Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 125 Entries. Friday, February 28 View Page What a nice surprise today.Received some of Vermont's finest products-VGPGA seeds and cap,Green Mountain coffee and VT maple syrup....from some of Vermont's finest people-VGPGA....as well as trivia cards and book for Gail and her grade one class.She always does well at the trivia questions during the summer BarBQ,patch tours.....I've been under ther weather for a few months,had a 19 day hospital stay.Thank you for the lovely card of wishes....The good news is that I walked 50 minutes(over three shorter sessions in the deep freeze,wind chilled day.   Friday, February 28 View Page Needed to add CT,RI,NY,MA to that fine group....   Saturday, March 22 View Page I should have left my heating cables in.....   Friday, March 28 View Page More snow today,Sunday....This pic is about as good as it gets in this diary,LOL.....   Monday, March 31 View Page Finally....A week of sun and above freezing temps...Cardinals are calling,out back....Let the melting begin,the trout creeks fill up and last but not least....   Thursday, April 3 View Page Have to start somewhere....three inches of ice on the soil.   Friday, April 4 View Page Doesn't take long with hot sun to melt the ice...My 150 sq ft plot.   Friday, April 4 View Page Another backyard plot at 360 sq ft.   Saturday, April 12 View Page Heating cables in my 150 sq ft plot.Bought myself a Christmas gift today(background)...well they did say it may snow on Tuesday...This rototiller was digging to China on my first attempt,lol...   Saturday, April 12 View Page May plant next weekend.Not really happy with the plastic I bought.Only semi transparent and with the moisture,not much sun getting in.I'll turn on the cable two days before planting.Doesn't take long to warm things up..   Saturday, April 12 View Page Both 1024 Northrups have germinated in 3 1/2 days.   Tuesday, April 15 View Page The two 1024 Northrups at 2 1/2 days...Started two 1625 Gantners...as it's snowing outside...hmmm....Want to make a 1024(1634 x 1495) x 1625(1495 selfed) cross.The 1024 is the reverse cross of the 1813 Northrup....   Friday, April 18 View Page 2 x 1625 Gantners are up in 3 days.   Sunday, April 20 View Page 1024 planted.   Sunday, April 20 View Page Hoop house,chicken wire to keep out racoons.   Sunday, April 27 View Page 1625 Gantner planted today.Hoop house almost ready.Storage container actually keeps the plant warmer at night.Discovered my second set of heating cables were not working.Bought a roof-gutter cable.Soil was warm after one day.I did put the cable shallower than the 1024 plant plot.Tape on the container is covering vent holes.On a sunny day,Ijust raise up one end of container a couple of inches.   Tuesday, April 29 View Page 1024 Northrup at 18 days.Starting two 896 McMillans and two 1158 Keims tonight.The 1158 was a nicely shaped medium orange pumpkin(1378 Pitura selfed).Seems I sent Terry this seed as a backup,lol.   Friday, May 2 View Page My 150 sq ft plot angles off at each end.Re-measured recently.Two triangles-31x34inches and 22x13inches.Three rectangles-13x71, 34.5x63.5 and 93x188inches....147.7 sq ft   Friday, May 2 View Page 1625 Gantner at 14 days.Soil is warm,roots must be shooting out.   Friday, May 2 View Page Backups- 1024 Northrup and 1625 Gantner.Both peat pots were peeled off at bottom half without breaking roots.   Friday, May 2 View Page 1158 Keim,896 McMillan up in three days.   Friday, May 2 View Page A few hours later.   Friday, May 9 View Page 896 and backup planted today.One 1158 and the second 1625 planted in small plots(50-100sq ft).Finally some warmer weather.Started 2x1117 Northrup,2x507 Dill yesterday,2x594 Towne today.   Saturday, May 10 View Page One 1117 Northrup up in two days.Fastest for me this year.   Sunday, May 11 View Page Two 507 Dill up in 3 days.Need to repot the 2nd 1158 Keim as it's going to a country plot this week.Same for the 1024 Northrup but a second repotting.Gets tricky when the vine is laying down,lol....we need 4 hands.Super weather for a change.   Sunday, May 11 View Page 1024 Northrup at 28 days.Starting to pick up with nice weather.Heating cables were put in too deep.Plant was a lighter green a few days ago,1-2 floppy leaves.Drenched with fish,luck with weather.   Friday, May 16 View Page 594's up in 3,4 days...2nd 1117 Northrup up in 3 days...390 Gerry(08?)(904 Stelts selfed) up in 4,6 days.... a few 1386 Horton to be started tonight.   Friday, May 16 View Page Tilling plot at growing partner Pete's place.Ten yards of fertilizer every year from the riders in the background.   