Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 158 Entries. Saturday, January 28 View Page Never really rounded last years diary off properly so here goes. Finished the season off last November with a pumpkin boat race on the lake. All four of my pumpkins took to the water...   Saturday, January 28 View Page I have hundreds of photos from last years growing season, but this is one of my favourites. This is the 1333.8 Oliver.   Saturday, January 28 View Page The boating got news coverage on both BBC and ITV at the time. Started off as regional but slowly broadcast across the rest of the country. One of the 'pirates' is a journalist for a boating magazine, who will doing a write up in the style of a 'boat building project'. He had lots of fun!   Saturday, January 28 View Page Thankfully, I came across the finish line first in the inaugural RHS Garden Hyde Hall Giant Pumpkin Boat Race ?? The best day at work ever.   Saturday, January 28 View Page On a separate note, I harvested over 700 seeds from the 791.4 Oliver (842 Holub x 2096 Meier), a staggering amount. I have posted out loads of these this winter so hopefully more gardeners across the UK will give giant pumpkins a go in 2017. If you fancy a go with these seeds email me. The 842 Holub shares the same genetics as the 1060 Holub that grew Scott's WR squash. Last years diary shows that I grew two pumpkins on this plant, totalling 1800 lb. Seriously tempted to grow one of these myself this year.   Monday, March 6 View Page Unsurprisingly, it is still a bit cold and damp here in jolly old England and spring is a bit late. I think we are in for a wet one as not much significant rain all winter. Managed to finish a bit of digging (that didn't get done in the autumn...) so now have three full sized patches ready for prepping.   Monday, March 6 View Page I am also planning on entering the 150sq ft competition this year. The motivation for this is to try and prove that giant pumpkin growing is still doable for the average gardener. There is certainly a thought that it's no longer a 'Joe Public' class in the giant veg scene in the UK. I will be preparing the beds this week, weather permitting.   Monday, March 6 View Page So, going in the ground this year will probably be x1 AG, x2 Squash, x2 150sq ft AG and hopefully a field pumpkin. More than plenty I should think.   Friday, March 17 View Page We have had a warm and mild week here with no rain so I had perfect conditions to get the patches rotavated. Some heavy frosts this winter have helped break up the clay soil and I'm delighted with the structure I now have. 18 months ago this was weedy, sticky, heavy compacted field and I now have something resembling a decent loam. Soil samples will be sent off shortly. I am deciding whether or not to mulch the patches again this year, I can't decide if the extra work is worth it in the long run.   Saturday, March 25 View Page More good weather so spent all day in the patch. Raked level, wind netting up, leaky hose down and began to repair the cloches. 3 large patches all ready to go, still can't decent de whether to mulch them again. Decisions decisions...   Saturday, March 25 View Page I am entering the 150sq ft competition this year too and have finished prepping that patch up too. Rules state I have to post photos so here goes... I actually have space for three 150sq ft plants but this middle bed will be for my official entry.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Standard 15x10ft rectangle. First edge.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Bang on 15ft   Saturday, March 25 View Page First short edge   Saturday, March 25 View Page Accurate measuring eh? :)   Saturday, March 25 View Page Second long edge. Had to put a nee edging board down this side. Used to be part of our veg garden and I grew soft fruit on it. Soil is spot on.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Looking square   Saturday, March 25 View Page Only two more boring photos I promise...   Saturday, March 25 View Page Last one. Black piping is for irrigation. Orange bailer twine marking bed edges will be removed. Hope I have abided by the rules; here's to a 1000lbder! Lots of options on seed but reckon I will go with a 1641 Clementz that I have chanced upon.   Thursday, April 6 View Page So I decided that go for the mulch in the end. Still on a relatively new patch so no harm in getting as much organic matter in the ground as possible. So dry here that anything that helps reduce evaporation is useful and I think the fine texture of greenwaste compost helps with vine burying and rooting too. Got my cloches in place too (after repairing winter storm damage!) Weather has been unbelievable here, more like June than April.   