Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 97 Entries. Wednesday, January 3 View Page New year, new diary, new growing season. Try and forget about giant pumpkins for a bit over Christmas but time to get going again. Finally sorted out all my seed from last years fruits. It's nothing special but if anyone is interested get in touch. Going to try and get as much sent out as possible here in the UK to encourage more growers.   Sunday, March 18 View Page Been a long, cold and boring winter here in old Blighty, only done a little bit of giant pumpkin planning so far but things picking up now as not far off growing time. One big change for me this year is I won't be using my work facilities for germination so had to do a bit of work in my own glasshouse. This is no bad thing as it gives me more control but will affect the leccy bill! Got my vitopod and grow lights set up and have just started doing some testing. If there's one area I can definitely improve at it's getting seeds to germinate better so will be experimenting with different methods.   Wednesday, March 28 View Page Got this through the post today. Decided to donate my winnings from the 150sq ft competition last year to the GPC (just didn't feel comfortable accepting it). Thanks to Bart for forwarding it on to me from the States. Not sure where to stick it though!   Wednesday, March 28 View Page I've been running some germination tests mainly to make sure I've got all my new equipment fine tuned. Last year I had a torrid time with the wet paper towel and bag chitting method, and it proved to be the same case this year, despite lots of experimenting. Switched to a six hour soak and sowed straight into compost and voila! I guess that's why we do tests. Feeling a whole lot more confident now. I think temperature is my main issue given my growing facilities and the old school way just seems to work better for me.   Friday, March 30 View Page Looks like I've dialled in my germination. 100% germination (nine in each pot-last one is just about to poke through). This was for germination only so pay no attention to how many I've squeezed in! Using a coir compost as I won a load of free bags at the Malvern show last year, nice to see Ian and Stu are using it too. Thinking of adding some supplements to it as it's low fertility but seems easy to control moisture levels.   Friday, March 30 View Page So with kick off less than two weeks away here's what I'm hoping will be in the patch this year. I'm concentrating on just three plants this year, two of them will be greenie and I'm making no apologies for coming straight out with I want the UK squash record. It's currently 990.6lb and has stood since 2006 and if any seed is gonna break it its gonna be these two!   Friday, March 30 View Page The third plant will be pumpkin and I'm specifically targeting big and orange. I've spent a lot of time hunting down seeds that will hopefully guarantee orange and I'm extremely thankful to Scott Henkin, Dan Wagner and Mark Goodman for taking the time to respond to messages send me seed; often more than what I was expecting! The target is a PB (over 1498lb) but I know there is room for a huge improvement on that if we have a decent summer so who knows where I could end up if everything goes to plan. Trouble is there's only room for one of these and I just can't decide which! It wasn't on my original list but do like the look of the 1543 Cotterman due to those 2145 genetics. Anyone know what colour that 2145 produced?   Thursday, April 5 View Page Finally just about dry enough here to get on the patch for her first time since November. This before photo shows it in a sorry state...   Thursday, April 5 View Page And after. Raked it out and re-erected the wind netting basically. By our standards we have had a cold frosty winter. I dig he patch over and leave it rough (no green manures) which meant the winter weather has broken it down to a lovely tilth that raked out nicely. I've decided not to rotavate the patch this year as I don't see how a machine can do a better job in a few hours than mother nature can in six months. Big believer in not disrupting the soil more than you have to. Soil samples to be sent off, amendments made and then patches will be mulched again.   Friday, April 6 View Page Small improvement this evening, ran some paracord through the wind netting to keep it taught and gain a few more inches in height. Used to be a bit saggy in the middle so I'm sure this will make it more effective and is an easy win. Marginal gains important and the GB cycling team would say!   Wednesday, April 11 View Page All set for sowing day tomorrow. Using this compost this year, sterile, good pH, nice and open but low fertility. Have mixed with perlite, Pumpkin Pro (first time using that for me; cheers Ron!), Azos and an insect frass product called N-boost that is organic and is 3-2-3 and should give the young plants something to see them through till planting time. All in the propagator at 30c warming up for tomorrow.   