Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 255 Entries. Thursday, January 21 View Page Variable heat, perfect control of heat, just add some grow lights and its complete. Think the hospital would miss it?   Sunday, February 21 View Page Story time. About a month ago I went out to the acreage and found this. Thieves broke into the house stole guns and anything of value. They then went through all my pumpkin sheds, stealing anything of value, heaters, tools and who knows what. They went through the shops and stole and destroyed anything I had that was any good. They left the door open on the pump house, froze that up. The RCMP showed up and told me that they rarely come back.   Sunday, February 21 View Page A week later the thieves returned to take my trailer. They also tried to take my skid steer. I was alerted to their presence at 10:30 AM but was too late. My call to the police probably alerted them on the police scanner that they no doubt had. These guys are hitting many many acreages. They know how long it takes police and only spend that much time. Our economy has been decimated and thieves seem to have the run of the place. There are many companies that have laid off more than 50% of their guys. Things are only going to get worse. Thanks to no help getting pipelines built our oil sells for about $13 -$15 less than WTI. This is an expensive place to live and people are going to get desperate. A week after the second break in, my friend Brian, who was also my brother in-law, passed away from a sudden heart attack. It put things in perspective. Then the next week my Dad passed away after a few weeks in the hospital. You cant replace good people. Tears don't seem to help. On top of that , some nice Russians wanted me to pay them to decrypt my files that their virus cleverly encrypted. Luckily I back up stuff but still... Oh theres more stuff thats gone wrong... What a month. I really don't know if I'm going to be able to grow this year or not. I am going to try but theres no guarantee. I have a mess to clean up, and a bunch of equipment and tools to replace. And a fight to the death with insurance companies. If I do have to take a year off I promise to come back stronger than ever.   Saturday, March 5 View Page Never give up. I'll give it a try this year, pumpkins might not get full attention though. Here is the north patch. Time to melt snow.   Saturday, March 5 View Page Watermelon patch. Not very much snow this year.   Saturday, March 5 View Page This is the patch by the shop. I'm only growing 2 Ag's this year. I had big plans for changing the greenhouse system. Not sure if I have the cash it's going to require. By the time I'm done replacing everything the thieves stole or destroyed I might be tapped out.   Tuesday, March 15 View Page Making progress. If I can dry it out I'll be able to add the micronutrients that I'm missing.   Wednesday, March 16 View Page Winter returns. Eventually the sun will win. Someone tell me why anyone here should be against climate warming. I'm looking forward to it. Lol.   Sunday, March 20 View Page Sunny today. So this is technical spring. Hmmm   Sunday, March 20 View Page It might be spring inside the south shack, the snow is melting fast. 1 month to go.   Monday, March 21 View Page Look what I found this Morning! My stolen trailer abandoned in town. It's just been sitting there since the day it was stolen. It was sitting in an area under construction with other trailers all around. It looked like just another piece of furniture, drawing no attention. If the economy hadn't tanked, probably would have been noticed immediately. Cops came checked the serial no and said I could take it. It's been a good Monday.   Monday, March 21 View Page This day keeps getting better! The mailman didn't put the delivery notice on the door but didn't. my Motherinlaw found it in different location when she came over. Sat there for a few days The wait was worth it... A package from Eddy! Mail from Eddy is always good! Thanks Eddy!   Tuesday, March 22 View Page And more snow.   Saturday, March 26 View Page This is looking better! Maybe next weekend I can get the heat cables in.   Thursday, March 31 View Page One week makes a big difference.   Thursday, March 31 View Page It's going to take a little while longer at the north end of the yard.   Friday, April 1 View Page Its time to get a test batch going. I'll use a few of my own seeds to validate my temp settings. I have to whittle this bunch down to a couple of starters. Watermelons should have been started but I'm a little behind because of the crappy start to the year. Weather isn't cooperating either. Patches are still wet.   Friday, April 1 View Page Into the cooler that is a warmer.   