Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 128 Entries. Monday, January 6 View Page -51 wind chill this am. They were forcasting -63 wind chill for our area, I guess at this point it really doesn't matter because they are both really cold. Spent the day catching up on bubbles since I haven't done a thing with seeds since before the holidays. I am all but out of 1734.5 seeds for 2014 now. Kept some reserves for next year but that is pretty much it. If you are looking for a 1734.5 for this year there are a few coming up on Auction yet and the St Croix Growers Association has a few left on their site I heard. Happy New Year to everyone!   Monday, March 10 View Page Got up to 40 on Sunday and the snow settled enough that I can see my 5'8" patch fence. Last week it was not visible and we could drive the snowmobile over the top of it on the back side. The Turkey's are digging down to get the cobs on my standing corn on the front side...a sure sign of spring.   Monday, April 14 View Page Weather remains crap here but the patch is finally clear of snow. No signs of cover crop growth yet. Going to start my Pumpkin seeds on the 27th this year. This is a week later then the last few years but all my back ups/late starts did much better last year. Watermelon and Tomato plants are up.   Monday, April 28 View Page Got a great start to the year going. Cole tested all 15 sets of soil cables while I was in Detroit last week and they all worked. I haven't stepped foot in the patch yet but I see the cover crop has barely started growing. Soil temp outside the patch is 40. It has been raining the last three days and we are up to just short of 4 inches.   Monday, April 28 View Page On a more positive note I lost both 350 Kent's and both 274 Kent Grafted plants to damping off. Someone decided to flood them with water and then flood them again when they started looking like they were dying while I was in Detroit last week. Neither of my 239 Leonard Seeds germinated. So if anyone has a good melon plant or 4 they are not going to use, I am looking.   Wednesday, April 30 View Page Took a peak today since it has been 2.5 days and I see a 1734, 1779 and 1623 broke dirt this AM. Germinated 21 of 21 seeds in the incubator, so they should all be pushing dirt by tomorrow AM. Well, maybe not the squash seeds and the 220's. They are slower out of the shoot and could be two more days.   Wednesday, April 30 View Page A little action shot from Lake Erie. Got to love trolling up Lake Erie walleye. If I lived there I would be able to catch bigger walleye and grow bigger pumpkins. Big difference in climate:-)   Friday, May 2 View Page Squash Lineup is set. 996 Haist, 1135 Jutras, 1037 Jarvis. All are up and doing well. Hoping to get them in the patch before Tuesday if things dry out.   Monday, May 5 View Page Till, remove top soil, broadfork subsoil, lay heating cable and repeat 11 more times. Done   Monday, May 5 View Page Backfill with Compost and soil mixture, remove stakes and repeat 11 more times. Done   Monday, May 5 View Page Saturday and Sunday we had sun both days so the plants were outside all day. One advantage to starting later is getting the chance to get the plants outside early in their growth. When I am able to do this they seem to handle the transition to the patch much better. Less heat stress and sunburn. The 1779 Werner and 1734 Steil seem to be the fastest growers right now, followed by the 1623 Wallace and 1676 Daletas. Three late backups were started Friday night also.   Monday, May 5 View Page Finally, the Tomato plants got a day of sun also. I have 13 plants that will go in this week I hope. This is a mixutre of 6.83, 6.57 and 6.01 Boudyo plants.   Tuesday, May 6 View Page Nine pumpkin plants, three squash and one Watermelon in the ground so far. Thirteen tomato plants going in on Thursday afternoon. Temps are getting back to close to average now.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page Spent the weekend in Sturgeon Bay fishing Smallmouth, walleye and Salmon. Just a great weekend of fishing with my dad, son and a few friends. Here are a few Kings from Lake Michigan. On a pumpkin note we had a very hard frost last night but the heaters did their job it looks like.   Wednesday, May 14 View Page Caught the biggest smallie of my life also. Those Sturgeon Bay fish are impressive! It took better than a 6 pound average smallie to win the tournament out there last weekend.   Monday, May 19 View Page 14 Tomato plants went in yesterday. Five 6.01, Five 6.57 and Four 6.83 Boudyo. As for the AG's at least one 2009, one 1779, two 1734, one 1676 and two 1623 have all made the cut. Squash will be two 1037, one 1135 and one 996.   Monday, June 2 View Page Here are the Boudyo Tomato plants. They are doing well with the nice weather we have had. If it ever dries out now I may actually get at the weeds and get to till in the cover crop.   Monday, June 2 View Page The Pumpkins are doing well with the nice weather also. All of them are out of the cold frames and into 10 x 10 screen enclosures made with 40% shade cloth. The shade cloth structure helps protect them from the sun, and wind and also a little with bug pressure. This is a 1623 Wallace which is pretty much the same as all the other plants in the patch right now.   