Friday, May 16 View Page 1024 Northrup planted.   Friday, May 16 View Page Electic fence reinstalled.One more wire to put at 7ft.   Friday, May 16 View Page 1158 Keim planted at my growing partner cousins Louise and Adelaide's place.   Friday, May 16 View Page 1158 Keim   Monday, May 19 View Page 507 Dill,1117 Northrup planted yesterday at my cousins'.390 Gerry to be planted today.Waiting for 1386's to germ.   Monday, May 19 View Page 1625 Gantner   Monday, May 19 View Page 1024 Northrup   Tuesday, May 20 View Page 2 x 110 Schweigert up in 3 days.Guaranteed dark orange,nice shape....for my grower friend Danny.   Friday, May 23 View Page 1024 Northrup at 43 days.Drenched with Rootshield.   Friday, May 23 View Page 1626 Gantner at 36 days.Want to do a 1024 x 1625 cross.Lots of big 1495 in both plants with some 1634 in the 1024.   Saturday, May 24 View Page 1386 Hortons germinated in 4,5 days...Started a 658 Henkin,912 Minor,966 Horton,979 McMillan for a fellow with a plant nursery and a few livestock.We gave him some smaller orange punmpkins for a road display last year.Hopefuly he'll grow big orange.He has the space and the right soil mix.   Wednesday, May 28 View Page Those two 1386 Hortons are aggressive plants.Two true leaves already,roots all over the place.Will plant tomorrow.I've had good luck this year,peeling away the peat pots,untangling roots,at planting.I hold the soil clump up a little,in the planting hole,fill in the soil with the roots hanging,to get a vertical start to the taproot.   Friday, May 30 View Page 1024 Northrup.First female at the far end.This plant is going.   Wednesday, June 4 View Page 1024 Northrup.A few females to open this week.   Saturday, June 7 View Page First pollination on the 1024 yesterday.Selfed but open.I really didn't think the flower looked ready to open and it was a cool night..but what do I know,lol.Don't think anyone grows squash in this neighbourhood and if they did,no flowers yet in this cool,rainy spring.....One of the 896 McMillans is one chuncky plant.Main is one foot long but at six inches,it's one inch wide.   Sunday, June 8 View Page 896 McMillan....Finally summer(sun,heat)is here.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page If the 896 does really well,maybe its the rocket vapours.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 1024 in my 150 sq ft plot.   Wednesday, June 11 View Page 1625 Gantner   Wednesday, June 11 View Page Growing partner Pete's view from his deck.   Thursday, June 12 View Page My backup 1625 Gantner,now as a genetics plant,4x20ft eventually.The vines are yellow,unlike the other 1625(all green).Maybe an orangie on the way.Throwing out a few females as it's sister.   Thursday, June 12 View Page 249 Beachy(1725 selfed),to be used as a pollinator.Liked this plant last year but couldn't get a fruit to maturity on it or on the 444 Beachy(another 1725 selfed).The 444 was possibly the thickess vined, more aggressive plant I have grown.Want to cross the 249 into the 896 McMillan,1677 x 1725,which produced my PB.   Friday, June 13 View Page Second pollination today on the 1024 Northrup at 11ft,selfed.The snakevine 1625 Gantner next to the 1024 has been putting out some mature males.Last year the same thing happened,same spots,the snakevine in this case was much younger.Wonder if these plants work together sometimes?I will be doing the reverse cross though...The first pollination,open,on the 1024 took but I cut it off as the female was at 7ft.Next pollination at 14 ft but I'll have to do a 360 with the main as I'm running out of room in the 150 plot....antway it's Friday the 13th so my luck should be good,lol   Thursday, June 19 View Page Third pollination,selfed,yesterday on the 1024 Northrup,150 contest plant.Main vine has been turned 180,running out of room.Females all over this plant.Afew secondary options before the turn.If Igo with the next female on the main,I'd havethe fruit on top of the main at 6ft.Not a great choice.The second pollination is shiney.Long stems   Thursday, June 19 View Page First pollination at 10 ft on the 1625 Gantner(x 1024).Some of the main at 6-7ft has been chewed by a rodent.First time for me.About 30% crosscut.Will see how things go.A few options on secondaries before cut.Lots of females appearing.Should have some long secondaries,6-9 ft out for fruit support.Stong rooting along main.   Monday, June 23 View Page 150 ft contest plant.23in.leaves on this 1024 Northrup.Two sets are healthy.Thick vines,well rooted.Neighbour has to add extra water to the pool for some reason this year.   