Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 67 Entries. Sunday, January 14 View Page Finally! It’s just been one of those winters and I’m mailing out the last of the seed requests now. I don’t get a lot of requests like some so I should be more on the ball then this. Dan MaCcoy,,,, it’s going to be 85 degrees here today,,, how’s the weather back there?:)   Sunday, January 28 View Page Mid winter in the greenhouses. With this tomato contest going down,,, I may add co2, not grow pumpkins this year and plant 185 giant tomatoes here. We will see!   Sunday, January 28 View Page The other side of the greenhouses. It’s been 70 to 85 all winter so I’ve had both sides open and everything is growing great! Still debating on another 2500 sq ft greenhouse. Kids sports are the deciding factor on if I’ll have the time.   Wednesday, March 14 View Page Here we go again! Mustard grew fast and very well this winter. I had the doors half closed all winter and it seemed to grow as fast as my pumpkin vines! Just started flowering a week ago so it was time to cut.   Wednesday, March 14 View Page It grew just under 6 feet this year starting a little later. Last years 8 to 10 foot crop was a major challenge to cut and till. The stuff came down easy with a weed wacker,,,,,,, then a nice moe to chop things up.   Wednesday, March 14 View Page Once everything was chopped a couple passes with the tiller and the mustard gas does it’s thing. After the final passes the patch was watered heavy. Soil test was taken today also. I’ll let the mustard sit for 3 weeks, add what’s needed then do a very light till. I can’t beleive 2018 is just about under way!!!!   Monday, April 16 View Page 2 cameras set up on the Pumpkin plants and patch from October patch prep all the way until weigh off day. Well be taking a picture every 15 minutes for the whole season. It’s been a bit of work but with the editing skills of my good friend Brian and staying on top of things it should be a fun watch!   Monday, April 16 View Page Early start date like this year puts me right where I should be for the summer solstice! Sketchy starting this early but I want bigger plants and this is the way to do it. The soil in the greenhouse is already 72 degrees so things should get going as soon as I plant out next week. Here we go again! Wishing everyone a fantastic year and a new personal best!   Tuesday, April 17 View Page Some of the products I use during the season. I’ve done some controlled grows with the NPK line and really, really like it! I use pretty much all of the products but have really seen a difference while using the silica, microbes and bloom product they make. These are the 2 pound bags and 10 pound tubs,,, I think I’ll have enough to get though the season!!! Ron’s mico needs no words! The stuff works wonders in getting a huge fruit to the scale!!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page Dumbo ears! Man I love this time of year!! All seeds but one came up,,,,,,,, it’s go time and I’ll be planting out any day now!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page Added a touch more perlite this year. I also got this special blow your Pumpkin up huge stuff shipped in from don young ( feathers ) that he got smuggled across the country from steve Daletas. He just told me to hang on!!!   Saturday, April 21 View Page A few final passes and things will be ready! My Soil is a bit more dialed in this year. Let’s see what the moon dirt can do in 2018!   Saturday, May 12 View Page Plants are in the ground. Close is two 1938 mr heavy Pingrey and on the other side of the patch we have two 1937 Urena’s. I’ll let both plants grow for another week or so then cull the weaker plant. So far things are going very well. I had some good leaf scorch on a couple days the sun was out so I’m using a little shade for now.   Saturday, May 12 View Page It’s amazing how there’s always a bigger and better plant when I start a few of the same seed. This is the 1938 Pingrey and if I had to guess I’d say the one on the right will be the chosen plant.   Saturday, May 12 View Page The other side of the patch holds the 1937’s. This is the strongest plant by far. I started 5 of this seed and I label them all as they come up and how well they do before planted outside. This plant was up in two days and has been the front runner of all the seeds I started this year. I started a lot of seeds for other growers. This plant has been twice the size of anything else that went under the lights! Let’s see if the Pumpkin can do the same!   Tuesday, May 29 View Page Weekend update. All backups have been cut and the chosen plants are off to the races. Still no sun but the plants are happy. I’d much rather have this weather then the heat Q has going on.:)   Tuesday, May 29 View Page Here’s the 1938 Pingrey. Both plants were very nice so I flipped a coin to decide on which one got the axe. Watering and feeding very little right now in the cool weather. I run things dry as long as I can then hammer the water as I get close to pollination.   Tuesday, May 29 View Page Here’s the 1937 Leonardo. It was easy to select a winner on this side of the patch. My other 1937 went flat vine, all kinds of extra leafs and tendrils then the main doubled on me. If it was all I had I would of made things work but glad I had a beautiful plant right next to her.   Tuesday, May 29 View Page It’s nice having the plants at a nursery. There always fun things for the kids to do while I’m playing in the patch. This is one of the 15 foot tall piles of potting soil on the property,,,,, the kids love climbing it!   Tuesday, May 29 View Page They love jumping off the top! Good fun until we get home and Mom sees the kids socks!   