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Also doing a free seed sowing giveaway in the garden tomorrow of one hundred of my 1498lb seeds from last year. Bit of a kids activity during the school holidays but we are organising a weigh off (Non -GPC, for now) in October and hope to encourage more people to give growing giant pumpkins a go and bring them back to the garden.   Thursday, April 12 View Page And we're off! Filed and soaked seeds for eight hours today before sowing. Final line up is 2118 Jutras x2, 1807 Holub x2, 1739 Goodman x4, 918 Sullivan x2 and two squash back ups of 1279.2 Kline and 1218 Morris in case it all goes wrong. Don't know anything about those seeds but they're the only other squash I have.   Friday, April 13 View Page Got my soil test result today. Pretty much exactly the same as last year. Annoyingly the pH has stayed the same despite treating with sulphur chips. May have to change tack on that one. In terms of interpretation, nothings changed but levels for everything apart from iron are lower. Whether this is due to winter rains or lost to last years plant I don't know. Really will have to do something about the manganese this year though.   Saturday, April 14 View Page I've been disinfecting my irrigation lines today. Never done it before but I've been using them for two seasons now so more than likely to have a layer of filth inside them harbouring nasty bacteria etc... Used a horticultural disinfectant called Jet 5, 200ml in 25 litre dosatron container, put through at 50:1   Thursday, April 19 View Page One week from sowing and mostly everything is up fine. The 1739 Goodman seeds were the quickest. Think my propagator got very warm the first few days and this backs up what I told about the mother plant coping with heat. We've had a sudden and dramatic change of weather here and now experiencing a mini spring heatwave and keeping glasshouses cool enough is a challenge.   Thursday, April 19 View Page The only issue I've had is both my 2118 squashes not playing ball. They've been treated exactly the same as all my other seeds so not sure what's going on. Got one up eventually but seed leaves are a bit damaged. The other one has finally put down a root after I cracked the seed case off this morning. We shall see. Be interested to know if anyone else has had trouble.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Seeing lots of photos from growers still struggling with snow on the ground. Complete opposite here and the sudden change in weather has been so dramatic I've had to put shade netting on the glasshouse to try and cool it down a bit.   Sunday, April 22 View Page Plants potted on from a 3 litre to 7.5 litre pot today. Working on the assumption that I'm not going to get a 2118 (although one is looking promising) so important to keep the 1807's in good order now. I've got four 1739 Goodman, one has come through with a tiny yellow third cotyledon and an odd first leaf so that's a no go. The rest are perfect. Feeding with a 4-0-1 product for now. About to start foliar spraying too.   Tuesday, April 24 View Page Time to put some serious hours into the patch this week now soil conditions are spot on and I can work around life! Treated the patch with fish, blood & bone at 75g sq/m, sulphate of ammonia at 35g sq/m and sulphur chips at 150g sq/m. This is the most I've ever done after a soil test but have to work hard to bring my pH down and I feel this year is one where tiny improvements will count. Plan to plant out in a week.   Wednesday, April 25 View Page I said I wasn't going to till the patches this year. But I decided to do the edges of the patches where the soil is heaviest. Moment I came further in it was obvious my original decision was right and there was absolutely no need to do the rest as it would do more harm than good. Feels amazing how in three years I've managed to change this from virgin field clay to a garden loam that doesn't even need spring tilling. No heavy machinery used, just lashings of compost, a spade and winter frost is all you need.   Friday, April 27 View Page Weather over the weekend has been unfavourable. Back to heavy rain and cold. Missed the opportunity to get soil cables and cloches in so tarps went out to try and keep the ground dry. Will be end end of the week before I can get back on it again. At least it'll wash the sulphur chips in!   Monday, April 30 View Page Plants are growing nicely in the glasshouse though. Now at three leaf stage, not much to pick between them. 2118 is still rubbish but at least the delay in planting gives it a fighting chance to catch up. On the plus side these are the best plants I've had for this time of year in my three years growing them.   