Thursday, April 6 View Page Had my soil test results back too. Three slight shocks, but everything else as expected: pH has shot up since last year. Not sure why or whether to do anything about it. Molybdenum low but doesn't seem to be a major concern. Manganese is the real unexpected one. Not sure what to do about it, thinking of treating with manganese sulphate in my dosatron. Any thoughts/experience from fellow growers on this?   Tuesday, April 11 View Page Fired the starting gun on my season today by giving the seeds a soak in maxicrop. Desired line up this year will be x2 1844* Holub, 2252 Paton, 1641 Clementz (official 150sq ft entry) then 917 Sullivan and 1333.8 Oliver as two other 150sq ft plants. The rest are back ups. Pint glass full of 791 Oliver seeds are for a seed giveaway we are doing in the garden tomorrow as part of National Gardening Week here in the UK. Aim is to get families to have a go and bring the resulting pumpkin back on our pumpkin day in October.   Tuesday, April 11 View Page Not 100 percent happy with the drainage on the patch, so dug in a healthy amount of perlite in each of the planting pits. Unconventional I know but had problems last year with foaming and wanted to avoid using too much sandy grit. Fish, Blood and Bone down too.   Friday, April 14 View Page Hmmm, some of my seeds being a bit slow to germinate. Think a dodgy thermometer might be to blame so whacked the propagator temp up a bit. Anyway, here's a pic of all the stuff I'm bunging in my potting mix. Didn't use any of this last year (apart from mycco) so lets hope it has a positive effect.   Monday, April 24 View Page Plants are growing well under the lights in the glasshouse. An improvement on last year. Bit slow out of the blocks but cold nights forecast here this week so not too worried as better for them to go out once it warms up as I have no soil cables. Planning on hanging the lights in two of my cloches to start with. Plenty of plants to choose the strongest specimens from.   Monday, April 24 View Page Put some sulphur chips down on the patch today to slowly bring the pH down as the tests came back a little high. Put some fleece over the tops of the cloches too, will experiment to see if this keeps the night time temps up as this is my main concern.   Sunday, April 30 View Page My patch is becoming a bit of a tent city. Knocked up some smaller hoop houses for a couple of my 150sq ft pumpkins (don't worry I'm only entering one into the competition!). Weather has changed for the better, night time temps anyway, so will be planting out this week.   Sunday, April 30 View Page My patch is becoming a bit of a tent city. Knocked up some smaller hoop houses for a couple of my 150sq ft pumpkins (don't worry I'm only entering one into the competition!). Weather has changed for the better, night time temps anyway, so will be planting out this week.   Monday, May 1 View Page But I won't be planting before this lot goes in. Temptation got the better of me and I had a splurge on some tech for the patch. Soil warming cables for my two best plants and an irrigation timer. Could save me a serious amount of time this gear.   Wednesday, May 3 View Page Plants are getting a bit desperate to go out now. Soil cables started up today, whacked the thermometer right up so hopefully warm enough for planting tomorrow. The 1844 Holub and 2252 Paton are my main plants this year and both were really slow to germinate, so a bit behind the others but coming along now so will stick with them.   Thursday, May 4 View Page Got two 1844 Holubs planted out today. These were slow to germinate and a bit leggy at first, but looking much better at second leaf stage. The genetics of these are so far ahead of all other squashes they are worth persevering with. Soil cable, fan heater and grow light should give me a much better start than last year.   Thursday, May 4 View Page Also planted out two 2252 Paton plants. The soil warming cables have worked a treat after only a day. Would like to see better drainage in the patch if I'm honest. Using AZOS and a compost tea this year also so every chance of going bigger than last year if the weather plays ball.   Thursday, May 4 View Page A pic of one of my cloches glowing in the evening light. Other plants will go out tomorrow, but no electric luxuries for them.   Friday, May 5 View Page Got my 150sq ft pumpkins in this evening. Here is my official competition patch. These are a 1641 Clementz and a 918 Sullivan.   Friday, May 5 View Page Second 150sq ft patch has two 1333.8 Oliver's. This probably won't go orange but wanted to grow at least one of my own seeds this year.   