Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 121 Entries. Sunday, March 1 View Page This is my 1st diary and entry. In 2013 I grew this 1002.5 lb (1799.5 Daletas x 1468 L. Nelson). There was nothing like seeing it on the scale and being over 1K. I will never forget. Said I would quit the hobby after 1K and grow food I can eat but you know how it goes..I will stop after 2K!   Sunday, March 1 View Page Last year I planted my 1002.5K. I wanted to see the growing process go full circle with growing my own pumpkin from my own seed. The plant and pumpkin grew beyond my expectations, mostly from techniques and ideas from the many people on this site, thank you! My first blow out at 49 days, OTT 333". It ruined me the rest of the Summer as I only grew one plant. Live and learn. Focused on my tomatoes and next year   Sunday, March 1 View Page ..So I grew a 3.56lb tomato and won a $50 gift certificate at the Bauman Farms weigh off! Oh, and if your AG blows out in the garden, don't wait more than two weeks to remove it. It can be pretty nasty.   Sunday, March 1 View Page 2014 tomato plants. Dug about a 2' deep, 16' long ditch, added 8lbs crushed egg shells, mycorrhizae, and composted compost. Started my own seeds and grew to 2' tall. Snip the leaves off up to 1' and bury that 1' underground. Cut off the suckers as the plant grows up a 12' steak.   Sunday, March 1 View Page ..stake   Sunday, March 1 View Page There is a 50' x 30' garden in there somewhere.   Sunday, March 1 View Page It's a lot of work but, like last year, made my own compost pile, about 5yrds. Alfalfa hay, oak and maple leaves, fully composted horse and chicken manure, rock phosphate, blood meal, black strap malasses, cotton seed meal, kelp meal, and about 1000lbs of used coffee grounds I collected from the coffee shops. The pile heated to 160F for a while and now is full of worms and will be almost soil by May.   Sunday, March 1 View Page This is my Winter cover crop! It's suppose to keep my amendments that were tilled in last Fall from washing away during the Winter. It's been really really dry and warm here in the N.W. You guys back east have had all the fun this Winter! Under the tarps and tilled in is 2 bales alfalfa hay, Calpril, 4yrs mint compost, and 3yrds fully composted alpaca manure. During the Spring till I will add coconut coir and perlite. Will focus more on drainage and root growth.   Monday, April 6 View Page Tomatoes started with Weston, Menting seeds, (Thank you very much!) and my own from last year.   Monday, April 6 View Page Ten yards of mushroom compost/sandy loam mix to extend the garden. The smell of success!   Monday, April 6 View Page Coconut coir 11 lb blocks hydrating, four of 20. Forty cu/ft when all is fully hydrated. Neptune's hydrolyzed fish fert, CalFe Mag, and molasses added to the water. Will also till in 40 cu/ft. of perlite.   Monday, April 6 View Page How does one decide...? All seeds from good growers and genetics. I would like to have to choose from one of my seeds someday! Will germinate in a week and will plant two. Will plant a couple of others in large pots for males.   Monday, April 13 View Page Tomato's at 23 days.   Monday, April 13 View Page The line up. Only two will be planted in the garden. Starting two weeks later this year.   Monday, April 13 View Page I keep looking, seems like days but has only been hours. A watched pot never boils.   Sunday, April 19 View Page One week old today. Transplanted to 6x6 pots. Will go to the greenhouse tomorrow. Will spread amendments tomorrow and till on Tuesday.   Wednesday, April 29 View Page Spring amendments added last week, tilled. Approximately 55'x30' depending on where I measure. The weather has been great! Plants are in the greenhouse, hardening off.   Wednesday, April 29 View Page Two hoop houses, one is a little bigger than the other, 5'x10' and 5'x12'. A strip of 4' black weed block going down the middle of each to help heat things up, block weeds and retain moisture.   Wednesday, April 29 View Page ..and then after a couple long days in the garden some salmon and local brew. Will plant the AG's in the hoop houses next Sunday or Monday with a heat lamp in each on timers. The evenings are still in the 40's.   Monday, May 4 View Page Planting day. Very tough decisions on what two to pick. Went with 1719.5 Daletas (1676.5 Daletas x 2009 Wallace) and 1461.5 Wheeler (1985 Miller x 2032 Mathison). I will plant the 1223 Radach (2009 self) in a 100 gallon water trough and make a big planter (is there a 12sq.ft competition out there?) Will use it for crossing.   Monday, May 4 View Page 1719.5 Daletas   Monday, May 4 View Page 1719.5 Daletas   Monday, May 4 View Page 1461.5 Wheeler (1985 Miller x 2032 Mathison). Supposed to be in the '70's for highs and mid 40's for lows for the next 10 days, and mostly sunny. Put a 4' fence around the garden to keep the cat and critters out. The cat uses it as a litter box and the dog follows looking "treats". No more!   Wednesday, May 13 View Page Tomato ditch dug, about 15" deep. Added 10lbs crushed egg shells saved up over the year, perlite, Jobe's tomato granules, and oyster shell. Watered in with humic acid, hydrolyzed fish fert, VooDoo Juice.   