Saturday, April 2 View Page Holy crap! It was +18° C today. Added my missing nutrients today. Maybe tomorrow I'll be moving on... to heat cable installation.   Saturday, April 2 View Page My wife found this burglary tool laying by the house step. Someone is missing this no doubt. Once the snow melted we found some other tools I didn't know were missing. The thieves dropped a hacksaw and my pliers in the snow where my trailer was.   Sunday, April 3 View Page This is a good sign. One of the very few seeds I got out of my 1213 from a few years ago. Maybe I'll grow it. I better get a patch ready.   Sunday, April 3 View Page I know what causes the peat to lift! You can just see the life of you look close. Watermelon!   Monday, April 4 View Page Let's dig a hole for the heat cables. This really easy.   Monday, April 4 View Page Now lay out the cables. If its chilly out, plug the cable in to make it more pliable.   Monday, April 4 View Page It's up! All but one seed are pushing up dirt. Now I'll stick it in a pot.   Monday, April 4 View Page My 1213 '13 is coming up. If you plant the seed laying flat on it's side, it usually comes up without the seed coat. I never file, sand or soak. If it won't grow the way nature intended it won't make it in my patch. Watermelons always need a midwife to give a little help removing the seed coat. One day I'll figure how to sprout those. Oh, my 224 Glasgow melon sprouted as well. That's the one that is intended for the patch.   Tuesday, April 5 View Page Yay!   Friday, April 8 View Page 1213 is almost ready. It's not visible but the roots are wrapping the bottom of the pot. They say that peppers take a long time to germ but mine only take a week or so. They get a nice warm chamber though. I lifted the lights for the pic. They are much closer when in grow mode.   Friday, April 8 View Page Look at the tracks the bad guys truck left. It's as if it was spawn of hell.   Saturday, April 9 View Page This looks hopeful. The 2185 is coming up with the seed though.   Sunday, April 10 View Page 2185 looks good. The others are backups. Unfortunately I often need the backups.   Sunday, April 10 View Page There is still some snow in the bush and shady spots. This is all that is left in the patches.   Sunday, April 10 View Page This is where we begin. Soil is a little too warm. Heat cables are working well.   Thursday, April 14 View Page 1213 Crews is doing fine.   Thursday, April 14 View Page Transplanted the 2185 Brandt into the south patch. Had to kill lots of weeds first. Thats a good thing. I added a plastic ring after this photo was taken. Lost a good plant to a cutworm once. Once.   Sunday, April 17 View Page 1213 Crews is very aggressive. The one I have in the house as a backup is as well.   Sunday, April 17 View Page 2185 Brandt is ok. I might not have conditions quite right in this spot, judging from the look of that first leaf.   Sunday, April 17 View Page Transplanted the 224 Glasgow today. Lost some of the roots in the transplant. I'm blaming faulty potting soil. Lol. Never the less, it should be ok, just a little slower getting going than it could be.   Sunday, April 24 View Page 1213 Crews   Sunday, April 24 View Page 224 Glasgow as expected, a little delayed.   Sunday, April 24 View Page 2185 Brandt   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Well, it works. Air coming out the other end of the tubes is 15°F cooler. Not bad considering it isn't 60° F outside right now. That should warm up my soil once the greenhouse is up. I only have a fan on one side in this pic. I have a bigger furnace fan for the other side. There is a low rumble sound resembling a train that comes with it though....   Wednesday, April 27 View Page 1213 Crews has flopped over.   Saturday, April 30 View Page My watermelon isn't looking to well out in the patch. I still have my backup that may have to go in in relief.   Saturday, April 30 View Page I started these as backups. Might stick them in somewhere but they will be on their own against nature. That is unless I have the time, and I might have, considering the state of our economy.   Sunday, May 1 View Page 2185 Brandt has flopped over. I have dry soil and temps are to be as high as 30° C later this week so I decided to water.   Sunday, May 1 View Page I transplanted a backup 179 crews watermelon beside the 224. I'll keep the 224 if it shapes up. The problem was dry soil. I was surprised how little moisture was in the soil when I made the transplant. Combine that with the root pruning during transplant and it never had a chance during the warm days we had. I think its chances are good now that it has some water.   Sunday, May 1 View Page 1213 Crews looking ok here, got a little fried after. Hope its ok. It might be a hot summer.   