Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 104 Entries. Thursday, April 7 View Page First ever diary entry for me! Second year growing giants but a new patch so still lots of work to be done. Spent this evening putting up the wind netting. I have one large patch divided into four areas of 30ft x 40ft, the photo shows one of these patches.   Friday, April 8 View Page Hard old slog today on the patch. Time is pressing on now so spent the day with the rotavator tickling over the planting areas, feeding some fish, blood and bone, mulching with garden compost to 3" and finally laying some black plastic to warm the earth. The ground still feels very cold here on the heavy clay.   Wednesday, April 13 View Page Giant pumpkins and squash started today and in the propagator.   Saturday, April 16 View Page Knocked up four of these cloches for the patch today, used some plastic from some polytunnels we took down earlier in the year. Measure 3x2m, ends flap up for ventilation. Still lots to do on the patch.   Sunday, April 17 View Page 1998.5 Jutras just starting to poke through today, still waiting for movement on the others.   Monday, April 25 View Page Been away for a bit so good to get back and get some wood chip paths down between the patches. Should improve access between plants, still got a fair amount to do to finish   Monday, April 25 View Page I have been given the seed that sold for £1250 at the Big Show to grow, courtesy of Thompson & Morgan (UK seed and plant supplier). Managed to germinate it safely and here it is growing away. Hopefully get some good publicity for giant pumpkin growing in the UK out of this.   Wednesday, April 27 View Page Nipped down to the patch after work to finish covering the last cloche and the heavens open. Sleety hail at the end of April and night time temps near freezing. At least I got the lid on first so kept dry!   Friday, April 29 View Page These are my three best pumpkins so far. 1998 Jutras coming along the quickest. Still very cold nights here in the UK so will wait a while before they go out yet, perhaps another week or two.   Wednesday, May 4 View Page Got the leaky hose connected for one of the pumpkins this evening. Wasn't really sure on what the ideal spacing is so judged it by what looked right to the eye and previous experience of using the stuff, which turned out to be 31" apart. Centre 3 are closer together at 20".   Monday, May 9 View Page Got three pumpkins planted out today. Here is £1250 worth of 2096 Meier growing away happily, I hope.   Monday, May 9 View Page The 1998 Jutras is the more vigorous plant at the moment though.   Sunday, May 15 View Page Having a few chilly(ish) nights again here in the east of England so its late evenings an early mornings down on the patch covering plants with fleece. 1998 Jutras still my strongest plant.   Wednesday, May 18 View Page For various reasons I had to delay planting out my fourth plant, but managed to get it in the ground this morning. 842 Holub, not really that much behind other three plants. Many thanks to everyone who gave me seed, it is much appreciated. None of my growing possible without the generosity of other growers.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Well the 'worlds most expensive' pumpkin plant isn't exactly romping away if I'm honest. Some better weather forecast here so hopefully will start to speed up soon.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page 1998 Jutras on the other hand is romping along. Really pleased with this plant given the conditions I'm able to provide it.   Wednesday, May 25 View Page Another one of my plants has developed a misformed stem, not experienced enough to know if this is a double or ribbon yet and what I'm going to do about it.   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Had some lovely weather the last few days so starting to see some decent growth now. The expensive pumpkin is beginning to make a move   Tuesday, May 31 View Page But not as much as the 1998 Jutras that is putting on about 3" a day. Have begun vine burying with this one.   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Sadly another one of my plants with 2102 genetics developed a ribbon vine so had to go. Got a back up plant to go in its place but should have double planted. Lesson learnt.   Tuesday, June 7 View Page Ridiculously busy spring at work so only just finished final prep on 842 Holub patch. Put down a real thick mulch of greenwaste compost. Unconventional I know but last year the patch was an uncultivated field full of weeds. Mulch should keep weeds down and provide loose, airy material for good rooting.   Tuesday, June 7 View Page 1998 Jutras still my best plant. Really pleased with it, good growth now weather has finally improved. Approx 4ft main vine now, think I can push it harder so planning on upping the N a little. So far its only had maxicrop, compost tea and SB plant invigorator.   