Friday, May 5 View Page Last 150sq ft patch. I'm experimenting with different training methods. These are two more 918 Sullivansand probably the strongest seedlings I have grown out of all my plants.   Saturday, May 6 View Page Trying out a new product available through the Giant Vegetable group here in the UK. Hoping this compost tea will have a significant impact, as didn't use anything like it last year. (P.s. Hope the photo comes out the right way up-my phone doesn't let me check anymore...)   Saturday, May 6 View Page Started off the giant marrows today. Only have space for two so will be selective.   Tuesday, May 9 View Page Decision made. Plumped for the 1262 Jutras and planted them out this morning. Will pot on my spare 1578 and 464 Bohnert squashes and plant them in a spare sliver of space I have available when the weather warms up a bit more.   Wednesday, May 10 View Page Absolutely scorching here today. This time last year I couldn't keep the plants warm enough, now I'm struggling to keep them from wilting everyday. Pretty much the whole of the southern UK is approaching drought conditions now. We haven't had any proper amount of rain here in Essex since last June. This could be an interesting summer...   Sunday, May 21 View Page Interesting to see Ians update the other day and hear about the problems they have had with the 2252's. My two also both show double vines. I pulled the weaker this morning and replaced with a squash but am being indecisive about whether to stick with the bigger one for now. Any thoughts? Is it worth the bother?   Sunday, May 21 View Page The 1844 Holubs are doing OK after a slow start, a little bit kinky and ugly at first but sticking with them. I am still struggling to keep night time temperatures high enough and that combined with having the lights on is what is causing me trouble I think.   Sunday, May 21 View Page Here's my giant marrows I'm giving a go this year. Two will make the patch. Be interesting to see how I get on with these. Not really too sure on what I'm doing with these!   Saturday, May 27 View Page First bit of vine burying on the 1844 Holub. Weather has been fantastic this week and this has really started to sprint now. It's my best plant in the patch, approx 4ft long which is a dramatic improvement of this time last year. Still have one next to it which I should get on with culling really.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Ended up pruning the tip off the 2252. Really wanted to grow a pumpkin in one of my full size patches so changed the back up squash for one of my own 1333.8 seeds. Straight race between this slightly dodgy back up plant and a secondary vine on the 2252 now. Slightly disappointing I have had this problem in one of my patches with soil cables, lights and fans, otherwise I'd have two plants as good as my 1844. Other plants slow but steady.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page 918 Sullivan is the chosen plant for the 150sq ft competition. The 1641 Clementz just couldn't keep up.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Planted a final squash is this odd shaped bit of ground I have. It's a 464 Bohnert. Just couldn't help myself but to grow one more...   Wednesday, May 31 View Page Got the marrows planted too. These are from a 131 pounder. Have two others from a 110lb. Weakest will be culled.   Sunday, June 4 View Page Have neglected my diary a bit recently. 1844 Holub is out of the cloche today, main vine is 9ft long. Was 20th June before I reached this stage last year, so my improvements have gained me 16 days. If the decent weather continues I will be right where I want for pollination.   Sunday, June 4 View Page I stuck with the flat vine 2252 Paton. Trained a secondary as the new main and its growing well after lots of watering. Only downside is I'm a few secondaries light on one side of the plant where the original main got a bit kinky. Be interesting to see how this pans out.   Sunday, June 11 View Page All my plants are out of the cloches now. The 1844 Holub is my best plant, female about to fall 13ft out, right in the zone...   Wednesday, June 14 View Page ... Until this. Bugger. Been exceptionally windy here the last week and I have been caught out. Main vine managed to rub against the wind netting, couldn't be saved. Gutted. I will be lucky to pollinate earlier than last year now as I will have to train a secondary. I have been struggling to put the time in this year and it's showing.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page 2252 Paton lives on. Very lopsided but quite vigorous now. I should be able to get a half decent pumpkin on it. Let's say the season is not going to plan.   