Monday, June 2 View Page This is the 1734 Steil plant from 5/30. It is currently the leader of the pack. Just like mom, this one seems like it is going to split its stem in several spots. Not sure why it does that but it doesn't seem to slow it down at all. I worried last year when my 220 (mom) kept splitting her stem at first but the plant remained aggressive all year and the stem splits healed up. I guess that is one way to make sure you don't get water built up in them stem..LOL   Tuesday, June 3 View Page We ended May with 6.3 inches of Rain in the last 12 days. Patch is still wet but workable. The 35 MPH winds all day yesterday did some minor leaf damage but for the most part the screen houses really did the job. The competition Field Pumpkins went in today. Everything is finally in the patch. My 209 Werner Field Pumpkin germinated but then did not want to grow. I am still trying to baby it along but for now I replaced it with the 128 Werner. Nice to finally have everything in the ground. Lets grow!   Monday, June 9 View Page This is the patch as of Saturday. It continues to rain here....a lot! I have been fighting fungus already because the plants never get a chance to dry out. Sunday it was almost dry enough to till so I did a final till near the plants removing the shade/wind/hail structures. Later this week I will do my final till along the fence lines and then the patch gets pretty much closed up. Also, later this week I will lay 2.3 Miles of Drip tape, I actually did the math, no lie. On a sad note, I lost my 1037 Jarvis Squash plant to GSB. I have never used so much Fungicide this early but it has been the wettest spring ever for us. If we don't get a dry strech I am worried I will start losing more plants as I don't think roots do well in Muck despite the best fungicides available.   Monday, June 16 View Page This is the only good thing about all the rain. We had just over 5 inches between Saturday night and Sunday AM. The strawberry plants are loaded, so it will be a great couple weeks of picking. The pumpkins however and totally saturated and can't take anymore rain. I still have not watered once this year and can't get the drip tape layed because the patch is to wet. The plants in the lowest spots are showing signs of minimal growth compared to the ones that are a little higher. The 1734 and 1676 are by far the best two plants so far.   Thursday, June 19 View Page Did the normal routine this morning. Check the Rain Guage...another 3/4 inch. Put the wind protection back up...50 MPH wind. Check the plants for rolled vines, just a few. Hail...None. Pretty much been a daily routine. What is with this East Wind anyways??? I have come up with new standards of what to complain about. Unless it is 70 MPH wind, Golf Ball size hail or 5 plus inches of rain I will just consider it the new normal this year.   Monday, June 23 View Page First pollination of the year for me. 1734 Steil x 1676 Daletas. These have been my best two plants for quite some time so they are getting crossed. The 1676 gets pollinated tomorrow and the plan on that one is the 2009. If we get to 10AM without Rain today, that will be the first 24 hour period without any rain in a couple weeks for us. Still no drip tape down, but it is on the agenda for the next couple days as forecast calls for minimal rain fnally.   Tuesday, June 24 View Page This is Tomato Row on the East end of my patch. I went with landscape fabric with Drip Tape underneath and then mulch on the edges of the fabric to hold it down. Plants are starting to Bloom now. They are planted in order 6.01, 6.57, 6.83 then it starts again 6.01, 6.57, 6.83 all Boudyo. Next task is trying to figure out what one is a "keeper".   Monday, June 30 View Page Plants have responded well to the dryer weather. We did get an inch of Rain on Friday but I can handle that amount. Most plants have a couple vines terminated now and have a pollination on them. Both Squash, 6 pumpkin and one Watermelon pollinated so far. I will get updated pictures tonight after the rest of the drip tape is layed and the shade structures are adjusted.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page We finally got a break from the wind today. Three straight days of 25-30 MPH winds, even at night. It just did not let up. The plants took a beating but overall still are doing great. The following pollinations seem to have taken and are the only pollinatino on the plant: 1623 x 2009, 1734 x 1676, 1676 x 2009, 2009 x 2328, 1779 x 2009, 1779 x 1734. However, there are several plants with nothing set yet and with the cool temps it is going to be a while.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Here is the 1734 Steil with the pollination set. That is the 1734 x 1676 you see under the shade protection at day 9. Plant has been a great grower, no complaints. Nitrates were a little high to start the season, which you can see but we are rolling along. That is Cole's 1623 in the Background, which is behind the better plants. It is sitting in the wettest part of the patch.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Here is the 1676 Daletas with a pollination (1676 x 2009) set at day 8. Just like the 1734, plant has been an excellent grower. Just got my tissue test back on the 1676 and the 1734 so may need to tweek a few things but otherwise doing great.