Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 221 Entries. Tuesday, January 7 View Page I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Let’s get this winter moving and on to spring. I do like these ornaments i received several years ago.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page   Tuesday, January 7 View Page And what a Christmas present I got !! Just like dad in the Christmas Story   Tuesday, January 7 View Page Thanks Santa Chop! A major Award. First place tomato challenge! Proud to be on Team Slammer   Tuesday, January 7 View Page I see the tomato board is starting to heat up. I will post that I have some of my seeds from last year available if anyone wants to give them a try. My 3.26 Pittston from 2018 threw some consistent mega blooms for me. It’s the Megadom variety. I have seed from my 3.99 which was a nice 4 finger beauty.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page Another one off of the 3.26. Threw this wild shape I’m calling the Big Cat. The caterpillar weighed in at 4.58. It had a small rot spot starting on one end so I picked it early. Guess I could have applied sulphur powder to see if it would have healed. Oh well it was long and not sure how many blossoms.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page The Big Cat.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page I have seeds from the 5.71 Lambchop which we all know has the genetics you need. My 3.77 has the Chop approval for a good shape with potential. Go Domingo !   Tuesday, January 7 View Page Ok. On to my MOMATES. The Delicious variety !! This was one that had a nice Megabloom. The 4.38.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page A beauty.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page And a PB for me last year. Another Mega Momate. She looks like a big twisted pretzel I like the shape.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page I think a good goal each year is a PB. The 5.53 was good enough for me.   Tuesday, January 7 View Page I will post info in the tomato section if someone may want to plant these. Seeds available. I am thinking there is some potential out there. Another look at the 5.53 MegaMomate   Tuesday, January 7 View Page Val and I doing some normal winter things to pass the time. It’s not so bad. Let’s just hope old man winter doesn’t hang around to long this year.   Wednesday, January 8 View Page I forgot to add a pic of my 4.79 sandercock for any tomato heads that may want seeds. It would be a big zac variety grown from the 4.05 borgers. It had a great shape. I put the plant in very late and terminated the growth early. It seemed like all of my plants I put in late last year threw nice megas. There may be something to that.   Wednesday, January 8 View Page Ok enough of the maters. Karl told me I posted to many tomato pics last year. I haven’t given up on pumpkins and hoping 2020 is a BreakOut year.   Thursday, January 30 View Page Growers must be getting some cabin fever !! I have already been getting some smack from some B grower’s in the tomato challenge arena. If it wasn’t for Wilson this and if it wasn’t for Wilson that. Well let me tell ya. Team Slammer will be ready to take on all the poop you can dish up and prove it was no fluke last year. Let’s do this.   Friday, March 6 View Page Old man winter is getting ready to pack his bags around here. Val and I finished up our ice fishing season. MAggie has put on some winter weight and will be ready for patch patrol this year. My they grow fast.   Friday, March 6 View Page A nice bass and we are done.   Friday, March 6 View Page I had the good fortune of seeing our President last night at the Town Hall in Scranton. I was able to get him a gift and he loved it !! Melania is gonna hang it in the East wing and there is a good chance some Domingo’s and MOMATES will be grown in the Presidential garden this year. What an honor.   Friday, March 20 View Page COVID 19 hasn’t changed our area to much. I pretty much found everything I was looking for.   Saturday, April 4 View Page Someday.....   Tuesday, April 14 View Page I had cabin fever and decided to plant some seeds on a new grow mat I picked up. It is good just to get in some sort of gardening mode. I’m not sure where I will be putting some of these but I will find space. Plenty of Val’s beefsteaks are up and in need of a bigger cup. I threw in a 420 squash and 1000 pumpkin of mine which both came up in 4 days. It was a good test run.   Tuesday, April 14 View Page With the Pennsylvania fish commission being concerned with this Saturday’s opening of trout season and people being bunched together for the traditional 8 am start, they pulled a nice surprise move. They made a secret unannounced opening day change last Tuesday. They posted on their website and it didn’t take long for word to leak out but it worked like a charm. Fishermen were not shoulder to shoulder like normal seasons. Come on Val let’s go for it !! I caught a beautiful Golden Trout. They started crossing a Palomino trout with a Rainbow trout a few years back and the Golden trout are beautiful.   