Thursday, June 9 View Page Continued vine burying today. After seeing Ian and Stuarts pot method on the videos they've been producing I've decided to give it a go, so we shall see. If it's good enough for them its good enough for me, keep those vids coming guys!   Thursday, June 9 View Page Pic of vine burying I forgot to add to last post, doh!   Sunday, June 12 View Page Been away from the patch for two days, come back and the 2096 has produced a female. Way to early to pollinate but ineresting nonetheless. Would still like to see some quicker growth on this one, especially on the secondaries:   Sunday, June 12 View Page 1998 Jutras produced a female too. Cloche will have to come off in the next day or two as its touching the sides now.   Tuesday, June 14 View Page 1998 Jutras has outgrown its cloche so now has to face the British summer time without protection. Bit of extra wind netting up to help it along. Reasonably happy with this plant.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page One of the leaves on the 1998 Jutras has developed this strange patch that feels like it has no water in it. Gone very thin, floppy, stretchy and almost fabric like. Doesn't look like pest or disease to me. Been out of cloche for one day. Any ideas on what has caused it?   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Another pic of the same leaf.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page All my plants have had compost tea this week and also some dried blood today. Felt they needed a little boost of N and the blood will also help drop the pH a bit (apparently) which I think will also help. The photo is the 842 Holub, which was one of my back up plants, really pleased with how it is catching up and its health.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page The 842 Holub pic that never attached...   Monday, June 20 View Page Cloche has finally been taken off the 'worlds most expensive pumpkin'. Approx 9ft long and starting to put on some decent secondary vines after being a bit slow in that department. Gave the pumpkins some dried blood last week and think it's having a positive effect.   Monday, June 20 View Page 1998 Jutras is going well but has the most yellow in its leaves of all my plants. It can't be that bad given the weather we've had and I can't fit the whole plant in shot anymore!   Monday, June 20 View Page Keep missing the photos off these posts. Here's the pic of the Jutras plant   Monday, June 27 View Page Finally got a second female appear on both the 2096 Meier and 1998 Jutras. A way off pollination which is a bit disappointing but not had a good start to the summer here. Still hopeful for big things   Monday, June 27 View Page Here's the 2096 Meier. Seems to be growing a bit lop sided but the main vine is doing well.   Monday, June 27 View Page 1998 Jutras. I'm super happy with this plant. Secondaries are nearly at the edge of its patch in places. Lots of plant behind where the pumpkin will be.   Tuesday, June 28 View Page Pulled this plant today. Was a back up of a previous plant that was a sibling. Both developed a ribbon vine so had to go. Blessing in disguise I think. Takes me down to three plants which is proving more than enough seeing how the day job is panning out this year.   Tuesday, June 28 View Page Filled its space with all the leftover pumpkin, squash and gourd plants I have. These aren't giants (one is a 'Hundredweight') but I grow about 60 varieties of cucurbit each year and put a display together in the autumn, so will be good to have a few extra fruits to use.   Monday, July 4 View Page Hopefully have the 2096 Meier and 1998 Jutras ready for pollination by end of this week. Bit later than ideal but such is life. More annoyingly is that I will be away working at Hampton Court Palace flower show on Thursday and Friday and I just know they will open then. D'oh!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page 2096 Meier is going to open tomorrow morning. Trouble is I'm going away for two days. Not sure what to do if I'm honest!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Have managed to get a half decent S bend in it anyway. Not sure the pumpkin is likely to get big enough to make this necessary now   Sunday, July 10 View Page Hectic few days for me, lots of time away from patch working at Hampton Court Flower Show so time on the patch limited. Early start on Thursday morning pollinating the 2096 Meier before I left. Used lots of males, hope it takes.   Sunday, July 10 View Page By the time I got back Saturday morning the 1998 Jutras was more than ready. Think I got there before the bees. Crossed it with the 2096 Meier. Has better weather recently and this has perked the plants up a bit.   Tuesday, July 12 View Page Pollinated the 842 Holub today. Crossed it with the 1998 Jutras. At last, all three of my plants have pollinated pumpkins on them. Although not anything like the other two plants I have been really pleased with this one. Went in late, bit the main vine has caught up really well, with no signs of yellowing/magnesium deficiency etc... Just shows an early start combined with a rubbish start to summer doesn't necessarily bring major benefits when growing outdoors in UK. Hope they all take! Pics to follow.