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page This is the 1779 Werner which has two pollinations on. The first is the 1779 x 1734 and the second is the 1779 x 2328. I don't usually pollinate two on a plant but had a little extra pollen the other day. No complaints with either of the 1779's I have growing.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page Here are the Long Gourd's which are heading to the sky. I built the trellis 12ft tall with high hopes. I really don't know what I am doing with them but there are 4 plants with mains shooting to the sky. I will figure it out as I go.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page This is the only Melon I have set right now, the 297 Kent x Self. I am not really liking the shape of this one so it may get pulled. We are way behind with Melons because of the cool temps we have had but, again, we will get it figured out somehow.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page I have really enjoyed growing the Giant Tomato plants so far. I have always grown about 20 plants for canning but this year I went with 14 giants and 6 for canning. This is a really nice mega bloom on one of my 6.01 Boudyo. I have several tomato growing but it took me a while to figure out just what a really good mega bloom looks like. The stem holding this bloom is over a half inch thick, which has to be a good thing. Thanks PA-J for the help!   Thursday, July 3 View Page Going to break several records in the next few days...smallest day 10 measurements ever for my patch. Been really cold here the last couple days.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page This is a set on the 6.01 that I am keeping. Most of my plants are down to one now. I have enjoyed growing these tomato plants now hopefully one of them grows big and heavy.   Tuesday, July 15 View Page This is the 996 Haist Squash at day 10. I have a great feeling about this one. The plant has been a great grower and very aggressive. Day 10 was 33 inches which dwarfs all the pumpkins I have going. Apparently squash like cold wet weather.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page Actually took pictures last night of most of the kins and squash since it is mid July. So here we go. This is the 1734 x 1676 and it is the oldest in the patch at 23 days. It has the same nice front side that the 1734 had. Hopefully it continues to grow and grow like mom.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page This is the 1623A plant x 2009 and today is Day 10. I have not measured yet but I would guess about 22 inches, similar to the rest of my Days 10's this year which have been low.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 1676 x 2009 on Day 22. This has been a great growing plant and slow growing pumpkin. I don't like the back end of this one but at the pace it is growing it should hold together just fine.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1734B plant x 2009 and I scuffed the skin on this one with the winter blankets. It should make a really nice scar as it gets older. Today is D9 on this one.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 2009 x 2328 doing well. It has great shape, no complaints other than I have a lot of plant yet to grow on this one. Got to like the cross!   Wednesday, July 16 View Page The 1135 squash x self......very slow growing!   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1779 x 2328 and doing well. I removed the earlier pollination on this one so this one is enjoying being the primary fruit on the vine now and picking up pace.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1623 x 1734 just getting started. Hasn't even graduated to mill fabric yet but glad to have a set going on all plants now.   Wednesday, July 16 View Page Just about forgot the 1779A plant x 2009. Big plant already and had a slow growing set that got cut off. Plant is almost terminated already and this one is at D13 and growing better now that it is the only one on the vine. I didn't go with many of my early sets because of the run of cold weather we are finishing today. I am betting on better days ahead...and a nice September.   Friday, July 18 View Page 1734B Plant and 1623C plant are both 7/7 pollinations and their day 10's are both 29.5 inches. I don't put much stock into day 10's but that is closer to what I normally have Day 10. The warmer weather yesterday has helped pick up growth considerably but the early stuff is almost to far behind to make up the needed ground.   Monday, July 21 View Page Actually saw some leaf burn today outside the shaded areas. First time this year. Hoping the predicted severe weather misses us tonight as things are just starting to grow.   Tuesday, July 22 View Page My 1632A 7/6 pollination took on this shape, which is ideal for growing a giant. LOL Since the plant was gettting big I pollinated two on side vines on July 9th. This weekend I cut this disaster off and the main and plant all the way back to the side vine with a 7/9 pollination. The secondary has been repositioned as the new main.   