Wednesday, June 14 View Page 918 Sullivan is my 150 square ft entry and is doing well. Wind was horrendous here so even more wind netting has gone up. Other two plants are plodding along. 1262 Jutras is ok, but slow to produce side vines. Hard to say how this season is going to pan out if I'm honest.   Thursday, June 22 View Page Will be taking my first pollinations tomorrow morning. First ready is my 918 Sullivan, my 150sq ft entry. Probably not in a perfect position and have a better placed one about 3 ft further down but makes sense to take this one for now.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Second pollination on the 15sq ft 918 Sullivan today. This is the one I want to keep. X 2252 Paton, due to lack of other males.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Try this again as not sure if the first time posted. Second pollination on 150sq ft 918 Sullivan pumpkin. This is the one I want to keep. X 2252 Paton due to the lack of other males.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Giving up trying to post pictures on here tonight, my phone email and this site do not seem to get on. All the 150sq ft pumpkins have nearly filled their patches. Manipulation of main vines taking place to accommodate pumpkin growth now.   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Pollinated the first female on the 1262*Jutras also. X with 1844*Holub. Have not been blown away by the 1262, if I'm honest, but then again I have never grown giant squash before so maybe I'm judging too harshly.   Sunday, July 2 View Page My three 150sq ft plants have pretty much filled their patches now. Have pumpkins set on two of them. The 918 Sullivan that's my competition entry had the first pollination culled, second one is better spaced. May set a third just in case.   Sunday, July 2 View Page Keep my updates to a minimum as my Internet just can't handle it. Will finally pollinate the 1844 Holub in the next few days. Noticed this on a secondary the other day, not seen it before but guessing it's not that unusual. May set one on a secondary as a back up, as the new main doesn't look like showing another female. Two pumpkins set on the 2252 Paton and two on the 1262* Jutras. I'm a good two weeks earlier than last year.   Monday, July 3 View Page Pollination day for the 1844 Holub squash tomorrow morning. Has recovered from the main vine disaster and will still pollinate a few days earlier than my first pollination last year. Will use plenty of males. Have set a few on secondaries as back ups as don't want to wait any longer to pollinate more.   Monday, July 3 View Page Here's the plant. 21 secondaries behind the flower, easily my biggest plant this year (or any other year for that matter) with pollination about 19ft out. The UK record is 990lb so that's what I'm shooting for. Fingers crossed.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Right, six updates to do as most plants set and away now. Few culls still to but generally these are the keepers I think. 1844 Holub x self 5DAP   Saturday, July 8 View Page 2252 Paton x self 15DAP. Got all the S curves set last night. This is only about 13 ft out but similar to what I did last year. Lucky to have anything on this plant given the flat vining early on.   Saturday, July 8 View Page 1262 Jutras 12 & 9DAP. First one is a bit scratched up so keeping the second for now. Again not the biggest plant but want growing time for the fruit whilst the weather is good and plant is healthy.   Saturday, July 8 View Page 918 Sullivan (my 150sq ft entry plant) 12DAP. Happy with this one. Plants getting about 300ltrs of water a day, which needs some. Fine tuning I think.   Saturday, July 8 View Page 1333.8 Oliver (150sq ft plant) 12DAP. This fruit is set right on the money. Having problems with aphids on the plants much earlier this year. Have to up my game with the spraying. I have been using SB Plant Invigorator.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Last 918 Sullivan plant. 150sq ft too. Last pollination at 6DAP. Here's to a long, hot, successful summer...   Wednesday, July 19 View Page Well, it comes to us all at some point. Weather has been difficult to manage here the last week or so and I was confronted with a blossom end split on the 2252 Paton this evening. This plant has been difficult since day one but still frustrating. First time for me.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page And a second time. This is one of my 918 Sullivan 150sq ft plants. Unless the weather improves I'm going to have to pay closer attention to watering. Don't think a cold night recently helped. Have to up my game and foliar feed more often with Epsom salts as don't like the way the plants are looking at the moment.