Sunday, May 17 View Page Tomato's planted. 3.71 Weston (2), 4.27 Menting (2), 3.56 Spaziani (2), 3.51 Weston, 3.99 Weston, 4.63 Menting, 4.94 Menting, Purple Cherokee Heirloom (2) not for comp. Need to put stakes in next.   Sunday, May 17 View Page 1719.5 Daletas. Trying to grow it north. It wants to head south.   Sunday, May 17 View Page Change up. Pulled the 1461.5 Wheeler and transplanted it to a 35 gallon storage bin full of good soil. Could always use a good male pollinator. Instead planted the 1928 Globus in the hoop house. The 1223 Radach is in a 100 gallon water trough full of good soil. So my two main one's are the 1719.5 Daletas and 1928 Globus.   Sunday, May 17 View Page In the Spring every year I really enjoy water drops on the Hosta's.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Tomatoes doing well.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Tomatoes doing well.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 1928 Globus, vine 20". Transplanted one week after 1719.5 Daletas so a little behind but starting to move.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 1719.5 Daletas, vine 33" and on the move. Good weather ahead, 70's and 80's with a few showers.   Wednesday, May 27 View Page 1719.5 Daletas   Monday, June 15 View Page 1223 Radach growing well in the 100 gallon container. Just trying to manage the vines lowering to the ground without breaking. It really wants to grow.   Monday, June 15 View Page 1223 Radach.   Monday, June 15 View Page 1928 Globus growing well.   Monday, June 15 View Page About 11ft out, the 2nd female. Picked off the first one 6ft. out on the vine.   Monday, June 15 View Page 1719.5 Daletas. Growing really well now. Main is 11ft. with sides reaching 4-6 ft. One of the sides double vined. Better that than the main. Weather nice with day temps getting into the 80's and lows in the 50's. A long dry spell ahead with calm weather.   Monday, June 15 View Page 1719.5 Daletas. Picked off the 1st female around 8ft. There is a female at 11ft. ready in about a week.   Monday, June 15 View Page 1719.5 Daletas with a female at 11ft. Ready in about a week. I really need some males on another plant to wake up this week!   Monday, June 15 View Page So one of my goals this season was to have "looser soil". I usually turn the soil with a shovel out beyond the secondaries but this year about 10ft out there were many roots so something I added is working. I will not turn the soil this year and save my energy.   Monday, June 15 View Page Tomatoes doing well. A couple of 2-3 megablooms have started to grow.   Friday, June 19 View Page 1719.5 Daletas pollinated with 1928 Globus at 12ft out. Nice 5 lober.   Sunday, June 21 View Page 1719.5 Daletas, Anthesis administered precisely 48hrs after pollination with 1928 Globus, because you never know. Major heat up in the west coming. After mid week, temps in Oregon will be from 95F-100F for at least 10 days. The 1928 Globus will be ready in about 5 days so will need to pull out the styrofoam cooler and ice to keep her cool.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1223 Radach in 100 gallon tub. Pollinated with 1719.5 Daletas using males. What a nice plant. In hind sight I should of gave it more room in the garden. No issues. Hopefully the high heat we have coming up doesn't cook the roots.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1223 Radach pollinated today with 1719.5 Daletas using 5 males. Covered with a Styrofoam cooler with some ice.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 4.63 Menting at 10dap and sprayed with Anthesis.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page 4.27 Menting at 10dap sprayed with Anthesis.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1719.5 Daletas at 9dap (pollinated with 1928 Globus). Looks good but may end up culling it in favor of the next one out 6 feet further that was pollinated today...   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1719.5 Daletas female #2 at 16ft, pollinated with 5 males from 1928 Globus, 6 perfect lobes!   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1719.5 Daletas, #2 female out 16ft, 6 lobes, pollinated with 1928 Globus, 5 males.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 1928 Globus female #2 at 16ft, 4 lobes, pollinated with 1719.5 Daletas. All females on the secondaries picked off have this football shape.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 3.56 Spaziani. Pollinated last week and sprayed with "Anthesis" a few days ago. Maybe a mutant as a result(?) At least 5-6 in there. I have at least 5 two week old tomatoes growing sprayed with "Anthesis" with 4-5 blooms each. All are growing better than I have ever seen. More importantly is the weather. Very unusual to have this stretch of 90's with lows near 70F. Hot/humid. We usually don't get humid here in Oregon. The AG's vines are growing triple the speed which means I have to bury vines even faster. They really like the warm evenings. But, we are running out of water. We added 180ft to an already existing 100ft (280ft) last summer. I run the drip irrigation 4x/24hrs for an hour which seems to be just right. The pump auto shuts off when the well runs down to the bottom and I have to wait for it to fill back in. I have a 500gallon tank on standby, filled, as a short term back up. It will only last a couple of days. Not sure how I will be able to sufficiently get through the Summer. Oh, and there is laundry, showers, other plants. We are in "if it's brown, flush it down" mode.