Tuesday, July 22 View Page This is my only set on the 297 Kent. I did not like the shape earlier but it seems to have filled in now. It is growing very fast so I am all in on it. Now I just need to come up with a program to feed it.   Wednesday, July 23 View Page Here is the 996 Haist Squash. Today is Day 20 on this one and it has been doing 30 pounds a day the last couple days. I will wait until Day 30 to post numbers but it is the biggest day 20 in my patch. I don't know the growth curve on these things but the plant is amazing. Pretty much all terminated already and very healthy. We'll see if we can keep it going but in all my years of growing, this is the best plant I have ever grown. Maybe squash are just that way but it sure is fun.   Thursday, July 24 View Page Here is the Main Vine Pollination on the 81 Wolf x Sibb. This plant is on the outside of the wind fencing, the other is on the inside. This 81 Plant is throwing supper long females compared to the other Field Pumpkin Plants. I have another pollination on the First Secondary to try to keep this one from blowing up which is selfed.   Friday, July 25 View Page We started the year very wet and then went completely dry here. We finally got just under a half inch of Rain this AM. I am affraid the patch was a little to dry going into that rain, hopefully I don't here the dreaded "Pop" tonight. Pumpkin growth has picked up enough with the heat that it could actually happen.   Monday, July 28 View Page The 297 Kent is growing pretty well yet but slowing down with the cool weather. There is no doubt melons like the heat. This one weighs 100 pounds today, which is way ahead of last year but I didn't have anything set until mid July last year. I have all 4 keepers picked now on the 4 plants.   Monday, July 28 View Page Here is the picture.   Monday, July 28 View Page This is the 996 Haist at Day 24 with a cc of 92 and it continues to grow well. It is still keeping pace with the pumpkins...hopefully at Day 70 it is still doing that. I had my model helping me in the patch over lunch so we took a few pictures.   Monday, July 28 View Page This is the 1676 that I said was growing so slow a while back. It has really ramped up and is quickly making up ground. Today is day 34 and the cc is up to 123. Considering it had an OTT of 141 day 20 I have been really happy with the growth.   Monday, July 28 View Page This is the 1734 from the wet part of the patch. This one will have to grow until day 120 in order to be something. The soil is just to wet in the bottom of the patch. It does not have the shape I was looking for either. There are some 1734's growing that have perfect shape though, I just picked the wrong keeper.   Monday, July 28 View Page This is the 2009 and it is really growing well. Certainly living up to the 2009 reputation. Day 27 today and the cc is 109 and on pace to have a really nice day 30. The cold slows this one down some but far less then the other plants are effected by it.   Monday, July 28 View Page Last for today is 1623C Plant. This is the fastest grower in the patch. Today is Day 21 and the cc is 86. Based on the size of the plant and how aggressive it is, this could be one of those that blow up. But, that is why I have 3 1623 plants going. Actually I have 3 because Cole had intensions of growing one but decided to play baseball this year so he is not growing. That leaves dad with three 1623 plants and no help in the patch. Hopefully one sees the finish line. In the background is the 1779. I have two 1779's growing and they started extremely slow but are slowly ramping up. They are going to have to pick up the pace though to be something in the end.   Wednesday, July 30 View Page I have two 81 Wolf Field Pumpkin Plants going and one of them is throwing the longest fruit I have ever seen. I could probably pass the pollinations off as zucchini. Hopefully that equals pounds in the end. The other one has shorter thicker fruit.   Wednesday, July 30 View Page I had an interesting passenger in my truck yesterday. It was not happy being in the back seat and tried to join me in the front.   Wednesday, July 30 View Page The 1676 that has really been ramping up developed a vine split yesterday at 600 pounds. I did minor surgury then Fungicide and a fan. This AM the split is significantly bigger towards the vine but it did not go any further into the pumpkin. Will try to keep it dried out and hope it heals.   Friday, August 1 View Page Here is my first tomato to reach the 20 inch mark. I took it out of its holder long enough to snap a quick picture then back in. It is on the 6.01 and still growing well. It looks like I should have several reaching the 20 inch mark by next week. Hopefully they keep growing.   Monday, August 11 View Page My Graft we bad so the plant is getting pulled tonight. Melon was only around 80 pounds or so. Win some you lose some.   Monday, August 11 View Page This young Field pumpkin was flying along and over 100 pounds already but there was no chance the shape was going to last. It was the second pollination on the 81 Wolf Plant. The Pumpkin set on the main has much better shape much better chance to be something. But, I tend to blow these things up so we will see.   