Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 112 Entries. Saturday, March 11 View Page I have a tradition of starting my Puyallup fair pumpkin on my birthday so March 11 is go day for my Pumpkin season. These are the seeds I am starting today.   Saturday, March 11 View Page The patch is tilled and I have most of the amendments in. I am waiting on some kelp meal and then I will put the plastic on the greenhouse.   Saturday, March 11 View Page Seeds are in the soil. The 1461 Rodebaugh, AKA Ruby is the seed I want to use for my first plant. The 739 Cook is also in my lineup so If I have a problem with Ruby I will make the 739 my first plant and see if I can beg Doc Rodebaugh for another 1461. The 665 Cook is the reverse cross of the 739 so I will use that one if the first two fail. My own seed and the 451 are just me being extremely cautious with backups.   Saturday, March 11 View Page And a picture of Ruby just in case anyone has there head in the sand and isn't aware of this amazing fruit.   Wednesday, March 15 View Page 5 for 5 on germinations.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Everything is looking good so far under the grow light. First true leaves are out.   Saturday, March 25 View Page The greenhouse is all ready to go.   Saturday, March 25 View Page got the soil heating cables installed.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Started my second batch of seeds today. The 1872 Sippel was my best performer last year so I am giving it another try.   Thursday, March 30 View Page Got the 1461 in the ground in the greenhouse.   Thursday, March 30 View Page Successful germination for the 1872 Sippel.   Friday, April 7 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh in the green house. Slow going so far but starting to kick it into gear.   Friday, April 7 View Page The 1872 Sippel on the right. Probably another week or so before I put it in the patch. On the left are two 739 Cooks that just germinated. This will be my third plant.   Friday, April 14 View Page Today I put the 1872 Sippel in the ground in the greenhouse. I turned up the heat in the room where I have my grow light. And there really is a marked improvement over where the 1461 was at this stage. Been doing this for 11 years and still learning.   Friday, April 14 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh has kicked it in to gear. Not sure if it got too cold or too hot but the first true leaf (the one on the right) got stunted and I think that's why it took the plant a while to get going.   Friday, April 14 View Page The two 739 Cooks are doing well under the grow light. I still need to set up my small hoop house and install the soil cable so I have a spot to put these in the ground.   Sunday, April 23 View Page I planted the 739 Cook in the small hoop house yesterday.   Sunday, April 23 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh in the foreground and the 1872 Sippel in the background. We have had a cooler than normal spring. Down into the mid thirties pretty much every night. The heat lamps have been a must this year.   Thursday, May 4 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh is on the ground and running. Things have not been as smooth as I would like. Got a little bit of heat damage on the older leaves and it was adventure getting the vine down to the ground.   Thursday, May 4 View Page The 1872 Sippel is seems to have had a better start than the 1461. Its on the ground as well.   Thursday, May 4 View Page I tilled the perimeter in the big greenhouse and laid down the irrigation lines. Ready for these two to take off.   Thursday, May 4 View Page The 739 Cook in the small hoop house. The 1st and second leaves stunted on this one. I am not sure if they needed to be hardened off better or if they fried with the heat lamp/ greenhouse. All three of my pants did this. 3rd and 4th leaves are looking good.   Saturday, May 13 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh is about 7.5 feet long. She has a female out in the tip already. The first few secondaries didn't do much but the later on ones are really starting to take off and I'll be burying those vines soon. Should have a fuller looking plant by next week.   Saturday, May 13 View Page the 1872 Sippel is about 5 feet long. Its progressing well.   Saturday, May 13 View Page both plants back to back in the greenhouse. It has been a challenge keeping the plants cool in our warmer than normal temps over the past couple days. It's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow and Monday. I am thinking I might roll up the plastic on the North side for a few days.   Saturday, May 13 View Page The 739 Cook in the small hoop house. Getting ready to vine out.   Saturday, May 13 View Page Last year I pollinated a Cinderella pumpkin with my plant that grew my 784.5 Radach. This is a seed from that that I am growing over in the vegetable garden. Should be interesting to see what it produces.