Thursday, May 5 View Page 1213 Crews is looking a lot better. It was much cooler today and the plant looks much better because of that.   Thursday, May 5 View Page 2185 Brandt was going double vine but split out of it after some water and heat. The last few hot days were hard on plants too. I don't have to worry about heat this time of year usually. I bet we hit 40°C sometime this summer. It was like that the last time we had a warm May.   Monday, May 9 View Page 1213 Crews. I have almost run out of room. This is going to create some issues for me soon. Maybe it'll be cloudy and cool for a few days...   Monday, May 9 View Page 2185 Brandt is starting to move.   Monday, May 9 View Page The 224 and 179. I know what I should do but it's not what I want to do...   Monday, May 9 View Page Prepared the field pumpkin patch with a tiller with a bearing about to go "balls out". Just a little nervous but my luck didn't run out. Its a little shaded after 6:00 pm but that will change to 7:00 in about a month. It will still get 12 hours of direct sun and about 5 shaded.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Moved the shack as much possible. Hopefully I can get through the next few days. It is supposed to freeze at night for a few days too.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Pocket gophers can do a lot of damage in the patch. May be I will make a coat...   Saturday, May 14 View Page It's almost 9:00, the sun is starting to go down and a big chunk of the day is right here. Erected the greenhouse. Sounds easy, but nothing ever goes completely smooth.   Saturday, May 14 View Page 1213 Crews must have 8'-9' of vine.   Saturday, May 14 View Page Hmm. Already. That means my N is ok.   Saturday, May 14 View Page 2185 Brandt is now outrunning my ability to get stuff done.   Saturday, May 14 View Page I'm not sure why I do this to myself.   Saturday, May 14 View Page Ok now to put stuff away and get ready for tomorrow.   Saturday, May 14 View Page There was supposed to be this picture. Maybe next time I'll get it right..   Saturday, May 14 View Page I like this one better.   Monday, May 16 View Page This happened today. 1213 Crews. First male blooms.   Monday, May 16 View Page I didn't want to pull the 224 but it was way behind and there is only room for one. Next time I will not get in a hurry to plant. My 179 seems good. I added drip lines under the mulch. Should be an improvement from those crappy soaker hoses.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page It's done. Just in time, storm clouds on the horizon though I'm not turning down a chance at rain.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page 2185 Brandt. First female. Looks a little green. This plant is a little odd, was double vine, has leaves from tendrils, things like that.   Friday, May 20 View Page Installed the drip lines on the 1213 Crews. Need some water soon. Had to shade main vine tip.   Friday, May 20 View Page 2185 Brandt tip was not in good shape. Plant was dry. Hope I saved it.   Friday, May 20 View Page 179 Crews watermelon starting to take off. It needs water too. Time to load up the tanks. Seems early.   Sunday, May 22 View Page Transplanted a couple of Field pumpkins. Here is the 158 Crews dmg. It rained but it only went down an inch.   Sunday, May 22 View Page 140 Crews.   Monday, May 23 View Page 179 Crews first female.   Friday, May 27 View Page Here are my favorite tools for working on pumpkins. Small shovel for vine burying and a stirrup hoe with a cut handle. This is the 1213 Crews plant a day or so ago.   Friday, May 27 View Page Put the shack up over the watermelon patch.   Friday, May 27 View Page This is what the 179 Crews looks like before I installed the rest of the drip lines and the plastic mulch.   Friday, May 27 View Page The 140 Crews FP.   Friday, May 27 View Page The 158 Crews FP.   Friday, May 27 View Page 133 Kapelari FP. This one didn't get a heat cable. Quite a bit slower growing to start. Will grow at a good clip once it gets going.   Friday, May 27 View Page The 2185 Brandt. This plant is fighting me.   Friday, May 27 View Page The 1213 Crews. Its a pretty good plant   Saturday, May 28 View Page Holy crap! It's raining. About time. In the greenhouse doing some prep on some prospective fruit. I pinch the leaf and vine off when they are little.   Monday, May 30 View Page 1213 X 2185 It's the right distance out but seems a little early.   Monday, May 30 View Page The stem side of the 1213 X 2185. Overcast and rainy outside. Cool in the greenhouse.   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Here we go again. 2185 X 1213. This one is only 10' out but my total shack length is 20'. That gives me a limited choice. The next female is 30 inches down the vine making it the perfect location BUT anything after that is too far without some crazy vine training. Quite often one doesn't "take" so I try to pollinate all flowers that work.   