers. Thanks for the seeds Bob.   Friday, July 13 View Page Got mill fabric and sand under her today. Gonna call her “Pickles”   Friday, July 13 View Page Twins. They will be culled soon.   Sunday, July 15 View Page First baby melon. This got going while I was away last week so not sure when it was pollinated. It’s on a sidevine. Hopefully get on on the main but not sure if it matters with melons.   Sunday, July 15 View Page Bummer. Pickles is dead. Day 14   Sunday, July 15 View Page Luckily I have a backup. It’s on a sidevine. There’s a baby in the tip of main vine but that would be a late pollination. The sidevine the backup is on has not been terminated yet so that’s a plus.   Sunday, July 15 View Page On to better news. 2118 Jutras A did 28 lbs since yesterday.   Sunday, July 15 View Page And 1821 Checkon also did 28 lbs.   Sunday, July 15 View Page And there’s hope for the 2002 Tobeck. She did 27 lbs since yesterday.   Monday, July 16 View Page Didn’t take pics of the pumpkins but I did measure again today. These are all 24 hour gains. 2118 Jutras A gained 25 lbs 2002 Tobeck gained 15 lbs 1821 Checkon gained 30 lbs 2118 Jutras B gained 1.75”cc My 5.24 Borgers planted on 4/24 just has the slightest hint of red to it. Measures 19 3/8”cc.   Monday, July 16 View Page Another 5.24 Borgers planted on 5/6. Didn’t even attempt to measure this one. Should still have a couple weeks of growing left.   Monday, July 16 View Page This is my new keeper on my 2118 Jutras B plant. She’s VERY light green. Almost yellowish. Hope she greens up.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Growing well I think   Tuesday, July 17 View Page I guess it’s almost time to pick this one. It’s not gaining any cc and starting to ripen.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Gained 4.25” cc since yesterday. In such a bad spot in the patch. If it survives it will surely grow into the vines on my 2002 Tobeck plant. No room for mill fabric so using some feed sacks.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Consistent mid 20’s growth for the past 3 days. I’ll take it.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Growth is up and down. More likely I suck at measuring.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page +29 lbs today for this girl. Today is day 28 for her.   Tuesday, July 17 View Page Baby watermelons are so cute.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Looks like my new keeper is now aborting on my 2118 Jutras B. Turning yellow and has some give to it when I push on it. There is some good news though. See next pic.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Found this open pollination hiding under the canopy.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Day 30 today for my 1821 Checkon. Tapes 255 ott for 382 lbs. Gains have slipped off the past two days but I think it’s from the cooler nighttime temps. Plus I could sure use some rain. This is my biggest day 30 ever so I’m happy. A slight bit of orange has showed up on her as well.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Gangrene is still leading the pack at over 400 lbs today.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Chugging along slowly but surely.   Friday, July 20 View Page Looks a little funny shaped but I don’t care.   Friday, July 20 View Page Measured this one today 19 7/8” but it has a big hollow spot. See next pic.   Friday, July 20 View Page Bummer   Friday, July 20 View Page This ones doing really good. 19 1/4”   Friday, July 20 View Page Still growing little by little. 19 5/8”. Probably pick it this weekend as it’s getting some cracks in the skin.   Saturday, July 21 View Page Another pollination this morning. It’s actually and 2118 Jutras x self x sib but I’m calling it open. Picked males from both my 2118 plants last night and used them this morning.   Saturday, July 21 View Page Lost the new keeper on my 2118 Jutras B plant. It was at day 19. I knew when I chopped the blossom nub off that it wasn’t looking good. Ugh. Have 2 pollinations from the past 2 days to focus on now. Running out of time.   Monday, July 23 View Page Have a long gourd at the top of the trellis. About 10-12” long. Also have some bushel gourds pollinated. Waiting to see if one of them sets. And I pollinated a couple field pumpkins. One looks good the other didn’t take. 2002 Tobeck pictured below.   