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh is 11.5 feet long.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page This little gal is at about the 9 foot mark on the vine. A little early for her so I'll probably let her go without pollinating.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page This one is out near the tip and should be around the 13 foot mark on the vine when everything grows out. Should be ready early June. This will likely be the keeper.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page The 1872 Sippel is 9 feet long and doing great.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page The 1872 also has a pumpkin out in the tip it will probably be in the 13-14 foot range.   Tuesday, May 23 View Page The 739 Cook is looking healthy so far. It's about 4.5 feet long.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Polinated this one on the 1461 Rodebaugh this morning with the 1872 Sippel. The lobes are slightly misshapen and I was also low on Pollen. No males opened today so I used a Male from yesterday and one from Friday that I had stored in the fridge. I am hoping it takes because there isn't another female on the main until much further out and it will probably be a couple weeks before its ready.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Here is the 1461 plant   Sunday, June 4 View Page Here is the 1872 Sippel.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Here is the hopeful keeper on the 1872 I am guessing maybe 4-5 days until it blooms.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Here is the 739 Cook. I am so much happier with this plant than with the one I grew in this spot last year. Hoping that I can get 3 real nice fruit out of the patch this year.   Thursday, June 8 View Page Pollinated This one on the 1872 Sippel with the 1461 this morning. My first 3 lober. I learned recently that both the Tiger King and Maverick had 3 lobes so maybe it's a good thing.   Saturday, June 17 View Page Pollinated the 739 Cook with the 1461 Rodebaugh this morning. It's about 10 feet on the vine. I'd prefer one farther out but I'll take anything that sticks.   Saturday, June 17 View Page Here is the 739 Cook plant. I'll be taking off the plastic soon and installing the drip irrigation.   Saturday, June 17 View Page Things are going better on the 1872 Sippel. This is the keeper. Still a little too soon to know for sure if it took but it's looking promising at 8" circumference on day 9.   Saturday, June 17 View Page Here is the 1872 plant. After a great May, June has been a pretty miserable month weather wise. The majority of our days have had highs in the mid to upper 50's.   Saturday, June 17 View Page A side view of the greenhouse with the plastic rolled up. The 1872 Sippel is on the left and the 1461 Rodebaugh on the right.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Everything is going wrong with the 1461 Rodebaugh. The keeper didn't take and then the main vine got brittle from too much nitrogen and snapped off. I will have to settle for something on a side vine. I have several pollinations on side vines just waiting to see what takes and then I'll go with the one in the best location.   Friday, June 23 View Page pollinated the second on the main vine of the 1872 Sippel this morning. It's about 18 feet out right at the end of the greenhouse.   Friday, June 23 View Page Here is the first one on the 1872. It has me very confused. It should be WAAAY bigger than this at 15 days old but at the same time it is still growing so I can't really say it has aborted. Either way I am not sure that is ever going to be a quality pumpkin with a start like this. The weather has been horrendous and may be contributing. We finally had a couple of decent days but there was a run of a week and a half where we never hit 60 degrees.Frankly I am a little frustrated. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on how to grow these things. But I have had nothing but trouble since I moved to the new patch. I have grown 7 plants now and have yet to successfully set a pumpkin on a main vine. I even had Ron Wallace take a look at my soil test and he agreed everything looked great. Obviously something is up but I don't have a clue what the issue is.   Saturday, June 24 View Page After last week's disaster on the 1461, I have just started pollinating everything. I have 12 pollinated so far on side vines. The one on the left in this picture is probably the best one so far.   Saturday, June 24 View Page The first pollination on the 739 Cook still too soon to know for sure but is looking promising on day 6.   Monday, June 26 View Page This is the 2nd Pumpkin on the main vine on the 739 Cook. Pollinated this morning with the 1461 Rodebaugh.   Monday, June 26 View Page This is the first on the 739. 9.5" circumference on day 9.   