Tuesday, April 14 View Page A full stringer, a golden trout and a few hours of not thinking about Covid -19. Priceless!   Sunday, April 26 View Page This Covid scare is getting a little old. I have been in germination mode and have way to many seeds started. I was going thru my bags and found some nice older ones and put them in dirt for the hell of it. I will be starting seeds for my fellow Honesdale growers Tom and Andy and will have plenty of good backups in case of any disasters. My chamber is filled up. I finally got some of the Red Peter Peppers to pop for my challenge with Captain Chop.   Sunday, April 26 View Page It’s a good feeling when the chosen ones that you would like to plant break soil !!!!   Sunday, April 26 View Page I have been at this for a long time!! After so many years you would think I would have a bigger PB. Oh well I usually squeeze to many in. Need a deeper til and could use a tractor but get the most out of what I have. I was looking at some old pics. Pretty sure these were from 2003 and one of the first time Andy and I met the New York growers in Elmira. I know Andy Wolf was there as well.   Sunday, April 26 View Page I won the Howard Dill. I’m not sure if it was even called that then. My 218 seed grew nice Orange ones and believe I won 5 HD’s over the years with it.   Sunday, April 26 View Page My other best orange seed was my 689.5. Grown from the 869.5 Calai. She was a beauty !! Several growers gave that one some attention. North Shore Glenn had some real good luck and Pumpkinpal Eric had it in his lineup for years.   Sunday, April 26 View Page I wish I could get one of those to germinate again but I have tried several times recently with no luck. Here is my daughter Lauren with our beauty back in 2003.   Sunday, April 26 View Page Let’s see if I can get a new PB this year. I cut a few trees to add a little more sun light. Managed to only add one nice load of composted manure. I could have used more but didn’t get it in time. I did get the good fortune of running into a local who brought his tractor over for an initial til. My 2 titanium hips thanked him.   Sunday, April 26 View Page It’s looking good to me. Just have to keep those whistle pigs out this year. Hoping our new Shepard Maggie Mae can help. We will have to teach her some proper patch etiquette i am sure. She is an excitable one.   Thursday, April 30 View Page I saw Wixoms post showing some of his old pics from 1997. It inspired me to look at some old photos. Maybe we can start a new ThrowBack Thursday and dust off some old photos to help pass the time away. How about it?? Send in your ThrowBack Thursday pics. Here is my PA growing buddy Andy back in 2004. Loading a pumpkin with my 1987 Toyota. It worked like a charm.   Thursday, April 30 View Page I miss that Toyota   Thursday, May 7 View Page Throw Back Thursday Pics. Here is Andy Dyberry Patch Box at our visit to the Altoona weigh off in 2002. His 563 pound squash missed the state mark by 4 pounds. Nice stash Drew.   Thursday, May 7 View Page Here is my now 24 year old daughter Lauren with the 2002 PGPGA winner. Tony Ciliberto’s 1097 pound beauty. A thousand pound pumpkin was the benchmark then for a huge pumpkin. Lol. It’s still my benchmark.   Saturday, May 9 View Page Good god snow in May. What gives. I’ve been busy trying to clean up the undergrowth around my patch this year in hopes of keeping the ground hogs away. Or at least giving me a clear shot at them. I found one den and stuck my go Pro camera down to see if it may be active. Wow. These critters are really adapting and may pose a challenge this year.   Thursday, May 14 View Page My ThrowBack Thursday pic. Larry Checkon brought the World Record back to Pennsylvania at the 2005 weighoff in Altoona.   Thursday, May 14 View Page The toughest part of being a pet owner is when it’s time to say goodbye. We lost our original patch dog Geordie. He had a good run at 14 years old. Here he is in 2007 with our 992 pound pumpkin.   Thursday, May 14 View Page He had a knack for telling if my squash thumped heavy   Thursday, May 14 View Page He had been blind for the last few years, so I know he is in a better place. Run like the wind Geordie !! You will be missed.   Saturday, May 16 View Page It looks like my plants survived the cold snap. No fancy heating cables for me but a spot light and plastic shelters at least has them stable. Now we need Mother Nature to warm the soil up for good.   Saturday, May 16 View Page Ahhh another welcomed sign of spring.   