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Weekly updates. Despite blowing two pumpkins up this week things are OK. Weather has been a bit lousy the last two weeks and we really could do with some sun now. A smidgen behind were I was at same stage last year. 1844 Holub 19 DAP 88lb   Saturday, July 22 View Page Weekly updates. Despite blowing two pumpkins up this week things are OK. Weather has been a bit lousy the last two weeks and we really could do with some sun now. A smidgen behind were I was at same stage last year. 1844 Holub 19 DAP 88lb   Saturday, July 22 View Page 1262 Jutras 26 DAP 185lb. Up 128lb this week. It's a fantastic colour and shape but the plant has never been that vigorous and is quite small (relatively) so will be good to see how much puff this one has.   Saturday, July 22 View Page 918 Sullivan 26 DAP 174lb. Up 130lb this week. Hard to measure and photograph the 150sq ft patch pumpkins. Should be a nice orange colour this one which is what I wanted.   Saturday, July 22 View Page 1333 Oliver 27 DAP 187lb. Up 147lb this week. Almost identical to my pumpkin last year. Fascinating comparing this years stats to last but trying not to read too much into them, at the end of the day I have reached the 4 week mark earlier than previous, even if weights are down a bit.   Saturday, July 29 View Page Weekly update. Weather has continued to be awful. Dull, cloudy days with heavy showers, no prolonged periods of sun. 1844 Holub 26 DAP 216lb up 128lb this week. Cover off to help green it up a little more.   Saturday, July 29 View Page 1262 Jutras 33 DAP 302lb up 117lb this week. Stunning looking IMHO.   Saturday, July 29 View Page 918 Sullivan 33 DAP. This is my 150 square ft plant. 284lb up 110lb this week. Getting difficult to photograph and measure due to surrounding leaves now.   Saturday, July 29 View Page 1333 Oliver 34 DAP 317lb up 130lbthis week. Should have grown this as a full size plant rather than a 150sq footer but oh well. Haven't bothered spray or feed this week. Only a little bit of water. Even the aphids have slowed down. Things are OK but could do with summer making a return quickly.   Saturday, August 5 View Page Weekly update. 1844 Holub 33 DAP 410lb up 194lb this week. Seen this seed has a bit of a tendency to go light green so had the cover off this to help green it up bit but to be honest if anything it's made it look more like a pumpkin! Long way to go yet and won't be disappointed if it's judged as a pumpkin but it is realistically my only chance of breaking the UK squash record. Have been moaning about the weather recently but this is currently bigger than my best pumpkin last year at the same DAP.   Saturday, August 5 View Page 1262 Jutras 40 DAP 414lb up 112lb this week. Small plant but how close to 990lbcan this get? Over two months still to go...   Saturday, August 5 View Page 918 Sullivan 40 DAP 407lb up 123lb this week. 150sq ft plant is going well, no idea what this will finish on.   Saturday, August 5 View Page 1333 Oliver still going brilliantly. 454lb up 137lb this week. Starting to flop over its blossom end thanks to the way it's sitting. Think this has got some legs in it. Again, grown in 150sq ft.   Wednesday, August 9 View Page It has absolutely chucked it down with rain here solidly all day. Long time since I've seen it like this, at this time of year, in this part of the country. Fingers crossed I don't wake up to any pumpkin explosions...   Thursday, August 10 View Page 62mm of rain yesterday, that 2.5 inches. Thankfully no blowouts but did have a bit of skin cracking on the 1262 Jutras. Think it'll be fine.   Saturday, August 12 View Page 1844 Holub 40 DAP 617.3lb up 207lb this week. Very light green in colour, not sure how to progress with this one, would love it to green up more as I'd be odds-on for a UK record if it did. Plant is massive with absolutely no sign of slowing down in terms of leaf growth. Considering terminating the main on it.   Saturday, August 12 View Page 1262 Jutras 47 DAP 522.5lb up 108lb this week. Slow and steady but plant is beginning to age. Pretty much completely stopped putting on foliage growth and am losing the older stuff to weather damage.   Saturday, August 12 View Page 918 Sullivan 47 DAP 507lb up 100lb this week. She's gonna be pretty!   Saturday, August 12 View Page 1333 Oliver 48 DAP 573lb up 119lb this week. This has come to be known as 'Matts Monster' as Thompson & Morgan are selling the seed for it under that name. I absolutely love the 2096 genetics in this one, unbelievable growth for a 150sq ft plant.   