Monday, July 23 View Page 2118 Jutras A. Day 40 today. Trying to fall back on her blossom. Packed a couple bags of sand under her butt. Hope the daily gains continue. Been steady at mid to upper 20 lbs per day for the past week or so.   Monday, July 23 View Page Getting a bit oranger each day. I love this plant and pumpkin.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page I’m the C grower on team 11. This is the first giant tomato I have ever grown. Picked it because it was starting to rot inside one of the blossom ends. Have a couple more that should be picked soon. Hopefully they will weigh more than this one does.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page This one is still growing and doesn’t have any big hollow spots in it like my first one. Just over 20” now.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Store bought gray stripe sunflower reaching for the sky. I need to get a better support for it before it comes crashing down.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Picked my early 5.24 Borgers tomato today because I noticed the skin starting to crack. Got it officially weighed on a certified scale at the supermarket. They had to get a managers approval. I believe she thought I was crazy. Oh well. My first entry for team 11. Hope I can improve on this weight but at least wanted to make sure I got something entered. It’s John’s and Cory’s turn now.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Certification pic   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Getting down to the wire on my second 2118 Jutras plant. I can make this location work if it takes.   Tuesday, July 24 View Page Took some advice from Hank Houston and placed my melon on a wire rack with some Seven sprinkled under it. Thanks Hank   Wednesday, July 25 View Page Much needed rain today. Yay   Wednesday, July 25 View Page Long gourd starting to stretch its legs.   Wednesday, July 25 View Page My biggest mega bloom so far. Dummy me forgot to check which plant this is on. Next pic shows the underside.   Wednesday, July 25 View Page Looks like a good pollination. Guess I flicked it in the right spot. Looks to be 4 or 5 fused together. Hard to tell though. This is fun.   Thursday, July 26 View Page Very disappointing weight gains for the past three days. Averages dropped off. Big rain yesterday so hopefully it kicks them back into gear.   Thursday, July 26 View Page My squash is my biggest disappointment of the day.   Thursday, July 26 View Page My 1821 has just about caught my squash.   Thursday, July 26 View Page Hopeful keeper on my 2118 Jutras B plant. There are babies all over this plant now but hopefully this will be the one.   Saturday, July 28 View Page Currently my biggest tomato on all my plants.   Sunday, July 29 View Page Never slid a pumpkin back before. I’d call it a success except that I wrenched my back somehow. This is my 2002 Tobeck. Her shoulders were pushing on the vines. She seems a bit better now. Found some PM in the plant as well. Removed a bunch of leaves and hit the area with more fungicides. Hope I caught it in time.   Sunday, July 29 View Page Set this squash up today on my second 2118 Jutras plant. Had to move a 10’ length of vine from my 2002 Tobeck plant to make room for the mill fabric and rain cover. 8 days old. There are at least 4 or 5 other baby squash on this plant. If one of them seems like it’s growing better than this one I may change plans to a different fruit. Time will tell.   Sunday, July 29 View Page 1821 Checkon x 2002 Tobeck. 40 DAP 302.5 OTT 639 lbs   Monday, July 30 View Page I count 8 fused but it’s growing right into the stem.   Monday, July 30 View Page According to Marv’s book this one has a shot at 4 lbs   Monday, July 30 View Page Gangrene still putting on the weight. Go baby go.   Monday, July 30 View Page My 2002 is growing slow and steady.   Monday, July 30 View Page Culled this long gourd because it’s growing like a fish hook.   Tuesday, July 31 View Page She’s on third stage growth but does have a few sidevines growing off to help give her a boost. Cracks on top and bottom of stem near where it connects to the vine. This plant is twice as big as all my others. Sux I couldn’t get a set on this plant a month ago.