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page The garden. Minimum water to keep it going as we are running out. Three months more of this and it can only get worse. The 1719.5 Daletas in the back with two set on the main. The plant is really nice. The 1928 Globus out front. It is really having a hard time with sun burn. Next year I will have to invest in a shade cloth set up. There is a 2dap set on the main.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page ..but there is plenty of water about 200yrds away. I will have to carry buckets of water from here if I have to.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page 1719.5 Daletas, 21" at 11dap. There is one at 2dap 6ft further down the main with 6 lobes. It looks like it may of took, but does one take a chance and cull this one in favor of the other one if it grows as good? The newer one does have 9 more days of new plant behind it.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1719.5 Daletas pollinated on 6-28, 6 lobe, removed in favor of the one pollinated on 6-19.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1223 Radach x 1719.5 Daletas in the 100 gallon container, 15DAP, holding its own. Maybe will get to 100lbs, just after the seeds.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1928 Globus x 1719.5 Daletas at 10DAP, 25.5cc, +2.5cc last 24hrs. Unusual shape and crooked. Will be interested in its final shape and size. Definitely no symmetry with this one but will take what I can get at this point.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1719.5 Daletas x 1928 Globus at 19DAP, 57.5cc, +5.5cc last 24hrs. Really on the move now. Just moved the Styrofoam under it yesterday in the nick of time. We are really out of water now, just a trickle. Enough to flush the toilets every now and then. Just finished draining the 500 gallon emergency tank the last couple of days for the "just in case" time. Have to travel to the laundry mat in town to wash clothes, shower at the fitness center, buy water to drink, etc. What a pain. Seeing the garden slowly die is one of the worst things. Just dug a new well last year and it was good. Water table dropping, drought, etc. Maybe I can grow a giant cactus. The well guy has been out yesterday and today to look at options. Mid west and east growers want dry and sun, out west people need rain, strange.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 1928 Globus 17 DAP, 53cc. +5cc daily the last 3 days. Starting to really grow now.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 1928 Globus 17 DAP, 53cc top view. Thanks CNTRYBOY for the idea of using the top perspective also.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 25 DAP, 86cc. Also growing 5cc daily the last 3 days. Starting to develop its own character early. Again, we barely have any water. The garden receives probably only 20-30 gallons daily through drip lines at this point. No rain for at least 30 days. At least it has cooled to the 80's. The two plants have to dig deep. Ripped the long gourd plant out to just focus on the two AG's. A new well pump controller was installed last week which gave us a little more water. The well guy is coming out again this week to install a new pump in order to go down another 60 feet to the bottom of our 260ft. well, so I'm not done yet!   Tuesday, July 14 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 25 DAP, 86cc top view.   Thursday, July 16 View Page Took a trip to Steens Mt., S.E. Oregon last week with my wife, photographing wild mustangs. She is "Mustang Meg" on Facebook if anybody is interested in wild mustangs. What a remote, spiritual place.   Thursday, July 16 View Page My wife, Sonya, AKA Mustang Meg. Wild horse photographer at Steens Mt. last week. Most gardens with 10-20 DAP pumpkins nearly all look the same so thought I would break it up a little....OK, back to growing. The well guy comes out tomorrow. Hope we can get more water. Now heading down to the pond with 5 gallon buckets to collect water before it gets dark.   Friday, July 17 View Page 4.63 Menting approx. 32DAP.   Friday, July 17 View Page 4.27 Menting approx. 32DAP   Sunday, July 19 View Page 1928 Globus 22 DAP 176" OTT   Sunday, July 19 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 30 DAP, 251" OTT.   Sunday, July 19 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 30 DAP, 251" OTT. Averaging 37lbs/day last 3 days.   Monday, July 27 View Page 1927 Globus stump.   Monday, July 27 View Page That is 1928 Globus stump. One pound off!   