Monday, April 30 View Page This is the reason I'm a bit behind with the pumpkins. I've taken on the role of being groundsman for my cricket club [It's a better more English version of baseball for those who don't know what cricket is ;)] The late spring condensed the work into a fortnight so been busy doing that. More tarps down last night to try and keep this Saturdays wicket dry. Rain, rain go away...   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Finally a dry day! The tarps did their job and kept the soil dry enough to just about be workable. Got two of my three soil cables in, last one at the bottom of the slope will have to wait. More rain tomorrow so tarps back down. Copied this idea of attaching the cable to a frame, in my case bamboo canes and chicken wire. Hope the metal chicken wire won't be a problem and act more like a mini radiator.   Tuesday, May 1 View Page On the other hand the rain is blessing. This area wasn't dug over last autumn (in fact a long time since it was cultivated) and very heavy clay. Dug it over then it went hard like concrete, rain meant I could finally get the tiller on it and the amendments down. I will be growing the 918 Sullivan here and hope to do this seed more justice than last year, I think its got wheels!   Wednesday, May 2 View Page Not much time or the weather to do this job before now, but got the first of the patches mulched this evening. Takes three trailer loads and about three hours to do it but I'm convinced it's worth it. I know not many other giant pumpkin growers bother with mulching but it works for me so I'm sticking with it.   Monday, May 7 View Page Man does it feel good to finally get the plants in the ground. The 2118's didn't make it (no growth points) so I'm running with both 1807 Holub's and will self or sibb. Here's one on the right with a very much last resort back up 1218 Morris.   Monday, May 7 View Page Another 1807 Holub on the right (and probably my best plant) with a 1279 Kline as back up.   Monday, May 7 View Page 1739 Goodman's here. Picked the best of four and these had a blinding start. Very much hoping that they will produce big and orange for me. May go out and buy a fan heater to go in this cloche later.   Monday, May 7 View Page Pair of 918 Sullivan's and a bit of a miracle I got the ground ready for these. I really rate this seed and should be a guaranteed orange, grew it last year in 150sq ft, won me a Howard Dill award. Hoping to see how far I can push it in a proper patch this year. All plants watered in with a gallon of dilute liquid seaweed, azos and pumpkin pro. Thank heavens for the good weather we're having now.   Monday, May 7 View Page The 1739 Goodman are in a new cloche design I built. Last one was damaged in the winter and hopefully this 'open lid' type will make ventilation easier and better to work in. We shall see.   Monday, May 7 View Page Here is a view of the patch looking uphill (West) and looking glorious im the East Anglian sunshine. Hard work starts now.   Saturday, May 12 View Page Well that's just typical, both my 1739 Goodman plants have developed double vines. Pulled one and replaced with spare but wouldn't be surprised if that goes the same way. Looked absolutely fine till the 6th leaf. Have to come up with a solution to this one somehow, bit late to start seed now.   Monday, May 28 View Page First plant out of it's cloche. This is one of my 1807 Holub's. First female appeared at 8ft but I won't be taking it. Weather here has been fantastic but have to admit to life taking over a bit and the pumpkins getting minimal attention the last two weeks. Begin to enjoy the season a bit more once the cloches come off as I find it easier to work on the plants and I don't have the early morning/late evening rigmarole of opening and closing them up.   Monday, May 28 View Page Second 1807 not far behind, couple of days and the cloche will be off. Pretty impressed seeing as it's had no supplementary heat at nights.   Monday, May 28 View Page This is where it goes a bit ropey. 1739 Goodman (back up replant) has done really well, but has suffered badly with leaf scorch. Just so busy at this time of year I struggle to ventilate the cloches enough. Very small 1498 Oliver next to it that I'm keeping just for now.   Monday, May 28 View Page Lastly, two near identical 918 Sullivan. But again, one has gone down badly with scorch so that one will probably end up being culled. Overall, I'm happy so far.   Tuesday, May 29 View Page Plants got their first spray of Manganese Sulphate this evening. Not used the stuff before but hoping for a big impact from a small micronutrient. Here's my second 1807 Holub about to outgrow it's cloche. Making a return to rubbish weather this week.   Wednesday, June 6 View Page All my plants are now out of their cloches. This 1807 Holub is my best. Main vine now at 15ft, got a female at about 13/14 and can't decide whether to take it or not. Spraying with Epsom salts and manganese sulphate alongside SB Plant Invigorator now.   