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Not sure how old this melon is. It’s growing very slowly and has a weird shape to it.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Clouds and rain have really slowed down my squash. And forecasting clouds and rain into late next week. Ugh   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Not much better here with the daily gains.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Crazy shape to this one. Hard to see it in the picture but it looks like a camel hump in person.   Wednesday, August 1 View Page Still not sure if this is set. Keeping my fingers crossed. On main vine that grew through the fence. Plant is big and healthy.   Thursday, August 2 View Page Day 50 for Gangrene. Hard to believe we’re this far along into the season already. Love seeing all the huge fruit in everyone’s diaries. Keep on posting ladies and gentlemen.   Friday, August 3 View Page Grew another 1/8”. Still no signs of getting ripe. Many plants showing signs of blight so this may be my best shot this year.   Friday, August 3 View Page A little to much fun with the photo editor. Haha   Friday, August 3 View Page Stem side has green stripes. Looks cool.   Friday, August 3 View Page Funny how things look so much different in a picture. Gangrene looks nice and round and perfect shape but that’s far from the truth. Should be 750+ but didn’t measure today.   Monday, August 6 View Page Weights are still down but I’ll take em if they continue at this pace for another month. I need at least another 350 lbs to challenge the Altoona site and state record. Fingers crossed.   Monday, August 6 View Page Lost another one on my second 2118 plant this morning. Ugh. This is the third one I lost on this plant that were around 15-20 days old. There’s 4 or 5 open pollinations left on the plant. I don’t know the dates but guessing a week to 10 days old on the babies. I’m just gonna let them all go freestyle for a while to see if any of them makes it past 20 days. Honestly I’m tired of setting up the mill fabric and shade structure for nothing.   Monday, August 6 View Page Biggest fruit in the patch.   Monday, August 6 View Page Love the green stripes on this one.   Monday, August 6 View Page My daughter Nicole’s bushel gourd. This is a first for us.   Monday, August 6 View Page Starting to flash so expect to pick it within the week. Will I make the 4 pound club? Time will tell.   Monday, August 6 View Page Two long gourds on one plant. I’ve climbed the ladders a couple times to trim back the jungle.   Tuesday, August 7 View Page And #4 bites it today. Two in the past two days. Three babies left on this plant. One is more oblong than the others. Who knows.   Tuesday, August 7 View Page One of three remaining baby squash on my 2118 Jutras B plant. She’s more oblong than the others. Maybe she’ll grow past 20 days but I have my doubts.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Day 50 today. Very happy with this pumpkin. Some PM showing up around the patch but to wet to spray. As soon as it dries out I’ll spray again.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Little bit of stem issues. Painted on Daconil and have a fan going on it 24/7. She got passed by my 1821 Checkon but is still pushing along at a nice clip.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Who really knows what Nelly weighs? She’s to hard to measure. The scales will tell if she makes it that far.   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Measured for the first time today. Look out watermelon world, I’m coming for you. Hahahaha   Wednesday, August 8 View Page Somehow this thing keeps growing. I’m not complaining.   Friday, August 10 View Page This is going to make my life so much easier.   Friday, August 10 View Page Picked my second big tomato today.   Friday, August 10 View Page Then I threw it on the scale at home.   Friday, August 10 View Page Then I took it down the street to our little general store. The store owner was pretty shocked to see it.   Friday, August 10 View Page Let’s make this official   Friday, August 10 View Page Finally I held it up next to my head for a selfie.   Friday, August 10 View Page Go Team 11. I honestly think this will be my biggest for the year. My remaining plants just don’t seem to have what it takes.   