Saturday, August 12 View Page I have one giant marrow set, pulled the other plant as too much powdery mildew for my liking. I'm led to believe the marrow chart can be a bit iffy but this currently estimates at approx 38lb. Hope it doesn't split!   Sunday, August 13 View Page Just posted in the forums about vine pruning on my 1844 Holub plant. Thought I'd stick up a picture or two of the plant to give an idea of what it's like.   Sunday, August 13 View Page Another of the 1844 looking down the main. Couldn't get the whole plant in. Apologies if they have come out sideways/upside down-no way of previewing it.   Saturday, August 19 View Page Bit slow in the patch this week I have to say. Not entirely sure why. On the whole the weather we have had this summer means I was never going to hit the heights of last year. 1844 Holub 47 DAP 760.5lb up 143.2lb this week. Bit disappointed with that, being honest.   Saturday, August 19 View Page Pic of the 1262 Jutras from a different angle this week. 54 DAP 593lb up 70.5lb this week.   Saturday, August 19 View Page 918 Sullivan 54 DAP 593lb (the same as the Jutras!) up 86lb this week.   Saturday, August 19 View Page 1333 Oliver 55 DAP 661.3lb up 88.3lb this week. Have to say I have been impressed with the 150 square foot plants, whatever happens can walk away happy with what I have achieved on these two.   Saturday, August 19 View Page Here's my giant marrow. Approximate weight 65lb but a lovely Dill ring has appeared in his week.   Monday, August 21 View Page Going to post up some close up photos of the 1844 Holub. I'm not convinced this will be judged as a squash. What do you think? Is it likely to green up in the next seven weeks? Apologies if they come out wonky again, but you get the idea   Monday, August 21 View Page I think it has an underlying cream colour myself. Who else is growing this seed and has a pale one?   Monday, August 21 View Page Sides at the bottom seem a bit greener.   Monday, August 21 View Page Blossom end. My theory is that I covered it over at too young an age and stopped the colour developing. Had it exposed for a couple of days and if anything it went less green. Thinking about keeping it growing for as long as possible, then uncovering and hanging some lights over it to see what happens.   Tuesday, August 22 View Page I hope this one comes out the right way up! We had a photographer in the garden last week who uses a wet collodion victorian style camera that he made himself. He figured me and my squash would make a good picture. Has a ten second exposure and the plate is processed on site, the original picture captured on a glass sheet. Rather pleased with it, certainly unique.   Tuesday, August 22 View Page I stuck in a leftover 464 Bohnert squash in a spare slither of space I had. Went out late and a bit pot bound. Pretty much completely neglected since. Amazing what these plants can achieve when left to their own devices. Estimates at 273lb.   Saturday, August 26 View Page We have had mildly better weather this week, with at least three days of sunshine! I terminated all the long vigorous secondaries of the 1844 and thinned out some other excessive growth. Still battling powdery mildew, gonna struggle to get the plants through to a mid-October weigh off I think. 54 DAP 923.7lb that's up 163.2lb for the week. Happy days.   Saturday, August 26 View Page 1262 Jutras is flagging a bit. 61 DAP 621.7lb up just 28lb this week. Not unexpected I have to say. May take this one to Malvern Autumn show as no way it is gonna last another seven weeks.   Saturday, August 26 View Page 918 Sullivan 61 DAP 656.9lb up 63.9lb this week.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Hat for scale! 1333 Oliver 62 DAP 725.3lb up 64lb this week.   Saturday, August 26 View Page Giant marrow now estimates at roughly 90lb. Absolutely huge Dill ring now so be chuffed if this makes it to weigh off, which again will probably be Malvern.   Saturday, August 26 View Page My extremely neglected 464 Bohnert squash is now getting a bit more attention, plugged into irrigation system so getting fed and watered. Estimates at 300lb but unknown DAP. Ticking over to the finish now just trying to manage the decline of the plants as best I can.   Thursday, August 31 View Page Lost the giant marrow this week with a split at the stem. Weighed in at 115.7lb Not bad for a first attempt so might have to take it more seriously in the future.   Saturday, September 2 View Page 1844 Holub has had a tremendous week, so much so it has got me questioning the accuracy of my measuring. Now estimates 1142lb so has put on 218lb this week, it's best yet. This puts it way beyond the current UK squash record. Unfortunately the photos always make it look greener than it is, so am fairly confident this will not meet GPC squash rules. Hey ho always next year...   