Monday, June 23 View Page 1625 Gantner.I cut the main before the cross cut.Didn't want to wonder about that damage all summer.Convenently a secondary right there.Has become the main,two females to open soon(right side of plant)   Thursday, June 26 View Page Decision time in a week.Fruit on 1024 Northrup at 14 days,11ft   Thursday, June 26 View Page Second fruit on 1024,8 days.This one is catching up.Maybe not a hard decision.Third fruit would be OK as I moved the vine to the other side of the main(180 turn already done)   Thursday, June 26 View Page First pollination on the trained secondary-for-a-main at 10ft,tomorrow(x 1024).Vine is growing fast .Glad I cut the main before damaged spot.   Saturday, June 28 View Page 1625 with the trained secondary on a roll.   Saturday, June 28 View Page Area od damage on 1625.Secondary much thinner than end of main.But not for long...   Saturday, June 28 View Page 1625 farther down new main.   Saturday, June 28 View Page 1625 genetics plant at 50 sq ft.Not much room to do S curves.This set(x1024) looks healthy.I'll train another secondary as a backup.Both 1625's pollinated with my best plant,1024 Northrup.   Monday, June 30 View Page Second pollination on the 1625(x1024).First looks good.Pollination on snakevine,shiney softball.Culled a fruit from the 1024.Not the one I had thought a few days ago.The earlier pollination is dominating,super shiney,growing faster.Country plants at 3ft.896 has a female appearing at 9ft.   Tuesday, July 1 View Page Happy Canada Day   Thursday, July 3 View Page 1625 Gantner genetics plant,50 sq ft(x1024)   Thursday, July 3 View Page 1024 Northrup(selfed) at 20 days.Orange streaks in this one.   Thursday, July 3 View Page Country growing partner,cousin Louise   Thursday, July 3 View Page 1158 Keim   Thursday, July 3 View Page 1117 Northrup   Thursday, July 3 View Page 507 Dill   Thursday, July 3 View Page 594 Towne...Raised bed as this is the Okeepanokee Swamp in May   Thursday, July 3 View Page 1386 Horton   Monday, July 7 View Page 896 McMillan.Lots of females appearing.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1024 Northrup at 25 days,77cc.Always covered with a white sheet.   Saturday, July 12 View Page 1024 Norhtrup all tucked in.88cc on day 29.I could have a PB with this one   Saturday, July 12 View Page 1625 Gantner 50 sq ft plant.55cc   Saturday, July 12 View Page The 1625 Gantner larger plant has a fruit at 44cc at 17 days.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page Pollination on the snake vine 896 with the 1024 on Sunday past.Today,pollination on the larger 896 plant with the 249 Beachy,at 15ft.The cross I wanted to make.   Friday, July 18 View Page Actually a few ago my trailer bearings were smoking after a weighoff.Wheel fell off as I was pulling in.That was it for trailers.Bought a pickup,fortunately not with the 50 bucks I won,lol   Friday, July 18 View Page My best plant in the country,594 Towne with an open set at 11ft.Raised bed worked.Looks like I may loose the 507 Dill to disease.In a usually drier spot but not this rainy summer.   Friday, July 18 View Page One of the last plantings of the year,the second 1386 Horton is catching up fast.In a dry spot,only one I have watered in the country,a new patch on the edge of property.Need to develop this spot more for next year.   Saturday, July 19 View Page 1625 Gantner on 310 sq ft,67cc   Saturday, July 19 View Page 1625G on 50 sq ft,61cc   Sunday, July 20 View Page Second pollination on the 896 snakevine,this time with the 249 Beachy......896(1678x1725)x249(1725 2x self)   Tuesday, July 22 View Page Second pollination on the 896 larger plant with the 390 Gerry(904 selfed).Pollination on the 1158 Keim,also with the 390....1625 small plant averaging 5lbs a day,larger plant-9 lbs,1024-10 lbs.   Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1024,104cc on day 39.Thought I might have a PB August21st,Champlain Valley Fair.Not so sure now but if it's still growing in a month,I'm thinking to let it continue,take another pumpkin to the fair.Happy with 9lb/day average on the 150 contest plant.   Thursday, July 31 View Page An orange one on the 594 Towne,basketball size.Still too much rain this summer.Looks like I will lose 3 plants.Some premature yellowing on older leaves on a few other plants.507 Dill making a comeback with dark green growth.1386 Horton and 594 best of the country plants.   Thursday, August 7 View Page 1024 Northrup,115cc,150 contest plant.   