Saturday, May 16 View Page Another welcoming sign. Maters starting to emerge. First up were the MOMATES. How about that. Come on Domingo’s wake up   Saturday, May 16 View Page Our state has a red, yellow, green target for the Covid 19 situation. Red Stay at home. Yellow loosens up for small businesses but not bars or restaurants and green good to go. Our county will be moving from red to yellow next Friday. It has been a long haul with many small businesses hurting. Fourth of July fireworks cancelled already and our 150 year old wayne county fair in question. Sad. We are mandated to wear masks when going out. Maggie complains but is getting used to it.   Thursday, May 21 View Page I’m discovering another issue with this tomato germination. Some of the seeds don’t want to shake their seed coats. It’s easy to slide of a pumpkin seed but what do u do with these. I’m spraying to keep moist and hoping they push off as they grow.   Thursday, May 21 View Page Chop gives his a bath before he plants. Maybe that softens them up so you don’t have a problem. Jeeeeh it’s always something.   Thursday, May 21 View Page Throw back Thursday pic. In 2006 high waters flooded my pal Dyberry Andys patch. What a mess and wiped out all of the hard work.   Thursday, May 21 View Page He had some seeds from the year before from a Cinderella pumpkin we crossed with a big boy. The pumpkin offspring were beautiful. And we found out they floated , the hard way.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page I wouldn’t say I’m “Crushing It” this year but for me I’m happy where I’m at. To have something vining out in May is good for me !!   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Summer is on its way when my porch is the staging area for my young seedlings. I have a mixture here including some Red Peter Peppers which Chop and I have our own challenge going on.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page The Covid situation is still here and there are some noticeable changes to the norm.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Our bars are getting set to open with a few restrictions. I guess I will be allowed to enter !!   Thursday, May 28 View Page My throwback Thursday pic. In 2014 Dyberry Andy had some nice pumpkins growing and we had some legendary New York growers stop by his patch for a cookout and a look see. It was a thrill for us. The weighoff that year was in Bethel the site of the Woodstock festival. Here is a pic of Andys eventual 1503 off of the 1317 Clements. Posing are Andy Wolf, King Karl, Myself, Bill Bobier and Dyberry Andy and my patch dog Geordie. What fun !   Thursday, May 28 View Page There were truck loads of pumpkins.   Thursday, May 28 View Page Bill Bobier shared his technique to test if pollen was ripe ! Thanks Bill   Thursday, June 4 View Page Summer weather is here !!! Pumpkins are looking good and I have a lot of work to get caught up on. The intermittent rains and heat waves have everything growing. The weeds and lawn are growing the best. I found some compost that I could not say no to. I will put it to use.   Thursday, June 4 View Page Andy and I cut a few 16 ft locust posts a few years ago. They were never used for the intended project so I am throwing together some sort of redneck long gourd trellis. I hope the final model will work. My plants are ready to go in the ground so I better hurry.   Thursday, June 4 View Page My first batch of tomato seeds didn’t go so well. I think I cooked and drowned them. Rounds two and three were more successful. Now I have way to many. Captain Chop reminded me its better to plant a few and give them the Royal treatment. Hell, I’m gonna give a bunch of them the Royal treatment.   Thursday, June 4 View Page Oh yeah! This stuff will be used. Go Team Slammer !   Thursday, June 4 View Page Throw Back. We used to love the NewYork Weigh off in Cooperstown. Baseball and Pumpkins were two of our favorite things. The 2 day event there concluded with the Regatta on Sunday. They raffled off the pumpkins to the local businesses who decorated the pumpkins. They paddled the first heat and then the growers got their chance in heat two. This pic was 2008 and my son Alex then 13 was determined to give it a try. What fun !   Thursday, June 11 View Page I will throw in a throwback pic. It may be running it’s course but this was our first shot at growing a giant pumpkin and our first weighoff. Altoona and the PGPGA in 2001. That’s me and the twins on the left with our 5th place finish and our 797. In the center is Tony Ciliberto the winner and next to him on the right is Len Knause’s soon to become famous 898 pound pumpkin. That pumpkin has a history of growing rock solid heavy pumpkins.   Thursday, June 11 View Page It’s a nice time of year.   Thursday, June 11 View Page Our hanging basket has some residents.   Thursday, June 11 View Page The weather has been warm and muggy here in NE. PA. The pumpkins are starting to outgrow their small houses. I’m hoping to get the first round of Tomatoes in this weekend.