Friday, August 10 View Page 4.48 Yohe   Sunday, August 12 View Page All my gains went way down for the past 4 days. My hope at challenging the PA state record are looking pretty bad at this point. Still 54 days til Altoona Weigh off so who knows........   Sunday, August 12 View Page Loving the color on the stem side of this one. It gets the morning sun. I’m tempted to leave it completely uncovered to see it the whole thing would look like this.   Sunday, August 12 View Page Here’s the blossom side.   Sunday, August 12 View Page This one is still my leader and measuring my biggest ever.   Monday, August 13 View Page Down to my last two squash on my 2118 Jutras B plant. The lone vine running across the mill fabric goes to the squash in the top of the picture.   Tuesday, August 14 View Page Our two long gourds are doing good I guess. They’re already much longer than last years. I think they’re a bit early for the weigh off. I hope they last.   Wednesday, August 15 View Page I give up on my second 2118 Jutras squash plant. These were the last two squash on it. I will be taking the plant out tonight and planting a cover crop. Both ends split.   Wednesday, August 15 View Page Here’s the hopeless 2118 Jutras plant just before I gutted it.   Wednesday, August 15 View Page Light tiller pass and planted winter rye. Rain expected for next several days so timing should be good. Glad to be done worrying about this plant.   Wednesday, August 15 View Page Measured again even though I said I was only gonna measure on Sundays from now on.   Wednesday, August 15 View Page Gangrene is doing well and should get more airflow with the sibling plant gone.   Sunday, August 19 View Page 1821 Checkon. Estimated at 996 lbs today   Sunday, August 19 View Page 2118 Jutras estimated at 967 lbs today   Monday, August 20 View Page This is my daughters Bushel Gourd which is really starting to grow now. It was in the mid 60 range a couple days ago. This pic is from today.   Monday, August 20 View Page My 2118 Jutras squash plant. Lots of it is third stage growth that I let fill in where I lost a bunch of leaves from sunburn. I hope it’s enough to keep Gangrene growing for another month or more You can also see my winter rye coming up.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page Checkers is officially estimated at more than 1000 lbs. Gains are less than 10 lbs per day now so not sure how much she has left.   Tuesday, August 21 View Page Bushel Gourd is growing well. Estimated at 80 lbs today.   Wednesday, August 22 View Page Weak   Wednesday, August 22 View Page Weaker   Wednesday, August 22 View Page Butterball wants in.   Thursday, August 23 View Page 2002 Tobeck measured right at 700 lbs today.   Thursday, August 23 View Page 2118 Jutras Squash measured 1019 lbs today. Still creeping along.   Thursday, August 23 View Page Approaching 100 lbs on a very small plant.   Thursday, August 23 View Page Here’s the 190 Wells bushel gourd plant my daughter is growing in her little garden beside the house that doesn’t get much sun.   Saturday, August 25 View Page This thing amazes me. It’s growing around 8 lbs per day. Up to estimated 112 lbs today.   Saturday, August 25 View Page 2002 Tobeck crawling along. Estimated at 712 lbs today.   Saturday, August 25 View Page 2002 side view.   Saturday, August 25 View Page 1821 Checkon estimated 1041 lbs today.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Afraid to measure Gangrene. Not sure if she’s done growing or not already. Doesn’t seem to be getting any bigger. Plant has lots of younger third stage growth but most of the leaves on the secondary vines have dried up from sunburn.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Side view 2118 Jutras squash.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Measured 6’ 9 1/4”. Left 2 grow at the same time. Other one is at 6’5”. Both are pretty much done at this point. Was hoping for way more.   Monday, August 27 View Page Watermelon put on a few more pounds. Sitting right around 60 lbs now.   Monday, August 27 View Page Estimated 122 lbs on 8/26   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Estimated @ 141 lbs and still making good daily gains   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Checkers sitting @ 1070 lbs still gaining around 10 per day on a small beat to death plant. Found a soft spot in the stem.