Monday, August 11 View Page This is my 81 Wolf x 103 Mackinnon main vine set and it is the faster growing field pumpkin I have ever grown. It is still very young so lets hope we can keep it together but with a 80" CC I am hoping it has beat my personal best already.   Monday, August 11 View Page This is my 297 Kent x Self and is the biggest melon in the patch....but also the oldest. I am down to three melon plants due to losing both of my grafted plants. This one has a 81" CC and is growing nicely again. We had three cold days that brought this one to a screeching halt but it has now found a higher gear. Nothing near what it had been growing at before it slowed but still on pace to be a personal best of me.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page Here is my pumpkin Model with her favorite pumpkin the 1676 after it crossed the 1000 pound mark a couple days ago. Still rolling along nicely and has been a great plant to grow. Dealing with some challenging stem splits but otherwise all good.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page This is the 2009 x 2328. This 2009 is also the pollinator for the above 1676, I think I forgot to mention that. Today is Day 43 and we should have eclipsed the 1000 pound mark also. I don't measure until day 45. Plant and pumpkin both doing well. We got over two inches of rain two days ago so that should slow everything down for a couple days but this one has been a very consistant grower since day 20, hopefully that continues.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page This is 1623c x 1734 and it is only at Day 37 today. I like the look and shape of this one and it really seems to be picking up the pace. Won't measure until day 40 but should be around that 750 pound mark today.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page This is the 1779 x 2328 and this thing is a stone. I tried to move it when it was small and couldn't move it an inch. It tapes smaller then the rest, day 40 it was only 303 inches but I have a feeling this one is really, really heavy. I try to keep my pumpkins in good vine position so I move them occasionally, this one is stuck unless I get some serious help.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page I went home at lunch and the 6.57 Tomato on Plant 1 was turning orange. This was my first pollination and I didn't really know what a fused blossom was so I just went with it. I am hoping it makes 3 pounds, the cc is 21 1/8. If this one makes 3 pounds then I believe I have some that will be over 4 pounds coming. There are a couple other pollinations I did the same day so I suppose they will all start to ripen now. Going to walk over to the store and have it weighed this afternoon.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page 21 1/8 and I guess no matter what it weighs it will be a personal best since I have never grown giants before.   Wednesday, August 13 View Page Well, that was kind of exciting I guess 3.62 pounds. A new personal best and good news for the bigger ones that are still hanging on the plants. If they all ripen together based on pollination date then there will be several more coming in the next two days.   Thursday, August 14 View Page Last night I noticed a little orange on one of my 6.01 Boudyo frui, so this AM I went and picked it. This one was very hard to pick because the stem is down inside the fruit. Got it done safely after a much bigger job then anticipated. This is my daughter Jadyn's favorite one so she will be suprised when she notices it is gone when she wakes up this AM.   Thursday, August 14 View Page I couldn't wait because I know Jadyn will want to know the weight when she gets up. I am very happy with 4.34 as breaking the 4 pound barrier was my goal for the year. I think I may have a few even bigger but it is hard to tell on the plant. This is my first year growing these but I can see why people enjoy it. Thanks PA-J for your help earlier this year.   Friday, August 15 View Page This is the strangest weather for growing. We had over two inches of Rain on Sunday then very cold nights followed by very warm days. That took care of two giants. The cool nights are nice for growing Field Pumpkins but the warm days are getting to warm and they seem to be ripening early. I have never had to deal with such temperature swings between day and night. Usually cool is good for Field Pumpkins and Bad for the giants. Apparently huge tempature swings are bad for both. May have to come up with a different plan.   Monday, August 18 View Page Here is the 2328 x 2009 which is the reverse cross of the 2009 x 2328 I have going. This is a Clone of the plant Chris Stevens is growing. Actually not just a clone, it is his main. After Chris had a pumpkin safely set I drove down and he terminated his main at the pumpkin. I have been working for two week and getting this one rooted well enough to support a pumpkin and we are there I hope. In addition I have been using males from this one to pollinate some pumpkins on my better plants and then removing part of the plant supporting the new pumpkin. To early to tell if any have taken yet but I am really hoping to get a 1676 x 2328 off the 1676 I have going.   