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Another pollination on the 2096 Meier this morning, caught me by surprise a bit as wasn't expecting it to open but crossed it with the Jutras again.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page 2096 Meier 6 DAP. Looks like it will be a long rather than round shape with this one.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page The 1998 Jutras 4 DAP. Looks to be a good one to me.   Monday, July 18 View Page 2096 Meier 11 DAP, measuring 38cm OTT. Small crack in the stem but think it should be fine. Will pollinate a third flower on this tomorrow morning, am expected to deliver on this plant so can't be too careful.   Monday, July 18 View Page 1998 Jutras 9 DAP. Looking good this one, only one other pollinated on this plant but hopefully wont need it.   Monday, July 18 View Page Very early open-pollinated one on the 842 Holub. 87cm OTT. Have another that I pollinated myself on this plant so will have a decision to make at some point, but might leave both on and see what happens   Monday, July 18 View Page Another long evening in the patch for me. Terminated the first of the secondary vines on a couple of the plants. Given up vine burying with potting compost in pots as I was using too much and didn't have enough pots! Changed to using garden compost which we have a mountain of. Shouldn't be too much different I hope.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Been caught out by the hot weather over the last few days and the tip on the main vine of the Meier has got scorched a bit. Think the damage was done on Sunday when I wasn't around. Hope its not terminal but will definitely check the growing for a bit. Bugger.   Thursday, July 21 View Page 2096 Meier 14 DAP. Pleased with it so far. Split in stem hasn't got bigger and has healed over. Still have two backups on plant. Main vine has been scorched in the sun, really frustrated that I let it happen. Will replace with secondary.   Thursday, July 28 View Page Decided to do updates on a Thursday as thats when the Meier was pollinated. 2096 Meier 21DAP 154"OTT. 1998 Jutras 19DAP 154"OTT. 842 Holub ?DAP 214"OTT putting it at 224lbs Talk about neck and neck! Gonna be fascinating to watch this one develop.   Thursday, July 28 View Page This is a pic of the Holub. Reason for posting is that I'm concerned about the blossom end not swelling out. Am I right in saying this could be a calcium problem? Should I be concerned and if so what to do?!   Friday, July 29 View Page Bit of a boo-boo today with the Jutras. Found it this evening rolled backwads onto its stem. Slightly bent and crushed but not broken or damaged all the way across. Think it has slowed it down as measured same as Meier yesterday but fallen behind today. Hope it isn't terminal/doesn't slow it down too much. Repositioned with some extra protection. Serves me right for trying to keep stem end low.   Thursday, August 4 View Page Weekly pumpkin update. 2096 Meier 28DAP. Taping at 236lbs. Up 120lbs this week. Had to shift it a bit due to stem stress today. Also have the flower show in the garden starting today. Had film crews from both BBC and ITV in, both covered this pumpkin and will get good regional coverage this evening on the telly. Take giant pumpkin growing to the masses!   Thursday, August 4 View Page 1998 Jutras. 26DAP. Taping at 196lbs. Looks great but absolutely gutted about it rolling over earlier in the week. This has undoubtedly slowed it down.   Thursday, August 4 View Page 842 Holub. ?DAP. Taping at 368lb. Significantly slowed down last few days. Very early set on plant and open pollinated. Doesn't matter. This is a banker so I have at least one giant for the display in October.   Thursday, August 4 View Page Have set a second pumpkin on the Holub as I want plenty of material for the display. This one was pollinated by the Meier. 11 DAP.   Thursday, August 11 View Page Weekly update from the patch. 2096 Meier 35DAP now tapes 437lb. Thats up 201lb this week/28.7lb per day. Not bad for outdoor UK grown even if I do say so myself!   Thursday, August 11 View Page Here's a pic of the Meier plant. Oldest growth is beginning to look tatty. Some yellowing in new leaves but now treating regularly with Epsom salts. Main vine and some growing tips got damaged in hot weather we've had so making slow progress beyond the fruit. On the whole the weather here has generally been favourable.   Thursday, August 11 View Page I have had one major problem with the Meier this week; it started weeping from the stump. Pretty significantly at first. No power on the patch so resorted to silly little battery operated fans just so I was doing something! Bit of sulphur has helped. It's slowed down but not 100% yet, has deffo affected the roots.   Thursday, August 11 View Page Here's the 1998 Jutras. 33 DAP tapes 312lb that up 116lb this week. Still fuming about the damaged stem. This would've been a beauty if that hadn't have happened.   