Sunday, June 5 View Page 158 Crews FP. Won't lay over and wants to face the sun.   Sunday, June 5 View Page 140 Crews FP. Won't lay over and wants to face the sun.   Sunday, June 5 View Page 179 Crews watermelon. Growing fine. That thermometer is facing the sun, it's not quite that warm in there.   Sunday, June 5 View Page 1213 Crews. 2nd pollination is coming up. I'll need it too because... I bumped number 1 with my hoe. I said a few words in its honor and then ... But I'm feeling much better now.   Sunday, June 5 View Page 2185 Brandt. Second pollination coming soon. The first one didn't take. This plant suffers in the sun. The leaves outside burn as well so I don't have a clue what makes this plant so fragile. Ill run the overhead every day if I have to.   Sunday, June 5 View Page The deed is done. 2185 x 1213. This one has to set or things get tricky. There isn't enough length left for another one without some extreme vine manipulation.   Sunday, June 5 View Page And in the other patch...   Sunday, June 5 View Page There's a 4 lobe open this morning. There is a spot in between the lobes that looks a little strange but here is to hope! (Clinks coffee cup to air)   Sunday, June 5 View Page I will put the cooler on this one as well. 1213 x 2185   Tuesday, June 7 View Page Here is the 2185 Brandt June 5 pollination compared to the May pollination. Pretty sure this one took, I really hope so, as it is in the perfect location.   Wednesday, June 8 View Page Pollinated the watermelon. 179 Crews X self. These morning pollinations don't usually work for me. I'm putting a cooler over it. It's going to be hot in there today!   Wednesday, June 8 View Page Here is the June 5 pollination on the 1213. Short stem. The other fruit is looking good despite the hoe damage.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 1213 Crews May 30th pollination removed. No guts,no glory. I want to go with the June 5 pollination and often a fruit set before will cause the later one to abort. Not this time. You can see the hoe damage in this pic.   Thursday, June 9 View Page This is the 1213 Crews plant tonight.   Thursday, June 9 View Page 140 Crews FP is down and free!   Saturday, June 11 View Page 1213 Crews fruit. Oh oh. Too much p p power! There is a lot of plant driving this fruit. It might not make it. Blew up some vine tips on the secondaries as well.   Saturday, June 11 View Page 2185 Brandt self terminated the main vine. Its as long as it can get anyway. Caught itself on the tip shade.   Sunday, June 12 View Page 140 Crews is on its way. We had 2 tenths of rain. Helped a little.   Sunday, June 12 View Page The 158 Crews FP has gone over as well. Had to water this one.   Sunday, June 12 View Page This is the 1213 Crews plant. The vines on the right side of the picture go through the plastic to the outside world.   Sunday, June 12 View Page The 2185 Brandt plant. Think the micro nutrients I added helped. Some of my leaf damage problem may have been caused by the fast growth of this plant. Really hard to keep up to it.   Monday, June 13 View Page The 2185 fruit has those non existent shoulders that my Meier fruit had last year. Long fruit I hope.   Monday, June 13 View Page 2185 has had some oddities. This vine sprouted from a tendril.   Monday, June 13 View Page Every hobby needs some mad scientists. Muhaha...   Thursday, June 16 View Page 10 days 1213 Crews   Thursday, June 16 View Page 10 days 2185 Brandt. Looks like it didn't get a good pollination. The dreaded pear shape. I missed pollinating the very last one on the vine too. It wasn't in a very good spot though. I guess I'll ride this one till it drops or bucks me off since its all I can get on the main vine of this plant.   Thursday, June 16 View Page Fp pumpkins in the other garden. Those are intersecting moose and deer tracks. I looked for squirrel tracks but there were none.   Saturday, June 18 View Page 179 Crews watermelon. 10 days after pollination. It is just starting to grow. Not the greatest shape but it is the only one so far that has set. Noticed spider mites so I sprayed forbid today. I'll rotate miticides every few weeks. I have really had a problem with mites the last few years.   Saturday, June 18 View Page I may have missed pollinating the last fruit on the 2185 but I think my little buzzing friends didn't. This is right at the shack end so if I need it I'll have to do some crazy vine moving.   Monday, June 20 View Page 1213 Crews 15 DAP. Looking good and starting to grow. It's a lot bigger today than yesterday!   Monday, June 20 View Page 2185 Brandt 15 DAP. It's keeping its pear shape and the same proportion. For now. Growing fast.   