Monday, August 18 View Page Jadyn holding the 3.62 and the 4.34 grown on the 6.57 and 6.01 Boudyo respectively. I have another set on the same 6.01 that looks exactly like the 4.34   Thursday, August 21 View Page 81 Wolf x 103 Mckinnon is going to be my biggest field pumpkin ever. I have several others started, including on this plant but I am really happy with this one. Hopefully it puts on a few more inches before it totally ripens.   Thursday, August 21 View Page This is the 996 Haist at day 47 just under 750 pounds doing 24.7 a day yet. Hopefully it keeps growing for a while. Weeds have been sprayed but are being very stubborn.   Thursday, August 21 View Page This is the 1135 Jutras on day 42 and it is also just under the 750 pound mark, still doing 32.3 a day. The fruit seems very young looking and has a really nice color to it. Hopefully it holds together for the duration.   Thursday, August 21 View Page This is the 1623 Wallace x Self. This one is the best of the three 1623's I am growing. This is day 43 and the CC is 166 inches on this one. It is growing at an unreal pace, much higher than I actually like. But, if it keeps going and holds together it will be a really good one in the end. The 1623's definitely have a unique high gear to them that most seeds do not.   Thursday, August 21 View Page This is the 1676 x 2009 at Day 57. The CC is 175 inches and it is slowing down some. I has grown at a very good pace despite getting a very slow start. The huge stem splits have all healed over well now and it is that age where it is starting to get some character to it. I believe the estimated weight on this one is mid 1200's   Thursday, August 21 View Page This is the 2009 x 2328 and it has taken over as king of the patch at Day 52 with a CC of 180 inches. As you can see the plant on this one is faily small because this was a ribbon vine to start out that I had to cut all the way back the third secondary. This one is growing on a secondary trained as the main. I won't measure again until day 60 but I believe this one is just shy of 1300 pounds as it sits today.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page 48 Degrees this morning...I have no idea why the kids are complaining about being cold last night.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page Here is one off the 6.83 Boudyo. This seems to be my problem this year, everything is 4 pounds. I have one more left from my early sets and then it will be up to the 8 late ones I have set to try to top my 4.34 from earlier. May have to call Dan for some advice on getting these a little bigger.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is the 128 Werner Field Pumpkin. Quinn, I finally got a decent shape to one. I have been having trouble getting a good shaped one set but this one is growing really fast now. Hopefully it holds together. Our weather is cooling off now so hopefully this one grows for a while yet.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is the 297 Kent and it is the biggest melon in the patch still at 187 OTT. I have one set on my 167 from last year and one on the 275 Kent also. Both of those are growing at the same pace and are only at about 120 pounds right now. They will both run out of warm weather I have a feeling.   Thursday, August 28 View Page Here is the 996 Haist, thanks Karl! This one is sitting at about 850 pounds but has slowed down to about 15 a day now. It is getting a lot of shape and character to it at day 54.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is the 1135 Jutras and today is day 50, measuring day. This one is sitting at just over 900 pounds and still doing 24 a day. Hopefully it still has some growth in it, as the plant seems to be very healthy and vigorous. I also have a squash set on a tertiary off the back of this one 1135 x 2328. LOL Didn't want to waste a 2328 male I had a couple weeks ago.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is my other 1623 and it is a cracker...literally. It has kind of bad shape to it but is still growing alright. Today is day 50 also and it is only at 925 pounds. Not going to bust any scales but I kept it going because of where it is in the patch. I pulled my other 1623 because it was performing roughly the same and like to have that space in the patch.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is the good 1623 that is still rolling along. Today is day 51 and this one should be mid 1200's now based on yesterdays measurements. The back end is starting to get some very big bulges on it, doing 33.6 a day yet.   Thursday, August 28 View Page This is the 1676 and it does not have that nice mean look to it like Cecil's. I have a hard time believing it will go light but you never know. Today is day 64 of this one and it is down to about 20 a day sitting mid 1300's and starting to green up even though the picture does not show it.   Thursday, August 28 View Page The 2009 is now at day 58 and should be in the mid 1400's. I don't measure until day 60 but it was still doing 34 a day at day 55. I would imagine the last three cold nights shut it down big time but the plant is still very healthy so hopefully it can hold the gains for another 10 days.   