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Second 1807, slightly shorter at 12/13 ft. Two sidevines on one side a bit weak/double vines, will probably train in some tertiary growth in their place. Rest of the plant seems fine. Green females on both plants so far.   Wednesday, June 6 View Page 1739 Goodman. My weakest plant and has been badly hit with leaf scorch. If I'm not around to open the cloche more then I'm not around and that's the end of it! Just culled my own 1498 next door to this so hopefully have a bit more space and light to get going. Want to stick with the genetics on this one.   Wednesday, June 6 View Page Last but by no means least is the 918 Sullivan at around 10ft long. Exceptionally healthy, large, dark green leaves. Proper pumped to be growing this seed in a proper sized patch after it performed so well for me in 150sq ft last year. Overall I'm happy so far.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Had double females on the 1807 Holub at around 14 ft out. Dithered about what to do.   Sunday, June 10 View Page One opened as a perfect five lober this morning. No matter as I culled them both anyway. Out late and up late so would have been an open. Want to let the plant get a bit bigger yet would have been a ridiculously early pollination for me this.   Sunday, June 10 View Page Once I saw this the decision was easy. About 2ft further down there's these two in quick succession. Lovely jubbly.   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Right, neglected this diary for a bit so time for some updates. Pollinated the first 1807 this week. Four lobes. Earliest I've managed to get a pollination. x self   Wednesday, June 20 View Page Day later I took the first on my second 1807. Sibbed this one with the other plant as it's not quite as vigorous. Still pollinated at about 17ft out just side vines are not as balanced.   Thursday, June 21 View Page Pollinated a second one on the first 1807 a day later. Never had two females so close together, at approx 19 and 20ft out so pretty happy with my options. Selfed again. This pic is a couple of days later so first one is 4DAP, second is 2DAP.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Here's my plants as of today. First 1807 Holub.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Second 1807 Holub. This plant is smaller and more of the secondaries are weaker, especially the first two on the right hand side of this picture. Still confident I can grow a big squash on this plant however.   Saturday, June 23 View Page 1739 Goodman. My weakest plant and took a lot of heat damage a few weeks ago. Didn't help that I accidentally pruned a whole secondary out the other day whilst having a stupid moment. Should be pollinating this week but I'll be lucky to get a pumpkin PB his year I reckon.   Saturday, June 23 View Page Last plant is 918 Sullivan. Great colour on this one and good leaf size. Bit of chlorosis here and there think it's due to being on the worst part of my patch. Feeling good about this one. All plants getting fed on Azos and Maxicrop Organic feed (seaweed + 5-2-5), a little everyday. Spraying with Epsom salts, manganese sulphate and Veni Calcium (a new product for me).   Tuesday, June 26 View Page Pollinated both the 918 Sullivan and the 1739 Goodman yesterday and today. Both approx 15ft out and pollinated by each other. Fingers crossed for big and orange. 918 in photo.   Tuesday, June 26 View Page This pic will probably come out sideways as I stupidly took it in portrait but wanted to add it in my diary to help other growers with squash genetics. This is a picture of one of my 750 Oliver squash that I grew last year (I'm growing it in a stupidly small bed in our school/teaching garden at work >150sq ft). Genetics is 1262 Jutras x 1844 Holub. The 1844 Holub I grew started off green, then went pale and was weighed as a pumpkin. This female has started off green. If it stays green then what on earth does that say about our understanding of sq x pumpkin F1 offspring? Anyway, be interesting to see how big I can get it.   Saturday, July 14 View Page About time I updated my diary. Getting a bit behind as I find it so much easier to stick everything on Facebook/twitter/Instagram. Here's my first 1807 Holub 25 DAP approx 150lb. Gone a bit square in shape this one and quite pale in colour. I cover my fruits with both a white sheet and shade netting but shade netting is now off as I think it is detrimental to colour with the squash.   Saturday, July 14 View Page The other 1807 Holub 24 DAP. Approx 145lb. Better shape and colour this one but plant probably not as good.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 1739 Goodman 18 DAP. Approx 85lb. Three weeks ago I didn't hold out much hope for this plant but it's really come round and this fruit is a great shape. We shall see.   