Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 44 Entries. Friday, January 20 View Page Winter growing in Florida is happening again this year. This is a self pollination on my % heavy genetics stock derived from a 1625 clone Josiah Brandt sent several years ago that was crossed with 2030 Kisamore summer 2022.   Saturday, January 28 View Page Back up north for 10 days to check on the main season patch   Saturday, January 28 View Page Winter cover crop is doing well. This is where the 1893.5 squash grew.   Friday, February 3 View Page Fruit growing slowly in Florida, but so far so good for being able to have mature seeds to plant again April 1   Friday, February 10 View Page Fruit is growing for the % heavy seed line and it looks like I should have mature seeds for planting in the north by the end of March if things keep going   Friday, February 10 View Page 2006 Wolfe has been an exceptional plant to grow and I think this fruit is about to take off   Friday, February 10 View Page Got a fruit set in my 1822.5 as well   Sunday, February 19 View Page I have a handful of fruit growing now. The % heavy project fruit continues to do well. Plant health is holding on, and if I can keep things healthy for a month I should have mature seed for spring planting in the north.   Sunday, February 19 View Page Some fruit didn’t make it. My 1822.5 did not set fruit. The 2006 Wolfe has set and looks nice.   Monday, February 27 View Page The fruit from my %heavy experiment is looking good, even shows some signs of having a little color   Monday, February 27 View Page Plants are holding up ok in the Florida weather. Disease pressure is a lot heavier compared to up north.   Wednesday, March 1 View Page Civer crop didn’t fill in as well as I had hoped everywhere, but we did sell all the winter cover crop for $1/oz or better. Don’t worry Cecil, my dad pulled soil tests so we will have a soil test for the first time.   Wednesday, March 1 View Page Snow is thinning, feels like a mild winter and early spring   Monday, March 6 View Page 2006 Wolf has a good looking color   Wednesday, March 8 View Page The % heavy project fruit is all shoulders and still growing   Wednesday, March 8 View Page 2006 Wolfe is beautiful barrel shape great color and healthy stem. 30 days old and doing great despite me leaving town the day after pollination   Thursday, March 9 View Page Started bushel gourd seeds today for watermelon rootstock. Some top shelf rootstock genetics I hope. Started 6 seeds, hope for 2 great grafted plants when I am done   Monday, March 13 View Page 2006 Wolf is doing well without any care   Friday, March 17 View Page The heavy genetics seed line flopped over almost a blossom hill me down fruit   Friday, March 17 View Page The 2006 Wolf is looking pretty but won’t grow too much more it pulled itself mostly off the vine while I was away. Still happy with it. You can see the hurricane rubble under the fruit.   Saturday, March 18 View Page Going to take a clone of the 2006 to bring up north for summer growing. This is my preferred method getting rooting while on the vine and then cutting it off for transport.   Saturday, March 18 View Page I managed to get two vine tips.   Saturday, March 18 View Page Then I fill up the soil   Saturday, March 18 View Page Next I will wait a few days for rooting   Thursday, March 23 View Page Harvest day   Thursday, March 23 View Page I am working on the worst ways to do pumpkin harvest   Thursday, March 23 View Page Now for the drive north   Saturday, March 25 View Page Back to the north   Thursday, March 30 View Page Spring break provided some extra kids for labor since they didn’t have school. Seeds harvested from the Florida pumpkins, 421.5 lb for the heavy seed line and 342.5 for the 2006 Wolf, day 45 at harvest and we took seeds out and planted them immediately   Saturday, April 1 View Page Clones of the 2006 wolf plant survived the trip and are growing in one of our greenhouses awaiting snow melt… This is all mostly a proof of concept if this all works   Sunday, April 2 View Page Had power failure in the greenhouse , it was 15 degrees F outside and the seed starting chamber dropped pretty low but still looks like seeds are sprouting   Sunday, April 2 View Page Had power failure in the greenhouse , it was 15 degrees F outside and the seed starting chamber dropped pretty low but still looks like seeds are sprouting   Friday, April 7 View Page Work kept me busy and I started a few days later than I wanted. I planted the 342.5 directly from the fruit to the germination chamber but so far 0/12 have germinates. I have a lot of other great plants up and have more than I can plants so I will be looking for growers who need an extra plant.   Saturday, April 8 View Page Still snowing I will have the plants in extra large pots waiting for some warmer soil   Tuesday, April 11 View Page 342.5 germinates 1/12, but it looks like maybe 2 more are pushing up. Maybe proof of concept to get the seeds from the best fruit in the fall and have a new offspring ready for the following growing season   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Should be about the last day of snow. Time to get the soil warmed up   Tuesday, April 18 View Page 2006 Wolf clones looked bad after the transition up north but spear to be starting to take off again   Tuesday, April 18 View Page 342.5 produced 3 plants out of 12 seeds started. There is a substantial size difference between the mature seeds started at the same time. I will be starting more 342.5 seeds in a couple weeks for genetics plot to compare 45 day old fruit seeds dry vs fresh from the fruit   Friday, April 21 View Page Potting up squash plants to gain time before transplanting in the cold   Saturday, April 22 View Page I was 0% on my first round of watermelon grafting At least I saved the 316 Edwards plants so I will Be growing all non grafted watermelon   Sunday, April 23 View Page Started long gourds today   Sunday, April 23 View Page 316 Edwards looks good. Had a little snow this morning but nothing that stuck   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Transplanted first squash plant into hoophouse. About as large as I can get away with and not have transplant shock   Monday, May 1 View Page Outdoor patch plants are going to have to wait longer for the soil to warm up