Thursday, June 23 View Page 179 Crews watermelon. 15 DAP It is a very short melon. Still trying for another one but no luck so far.   Saturday, June 25 View Page 1213 Crews 20 DAP 56" cir My 1081's seem to start slow and the 1213 is 3/4 1081. Nice fruit.   Saturday, June 25 View Page 2185 Brandt 20 DAP 69" cir. Looks good from this side and is growing well.   Saturday, June 25 View Page 2185 Brandt 20 DAP This one shows the snout. It is looking ok, but pumpkins that don't look right rarely make it. I'm hoping that it is just the shape its genetics make it and not a problem with pollination.   Tuesday, June 28 View Page 179 Crews watermelon 20 DAP If it was longer I would be getting excited.   Friday, July 1 View Page 1213 Crews 25 DAP 80" cir   Friday, July 1 View Page 2185 Brandt 25 DAP 91" cir Not sure yet about this one. It is growing well though.   Monday, July 4 View Page That does it for length on the 158 main vine. It was too hot and the plant was too dry.   Monday, July 4 View Page These were my backups for The AG's. This is how big they would be if I grew outside. They really will not start growing until July.   Monday, July 4 View Page When you see clouds roll in that dark, and fast you better run for cover. Luckily only a lot of lightning and about 10 mm of rain. It was about 5 seconds between flashes at its peak. Made the run across the yard interesting.   Monday, July 4 View Page I pollinated this one today.   Monday, July 4 View Page I pollinated this one some time ago. Don't know when. I just haven't had the energy to keep track of stuff this year. I'm relying on this diary completely. Thanks Ken! There is a potential for a longer melon on this 179, apparently. I won't keep this one. It's on a tertiary of a tertiary I think...   Monday, July 4 View Page Culled a couple hiding.   Monday, July 4 View Page The 179 fruit is very fat. It's about the same as a 5 gallon pail. If it was a 2 gallon pail. lol   Tuesday, July 5 View Page After a little rain and the 3/4" I watered, plants look better. This is the 140 Crews FP.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page Hmmm. I swear I never touched her. Probably cull this one but it looks so good.   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 1213 Crews 30 DAP 101" cir   Tuesday, July 5 View Page 2185 Brandt 30 DAP 116" cir. Shape isn't getting better.   Friday, July 8 View Page The 1213 Crews fruit is going over. I have left it before but I might try this this time. I will slide the foam back in after this pic. When its time I'll slide it out some.   Friday, July 8 View Page My water setup. Fert injector, cheap tankless water heater. I have two tanks connected to the pump. Everything's on an outdoor timer. If I have to, I can switch to well water. Some buried water lines run to the patches.   Friday, July 8 View Page The 179 Crews melon at 30 DAP. I am a little disappointed with this one. It needed some length.   Sunday, July 10 View Page Pollinated 158 with itself. I figured this one would be appropriate.   Sunday, July 10 View Page 158 Crews x self. This is not going to work. Lol.   Sunday, July 10 View Page 1213 Crews 35 DAP 119"   Sunday, July 10 View Page 2185 Brandt 35 DAP 134" cir Hard to measure though.   Sunday, July 10 View Page Heres one on the secondary vine of the 2185. Looks like the pear shape may be genetic. This is the second one that looks like this since the mainvine fruit was set.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page That was enough. Received the full 5" before it was done.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page Patch shouldn't be dry now.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page Attempted a 140 X self   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Had to add more base for the 2185 pumpkin. It's wide and low and long. Going to hurt when it splits.   Thursday, July 14 View Page It might be game on.   Friday, July 15 View Page 1213 Crews 40 DAP 130" cir Slowed down some. There has been a lot of cloud and cool for most of the week.   Friday, July 15 View Page 2185 Brandt 40 DAP 147" cir Its a difficult shape to measure.   Saturday, July 16 View Page Giant rutabaga, one of those fun things you might get in the GVGO seed package.   Sunday, July 17 View Page Standard, run of the mill grass.   Sunday, July 17 View Page Same grass in the melon shack.   Sunday, July 17 View Page 179 Crews in the melon shack. Its round.   Sunday, July 17 View Page I have a couple of squash plants. There's some females ready tomorrow. These were backup plants that got planted. They take a long time outside without heat cables. The flood has receded.   Sunday, July 17 View Page One side of the back garden. Those are 133 Kapelari FPs.   