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Summer weather is here. I’ve been working my arms off in the patch. Great exercise.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Let’s Do This. I have lots of extra maters so We can’t let Marv and Chop run away with this That bucket reminded me of a big Litter pail so in goes my 4.58 Big Cat Megadom with another Domingo or two to boot. Game on boys.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page Trying to do something different and better than I did last year. That’s probably a good rule every year. For the maters I concentrated on better planting holes   Wednesday, June 17 View Page I am throwing the kitchen sink in there too. I saw some guys post where this stuff worked for him. I’m no dummy. Monkey see Monkey do !   Wednesday, June 17 View Page I have a few in. Team slammer is in the game. The Captain says just let them dry out now. Ok. I can do that. I will be improving the mounds and better fence but for now they are ok.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page I don’t want to make Karl sick with to many tomato pics so on a good note I’m happy with my pumpkins too. The 2005 Haist is starting to ramp up.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page And the 1885 Werner has a female on its tip. It’s been a few years since we had a a June germination. Maybe this is the year !!!   Wednesday, June 17 View Page And last but not least my redneck locust post tri pod gourd trellis is ready for action. Hell if I get a world record doing and I need more height I can walk it up to give me more room. A couple of my 82 inch gourds are ready to take off.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page   Monday, June 22 View Page It looks like everyone’s plants are taking off with this warm weather pattern. The 2005 Haist.   Monday, June 22 View Page The 1885 werner. Both plants have females emerging on the main. I will have to see if the plants are big enough or wait for the next lady to arrive at the dance.   Monday, June 22 View Page The dog days of summer are here! Maggie taking a break from the hot and humid temps.   Monday, June 22 View Page The giant maters seem to love the heat. They are greening up and looking good.   Monday, June 29 View Page Two days with rain in northeastern PA. The plants loved it. I made my first batch of. Compost Tea and fed the babies in between showers. Good morning Mr Haist.   Monday, June 29 View Page Good morning Mr. Werner. I did get some rare June pollinations but may opt for another try for the next ladies in a few days to take advantage of the bigger plants.   Monday, June 29 View Page The new improved Gourd trellis has some company starting to stretch up.   Monday, June 29 View Page The maters are starting to grow.   Monday, June 29 View Page Val and I are babysitting a neighbors lemon tree. The bees are doing their business this morning.   Thursday, July 9 View Page It’s hot out there and another battle with Mother Nature. I have another woodchuck in the patch. Gonna go Caddyshack on this one and see if I can smoke him out. That’s quite a bomb I found at the local hardware store.   Thursday, July 9 View Page The plants are looking good but I have lost a few young sets on the main vine to the hot temps I believe. Val has been working overtime this year. We definitely are a co/grower duo this year.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Smile val. I promise I won’t post this on BP   Thursday, July 9 View Page Long gourds continue to stretch out.   Thursday, July 9 View Page The star so far is our 1885 Werner. I hated to pull some secondary’s near the pumpkin but when the others aborted it was a go with our earliest pollination. She is crossed with the 2261 Schmitt.   Thursday, July 9 View Page And good morning Mrs Megadom. Things are ramping up in the mater patch.   Friday, July 10 View Page I saw where someone had said their 2261 Schmitt was looking green. I have one of those growing as well. The young females do have a light green stripe on them. I am pretty confident it will grow out and have a nice shade of orange once the fat lady signs.   Friday, July 10 View Page We are expecting tropical rains here in northeast Pennsylvania. I tilled around the tomatoes to loosen the soil up in hopes it will soak in better.   Friday, July 10 View Page Well Helloooo Mrs Domingo !! This storm won’t help these young blossoms but Captain Chop says these young ones are crap anyway. We will wait. Maybe.... lol   Friday, July 10 View Page I’m in on the bucket challenge. Nothing blossoming yet , but they are on their way.   Saturday, July 11 View Page Three inches of much needed rain here in PA. Wow everything survived and thrived. These tap roots came out of nowhere.   