Thursday, August 11 View Page This pic shows why it tipped over. Never got it positioned properly to begin with, still not happy with it. Beginners error.   Thursday, August 11 View Page 842 Holub. 499lb. That's up 131lb this week. Only 31lb off my PB now. Very much experimenting with this plant. Want to see if there is an advantage to pollinating early (at the expense of having leaf growth behind the fruit) and getting weight on the board early when growing outdoors in our unpredictable British summers.   Thursday, August 11 View Page Forgot to take pic of second fruit on the Holub, so here's a pic of the plant. Second fruit is 18 DAP and 104" OTT. Not gonna be pulling up trees but should give me another decent sized one to go on display.   Saturday, August 13 View Page The Holub measured at 289" OTT this morning, which put at about 540lb. That makes it a new PB for me. The Meier is hot on its heels, making up ground everyday.   Monday, August 15 View Page The leaky stem on the Meier wasn't slowing down much so had to up the power. Running this from the glasshouse which is about 50m away. Thankfully no rain forecast here! It does seem to be working.   Thursday, August 18 View Page 2096 Meier 42DAP Tapes 661lb. That's up 224lb this week/32lb per day. Really happy with this. Cacking my self that I'm gonna wake up one morning and it will have split. Still having problems with a crack on the stump, struggling to stop it.   Thursday, August 18 View Page 1998 Jutras 40DAP. Tapes 477lb, up 165lb this week/23lb per day. Due to how this one is sitting it's getting hard to measure accurately. Keeps plodding along I'll be happy.   Thursday, August 18 View Page 842 Holub. Tapes 619lb, up 120lb this week/17lb per day. Slowing down but not surprised. Blossom end has come out but seems fine, not soft and callused over fine inside. Will keep my eyes on it.   Thursday, August 18 View Page Second fruit on the Holub is growing slowly 26DAP. Tapes 166" OTT. Would be nice to get to 300lb by end of season.   Thursday, August 25 View Page The Meier now 49DAP. Taping 868lb. Up another 219lb this week/31lb per day. Still 46 days till weigh off. Chuffed to bits. As far as I can tell no one has ever had 1000lb plus for outdoor grown in UK before. Anyone care to enlighten me?   Thursday, August 25 View Page Jutras 47DAP. Taping 618lb. Up 141lb for the week/20lb per day. Very difficult to measure accurately due to shape however.   Thursday, August 25 View Page Holub taping 749lb, up 130lb for the week/18lb per day.   Thursday, August 25 View Page Second fruit on the Holub tapes 215lb 33DAP. Up approx 105lb for the week. On a separate note the weather here has generally been glorious but some 40mph gusts over the weekend did some damage. Have managed to stop the rot on the stump of the Meier (phew!) My plants are beginning to come under aphid attack so have started using a product called Pyrethrum 5EC to control them, with success.   Thursday, September 1 View Page 2096 Meier 56DAP. Taping at 1047lb. +179lb this week, 25lb per day average. Slowed down a bit but absolutely delighted to get over 1000. It seems largest ever grown outdoors in UK is 1048 back in 2005 so hoping my measuring is correct and this makes it to weigh off.   Thursday, September 1 View Page 1998 Jutras 54DAP. Tapes 754lb, +135lb this week, 19lb per day average. So many if, buts and maybe's with this one, giving some problems with it sitting on its stem now but it keeps plodding on.   Thursday, September 1 View Page 842 Holub. Tapes 837lb. +88lb this week, 12.5lb per day average. Slowing down as the other fruit takes over but should still beat its parent!   Thursday, September 1 View Page Second fruit on the Holub 40DAP tapes 357lb, +142lb this week, 20lb per day average. Developing its 'inny' now. Be interesting to see how far this one can go.   Thursday, September 8 View Page Weekly update. Meier tapes at 1166lb, which is up 119lb this week, 17lb per day average. Slowing down quite a bit but the plant is ageing, weather has been worse this week and we are losing daylight hours rapidly. One month to weigh off and I'll be chuffed if it makes 1300.   Thursday, September 8 View Page Jutras tapes at 846lb, up 92lb this week, 13lb per day average. Slight concave bottom to this one and doing my besy to ease pressure off its stem.   Thursday, September 8 View Page Holub tapes 884lb, up 46lb this week, 6lb per day average. I reckon I will be taking this one to the RHS Harvest Show (not a GPC weigh off) on 4-5th October, seeing as they asked me to be there!   Thursday, September 8 View Page Second fruit on the Holub tapes at 504lb, up 147lb this week, 21lb per day average. This plant has been truly fantastic, the only one to fill its patch entirely with foliage. This means I know have four pumpkins all over 500lb, three of which are over 800 and one over a thousand. All for a effectively a first time grower. If I had been offered that at the start of the seaaon I would have snapped your arm off for it. Just coasting through to October now when I have a few weigh offs to attend and then build a halloween display in the garden. Watch this space!   