Saturday, July 14 View Page 918 Sullivan 19 DAP. Only about 60lb. Complete opposite to the 1739, plant looks amazing but fruit growth not so good. Should be a stonking colour but never had one egg shaped like this before.   Thursday, July 19 View Page Looks like the 750 Oliver squash I'm growing in the learning garden at work has gone pumpkin. Didn't take long for that to happen. Haven't measured it but did manage to bend the stem putting it on the board yesterday. D'oh! Growing in just a 3x3m bed.   Saturday, July 21 View Page Photo collage shamelessly stolen from Instagram. Here's the 1807 Holub#1: 297lb up 143lb this week. Awkward shape, had to raise the back of the board up with some bricks and a hive more sand behind it to try and manage it a little better. Tweaked my back, tsk! At least it will definitely be a squash.   Saturday, July 21 View Page 1807 Holub#2: Just a few pounds lighter at 286lb but a much better shape a day younger. Going to be interesting watching these two plants go toe to toe as the season progresses. Can't call the winner myself at the moment. Quarter of the way to target weight of 990lb and the forecast continues to be amazing.   Saturday, July 21 View Page 1739 Goodman is the star performer this week now 240lb up 154lb for the week. Continues to surprise this plant. Colour is developing slowly, really want it to be a nice bright orange. Starburst pattern is there too. A week younger than the squash so looking good.   Saturday, July 21 View Page Last but not least is the 918 Sullivan at 178lb. Slowest in the patch but it's gonna be an absolute stunner. Biggest problem at the moment is aphids, they are loving the hot weather and am having to continually spray with SB Plant Invigorator to control it. These two combined with the heat are probably prematurely ageing the leaf so my only worry at the moment is the plants running out of puff as the season progresses.   Wednesday, July 25 View Page Ridiculous heat forecast the next two days so made the decision to put up the tarps for some shade, patch looks full army style now! To give you an idea of how hot and dry it's been, the UK is currently experiencing the dryest summer since 1976. We haven't had rain since April here in Essex. Although this isn't a problem for me as I have an irrigation system, the lack of rain has meant less secondary rooting for me, as I'm unable to water by hand and keep all the nodes damp.   Wednesday, July 25 View Page Having some problems with my 1807 squash, wants to go full on bird bath and roll onto its stem. Anyone got any ideas of what I can prop it up with that won't damage the fruit?   Saturday, August 4 View Page Missed the update on her last week. Difficult week this week as lost one of the 1807 squash to a BES. Final estimate was 546lb and she was looking set. Oh well, just have to get over it I guess.   Saturday, August 4 View Page My other 1807 has completely fallen backwards with the blossom end now facing the sky. Stem has been bent so probably only of half throttle but I guess it might stop me from blowing this one up too! Now up to 608lb, plenty of good leaf growth still coming and I learnt last year that's no bad thing as means good late season fruit growth at expense of very rapid growth now. Just hope the stem holds I'll still have a chance at that UK record.   Saturday, August 4 View Page 1739 Goodman is up to 573lb. Bit of a slow week given three days of greyish sky, rain and high winds. Think a pumpkin PB is probably a push too far this year but have to remind myself that was never really the goal anyway.   Saturday, August 4 View Page 918 Sullivan is playing serious catch up. Put on over 200lb this week up to 553lb. Still plenty of legs left in this one I feel, although it has developed a bit of a 'snout'.   Thursday, August 9 View Page Crazy times in my patch. My remaining squash has finally fallen all the way back and the 'top' is now resting on the ground and can't fall any further. It is still growing despite the bent stem and sapping like crazy. Have dug out a massive trench underneath to prevent the stem from further crushing, which seems to be working. Fascinating to see how far and how large the roots have got, going right down into the clay subsoil, which is great to see. If I can nurse this through to the weigh off I could end up with one of the oddest shaped squash ever. At least ten secondaries still to terminate but the patch is nearly full, I hope to see fruit growth remain steady, if not increase, as I begin to terminate them. LOTS of rain today, which is a little worrying.   Friday, August 10 View Page Finally got round to clearing away my split 1807 squash. Bit unfortunate I feel as it's almost identical shape to my 1498 I grew last year that made it all the way. Final estimate was 546lb at 45 DAP. No means to weigh it so it'll go down as 546 Est Oliver UOW (1807 Holub x sibb) . Lots of good viable seed inside which is surprising but also good to see, as decent giant squash seed seems difficult to come by in this country. Every cloud and all that...   