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page So I scraped it out and sprayed it with bleach mix. Fans been blowing on stem for weeks now so the soft spot is kinda a surprise. Hoping for the best.   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Gangrene still gaining but not much. Sitting around 1062 lbs.   Wednesday, August 29 View Page Have what looks to be three good main vine sets on all three of my 91.5 Zappa field pumpkins. Timing should be perfect for the weigh-offs. Grow babies grow.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 2002 Tobeck sitting at 743 lbs. Anybody else see one this color? Sure is wild looking.   Thursday, August 30 View Page 190 Wells Bushel Gourd estimated at 158 lbs today. She should break the PA state record tomorrow. Still gaining 8-10 lbs per day. This is my daughters plant and she will be entering it at Altoona if it makes it. I’m so excited for her.   Friday, August 31 View Page 1.952 lbs from the 7.07 QTip.   Friday, August 31 View Page 2002 Tobeck. The greener leaves back near the fence are my field pumpkins.   Friday, August 31 View Page 2118 Jutras squash. Again, way back near the fence are my field pumpkins.   Friday, August 31 View Page 1821 Checkon. Taping 1101 today. Still gaining with this beat up plant.   Sunday, September 2 View Page Potential PA State record on the vine. Still gaining 5 lbs per day. Estimated at 175.5. State record is 165.5. Excited is an understatement.   Sunday, September 2 View Page Estimated at 1099 lbs. Gained an average of 7 lbs per day over the past 5 days.   Sunday, September 2 View Page 772 lbs. +7/day avg   Sunday, September 2 View Page 1118 +8.5/day   Monday, September 3 View Page My daughter Nicole’s tomato she picked today. It slipped out of its hammock about a week ago and was barely hanging on by a thread. It was growing good at that time.   Monday, September 3 View Page Nicole with her very first big tomato.   Tuesday, September 4 View Page In the midst of a very hot and humid spell. We missed watering yesterday and it showed with only a 2.5 lb gain last night. Weight is estimated at 184.5 lbs now. Still no signs of cantelouping so hope the gains pick back up. Got a good dose of Holland’s Bloom this evening.   Tuesday, September 4 View Page This is my best field pumpkin right now. Slowly thinning plants down to one kin per plant. Lots of misshaped fruit and weeping blossom ends this year. Hope to get a couple big ones to the scales.   Wednesday, September 5 View Page Estimated at 188 lbs. Gain of 6 lbs since yesterday. We gave her a good drink again today. Still hoping for 200+.   Friday, September 7 View Page Is my squash going to disappoint me? Would love to hear some opinions on getting her to green up. Blossom end green is fading.   Friday, September 7 View Page Stem side still green though. It gets hit with the morning sun.   Friday, September 7 View Page These are my three remaining tomatoes. Not sure what they can produce in the next 4-5 weeks.   Friday, September 7 View Page My biggest field pumpkin. Starting to get decent sized now.   Friday, September 7 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Friday, September 7 View Page 2002 Tobeck   Monday, September 10 View Page 8+” of rain since Saturday   Monday, September 10 View Page Still raining but so far everything is still alive. Haven’t seen my daughters BG in a couple days and was shocked when we pulled the blanket off. It’s really big. We got 207 ott for 199 lbs according to Steve’s BG chart. Showing first signs of maturing on the surface. It was leaning back pretty bad so I tilted it towards the stem while Nicole packed sand under it. So next measurements will probably be off. Pic taken before packing sand in.   Monday, September 10 View Page Checkers is developing lots of growth cracks but I guess that means she’s still growing. Also having main vine issue up close to the stem. Just gotta hold on for 3 more weeks. Come on baby.   Monday, September 10 View Page Gangrene has some surface rot on the stem which I scraped with my fingernail and sprayed with Clorox water. Will need to do a better job but good enough for now because it’s pouring rain.   Monday, September 10 View Page Stem. Yucko.   Monday, September 10 View Page Backside   Monday, September 10 View Page Side view   Monday, September 10 View Page Nelly is still hanging tough with no visible trouble. Go girl go. Haven’t measured my AG’s or squash in a while so not sure if they’re gaining or not.   