Sunday, July 17 View Page The 133 Kapelari fruit have very short fat stems.   Sunday, July 17 View Page The 1213 Crews fruit uncovered. Both AGs look very young.   Sunday, July 17 View Page The other side of the back garden.   Monday, July 18 View Page 179 Crews melon still growing. 2lbs a day. Should be close to 80lbs which is about half what I'd hoped for.   Thursday, July 21 View Page 1213 Crews 45 DAP 142" cir   Thursday, July 21 View Page 2185 Brandt 45 DAP Its too difficult to reach around this thing to measure. It's close to 5' across.   Thursday, July 21 View Page 158 Crews I know a museum with a two headed calf that this belongs in.   Tuesday, July 26 View Page 1213 Crews 50 DAP maybe 152" cir? Also, there is a pocket gopher in the shack. I've set traps but he is defeating me. I have trapped 6 or 7 so far this year around the yard rather easily. This one isn't going easily.   Tuesday, July 26 View Page 2185 Brandt. It's slowing down at 50 DAP. Hope there isn't a problem.   Tuesday, July 26 View Page Looks like I know why the greenhouse wouldn't drain. I'm trying to put in soil tubes but it's proving to be a challenge.   Tuesday, July 26 View Page These leaves on the 133.5 Kapelari plant have very pronounced grey spots compared to my other FPs.   Wednesday, July 27 View Page I don't like posting pics of dead animals but this one was a worthy adversary. I finally got him.   Friday, July 29 View Page One blurry pic matching how I feel after working in greenhouses in the heat. Even though I have covers on the 2185 it's nice to see the end of the tape. Hope the tape wasn't snagged on something...   Saturday, July 30 View Page Look at this weed infested spot. There's a good chance my biggest FP will come from a no weed,no prep, no prune, no water patch. These are 140 Crews plants. Doing just fine.   Monday, August 1 View Page 179 Crews 50 DAP sitting just under 100 lbs, pic was taken a few days ago. How long has there been an edit button on the app? I must have been asleep.   Monday, August 1 View Page I'm a little late on updates. Trying to do too much again. Lol. Here's the 1213 Crews at 55 DAP in the greenhouse.   Monday, August 1 View Page Here is the 2185 all covered up. These pics were on the 30th. 55 DAP   Monday, August 1 View Page Rutabaga   Monday, August 1 View Page 963 Lyons. Outside completely on its own. Not a big plant and I only get to Sept before frost. Pollen was in short supply that day so...   Tuesday, August 2 View Page Really don't know what to say. I'll try growing fast now.   Tuesday, August 2 View Page I have a good start on the project. Ground is really wet so it's taking much longer than I thought to trench, what with the cave ins and such.   Thursday, August 4 View Page 1213 Crews 60 DAP 166" cir   Thursday, August 4 View Page 2185 Brandt 60 DAP 185" cir growth will taper off after 60 days. Need another 300, I doubt I get it.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Here is a nice fruit in the 140 Crews. Getting a bit of orange already 69" cir. Secondary vine   Tuesday, August 9 View Page It's still alive! Don't ask me how to measure it. No orange, still looks very young. 158 Crews X self   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Here is a young fruit on the 140 Crews. I try to space pollination apart by 20 days. This one is on the main vine. Main is terminated 4' down from this.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Main vine pumpkin on the 140 Crews plant that I wasn't sure I was going to keep. Pollinated sometime near the end of June. 69" cir   Tuesday, August 9 View Page The shame. I mowed my weeds. Those dark clouds may punish me for my laziness.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page Crap. It's in red.   Thursday, August 11 View Page Missed this one yesterday   Friday, August 12 View Page This morning there was 3/8" space. Now this evening less than an 1/8". Confused because pumpkins only grow at night.   Friday, August 12 View Page That last pic was the 133.5 Kapelari in the back garden. Showing good growth for a fruit pollinated on July 5   Monday, August 15 View Page 70 DAP 2185 Brandt, let's look under.... Yup grown a fair bit since 60 DAP   Monday, August 15 View Page Here's the basket case twins. Putting on a real push right now. Must be getting close to the finish. My FPs always seem to grow faster right at the end. When they are about 1/4 Orange growth slows to about the point where you have about 10% left   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 2185 Brandt stick pic. A few days of sun picked up the growth. Seems to take a couple of days to pick up growth after the sun comes out. Stick will have to move soon.   Wednesday, August 17 View Page 1213 Crews growth picked up, this is the new stick location. 1" at a time I'll get there.   