Saturday, July 11 View Page The roots on the crown of the 2005 are digging in and sucking up. I wonder if I should put some soil on there or let it be and keep it dry. Hmmmm what would Karl do?   Saturday, July 11 View Page It’s tropical down in the patch.   Saturday, July 11 View Page The 1885 almost had the chair stuck on it with the growth last nite. Looks like this one will be the special one in our patch this year.   Monday, July 20 View Page The heat wave has hit Honesdale as well as most of the country. As long as I can keep up with the watering it has things rolling. The 1885 is changing shape and putting on weight.   Monday, July 20 View Page I am having a hard time getting one to set on the 2261 Schmitt. The heat has been to much I guess. While I am culling lots of nice ones on the Werner.   Monday, July 20 View Page The tomatoes are looking good!   Monday, July 20 View Page With some nice megas but I am wondering if the pollinations will be affected as well with the high temps.   Monday, July 20 View Page We celebrated a special birthday. Maggie Mae turned one !   Monday, July 20 View Page What a difference a year makes. This is the Saratoga weighoff last year.   Monday, July 20 View Page I don’t think she will fit in the big chair anymore. Happy Birthday Maggie !   Monday, July 20 View Page Dyberry Andy is away on vacation ...again! So friends help friends pollinate their pumpkins. Andy had a rough time with critters wrecking his patch and he built a corral around it. But the plants are way behind but hopefully will salvage something. If not we can hold a bull riding event in the enclosure.   Monday, July 20 View Page The garden is almost full, the long gourd has reached the top. It’s a great time of year and soon can rest a bit and watch things grow and enjoy all of our efforts.   Saturday, July 25 View Page What a heat wave we are riding this year. The 2261 Schmitt plant just wasn’t doing it for us. Nothing would stay set and abort around volleyball size. Val made the suggestion to pull it out and we did. The plan is to let the main and and a few secondaries from the 1885 werner plant fill in the area.   Saturday, July 25 View Page I climbed the latter and pollinated some well positioned long gourds this morning. I hope they take as they are in a perfect position.   Saturday, July 25 View Page I don’t think I have put a pic of the HD contender in our patch this year. I was fortunate enough to get a 1297 Young from the grower. Thank you John ! I know he is getting low on those seeds so I had to squeeze it in it’s in the beginning of our patch and only in an area of about 200 sq ft. What a beauty !! It looks like it will be a bright orange pumpkin with a great shape.   Saturday, July 25 View Page I know lots of tomato growers are having trouble with the pollinations on mega blooms with the heat so far. I haven’t seen megas on al of my plants, BUT I do see a few.   Saturday, July 25 View Page This one looks like a nice Caterpillar shape. These aren’t captain Chops favorite but I think I will ride this one out for team Slammer.   Saturday, July 25 View Page I have 3 in buckets for the challenge. It looks like I have one set on the little known 6.11 Fup seed. I believe it’s a Domingo variety.   Saturday, July 25 View Page The 2005 plant is being stubborn for us. It is the biggest plant we have and not putting on the numbers it should be. A tissue test revealed a nitrogen deficiency It’s a little late to be messing with that stuff but will try and tweak a little bit. The pumpkin now is quite short and looks like a sag line is forming.   Saturday, July 25 View Page The star of the patch remains the 1885 werner. I know there are plenty of other growers posting bigger numbers but our plant isn’t as big as I thought and to hit 400 pounds in July is big by standards for our patch. We are happy !!!   Friday, July 31 View Page Tomorrow is measuring day but I can see the growth has continued on our 1885 werner. She isn’t the looker I was hoping for but who really cares. She is gonna be unique with a flat top. Hell maybe I will get Val to do the Cindy surfing pose when it’s time. Looks like the butt is folding over as well.   Friday, July 31 View Page I did a good check on the stem side and all looks good.   Friday, July 31 View Page The main isn’t very thick going into the stem and the kink is not what I wanted. I hadn’t planned on going with this selection so the S turn wasn’t perfected. I may have a little stress issue but will figure something out. Slid another piece of fabric in front after the pic to keep the dirt off of it.   Friday, July 31 View Page My gourd pollination was a success. There are a few hangers up there.   Friday, July 31 View Page I love the mornings with a cup of coffee and a tour to check the growth. My patch cat partner Texas follows me around and has for the last 14 years.   