Tuesday, September 11 View Page From my 91.5 Zappa FP. Growing at a good rate.   Wednesday, September 12 View Page Estimated a whopping 62 pounds. Haha that’s funny.   Sunday, September 16 View Page Estimated at 210 lbs and gaining 2 lbs per day now. Less than 3 weeks til weigh off   Sunday, September 16 View Page 1821 Checkon still gaining 3-4 lbs per day. Estimated at 1167 lbs and I’m happy with how she’s doing. Having issues with main vine but seems to be dried up now.   Sunday, September 16 View Page 2002 Tobeck estimated at 833 lbs. The plan is to take her to OVGPG weigh off the second weekend of October.   Sunday, September 16 View Page 2118 Jutras squash is gonna be a close call as to whether or not it’s judged as a squash or pumpkin. Weight estimated at 1152 lbs. Still gaining slowly. Very tough to measure because of the excessive overhang on the blossom end. Would not be surprised if I’m way off on my measurements so who knows. Might weigh 900 lbs but I hope not.   Tuesday, September 18 View Page +3 lbs in past two days. Starting to cantaloupe now.   Tuesday, September 18 View Page My best FP turning orange already. Not nearly the size I was shooting for. Lots of plant but no fruit. Bummer   Wednesday, September 19 View Page Pics showing color   Wednesday, September 19 View Page #2   Wednesday, September 19 View Page #3   Sunday, September 23 View Page 1821 Checkon x 2002 Tobeck Estimated around 1170# Gains pretty much done now   Sunday, September 23 View Page 2002 Tobeck x 1821 Checkon Estimated around 850# +2/day last week   Sunday, September 23 View Page 2118 Jutras x Sib Estimated around 1160# +1/day last week   Sunday, September 23 View Page Couple FP’s. They didn’t do so well for me this year.   Sunday, September 23 View Page Another FP   Sunday, September 23 View Page I thought this was a big BG until the WR kept going up. Oh well. It’s going to Altoona on 10/6 if it’s still alive. Estimated around 220#.   Wednesday, September 26 View Page Still growing good. Estimated weight is 235 lbs. 9 days til harvest.   Wednesday, September 26 View Page Fans running all over the place trying to dry up this area. Weather looks good for next 5 days. Please God, no more rain. 9 days til harvest. New growth cracks still showing up so I’m thinking it’s still putting on some weight. Gonna need it with all that flesh missing under the blossom end.   Wednesday, September 26 View Page Checkers most likely done growing. Main vine is not looking good at all. About three feet of the main is split and dying. I’ve removed the 4 sidevines closest to the pumpkin. Not many leaves left on the plant either. Done measuring. Harvest in 9 days.   Sunday, September 30 View Page No measuring today but still getting new stretch marks. Fingers crossed it holds together til Saturday.   Sunday, September 30 View Page Was worried about color changing but looks like that’s not gonna be an issue any more. Just a very light green now on the blossom end.   Sunday, September 30 View Page Picked up just a 1/2” in cc over the past 4 days. No gains in SS or EE. Harvest this Friday for PGPGA Weigh Off in Altoona PA on Saturday. OTT is 222.5 for estimated 237.5 lbs.   Sunday, September 30 View Page Looks like I should’ve bought a longer rope.   Sunday, September 30 View Page Had to say goodbye to my handsome boy Butterball on Friday. My heart is broken. He was such a good boy.   Friday, October 5 View Page Red warty thing   Friday, October 5 View Page Loaded for PGPGA Weigh Off in Altoona PA tomorrow.   Friday, October 5 View Page 1821 Checkon soon to be ????.? Yohe   Friday, October 5 View Page Three grown men struggled to get this in the back of my wife’s Jeep   Saturday, October 6 View Page Had a great time today at the PGPGA Weigh Off in Altoona PA. Gangrene took first place with 1070.5. Guess the PA record is safe for another year.   Saturday, October 6 View Page My daughter’s bushel gourd was big enough for the state record but there was another one there even bigger so she came away with second place at 242 lbs.   Saturday, October 6 View Page Took third place with our long gourd. I had the pleasure of measuring the Checkon’s 149.25” long gourd that was oh so close to breaking the WR. Congratulations Larry and Gerry.   