Thursday, August 7 View Page Not a beauty but rock solid   Thursday, August 7 View Page 1625 Gantner,88cc   Monday, August 11 View Page The 2 896's are infected with downy mildew.I didn't catch it in time,should have rotated with two products.Same for the 1024.1625 has a bit.Maybe I'll get lucky with the 1625.Powdery mildew was the main culprit for many years.Non of that now.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page The downy mildew has really slowed the growth of the 1024 and 1625.Happy that this year is better than last,lol.Feel confident about growing PB's in the future,in small plots.259 OTT for the 1024 but thumping even heavier.214 for the 1625.I lost a week or two after having to train a secondary.Fruit reminds me of the fruit I had last year on the 249 Beachy(1725H selfed twice.Think I should grow my cross(x1024)next year.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page 150 patch under the weather   Tuesday, August 12 View Page For better,for worse,in sickness and in health,we stand(I wish)beside our pumpkin.   Tuesday, August 12 View Page 1625   Thursday, August 14 View Page A seed you can count on...(1382B x 1432N)   Saturday, August 16 View Page Growing partner Pete's place.   Sunday, August 17 View Page Lucky pumpkin-growing horseshoe Terry Keim gave me.....new treatment has slowed the downy mildew on the 1024 and 1625.The 896's are too far gone though.   Thursday, August 21 View Page Getting too old to lift these pumpkins....block and tackle from Carquest-Jet.Lifting ring from Lee.   Sunday, August 24 View Page Time to enjoy the pumpkin even if it shut down early to downy mildew.1625 Gantner x 1024 Northrup....Wellington County dark ale-good things happen there,a world record weighoff site.   Sunday, August 24 View Page blossom end   Sunday, August 24 View Page oops...actually Wellington weighoff in Prince Edward County...beer was good though...   Monday, August 25 View Page Maybe a little more growth in this super weather.Stump and vine are healthy.Not much change last week but weather was cooler.I'm thinking about 400lbs as the fruit is really solid.At least I'm 200lbs more than last years 150 contest effort,lol.   Wednesday, August 27 View Page A young girl came to visit recently.When she saw the covered fruit,she asked,"Is the pumpkin sleeping?".....apparently the sheet covers don't protect against crows.Might have lost a 3 week old fruit on the 1386 Horton.Late planted,an aggresive plant.Both 1386's have resisted disease the best,for any number of reasons,but something to consider.I will grow the seed again.Thanks Wilbur,for the extras...The 1024 plant in the pic not much to look at but I like to admire the vine at this point,on these AG's...This 1024 fruit shape is not pretty but there is varience in the plant.The fruit I cut off which was not dominating,had a nicer shape.Think I will have to grow this selfed version,if only to see the next shape,lol.   Friday, August 29 View Page The snakevine 1625 Gantner x 1024...around 100 lbs....little momma with big daddy in the background...   Tuesday, September 2 View Page 226 OTT for the 1625...265 OTT for the 1024...darn downy mildew-hot days now in September...   Thursday, September 11 View Page Not a good sign when fall prep starts this early lol   Thursday, September 11 View Page Not so bad collecting ferts from these two.   Thursday, September 11 View Page Second trip,now to dairy farmer friend Danny....one coffee,lots of muffins.   Thursday, September 11 View Page wrong pick...Pete,Joanne and I were enjoying the view from the deck after a barbecue.   Thursday, September 11 View Page (coffee and muffins)   Thursday, September 11 View Page 507 Dill at Danny's   Thursday, September 11 View Page No mice around here....   Thursday, September 11 View Page Not big but rock solid   Friday, September 19 View Page Frost protection at growing partner Pete's,about 1000 sq ft.Worked fairly well but not leaves touching plastic.Was -2C or 28F.   Thursday, September 25 View Page Lifting ring made by Lee.   Thursday, September 25 View Page next moves....   Thursday, September 25 View Page Miller time....   Tuesday, September 30 View Page 150 contest pumpkin,1024 Northrup,VT weighoff.   Thursday, October 2 View Page 1625 Gantner at 239.5 OTT,333 UOW,+7%   Thursday, October 2 View Page Green ones are thick.   Tuesday, December 2 View Page Enjoying the sun and plots.No snow here even though lots in the country.At least it's cold,-10C,14F..to get rid of some pathogens....   Tuesday, December 2 View Page Seed choice for the 2015,150 sq ft plot.   Thursday, December 4 View Page Sun is low these days.Not much direct sun on plot.   Wednesday, December 31 View Page Been a really easy winter so far.Only one snowstorm,a good one,but we're back to this.And in 90 days.....