Monday, June 26 View Page Here is the 739 plant with the two pollinations.   Monday, June 26 View Page Still working on picking a side vine keeper on the 1461 Rodebaugh. This one is growing the best at 11" Circumference on day 10.   Monday, June 26 View Page I am not too sure about the blossom end on it though that little divot at the base of the nub looks like it could be problematic.   Monday, June 26 View Page This one will be opening in the morning. I am hoping this will be the keeper because it is in a nice position out at the end of the greenhouse.   Monday, June 26 View Page The first main vine polination on the 1872 Sippel is still plugging along. Only a measly 16.5" circumference on day 18. Sure hoping the second pollination took.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Bit the bullet and culled the two biggest pumpkins out of my patch. The one on the left was on the 1872 Sippel. Something was wrong with it and it just never got rolling. The one on the right was on the 1461 Rodebaugh. It was growing well by my standards. At 50" circumference on day 22. However, it wasn't in the best spot in the green house and had a few things that concerned me about future splitting.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Here is the keeper on the 1461 Rodebaugh. It's at 19.5" Circumference on day 11.   Saturday, July 8 View Page the keeper on the 1461 is in a great spot right at the end of the greenhouse.   Saturday, July 8 View Page I have a few promising ones going on the 1872 Sippel. I love the shape of this one but the growth rate isn't great at 35" circumference on day 21. It is also on the 1st side vine and I am not sure that is the best spot for maximizing size.   Saturday, July 8 View Page This one is growing well at 29.5" circumference on day 14. It is kind of buried in the middle of the plant though and I would have to hack out a chunk of secondaries to access it.   Saturday, July 8 View Page This one is on the first node of a secondary right out at the end of the plant so it is essentially the same as a main vine polination. I'd like to go with it but it is young at 13" on day 8 so it will be several days before I know if it's the one.   Saturday, July 8 View Page The 1872 plant has filled up the greenhouse and the plant seems pretty healthy. Hoping to see some sustained pumpkin growth on this one.   Saturday, July 8 View Page looks like the first main vine polination on the 739 Cook will be the keeper as the next two down the line didn't set. It's looking like it's going to be a stunner and I couldn't be happier with the color. It's at 43.5" Circumference on day 21.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Here is the plant on the 739. It seems like the secondaries are shutting down and self terminating so I am not sure the plant will fill out the dirt area. Not sure how big the Pumpkin will get with such a small plant but we will find out.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Day 15 on the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 29.5"   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Day 25 on the 739 Cook. 58.75" Circumference, 139" OTT. Estimated weight 67 pounds.   Monday, July 17 View Page Day 30 on the 739 Cook. 76.5" Circumference 177.5" OTT Estimated weight 132 #s 5 day average 12.7 pounds per day. Not going to do much. Hoping for 500 pounds and a Howard Dill Award. The shape is starting to get a little wonky but the color looks top notch.   Monday, July 17 View Page Day 20 on the 1461 Rodebaugh 46.5" Circumference 117" OTT Estimated weight 43 pounds Not my biggest ever at Day 20 but it has a lot of healthy plant behind it so I am hoping for good things.   Thursday, July 20 View Page Day 20 on the 1872 Sippel Circumference = 46.5" OTT = 114.5" Estimated weight = 41 pounds. It's a little smaller than the 1461 was on day 20 but Its growing a bit faster and catching up.   Thursday, July 20 View Page And here is a surprise. My biggest fruit for its age is on my Hybrid plant over in the vegetable garden. This seed was from an 11 pound Cinderella Pumpkin crossed with the plant that grew mt 784.5 last year. Today is day 19 and it is at 117" OTT for an estimated weight of 43 pounds same size that my 1461 was on day 20. It is doing exactly what I was hoping it would do. Nice tall round shape with orange color. We will see how much size comes through from the AG genetics. Interesting to see the green striping on the blossom nub.   Thursday, July 20 View Page Here is the hybrid plant. 120 square feet and just about all terminated. The pumpkin in the previous pic is on the 3rd side vine on the left side of this photo hidden behind the leaves. I think I will grow 2 on this plant and try to grow the one in the middle of this pic Cinderella style.