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 40 DAP 316 OTT 700lbs. Top lobes now spilling over the button like a big belly going over the belt (not mine). In a few days it will be all the way to the ground like a big ball. Gaining 30-45/day last 10 days. In the the 100's the next few days, then 90's. Got a new pump for the well and we have water now.   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 40 DAP top 316" OTT.   Wednesday, July 29 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 40DAP side.   Saturday, August 1 View Page 1719.5 Daletas at 43 DAP. I checked a few hours ago when I pulled the sheets. We all don't want to see that dreaded split. It was fine a few hours ago. Five hours later when doing work around there, happened to see this. Looked in with a flashlight. Only goes in 1/2 inch so it is not a bottomless pit, yet. I packed with sulphur and will keep dry. Not sure what to do except wait and hope. That's all you can do I guess. Any ideas please let me know. Thanks   Saturday, August 1 View Page Split packed with sulphur. I did this with not being sure if this was the right thing to do. Split is only a few hours old and goes in 1/2" or less. I see the bottom. I will just wait and see unless there are any other suggestions.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page My first tomato picked and weighed this year is the 4.63 Menting. The 3.17lbs converts to 3lbs 2.72oz. Won't submit this one to the virtual tomato weigh off as I have three others that will top this one. I will pick the next one probably next Monday.   Monday, August 10 View Page 4.27 Menting now the 4.18 Spaziani. Beat my Oregon record of 3.56 last year. It's not MMA fighting, Metallica or Megadeth concert, or jumping out of a plane, all of which I would be privileged to attend or do. It's a tomato, and I feel so badassed right now! It's so hard to explain to my wife, family and friends..   Monday, August 10 View Page It's a fat bastard and I love it! A king water bed half filled from the 80's! 1719.5 Daletas at 50 Dap. Grow, grow, grow, lets go!   Monday, August 10 View Page 1928 Globus at 43 dap, 325".   Sunday, August 16 View Page 1928 Globus BES at 50 dap around 928 lbs. Ouch! Many of you know the feeling of lifting the blanket and seeing this. There is a moment or two while the brain processes what it seeing. Will be transported to a large freezer and used in a pumpkin drop at a weigh off in October to smash something.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Still have one left! The 1719.5 Daletas at 58dap. Oh so stressful. Bursting at the seams! Much over my 1002.5lb. personal best from two years ago.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Picked two tomatoes today. One from the 3.71 Weston seed, the 4.085 Spaziani. The 2nd entered in the GPC virtual early tomato weigh off.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Another tomato picked today, from the 3.51 Weston seed, the 4.685 Spaziani. Another Oregon record beating the 4.18 Spaziani from last week.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 4.685 lb. The last of the big one's this Summer. Do have some going for Fall Oregon weigh off.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page 1719.5 Daletas 61dap. Gained 223lbs the last week, 31.8/day.   Monday, August 24 View Page One of my two split pumpkins. The 1928 Globus at 57dap. A week after it split at the blossom, it still grew 153lbs for the week, 22lbs/day. Total 366", 1070lbs. Preserved until Tuesday, cut, weighed on a scale, frozen until October, dropped on something from up high. It's tough losing one after all the work. That is why I grew two this year....   Monday, August 24 View Page ...my second and last one split today between the ribs, the 1719.5 Daletas. No weigh off for me for the second year. Didn't do anything drastic, just a week spot. I am so bummed. I will bring a tomato in a basket again while my friends pull up in their trailers. I will be cheering again from the bleachers and helping out. Next year! But it will no go to waste. It too will be weighed, frozen, dropped in October in a pool or on a car. It will live on! I will grab some seeds before it is frozen (1719.5 Daletas x 1928 Globus). 402" OTT, 1403lbs. 22lbs/day the last 4 days.   Monday, August 24 View Page My son always wanted to climb on it before. Now he can. 1719.5 Daletas. Until next year.   Monday, August 24 View Page ..So I have a couple of tomatoes around 10dap. This one is off my 3.56 Spaziani from last year.   Monday, August 24 View Page This one also 10dap off the 4.94 Menting.   Monday, August 24 View Page My view looking east towards the mountains, at 10pm, in a lawn chair. That's why it's dark. Will miss these warm summer nights in front of the garden. I hear the rabbits in the garden chewing on weeds and moving around, but they never touched my plants or pumpkins.   Monday, August 31 View Page My son Chase, going into the 1719.5 Daletas (RIP) last week to retrieve seeds.   Monday, August 31 View Page 1928 Globus (RIP) on its way to a deep freeze, along with the 1719.5 Daletas for a pumpkin drop Oct. 3rd.   