Saturday, October 6 View Page Checkers came in eight place. So happy to break into the top 10 with my new PB of 1103.5 lbs.   Saturday, October 6 View Page Here’s our watermelon. Hank Houston won the event with close to 200 lbs. Congratulations Hank.   Saturday, October 6 View Page Field pumpkin   Sunday, October 7 View Page Got the display set up.   Sunday, October 7 View Page This is what’s left of the plant that grew my daughters 242 Yohe bushel gourd. Not very big at all.   Wednesday, October 10 View Page Loaded today for OVGPG on Saturday. Weather looking bad next couple days so figured what the heck. She’s not gonna win any competitions at her size so if she loses a couple pounds it’s no big deal. Taping over 800.   Saturday, October 13 View Page We got all three pumpkins to the scales somehow. Finished the year with a lucky 777. Now the not so fun part of cleaning up the patch and getting started for next year begins. It goes so fast. Feels like I just started seeds a few weeks ago. Looking forward to winter auction seed sales. Gonna be lots to choose from this year. Already 19 pumpkins over the one ton Mark this season. Congratulations to everyone that made it to a Weigh Off this year. And to those that didn’t, keep at it.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page I’ve been hauling in amendments for the patches. This is leaf compost. Trailer holds around 1.5 yards. Brought in 3 loads so far. Planning on another 3 loads this week. Plus another 3 next week if my muscles can take it.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page Found some super old horse manure not far from home. It is loaded with red worms. Only had enough for 2 loads but I got them and spread them over a 10x20 foot area where my stumps will be next season. My big patch is still to wet to til so not sure if/when I’ll get it tilled in. Will continue adding the leaf compost until I get a nice layer on the entire big patch. All of the small patches got a helping of the leaf compost, tilled and winter rye planted.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page Preliminary plan for the big patch for next season. Only going with 2 plants in this spot. Possibly a third plant where I grew my 1103.5 this year. That spot is a 400 sqft patch that I originally started for growing veggies. Oops   Tuesday, October 23 View Page This is my 777 that was used in the regatta races at the Monster Pumpkin Festival in Pittsburgh PA this past weekend. Unfortunately I did not see the races but I heard she won a heat or two.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page Karl Haist’s giants on display in Pittsburgh.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page PGPGA and OVGPG shared a tent along the Allegheny River near the Haist pumpkins. There was a long line for a solid 5 hours on Sunday of people waiting to get there picture taken with Karl’s kins. I heard the line was even worse on Saturday. Had a fun day hanging out with Larry and Gerry Checkon.   Tuesday, October 23 View Page One of the carved pumpkins at Pittsburgh. Sorry but I don’t know who the carver is.   Monday, October 29 View Page The kids had some friends over for a pumpkin carving party.   Tuesday, November 6 View Page Got lots of seeds today.   Tuesday, November 6 View Page BG brain. Haha   Saturday, December 1 View Page The deer love eating the pumpkins.   Tuesday, December 18 View Page Dug a couple trenches through my patch to see if they fill with water. If they do fill up, I may dig them a little deeper and install french drain system and have it drain out below the patch. I’ll just mark them so I don’t hit them with the tiller. Gotta figure out a way to get some better drainage. One of my chickens wouldn’t get out of the way for the picture. Haha   Wednesday, December 19 View Page Water in trench   Wednesday, December 19 View Page More water in lower trench   Wednesday, December 19 View Page Dug channel to connect my two trenches. Pic taken after busting through the bottom trench and letting it drain into my yard.   Wednesday, December 19 View Page Two drain trenches   Wednesday, December 19 View Page Horse manure that has been broken down. Thinking about using this to bury vines next season. That’s my Easter egger Roo and a Plymouth Rock hen in the middle.