Thursday, September 15 View Page Week ten update. Meier 70DAP tapes at 1248lb. Up 82lb this week. If I had to guess I reckon this'll finish at around 1350. Absolutely amazing weather here again this week; crazy for mid-September here in the UK.   Thursday, September 15 View Page Jutras 68DAP tapes at 899lb. Up 53lb this week. No stem damage yet.   Thursday, September 15 View Page Holub tapes at 963lb, up 79lb this week. However I think my measuring might be a bit off as it only put on 46lb last week. Very hard to measure a bumpy, odd shaped pumpkin by myself.   Thursday, September 15 View Page Second Holub fruit 54DAP tapes at 612lb, up 108lb this week. This means I have beaten last years PB with four pumpkins this year. Still 24 days till the weigh off but I bet the weather turns soon.   Thursday, September 22 View Page 2096 Meier 77DAP. Tapes 1296lb, up 55lb this week. Just 17 days to the weigh off now and I can't wait.   Thursday, September 22 View Page 1998 Jutras up 63lb this week to 963lb. Can't ask for more than that. Can't decide whether to take this or the Holub to the RHS Harvest Show now. Decisions, decisions.   Thursday, September 22 View Page 842 Holub has practically stopped growing this week. Up just 7lb to 970lb.   Thursday, September 22 View Page Second Holub fruit 61DAP tapes at 718lb, up 106lb this week, which is quite stunning. All plants now have first touches of powdery mildew and aphids are becoming a real pain but not worrying too much as my season is nearly over now.   Thursday, September 29 View Page The Meier tapes at 1317lb this week, up 21lb this week. Just 10 days to go, so last update before weigh off I reckon.   Thursday, September 29 View Page Sorry no pics this week but Jutras taping at 994lb, up 29lb this week. I will be taking this one to the RHS Harvest show early next week. Holub taping at 981lb, second fruit 765lb; up 47lb this week.   Monday, October 3 View Page Took the Jutras down to the RHS Harvest Show at the Horticultural Halls in London, where they run a giant pumpkin competition. Came in at 1,107.6lb which is about 100lb heavy. Winning pumpkin grown from a Paton seed was 1,248lb. Both grown outdoors in the UK. Shows what a good summer we've had here. Photo shows four biggest entries, mine's the pale one on the left.   Thursday, October 6 View Page Got the Jutras pumpkin unscathed and intact back from London. Safely stored away in our new barn for a week or so before the pumpkin display goes out in the garden. Big weigh off on Saturday here in the UK, looks set to be a good day. Looking forward to meeting all the other growers who turn up and hopefully see some records get broken. The Meier which I'm taking tapes at 1334lb this evening. 13% heavy would get it to 1500, a big ask but I'll be delighted if it comes in on its estimated weight.   Sunday, October 9 View Page Absolutely crazy day at the UK weigh off in Southampton yesterday. The Meier came in bang on estimate at 1333.8lb, which is a new record for growing outdoors in the UK (no mean feat given our unpredictable weather) I am over the moon but would have been nice to have come up a bit heavy, Ian and Stuart got 17% out of their 2096! Huge congratulations to them both on three PB's and a new UK record. The work they put in on the giant pumpkin scene here in Britain is amazing. Well done lads. This was my first GPC weigh off and have to say am well impressed with the camaraderie between all the growers and the spirit of the day. Hats off to everyone involved.   Thursday, October 20 View Page Harvested and weighed the two fruits on the 842 Holub today. The first came in at 1,011.9lb, which means I have had three thousand pounders this year. Can't ask for more than that.   Thursday, October 20 View Page The second, whch was pollinated on 22nd July, weighed 791.4lb. That means I've had 1,800lb of pumpkin off one plant, one pollinated early, the other late and grown outdoors in the UK. So much for the rule book eh?!   Tuesday, October 25 View Page Started a bit of ground prep in anticipation for next year. No cover crop for me due to our very heavy soil, just dug and left exposed to the winter weather. Nearly got 1000sq ft done in an afternoon.   Tuesday, October 25 View Page All four of my giants are on display in the garden on our 'Gardeners Graveyard' themed halloween display. There are sixty other varieties of pumpkin, squash and ornamental gourd on show and it is proving to be very popular-3 deep today! It's the biggest display I've ever done and I very much doubt any other open garden in the UK have anything to rival it, so great exposure for pumpkin growing. We have a pumpkin 'day' on Saturday and I will be giving talks on general squash growing as well as growing giants; I'm expecting it to be busy.   Tuesday, October 25 View Page Here's one of the humorous gravestones on the display that the American audience on here may appreciate.