Thursday, August 28 View Page The LG's are growing pretty well yet. I am still trying to figure out the growth curve on these things. I learned you don't want to start them anywhere but at the very top because as they grow the pull the plant down also and then you end up with this problem. Hitting ground while still growing. I have a plan though..lol That usually is not good.   Friday, August 29 View Page Had over two inches of rain during the night and more today. As I mentioned earlier today I was really worried about stuff splitting open. Well, it took care of my last 1779 alread so I will get measurements and an actual weight tomorrow. I don't ever keep seeds from a splitter but litterally every pumpkin in my patch and my 1135 squash look like they may blow at any moment so I am not putting this on the seed. The cross is the 1779 x 2338 and I will keep the seeds just in case. I guess the ones that can hold on are making big gains based on all cracking going on.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page Almost six inches of Rain over the holiday weekend, 5.8 to be exact. That has put a lot of stress on the remaining pumpkins. Hopefully they can hold on. I don't normally shut off the drip tape but it has not run since last Thursday. Thankfully we have gotten periods of sun and some wind yesterday to help dry things out. Been dealing with some rot and fungus but managing. Over the weekend I lifted and moved the remaining three pumpkins back from the vine to reduce the vine stress, so all 5 have been moved now. Looks as though we have a few good growing days left and then our temps will fall off which will slow everything down big time.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page The 1779 x 2328 ended up 1117.5 pounds so I guess that makes it the 1117.5 Steil 14 UOW. The good news for those growing the 1779 is that it went about 14% heavy based on the final measurements. I saved a bunch of seeds for those that want to take a chance on a splitter with good genetics next year.   Wednesday, September 3 View Page This picture is for Cojoe. This is the 1623 x 2328 growing on a tertiary vine off the 8th secondary. I let the teritiary go and pollinated the pumpkin. After the pumpkin was growing I cut off the tertiary at the pumpkin and then cut the secondary off where the tertiary came off the secondary. By doing this it included 4 or 5 full grown leaves on the secondary that are well rooted. The growth rate has been excellent but I don't it expect to get big obviously. This plant is also growing a 1623 x 2009 as the primary pumpkin. The leaves I left to push this pumpkin are those HUGE end leaves so it should be fine to the end.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page Forecasted low last night was 42 here and it must have got quite a bit colder because we had a hard frost this AM. I had 1/2 of the 2009 and 1623 plants covered plus the 2328 cutting but all the other plastic was laying next to the plants. I have a feeling the Melons and Field Pumpkins are done, which will be a shame! Dang   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is the 1623 last night before the frost. I had half the plant covered. Circumference is 203 on this one and it is still growing. It thumps very light still at day 70.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is the 2009 last night. Again, half the plant was covered and is still doing well. Circumference was 211 at day 76.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page The is the 1676 and it wasn't covered at all last night. It is still growing albeit very slowly now. Circumference is was 194 at day 83.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is the 996 Squash and I put it up on a pallet last night. It seems this one is going to go heavy as advertised 352 OTT on this one right now. Still growing but barely.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is the 1135 and it is at 371 OTT right now. This one is going to go light according to the "thump" test. Going to have to get that OTT up a lot to get a good weight out of it I am affraid.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page The 297 Kent does not like the frost every other night. It appears to be growing yet. It is at 196 OTT and I am hoping to get at least 200 inches out of it. This is not good melon growing weather.   Tuesday, September 16 View Page This is the best potential I have ever had in a Field Pumpkin. This is the 81 Wolf plant A. The CC on this one is 90 today and it is still rolling along well. Needless to say it isn't very old. These things actually like the cold weather. Hoping to get this one to at least 210 OTT but that is going to be totally weather dependend now.   Monday, September 22 View Page Here is the 141.5 Steil 14 (81 Wolf x Sibb) 6% Heavy. I have one other small Field Pumpkin that is done on this plant and one other one growing yet that has a lot of potential. This one is a personal best for me.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page Weighed my first squash this weekend at Sturgeon Bay, off the 996 Haist. Thanks Karl for the seed. It is now the 1049 Steil 14 (996 Haist x Self)and it went 9% Heavy, good enough for a new Minnesota State Record. I really enjoyed growing squash this year and look forward to giving it another try next year.   Friday, October 3 View Page Got an interesting passenger for traveling this weekend. Not much for conversation, weighs more than me and takes up a lot of room.   