Saturday, August 11 View Page This weeks update: 1807 Holub is 769lb. Still growing well despite bent stem. Biggest I've had for the time of year but not matching last year in terms of size for DAP. Will terminate some secondaries this week so hopefully speed up a bit.   Saturday, August 11 View Page 1739 Goodman is 692lb, up 116lb for the week. Colour looks like it will develop a bit more now.   Saturday, August 11 View Page 918 Sullivan is kicking into gear and has now overtaken the 1739. Up 154lb this week to 707lb. Apologies for the rubbish photo's the sun was bright and low this morning. Don't feel like things are going brilliantly if I'm being honest and I'm not sure where the remainder of the season is going to take me.   Saturday, August 11 View Page Last but by no means least is my own 750 seed. This is growing in a raised bed just 9sq m and now tapes 438lb. Little bit of rot on the blossom end I'm trying to get under control (probably too much touchy feel going on!). If it makes it through the season I'll be taking it to the RHS Harvest show in London, as we've got 100 schools across the country growing this seed as part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.   Monday, August 13 View Page Damn it. Lost another one. To be fair the 918 Sullivan has had a split written all over it for a while. Obviously not got the balance right this year. Times like this you kick yourself wishing you had put more hours in. Definitely rested on my laurels a bit this year. That pretty much ends any chance of a pumpkin PB this year.   Saturday, August 25 View Page Bad couple of weeks weather wise here, back to cold nights and cloudy days and drizzle. Squash is still growing but not exactly pulling up trees. Got a huge plant now, fighting powdery mildew but if the weather turns I think I can see improved growth. Still digging out the hole underneath the stem. This UK squash record is proving a bit of a pain for me, maybe I got too greedy!   Saturday, August 25 View Page Already come to terms with the fact I won't be getting a pumpkin PB this year, but that's OK as I never really set out this season to do that. Little bit disappointed this one isn't more orange though, as a repeat of the HD award would have been nice. Ho-hum scratch this season off and ponder the if, buts and maybes...   Saturday, August 25 View Page Forgot to take a picture of my pumpkin in the learning garden this morning. Must find a blanket for it as it's still growing but cold nights have caused surface cracking. Still amazed what these plants can achieve in such small spaces. Also, Gerald, if you're reading this, absolutely gutted for you with that split. Was really rooting for you to get one over a 1000lb to the weigh off given all the hard work you've put in.   Monday, September 10 View Page 1807 Holub is still growing and is now taping a fair bit beyond the UK record. Have to keep babying it through to the weigh off (still five weeks away!) and see what happens. Powdery mildew setting in quite hard so won't sustain growth right till the end. Constant checking of the stem as getting difficult to keep enlarging the hole underneath to relieve pressure. Should be a tense autumn as there's some other big ones out there...   Monday, September 10 View Page 1739 Goodman is over 900lb, which is more than I thought I'd get from it. Given the weights I've managed in recent years I consider it to be a poor effort, but hey ho. Lots of green colour coming through and lots of cantalouping too. No Howard Dill for me this year!   Monday, September 10 View Page The learning garden pumpkin is up to 550lb, not bad for less than 9 Square meters of space I reckon. Again, lots of PM and all but stopped growing but only three weeks till show day for this one.   Saturday, September 15 View Page They're all still growing, but slowing down now. Trying hard to keep PM at bay but it's always a losing battle. The squash is getting very difficult to measure accurately now, I've gone beyond the UK record but I don't have much confidence in coming out on estimate. The shape suggests it could go heavy (no cavity) but my measurements could be out. Exciting month ahead!   