Friday, July 31 View Page Tomatoes are starting to reach the chest high happy zone that Chop recommends. I have a few first truss ones that I will let roll. I like a couple on my 3.77 from last year. The Lambchop was it’s momma   Friday, July 31 View Page This 3.77 is looking special. It doesn’t have the 5 or 6 blooms that Mega Marv is whining about. Ahhh he doesn’t read diaries anyway he says. I think some of those mega ones lead to trouble. I am betting I can get a big one with this shape.   Friday, July 31 View Page Ok I better do some weeding and put some soil on those roots. Ehhhh not just at the moment.   Monday, August 10 View Page The garden survived the 5 plus inches of rain dumped from the last storm. The roots of the tomato plants took the biggest hits. I have a few in slings and a few promising young maters developing.   Monday, August 10 View Page Here is one of my more promising ones.   Monday, August 10 View Page The long gourds are doing battle   Monday, August 10 View Page Anhhh something hanging for the Red Peter Pepper contest.   Monday, August 10 View Page Don’t know what to say about this one!   Monday, August 10 View Page The good news was the 1885 werner liked the monsoon. Thanks to a suggestion from andy wolf I was able to pull her back a few inches to relieve the kink in the stem and avoid serious vine stress. With the help of friends andy and tom we placed our lifting straps low on the pumpkin, angled a pry bar in the soil and while tom and I pulled and andy pushed we slid it just enough.   Monday, August 10 View Page Alex and Averi came for a visit and we had to take a big pumpkin picture. I know how to make them look big.   Monday, August 10 View Page It’s all about the camera angle.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Val and I did our annual fishing trip to Lake Ontario and decided to take the north route passing by the Chop family to do a garden tour. Wow. Things blooming everywhere. What a magical place!! Thank you guys for the hospitality. And good luck Chop with “bAby Wilson “. I was. Gonna send my pics to Eddy but funny thing someone deleted all of them.... hmmm. Hey wait a second. Chop had my camera. It shouldn’t be long now before the cat is out of the bag.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page The Salmon were not biting for us but we did catch the Lake Ontario Ness Monster. What a hog !!! So much fun.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page A good time was had by all !   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Hell yeah !!! Brown trout matter !   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Double fisted. Atta girl !   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Came home to check out the patch and the good news one our 1885 continued some decent growth! We should be headed for a PB if all continues. The bad news was after seeing chops lush wonderland my patch looked a bit dried out and aged. My plants need to green up so I gave them a little Epsom drink. I also found a couple flashing and one of my Domingo’s was oozing. I think the heat all summer may have taken its toll. They should not be flashing yet. Ufggg.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Poor girl. It was not her time and not very slammerlike. Embarrassing.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Our pumpkin is putting on the pounds but am wondering if she will be all dressed up and nowhere to go. What a crazy year !   Friday, August 28 View Page The patch is starting to show its age but the sunflowers had a nice showing this year. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to plant them around my long gourds but it makes for a nice photo. I think they were all competing for the nutrients.   Friday, August 28 View Page Nice mammoths   Friday, August 28 View Page I’m not sure if the name of this one.   Friday, August 28 View Page Our pumpkin on the 1297 young is a brilliant deep orange.   Friday, August 28 View Page The good news is our 1885 werner continues to grow. She is a wide load and north of four digits now. A PB in sight if she continues.   Friday, August 28 View Page I put a lot more effort into the tomatoes this year but my early results are looking like the heat and lack of rain has taken its toll. Some of my early leading candidates are flashing early and I decided to pick a couple of them. First was on the 6.23 C Kon.   Friday, August 28 View Page Top Pretty dry around the stem.   Friday, August 28 View Page The bottom was good   Friday, August 28 View Page Her waistline. Ehhhh not what I was hoping.   Friday, August 28 View Page On to the scale and pretty close to the Marv chart. Not very slammerlike but gotta start somewhere. My first entry. 3.56   Friday, August 28 View Page Let’s pull this one.   