Monday, October 6 View Page Here is your new MN State Record Field Pumpkin and a really happy grower. The 189.5 Steil 14 (81 Wolf x Self) weighed at Anamosa Iowa this weekend. This same 81 Wolf Plant grew the 141.5 (81 Wolf x Sibb) I weighed earlier this year and the 123 (81 Wolf x Self) Exhibition pumpkin I weighed this weekend. Two more left for Stillwater and then the patch will be empty.   Monday, October 6 View Page The best part about winning in Anamosa is getting to be in the parade. My daughter Jadyn had a great time throwing candy. Despite the cooler weather, once again there were lots of people at the parade.   Monday, October 6 View Page Here is the 1666.5 Steil 2014 (1623 Wallace x Self). This one was only 81 days old when it was picked. I hated to cut it but it was such a late pollination and our weather right now is so bad for growing there wasn't much I could do. Was doing about 12 a day when I cut it, which is sad.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page This is the last AG pumpkin in the patch. The 2009 x 2328 and it is headed to Stillwater. It will be 100 days old on Friday when it gets cut. It has been up on a pallet since 9/25 to get it up off the cold wet ground. As you can see, the plant is pretty much done. Between the wind and cold and freeze we have had, there isn't much left. I can cover and heat the entire plant except when the wind blows 20 plus, which it has 4 or the last 5 days.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page Here is the 1135 Jutras squash and it is also headed to Stillwater. As you can see the plant on this one is looking great also. We are past the frost stage here and have been having "freezes". That isn't good for growing. You can see the 2328 plant in the background that I have been limping along until I can get it fully covered and heated. The only survivor on that one is the 2328 x 1667. Pollinator is the plant that grew my 1662 Steil 14 that was 12% heavy so I hope I can get this one to mature.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page Here is the 297 Kent, the remaining melon. I am hoping to get 200 pounds out of this one. It measures a little more but have a feeling its a little light, maybe I will be suprised.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page This is my 103 MacKinnon Field Pumpkin, it is going to be split open by tomorrow. I will weigh it in Stillwater no matter what since it was a pollinator on one of my 81 Wolf Pumpkins and it seems very heavy to chart. I have about 7 kinds on this plant that are all roughly the same size. Just couldn't get a good one set.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page This is the Field Pumpkin (81 Wolf x Self Plant B) I have had such high hopes for since early August. I am doing everything I can to keep it going but have a feeling I am losing the battle now. The cicumference on this one is 100 inches today which is crazy for a FP. No matter what it is getting cut for Stillwater so I can get the FP patch totally cleaned out.   Monday, October 13 View Page 1873 Steil 14 (2009 Wallace x 2328 Meier) new MN State Record.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page Here is a pictue of the 1036 Steil 14 (1135 Jutras x Self) which went quite a bit light. It was a really nice looking squash but apparently not very dense!   Tuesday, October 14 View Page Here is a better look at the 1873. Circumference was 218 inches and it has very smooth skin, like the 1725 Harp.   Tuesday, October 14 View Page Wow, just got the best gift a field pumpkin grower can get in the mail!! Thanks Joseph!!   Wednesday, October 15 View Page This is a picture from last night. From left to Right 1036 Steil 14 (1135 Jutras x Self) 1049 Steil 14 (996 Haist x Self) 1662 Steil 14 (1676 Daletas x 2009 Wallace) 1666.5 Steil 14 (1623 Wallace x Self) 1873 Steil 14 (2009 Wallace x 2328 Meier) The three Field Pumpkins in the middle left to right 141.5 Steil 14 (81 Wolf x Sibb) 197.5 Steil 14 (81 Wolf x Self) 124 Steil 14 (128 Werner x Self) The 189.5 Steil 14(81 Wolf x Self) and 125 Steil 14(81 Wolf x 103 MaKinnon) Field Pumpkins are on display at my office so they are missing as are the smaller AG's. Melon 211 Steil 14 (297 Kent x Self)   Thursday, October 16 View Page This is the 1662 Steil 14 (1676 Daletas x 2009 Wallace) and it went 12% Heavy. This was the best growing plant I have ever had. It had nice barrel shape and thick even walls. The pollinator grew the 1873 Steil 14.   Thursday, October 16 View Page It had the heavy look to it with lots of cracking on the front side. The Stem split around day 50 and was never an issue. The front of the pumpkin inside the stem was over 15 inches thick.   Thursday, October 16 View Page Side walls were thick and even and the meat had those green flecks you find in the "heavy" stuff. Seed count seemed poor to ok when I cut it open last night. Hopefully some of them are full.   Monday, November 3 View Page Got the 1873 Steil 14 opened up last week and it looked really good inside. Blossom was about as thick as a beer can. Seed count was decent also. All seeds are just about dry, just the two squash yet to do then I am done.