Saturday, September 2 View Page 1262 Jutras is undeniably squash though. Now 690lb 68 DAP up 68lb this week.   Saturday, September 2 View Page 150sq ft 918 Sullivan 68 DAP now 734lb up 77lb this week.   Saturday, September 2 View Page 1333 Oliver 69 DAP 800lb up 74lb this week.   Saturday, September 2 View Page 464 Bohnert 357lb up 57lb this week. Spending a lot of time thinking about what fruits to take to what weigh offs at the moment, as they can't all go to our GPC weigh off in Southampton unfortunately.   Saturday, September 9 View Page Weather has been really rubbish again this week. Autumn has well and truly arrived here so it's been reflected in this weeks growth. 1844 Holub 68 DAP 1236.7lb up 94.7lb this week. Just 96lb away from a PB with five weeks to go.   Saturday, September 9 View Page 1262 Jutras 75 DAP 720.9lb up 30.9lb this week.   Saturday, September 9 View Page 918 Sullivan 75 DAP 767.2lb up 33.2lb for the week.   Saturday, September 9 View Page 1333 Oliver 76 DAP 837.7lb up 37.7lb this week   Saturday, September 9 View Page 464 Bohnert now 394.6lb up 37.6lb this week. Colour of this one is attracting a lot of attention. Shame I never grew it properly! If you are wondering about my numbers, I convert from metric measurements hence all the decimal points in imperial. Still can't make my mind up about what goes to Malvern and what goes to Southampton. Got till Thursday to make a decision.   Wednesday, September 13 View Page Touch and go for a PB now so pushing for every pound in the last five weeks. Erected a tarpaulin tent over the 1844 and wrapped it in blankets to keep it warm and dry. Seems to be keeping it a degree or two warmer over night. Had some horrendous weather here with high winds last night. My tent survived but the plants have taken a battering. If I get a PB it could be by the tiniest of margins, not sure how much I trust the new chart now!   Saturday, September 16 View Page The tarpaulin tent seems to be working (ignore the fact it is sagging on the pumpkin; it's covered in morning dew). Had a 5 Celsius difference between fruit and air temperature one night. At 75 DAP the 1844 now estimates 1338.2lb up 146lb for the week. Some real strange week to week fluctuations in growth on this one. Charting as a PB for me on the 2017 chart, a fraction short on the old one.   Saturday, September 16 View Page 1262 Jutras has pretty much stopped growing, up 7lb this week to 727.5lb at 82 DAP. I am planning on taking this to the Malvern Autumn show next weekend.   Saturday, September 16 View Page 918 Sullivan 82 DAP 804.6lb up 37lb this week.   Saturday, September 16 View Page 1333 Oliver 83 DAP 877.4lb up 39.7lb this week. This one will be going to Malvern too, which unfortunately is not a GPC event.   Saturday, September 16 View Page 464 Bohnert 410lb up 15.4lb this week. Autumn has well and truly set in now with some very cold nights forecast this weekend.   Thursday, September 21 View Page Off to the Malvern Autumn Show this weekend with my 1333 Oliver pumpkin, grown in a 150sq ft patch. All palleted up ready for loading tomorrow. No signs of damage underneath, phew!   Thursday, September 21 View Page Also taking the 1262 Jutras squash. Decided it wasn't going to get anywhere near the 990lb UK record and it wasn't going to hold out till Southampton. Still a cracking squash and not many grown to this size in this country. Go again next year for another attempt at the record.   Friday, September 22 View Page So we made it to Malvern. My 1333 Oliver weighed in at 965.6lb making it 71.6lb heavier than estimated (to new chart). Chuffed to bits as grew this in just 150sq ft of space. Should be enough for first place.   Friday, September 22 View Page 1262 Jutras came in at 750lb dead on and 8lb light to chart. My first squash so counts as a PB. Should also be heaviest at the show. Great start to the weigh off season.   Monday, September 25 View Page Tidied up the patch today, thought I'd take a pic of how I grew the 965.6lb pumpkin (1333 Oliver) I took to Malvern. 150sq ft raised bed patch, plant trained in classic Christmas tree shape. Sharp bend in main vine to accommodate pumpkin with main then wrapping around the front of the fruit. Not official 150sq ft entry so there was a bit of foliage overspill.   Monday, September 25 View Page Here's a rough sketch to make it a bit clearer. Would recommend this 150sq ft lark to anyone.   Friday, September 29 View Page Two weeks till Southampton. 1333 Oliver now tapes 1444lb to the new chart, put on 51lb this week. Comfortably in PB territory now, really really hope this pushes over 1500. Had some good weather this week, hope it continues as still have some life left in the plant.   