Friday, August 28 View Page From my 3.77 Domingo granddaughter of the famous 5.71 lambchop   Friday, August 28 View Page Bottom good   Friday, August 28 View Page Ehhhh to chart again. Bigger than its momma but at this snails pace will take quite a few years to get that world record. Entry two though. Only one direction to go from here. 3.78   Friday, August 28 View Page These 3 pound tomatoes do look big and you have to really appreciate those 6, 7,8 and 9 pound monsters. I am sorry slammer teammates. I do have some later sets showing some promise so I am hoping the heat wave is over and I can get some longer growth rates with them.   Friday, August 28 View Page Had the wrong tape pic on the 3.56 they were mixed up. This is the right pic.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page I’m getting good at 3 pound tomatoes !   Tuesday, September 8 View Page A nice one on the 5.71 Lambchop. But no help to the team.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page And sorry Wilson. The same story   Tuesday, September 8 View Page One tiny bump for the team here. Not very good with the big numbers out there. I’m gonna have to hope for a Hail Mary with my later maters. This was a big single girl on the Big Wixom !!   Tuesday, September 8 View Page A small bump 3.42   Tuesday, September 8 View Page No bottom issues with the single girls.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page The pumpkin leaves are showing their age but on we go ! Hey Chop and Amelia. We have an orange one too.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page And Val and I are happy that a PB is in sight. ! Hang in there girl. It shouldn’t be much longer.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page We had area temps in the high 30’s last night. My morning inspection found my better tomatoes flashing pretty good so I decided to cut them and get a weight. The first was one of my 3.77 Domingo’s. Her belt size was 22.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Her bottom was sound.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page And her weight. Ehhh join the 3 plus pound tomato club for me. She has lots of company. It is a bump for the defending champs.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page A bump is a bump   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Next was one on the Big Wixom. Thanks for the seed !!!   Tuesday, September 15 View Page She had a bigger waist.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page A sound bottom   Tuesday, September 15 View Page And a better weight for me. It has been a bit of a let down but will take this one. I waited to long to cull the fruit on this plant. I will be planting this one next year for sure.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page 4.37   Tuesday, September 15 View Page The other tomatoes were watching on. Looked like this eater was giving birth. To a baby .....   Tuesday, September 15 View Page K val. We need one tomato pic of our best so far.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Not bad. Not Jack like but it’s still a good mater.   Friday, September 18 View Page Winding down now Hang in their Ms Werner.   Friday, September 18 View Page My Great Nephew Benny stopped by for a photo shoot. I have plenty of miniature pumpkin models to choose from these days. I told him it may be a PB for me and Val. He was not impressed.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Time to catch up the diary. We picked our pumpkins and headed to Ridgefield. With a Sunday weighoff it was nice to have friends around for a Saturday afternoon picking party.   Thursday, October 1 View Page It was a perfect day. Our 1885 made it safe and sound to the trailer.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Always a trying time while they are swinging on the tractor   Thursday, October 1 View Page Our local tv. WNEP 16 has a thing if you send in a pic with Food Fall and Fork theme they may use it on their morning weather segment. They like the crazier the better. Here was our submission.   Thursday, October 1 View Page We made it to the big screen. lol   Thursday, October 1 View Page Ridgefield was great and well organized under the circumstances. Thank you Steve and crew for all of your hard work. Come on Val will we get a PB ??? Boom. 1220.5. A Pb for us, which is always a nice goal. The 1885 weighed light. Most likely to the pancake shape and flat top but we could not be happier.   Thursday, October 1 View Page We got to chat with Steve Sperry and Joe Jutras as we strapped down our fruit getting ready to weigh. They are both great guys and growers and always a pleasure to chat pumpkins with. They both had huge pumpkins grown on the same seed. The 2517 Haist. They looked similar. Here is Steve’s.   Thursday, October 1 View Page And here is Joe’s monster.   Thursday, October 1 View Page They finished first and second ! Well done guys ! Joe has a new site record. 