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Day 25 on the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 64" OTT= 159" Estimated weight = 97 pounds 5 day average = 10.8 pounds per day Could not be any more pleased with the shape, color and skin texture. Its early but I Love the chances of this one for a Howard Dill Award.   Saturday, July 22 View Page The plant on the 1461 Rodebaugh. I started my own little cloning project since the plant has about maxed out its space and the vines will all be terminated soon.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Day 35 on the 739 Cook Circumference = 92" OTT = 210" Estimated weight = 214 pounds 5 day average = 16.4 pounds per day Pretty bummed about the shape but stoked about the color. Its already as big as the pumpkin I grew in this spot last year. So that's a win I guess.   Saturday, July 22 View Page The 739 plant is really shutting down new growth. A few of the side vines are still growing a bit as I try to coax a little more size out of the plant.   Monday, July 24 View Page Bit of a windstorm today. Looks like I will be growing without a greenhouse the rest of the season.   Monday, July 24 View Page fortunately the Pumpkins are all unscathed and there was only a few leaves lost.   Monday, July 24 View Page Short of buying a more permanent greenhouse structure, I am not sure what to do to prevent this in the future. Something else to try to improve on next year.   Tuesday, July 25 View Page Day 25 on the 1872 Sippel. Circumference =67" OTT = 159.5" Estimated weight = 98 pounds 5 day average 11.4 pounds per day. It has edged just a hair bigger than the 1461 was on Day 25.   Tuesday, July 25 View Page The pumpkin on the Hybrid plant is at 73 pounds on day 24.   Thursday, July 27 View Page Day 30 for the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 79" OTT = 192" Estimated weight = 165 pounds 5 day average 13.6 pounds per day. We had a couple of days in the 60s with gray skies that really slowed down the growth. It did 11" in circumference from day 25 to 28 and then only 4" circumference from 28 to 30. Weather is getting nice again so it should pick back up.   Thursday, July 27 View Page Day 40 for the 739 Cook. Circumference = 105" OTT = 238" Estimated weight = 311 pounds 5 day average = 19.4 pounds per day.   Thursday, July 27 View Page Day 40 for the 739 Cook. Circumference = 105" OTT = 238" Estimated weight = 311 pounds 5 day average = 19.4 pounds per day.   Sunday, July 30 View Page Day 30 for the 1872 Sippel. Circumference = 83" OTT = 191" Estimated weight = 162 pounds 5 day average = 12.8 pounds per day. Everything just kind of slammed on the brakes when the weather got bad. It has been a little warmer the last few days but its down in the low 50s every night and we have had a marine layer that leaves it overcast all morning which I think is cutting down the photosynthesis.   Sunday, July 30 View Page With the greenhouse down I can now get all three plants in one shot. 1461 Rodebaugh on the back left. 1872 Sippel on the back right and 739 Carter in the front. You can really tell the difference that the greenhouse makes by looking at the size difference in the leaves on the two plants that were in the big greenhouse.   Sunday, July 30 View Page The hybrid plant has really slowed down as expected. It's at 94# and did 21 pounds in the last 5 days.   Sunday, August 6 View Page Day 50 for the 739 Cook Circumference = 119.5" OTT = 269" Estimated weight = 449 pounds 5 day average = 12.8 pounds per day. Looks like another year without getting anywhere close to my personal best. Everything looking like it's going to be in the 600 to 800 pound range. I changed to a lot of things this year but the results are the same. I have got to solve this puzzle and figure out what is holding me back from those big weight gains.   Sunday, August 6 View Page Day 40 for the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 102.5" OTT = 242" Estimated weight = 327 pounds 5 day average = 15.2 pounds per day Still pretty confident that this will end up being the prettiest pumpkin I have ever grown color like this on day 40 is pretty rare. It should deepen up into a dark reddish orange by the time its mature.   Thursday, August 10 View Page Day 40 for the 1872 Sippel Circumference =109" OTT = 244.5 Estimated weight = 337 pounds 5 day average = 18.2 pounds per day This one jumped back in front of the 1461 for my largest day 40 weight this year. Its started to orange up a bit too. It's starting to look a lot like my pumpkin from last year off of the same seed. I did a tissue sample for the first time and it showed me deficient in Nitrogen and all of the micro nutrients other than Boron. Making some adjustments to the feeding program to try and correct things and I am also increasing the amount of water that I am putting on. We shall see if it makes a diference.   Thursday, August 10 View Page The first one on the hybrid plant is at 129 pounds on day 39. Starting to really darken up. Not too bad for a pumpkin that is genetically half Cinderella pumpkin growing on 120 Square feet with two other fruit on the plant.   