Thursday, August 18 View Page And we have to move the stick on the 2185 Brandt.   Thursday, August 18 View Page This is one of those plants in the back that were backups. This is on my 1120 from last year. I crossed it with the 2185. Need another 20 days for seeds. Really like to grow that cross.   Thursday, August 18 View Page +6°C tonight. Blankets.   Friday, August 19 View Page Moose was so close to the fruit that it got mud on it. Some crushed vines and a step on the crown area. Looks ok but some of the plants lost vines.   Friday, August 19 View Page I am going to have a full deep freeze if I find him in the patch.   Sunday, August 21 View Page I was gone for a day and look what happens. There goes that first pollination the bees made on the 140 Crews plant. This was my backup plan.   Sunday, August 21 View Page There goes the next one on the 140 plant. That little hole goes all the way.   Sunday, August 21 View Page This is rodent damage on the top of the 2185. Got several locations. Found a mouse and what I think is a vole in the traps. Hopefully it paid with its life. Problem is that it gets wet on top. Watching for rot now.   Sunday, August 21 View Page Of course you know, this means war.   Thursday, August 25 View Page The twins are growing well. I split Fp's often this time of year so I'm thinking about playing it safe and cutting it this weekend. But if you aren't ready to blow them you're not ready to grow them. I'll see how I feel.   Saturday, August 27 View Page 1213 Crews made another 1" almost.   Saturday, August 27 View Page 2nd day in a row without rodent damage on the 2185 Brandt. Optimism returns.   Saturday, August 27 View Page Stick pic. 2185 almost there again.   Sunday, August 28 View Page And there it is, our first frost warning of the fall.   Tuesday, August 30 View Page 2185 Brandt 85 DAP still growing a bit.   Tuesday, August 30 View Page 1213 Crews 85 DAP still growing. I'm going to try and wring every last lb.from them.   Tuesday, August 30 View Page Grabbed a 120+ pumpkin from a 140 Crews plant in the no care back patch. Just in case everything else splits.   Tuesday, August 30 View Page Yes there was some frost. AG's outside leaves took a hit but for the most part look good. The field pumpkins seem to be able to take about -1° before there is damage. They are ok but look tired. Usually get a killing frost after the 9th.   Saturday, September 3 View Page 179 Crews watermelon has seen better days. I'm sure it dried out. Watered it good and it started coming back. I think I learned some things this year. No growth for last week or so.   Saturday, September 3 View Page The 1120 fruit has grown enough that I had to move the main vine! Every day in September that it remains unfrosted is a good day. I'm on borrowed time now.   Saturday, September 3 View Page Conjoined twins still growing. I'm starting think about the weight...   Monday, September 5 View Page Here's a good example pic of the frost tolerance levels of Ag's vs Field pumpkins.   Monday, September 5 View Page Frost damage. This is the way most of the outside plants look. Sort of saved the FP plants in the main garden by running sprinklers. The 2185 plant has lost about 70% of the outside leaves. This is a little early, It's usually between the 9th and 13th. They keep telling me climate change exists but it's not happening here yet.   Monday, September 5 View Page Another frost warning and it's too cool to do anything but damage to what's left so I did the prudent thing.   Monday, September 5 View Page It's pretty big but John's WR is safe.   Monday, September 5 View Page Still have one more... Very young, who knows....   Tuesday, September 6 View Page I'm just going to leave this here.   Friday, September 9 View Page Hmmm. This is the July 31 pollination on the MV of the 140 Crews. It's got potential. If I can keep it from freezing.   Saturday, September 10 View Page Picked the Fps. Not one under 100 lbs. lots over 120.   Monday, September 12 View Page -1°C tonight, been a few years since I've pulled out the big frost blanket. I'll give it a go on the 140 Crews FP. Still have that one big fruit left on it. If I can make it a day or so the weather is forecast to get back to double digits.   Tuesday, September 13 View Page I guess there's no chance of a circumference measure with this tape. And it's just sitting on top. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.   Friday, September 16 View Page Ummm...   Friday, September 16 View Page Goodbye 2185 Brandt. 112 ss 116 ee 210.? Cir.   Friday, September 16 View Page Looks like you are the one. Of course you slowed too...   Saturday, September 17 View Page One last pic. It was much taller before. I'm calling this one "Deflated"   Saturday, September 17 View Page Found the melon problem. Root rot.   