1954.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Back home it was time to see what Andy ended up with to try and find something for sale. His patch surely rebounded after fixing to fence to keep the animals out. Many were late sets but at least he ended up with pumpkins. Never give up folks.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Out they go   Thursday, October 1 View Page We ended up with an impressive load for our trip to Fort Lee.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Get ur mug in the pic Drew   Thursday, October 1 View Page My turn   Thursday, October 1 View Page One last check of the trailer with Lake Wallenpaupack in the background and we are on our way.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Let’s go drew, full steam ahead.   Thursday, October 1 View Page We made it and now are efforts are resting in NJ garden centers. They look awesome!   Thursday, October 1 View Page Things are winding down in the old mater patch. One good frost has hit and took its toll. I tried to save my remaining few maters with homemade Hefty hot houses. Lol.   Thursday, October 1 View Page Forgot to cover this one. Yikes better pic and weigh.   Thursday, October 1 View Page This was a Domingo from the 6.11 Fup. It had a a nice shape. To bad it got frosted. It was a huge late season mega.   Thursday, October 1 View Page I think Mr Fup would be happy with the shape. God rest his soul.   Thursday, October 1 View Page On to the scale. Not bad. Crap. Would have liked 4. Oh well   Thursday, October 1 View Page I think I will plant it next year in honor.   Thursday, October 1 View Page A few green maters left. Will have to see if I can sneak one more to help our team. It’s getting very late but won’t give up til the fat lady sings.   Monday, October 12 View Page It’s a sad time of year for us pumpkin growers. I’m down to two tomatoes still hanging in their beat up looking plants. It’s hard to say good bye garden for another growing season !!   Saturday, October 24 View Page Garden is shot with a heavy frost and the last late season tomatoes were picked. With the heat wave this summer messing with blossoms and growth rates the cooler temps decided to throw some late mega blossoms. While Marv was sulking and pulling his plants down I decided to let a few of the chest high blossoms grow out.   Saturday, October 24 View Page This beauty on the 5.29 Porkchop was on September 1   Saturday, October 24 View Page The caterpillar continued a good growth rate as we had the warmest September on record in our area. The mater started to bend around into a nice shape.   Saturday, October 24 View Page At this point the plant was falling over. The patch was wide open to critters and the once chest high tomato was 6 inches from the ground it’s now or never if I want to get a weight.   Saturday, October 24 View Page It was still green with a lot of growth left but this season had come to an end so let’s pick it ! Wowser. What a doughnut !! I love it.   Saturday, October 24 View Page I know it’s hollow in the middle. It’s a wheel but a nice sized wheel   Saturday, October 24 View Page A very Shapley lady.   Saturday, October 24 View Page On to the scale she goes. I’m pleased with that one. It’s a good reminder to not give up. I had a 3 pound tomato on that plant early on. I’m glad I let the late season mega grow out.   Saturday, October 24 View Page A stop to the grocery store to check on my scale. Not bad !   Saturday, October 24 View Page Val and I were lucky to sell a couple pumpkins so we kept one to play with. Now we are not much on carving but oh well we had fun doing it. This was our 606 est.   Saturday, October 24 View Page Wow. Thick walls on this one. It was on the 2005 Haist which we selfed. This may be worthy of a grow next year for us.   Saturday, October 24 View Page Go Val Go!!   Saturday, October 24 View Page Ok ok we won’t win any decorating awards !! We had to use the chainsaw to cut this thick momma.   Saturday, October 24 View Page My other late tomato was one of mine from last year on a BigZac. It had a nice shape.   Saturday, October 24 View Page Ok Karl. I’m done for the year talking about tomatoes. If there was a contest for the most 3 pound tomatoes I would be in the running. Team Slammer will be back another year !   Wednesday, December 16 View Page Hang on to your hats Northeast. 18” to 24” on the way here. Headed your way Chop!   Wednesday, December 16 View Page Val is on top of the decorating and tomorrow will be a good day to do the tree.   Wednesday, December 16 View Page Bring it on old man winter !! Maggie is ready! Happy holidays everybody. Stay safe.   Thursday, December 24 View Page Merry Christmas pumpkin world. Wishing everyone a very happy New Year from the Sandercock’s. Ned, Val and Maggie Mae.