Monday, August 31 View Page Still trying to squeeze out what's left of the season. Three tomatoes plants left for the Fall, 4.94 Menting and two 3.56 Spaziani's. All three over 6'-7' tall after being topped about two weeks ago. The Menting has one on it and the two Spaziani's have 2 each.   Monday, August 31 View Page I have had few issues with year with bugs or disease. I applied potassium silicate with humic acid foliar which seems to deter both. Bugs and fungus do not like to chew or root into silica. No fungicides or insecticides. Also applied Lithovit plus boron, kelp, calcium, magnesium.   Monday, August 31 View Page Top of 3.56 Spaziani at 7' up. The top one is 10dap, the other 17dap. Just experimenting. Not sure how fast they will grow or mature for the next 35 days. In the 70's, 80's, but cool 40's nights.   Monday, August 31 View Page To help with the cooler weather I have been watering by hand from a water tank that has been sitting filled with water all summer. Warm water, keeping leaves dry.   Monday, August 31 View Page 3.56 Spaziani 17dap   Monday, August 31 View Page Another 3.56 at 10dap   Monday, August 31 View Page Another 3.56 Spaziani 10dap at the top of the plant.   Monday, August 31 View Page 4.94 Menting at 17dap. Hope it keeps going for 33 more days.   Monday, August 31 View Page ..and nothing can beat these two pumpkins, 10yrs, 13yrs. Great two days with my boys at the coast last week in Newport, Or.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This blossom grew out of the base of an idle 3.71 Weston plant waiting to be pulled. There are a bunch in there. With about a month left of semi-growing, I will try to get creative, keep it dry and see what I can do. Can't resign to Fall chores yet. I will miss the garden.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This is the stem from the 3.56 Spaziani about 4' high. Still have a couple maters growing on it. The cooler weather has definitely slowed things down a bit but delaying the inevitable. Garden tilled but just not this area.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This one is from the 3.56 Spaziani about 20dap. I wish we had more time and better weather. Will keep her going for as long as I can.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This one is off the other 3.56 Spaziani about 8' up or high as I can reach. I keep some plastic and a polyester towel over it to help keep it dry and warm.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This of the 4.27 Menting. Already grew a 4.18 lb off this one. It was topped a while back. It grew a sucker near the top, some blossoms, and here we go. Again, wish there was more time.   Wednesday, September 16 View Page This is the first off the 4.94 Menting this year. After pollination, topped a month ago over my head just for the Oct. weigh-off. About 34dap. Haven't seen any color yet. I think the cooler weather delays it, I don't know. We just got our first rains in our area in Oregon. Keep it covered with plastic and a cloth. Maybe the timing was right with 17 days to go.   Monday, October 12 View Page From Bauman Farms weigh-off on Oct. 3rd. Steve Daletas 2059 dmg.   Monday, October 12 View Page From Bauman Farms weigh-off Oct. 3rd. Steve Daletas 1997, Oregon record.   Monday, October 12 View Page Still one more growing slowly.   Wednesday, October 28 View Page 4.27 Menting 52dap. Garden is tilled and I have my "cover crop"..tarps after tilling in amendments. With the cool weather it is growing, but slowly. Should be ready by Christmas..   Wednesday, October 28 View Page 4.27 Menting 52dap circ. side 21.5". This plant survives on the edge of the garden where I haven't tilled.   Wednesday, October 28 View Page 4.27 Menting end circ. 19.25". I will measure my tomatoes in the future like this from now on. 21.5" x 19.25"= 40.75" or C2=40.75" (circumference + circumference=40.75")   Tuesday, November 10 View Page Pumpking, The Growler Café here in Lebanon, Oregon named a beer after you. Not bad! Got a half gallon to enjoy my Fall weekend.   Tuesday, November 10 View Page 4.27 Menting at 65dap. Still growing at 1" per week. Solid and green. Brown areas are bark. Probably will keep going until the first solid freeze. In the 30's and 50's. Like a bonsai tomato, it may grow slowly for months.   Tuesday, November 10 View Page View from other side. So when does the GPC early tomato weigh off start?? January 1st?   Sunday, November 22 View Page My own Winter challenge is over. 4.27 Menting finally picked, now I can move on. My 2nd biggest ever at 4lbs 5.3oz. It grew a long time at 77dap due to the cooler weather, but with temps in the '20s coming it is time to give it up. It was still growing at 1" per week. If I was proactive I would of covered up the plant, put a little heater under it, just to see how long it would grow, maybe keeping it around 50? Temps for sure have an impact on rate of maturity. Usually the tomatoes are blushing around day 50 and this thing was still green with brown bark. I'm sure temps have lot to do with AG's too. Next year 5lbs+ !!