Monday, September 19 View Page The 1213 Crews received a thorough examination. So far no signs of soup. Still some growth. Where the light hit the skin it turned a nice orange. Everywhere else turned shades of green.   Thursday, September 22 View Page This is a nice size pumpkin. It's driven by 800 sq ft of frost beaten plant. I just removed the frost cover because it's going to rain. It's not supposed to freeze tonight. They better be right, it's been a good streak of frozen nights.   Saturday, September 24 View Page Pulled the 1213 Crews fruit. It's been a crappy year, just want it over. Fruit looks good. All my fruit with my 1081 background seem bulletproof.   Saturday, October 1 View Page The twins win Smoky Lake Fp category! 189 lbs   Saturday, October 1 View Page Yay! The 1213 crews fruit weighed 1365 lbs. 1st place Smoky Lake.   Saturday, October 1 View Page The watermelon wins! 111 lbs   Sunday, October 2 View Page Hmmm. Just weighed the 140 fruit that I left in the garden. 83kg. That's 182.6 lbs!   Monday, October 3 View Page I would like to thank everyone for their well wishes this year. It was a very difficult season to get through and I received so much encouragement that it made failure impossible. Those messages and emails made a big difference. It takes a village to grow a pumpkin. I always get help from my friends and it makes them part of the team whether they know it or not. I have friends that give me seeds, that help with my propane stuff, that pick up fertilizers, that lift pumpkins, that help fix my broken stuff, that I can bounce ideas off, that get me heater fuel, it just goes on and on. You know who you are! Without the support of friends and family, I would not have this much fun. Thanks again. And now a picture of the vine on the 2185 plant. Wow! My foot looks small.   Tuesday, October 4 View Page The 182 off the 140 had a hairline crack on the blossom that was getting wider even though it was cut off 5 or 6 days ago. I suppose it was just drying and getting wider but this pic shows how quickly this could have gone bad. I probed it and wasn't sure. It was fine but at a weighoff there may have been questions.   Tuesday, October 4 View Page The fruit on the 140's seem to go heavy. This 182 was measured at 163. Pretty thick.   Tuesday, October 4 View Page Let's get cooking!   Wednesday, October 5 View Page Seeds out of the 182 are large. I stuck a seed from the split 1684 in this tray. See it? Unfortunately this is the entire seed count.   Friday, October 7 View Page It was that one.   Sunday, October 9 View Page My wife figured it was time to harvest the brussels sprouts, what with it snowing already.   Sunday, October 16 View Page I'd really like to get at the patch prep for next season but...it's been like this for almost 2 weeks now. Still a chance.   Sunday, October 23 View Page I think I'm ready to go for next season, this patch anyway. The air tubes need zip tied to a bar and some 90's. It moves a fair bit of air. I've added all the nutrients except the Mn. That seems to tie up in the soil so I'll add it in the spring. I'll have to leave the other patches because they are too wet from the snow.   Sunday, October 30 View Page Bad news for rightys. Left side of the 189 had lots though.   Sunday, October 30 View Page Solid between. It's like two separate pumpkins. 3" thick at least.   Sunday, October 30 View Page Here is another pumpkin off the 158 Crews plant that grew the twins. 132.5 uow. Plant grew nice shaped fruit. There were a couple more but I didn't save seeds from all of them.   Monday, October 31 View Page My daughter and her friends are carving pumpkins. I like it.   Thursday, November 3 View Page The 132.5 from the 158 Crews was nice and thick too. Cooking. Pies. Cookies.   Friday, November 4 View Page Doing a test germination on the seeds from the soupy 1684 dmg est. looks like I have 2 of 6 so far. That's a pumpkin bundt cake back there. Until I run out of self control...   Saturday, November 5 View Page Love those big peat pellets. This is a 1684 seed. Looks like 100% germination in 3 days. I picked them out of warm soup and some had started to sprout so I wasn't sure of the success rate. Probably won't be 100% every time but it looks much better than I thought.   Saturday, November 5 View Page I planted some of the 182 seeds that I thought were a little thin. Good rate on them too.   Thursday, November 10 View Page Operation   Saturday, November 12 View Page Complete except for some thermostats, better cord and a screen perhaps.Good crossflow of air. Didn't need a carbon tax to make me do it either.   Saturday, December 10 View Page ?The last part of the pumpkin season.. bubbles to fill. They are coming don't panic???