Saturday, September 30 View Page 150sq ft 918 Sullivan estimates at 866lb, up 42lb for the week. Pruned off a load of leaves round the fruit and leaving the cover off it to try and get it to orange up a bit more for weigh off day.   Saturday, September 30 View Page 150sq ft 918 Sullivan estimates at 866lb, up 42lb for the week. Pruned off a load of leaves round the fruit and leaving the cover off it to try and get it to orange up a bit more for weigh off day.   Friday, October 13 View Page Bit of a tight fit loading the van. Unfortunately I had to leave the Bohnert squash at home as I would have been massively overweight with that too. Must get a trailer for next year. So it's the 1844 Holub and 918 Sullivan that make the trip. Hoping for a PB from the 1844.   Friday, October 13 View Page The 918 was grown in 150 sq ft so figured I'd better post some pictures of the plant in the patch. Looking slightly worse for wear by the end of the season   Friday, October 13 View Page End of patch. Only the fallen leaves have gone over the boundary. Hope I haven't broken any of the rules.   Friday, October 13 View Page The other end   Friday, October 13 View Page Last side   Friday, October 13 View Page Pumpkin got a bit bigger than expected, pushing the boundaries! Southampton weigh off is today. Can't wait to see Ian and Stu's efforts this year.   Saturday, October 14 View Page So my 1844 Holub squash is now the 1498.4lb Oliver pumpkin. That's a new PB for me and an extension of my slightly tenuous 'outdoor grown' UK record. Can't ask for fairer than that. It's a great seed Scott!   Saturday, October 14 View Page My 150sq ft 918 Sullivan weighed in heavy at 968.9lb (estimated 880) so a great result there. Picked up a Howard Dill award to boot. Set out to prove you can grow competitive pumpkins (for the UK) in a small space and I think I've achieved it.   Saturday, October 14 View Page Final results from the Royal Victoria Park, Southampton Weigh off. Big hats off to Ian and Stuart on their new UK record, you will have the world title one day lads I'm sure of it.   Thursday, October 19 View Page So my pumpkins always have a life post-weigh off. In fact that's just the start. We got some TV coverage last night on the regional news as they go on display in the garden now.   Thursday, October 19 View Page Here's a selection of photos of the display. Only the two dozen varieties of pumpkin and squash this year.   Thursday, October 19 View Page The 464 Bohnert squash went on the display unweighed. It estimated about 500lb. Bit of a shame but the York Maze weigh off insist on keeping your fruit for their own display, which I just can't justify the journey for. Looks fabulous though   Thursday, October 19 View Page Another angle.   Thursday, October 19 View Page Last one. We do this every year and it attracts a lot of attention, especially amongst families with young kids. Gets some attention for the giants and hopefully encourages a few more to have a go at growing them.   Wednesday, October 25 View Page See HD award winners are being collated so updating my diary with a better pic of mine. 968.9 Oliver (918 Sullivan 2016 x 2252 Paton 2016)   Friday, October 27 View Page This image isn't from today but did say I would post it a while back. Vine pattern of my 150sq ft 968.9lb pumpkin. I'll attempt to sketch a basic vine layout over it to make it clearer.   Friday, October 27 View Page Have a horrible feeling this is going to out the wrong way round but here's a basic sketch of vine layout (as best I can do). Any other vines not drawn over is basically tertiary growth I never removed as would have been very intrusive.   Sunday, October 29 View Page Finally got the 464 Bohnert squash off the display today and weighed it. Harvested on the 18th so probably lost a bit of weight but came in at 458.5lb. Not bad for something that was pretty much entirely neglected.   Wednesday, November 1 View Page Supposed to be enjoying some time off work the last few days. Get a message Monday day evening saying ITV London news want to come and film/interview me if we carve a giant jack o lantern. So the 965.6 Oliver weighed over a month ago at Malvern got turned into this. Crazy day making it happen in time, some way to go before I become a professional pumpkin carver!   Monday, November 20 View Page Finally cut open the 1498 Oliver pumpkin today. Been over a month since the weigh off and been on display ever since so needed to get the seed out.   Monday, November 20 View Page Nice nd thick all the way round.   Monday, November 20 View Page Perhaps one of my favourite photos of the season this!