Tuesday, October 9 View Page Bit slow with diary updates recently. Last week I harvested the learning garden pumpkin (grown from my 750 squash seed. Took it to the RHS Harvest Show at the Horticultural Halls in London. It estimated 575lb and came in at 582lb. Not a bad effort seeing as grown in a 3x3m bed, with no feed, no spraying, no mycorhiza, no compost tea, nothing just soil and water. As a member of staff I'm not allowed to enter the competition but would have placed 6th. As a side note, this seed was given out to hundred schools across the country, and was also grown by the Campaign for School Gardening team at RHS Garden Wisley. There were a couple of entries over 200lb and it looks like I'm going to have to visit the winning school all the way up north in Chesterfield! One of the entries even made it to the Giant Veg Championship at the Malvern Autumn Show. Despite having a below par season myself, it's good to see my efforts over previous years are starting to encourage more people here to have a go.   Tuesday, October 9 View Page Here's a rather poor photo of the entries at the show.   Tuesday, October 9 View Page And the results board. On this evidence I think it's safe to say the standards here are going up, and that's before we get to the Southampton weigh off this weekend. The London show is a nightmare for growers to get to (and the weighing takes place behind the scenes), and that's one of the reasons it will be moving to my place of work, RHS Hyde Hall, for next year. I have it on good authority that it will then become a GPC registered event (finally the powers at be have listened to me!). The UK is crying out for another GPC event IMO and I'm determined to make a real go of it.   Tuesday, October 9 View Page In the meantime, I've managed to organise a very unofficial and easy going weigh off in the garden for the 20th. That's quite late in the year for us but should get the ball rolling and help to encourage a handful of local growers who've given my seed a go to try again next year. Not expecting any boulders but you never know.   Friday, October 12 View Page All loaded up with the 1807 Holub squash and 1739 Goodman pumpkin for tomorrows weigh off in Southampton. Always nervy moving them by yourself! The squash estimates at 1157lb (which puts it in UK record territory) and the pumpkin estimates 957lb. Overall I've had a bad year but very much looking forward to it tomorrow. If I hadn't let the squash roll back I think it could have gone huge but its all ifs and buts now. The next couple of posts are going to show how I managed to keep it growing, as some of you might be interested.   Friday, October 12 View Page Here's how it laid in the patch, bit clearer to see without the tarp and leaf growth around it. The stem end is underneath, somewhere central. I had to dig a hole underneath and channel either side for the stem to lay in.   Friday, October 12 View Page Closer view of the inspection chamber. Had to pretty much get half my body in that hole with a torch, upside-down, in order to check the stem.   Friday, October 12 View Page Cross section view of the base. You can see half the fruit was off the board and hanging over the hole. It was only supported by the two shoulders resting on the edges of the pit. The result is a crazy shaped squash.   Friday, October 12 View Page Probably poor quality but hope that one gives a better indication of the size of the pit. Over a spade depths deep and must be at least 2x3 feet in size.   Friday, October 12 View Page Left hand side is from the stump. Dark line is where it crushed when it fell back at just a few weeks old. It was hanging by a thread at harvest. Amazing how it sustained the growth it did. My patch is on a hill and I've had two fruits in my time growing roll backwards like this. I guess in the future I have to just cross my fingers and hope I get flower on the other side of the main vine so it rolls the other way!   Sunday, October 14 View Page Another great day at our UK weigh off yesterday. I really enjoy the chance to meet up with other growers and talk giants. My 1739 Goodman came in a bit light at 879. 4lb. It's not a number that going to live long in the memory and I really didn't do this seed the justice it deserved. Stood up amazingly well to our ridiculously hot summer and I should have done better with it. I placed fifth overall, which I am happy about.   Sunday, October 14 View Page My squash came in light too, but it was still enough to break the 12 year old British record by 95lb, coming in at 1085.8lb. Super happy as I've targeted that record for two years (should have had it last year) and thought I had blown it after the stem bend and splitting my other one. The reality is I'm capable of a 1500lb squash but that's for another year. I may have celebrated rather wildly at the news! Big shout out to Scott Holub for the seeds, both my PB's are off his seeds and they seem to perform really well for outdoor growers over here. Maybe we share a similar climate?   Sunday, October 14 View Page Well, you've got to fly the flag every now and then and we don't have too much else to be proud about as a nation right now! :) Have to put our pumpkin and squash display together at work this week, and prep for our weigh off this Saturday, whilst trying to get to grips with what to grow next year as I'm toying with the idea of having a year off.