Thursday, August 10 View Page The second on the hybrid plant is growing Cinderella style and is at 70 pounds. I am not sure how old this one is. I also have a third one going in the leaves on the right.   Wednesday, August 16 View Page Day 50 on the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 121" OTT = 280" Estimated weight = 507 pounds 5 day average = 15.6 pounds per day It had kicked it up to 20.4 pounds per day from day 40-45 but has slowed down again. The warm weather and the fertilizer adjustments don't appear to be doing much to sustain growth. Still a gorgeous specimen of a pumpkin though.   Wednesday, August 16 View Page Day 60 on the 739 Cook Circumference = 127" OTT = 284" Estimated weight = 529 pounds 5 day average = 6.0 pounds per day. This one is shutting down early. Doesn't have enough healthy plant behind it to keep it going. First weigh off is 31 days away. Hoping I can tack on another 70 pounds and get it to 600. Might go a bit heavy to chart with this shape too.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Day 60 on the 1461 Rodebaugh. Circumference = 134" OTT = 307" Estimated weight = 668 pounds 5 day average = 12.8 pounds per day This one has sustained growth better than most of my pumpkins in the past. It is now larger than last years pumpkin was on day 60. It has over a month to go should be able to go over 800 on this one. Its gorgeous too.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Day 70 for the 739 Cook. Circumference = 132" OTT = 294 " Estimated weight = 587 pounds 5 day average = 6 pounds per day. Man I wish this pumpkin was more symmetrical because it's got the best color that I have ever grown. Still could be in the running for an Howard Dill award depending on what else shows up. This one will get weighed 3 weeks from today. If I could average 3 pounds a day that would put it right at 650 pounds. Sounds like a good goal.   Monday, September 25 View Page Fell a bit behind in my diary entries.   Monday, September 25 View Page Ended up losing the 1461 Rodebaugh to a pinhole in the blossom nub that went all the way to the cavity.   Monday, September 25 View Page Decided to take the 1461 to the Skagit Valley weigh off as an damaged exhibition pumpkin. Here it is being loaded. I built myself a new tripod this year. it worked great!   Monday, September 25 View Page I also took the 739 Cook as my official entry and My Hybrid Pumpkin as an exhibition. Here are the two Giants in the truck.   Monday, September 25 View Page The 1461 Rodebaugh came in at 835.5 pounds. my 4th biggest ever. It was still growing well and would have been well over 900 had it stayed intact. My wife's phone didn't photograph the orange quite as well as mine does as you will see in later photos.   Monday, September 25 View Page The 739 Cook came in at 639.5 Pounds. Took 6th place. 5th place was 640 pounds. I cut this the morning before the weigh off and I didn't put the vine in water. Could have taken fifth if I would have waited a day and or put the vine in water. Every ounce counts LOL.   Monday, September 25 View Page My Hybrid Pumpkin is half Cinderella Pumpkin half Atlantic Giant. It came in at 144 pounds. This one was pollinated with the 1461 Rodebaugh and should have a lot of potential to be gorgeous and decently sized next year.   Monday, September 25 View Page The 739 Cook won the Howard Dill award. Once again this photo was with my wife's phone and doesn't quite capture the color.   Monday, September 25 View Page Side by side comparison to show the difference in color on my wife's phone vs mine.   Monday, September 25 View Page One Pumpkin Left in the Patch. The 1872 Sippel was estimating at 710 pounds on Day 85. Its a little bit bigger than my Pumpkin last year off of the same seed. That one came in heavy at 784.5 pounds. I Think this one will do the same. Shooting for 800 pounds. 12 days to go till weighoff.   Monday, October 9 View Page Last Pumpkin weigh off of the year for me at Kristoferson Farm on Camano Island. Here are all the Pumpkins lined up in a row. Joel Hollands big one in the middle took 1st place at 1824 pounds.   Monday, October 9 View Page Here are my two pumpkins.   Monday, October 9 View Page This was the second off of my hybrid plant. Half Cinderella pumpkin half Altlantic giant. It came in at 105.5 pounds.   Monday, October 9 View Page My 1872 Sippel came in way lighter than I expected it to at 658 pounds. It finished 6th place and is my 9th heaviest that I have ever grown.   Monday, October 9 View Page I did win the Howard Dill Award for prettiest pumpkin so I am pretty happy about that. This is my second HD award this year and my fourth overall. My three biggest pumpkins this year totaled 2133 pounds making this my second best year ever behind only my 2014 season when I had 2857.   Monday, October 9 View Page On to next season.