Thursday, June 7 View Page Weekly update. Things are starting to get busy with the vines, finishing up the Irragation, shading on sunny days, staying on the Ferts routine and keeping a close eye on what fungicides are needed each week. Growing in a greenhouse has its advantages but disease is always right around the corner so a close eye is always needed. Here’s the 1938 Pingrey. Not sure who Pingrey is but I really liked the seed!!   Thursday, June 7 View Page Here’s the 1937 Urena. No slouch here! Feeding a bit of Epsom salts for sulfur and to green things up a little. Also doing a good amount of calcium as things continue to grow. First tissue test will be sent out this weekend so we can see where things are at.   Thursday, June 7 View Page Other side of the patch. Also feeding a cal-phos product I was turned onto last year. Those two products always cause problems when mixed together and this one flows really really smooth.   Friday, June 8 View Page Soil tests in June,,,,,, what has my life become... just trying to figure a few things out. First tissue test also going out. I need help,,, I really need help. Q, can you walk me through the 10 steps of recovery because this whole pumpkin thing has taken over my life! Lol When extreme excitement meets full blown stress,,, does it get any better!!!   Thursday, June 14 View Page I’d post more but nothing really going on. Keeping the plants as dry as I can for now, feeding very little, spraying cal-phos and calcium by itself three days a week. I’m just going off the past couple years soils and tissue tests and bumping things that needed it and using less of what I had to much of. It’s full speed vine bury time so that’s the big job at the moment. This is the 1937, the 1938 Pingrey looks the same. They’re both amazing plants so far. I’ve also added a couple more fans to keep the air moving.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there! Faith and I stopped by the patch after church to check on things. Here’s the 1938 Pingrey moving along. It’s been cool and cloudy,,, 62 today but the plants are growing well. Two doors closed on the house keeps it perfect.   Sunday, June 17 View Page Faith with the 1937 Urena. Same here,,, plant is growing well despite the cool and cloudy weather. Both plants hit the 20 foot mark. Burying vines like crazy for the next few weeks.:)   Tuesday, July 3 View Page First of July and the patch is filling up. It’s full speed vine bury time! During this time I’m always looking forward to what I call “ cruise control “ which happens in about 2 months. I have a few pumpkins set on both plants and should have my final picks by this weekend. I can’t complain about the weather,, it’s been 68 to 72 on the coast every day for sometime now. We can get hot spells now and again and when the plants are small I’d rather have cool then really hot. We do have our first heatwave coming this weekend with 90’s and 100’s but just for a couple days.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Under the canopy looking good.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Here’s the 1938 Pingrey. This is the first time I’ve ever planted an unproven seed. Only having a limited area to grow in I’ve always gone with proven seeds. I’ll have to ssy, this plant has been incredible! Fast grower, perfect size leafs, doesn’t burn at all,,secondary’s where they should be. I can’t wait to see what she does and thanks again for giving me a chance at this seed Russ.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page Here’s the other side of the patch and the 1937 Urena. She’s also been very nice. Even with 31% shade on sunny days the south facing side of the plant is getting burnt. I’ve done some pruning and added another 20% shade on the warm days and she’s liking it.   Tuesday, July 3 View Page One of the potential Pumpkins. Decisions being made soon!   Wednesday, July 18 View Page Some call the greenhouse growers cheaters,,, growers like me call it doing what ever you can to make your climate as close to perfection as you possibly can. I’m on the beach in California and we hover around 68 to 80 all summer, with the greenhouse I can not only keep it 85 every day but also keep those nighttime temps a bit warmer. Plants are filling and looking the best they ever had!!   Wednesday, July 18 View Page Other side of the house looking north. There’s still a bit of area to fill in. Two to three more weeks and vine burying will be completed until 2019!   Wednesday, July 18 View Page Nothing to show off yet. Pumpkins just got in the 30 pounds a day zone yesterday. Just starting to push on gas pedal!! Second tissue test came back last night so adjustments were made and things should start getting fun in the next few days!! The results blew me away as so many nutrients that were excessive were on the low side. Time to press a little harder and see what this 1937 Urena is made of!!!:)   Thursday, July 26 View Page End of July is the time I spend to clean up the main vine. Both plants had worn leaves trimmed, dirt dug away from around the mains, look around for any brown spots and treat with captain. this time last year I found a brown spot 5 feet behind my 1533 and within 2 weeks I had lost my main vine at that spot. That fruit grew on 2 secondaries directly behind the fruit and only five feet of main vine. Pythium set in early last year so I started a rotation to combat this as soon as the plants went in the ground. I asked my buddy that owns the nursery where I grow if they deal with this disease,,,,,,,, he said all the time,,,,, lol ughh!!!! Fusarium at the last patch pythium here,,,, what’s next. Either way,,, with the amount of water and the way we push these things disease its always right around the corner come mid summer. The best thing I have found is chemicals and biologicals weekly to keep things in check. I’ll post 30 and 20 day numbers this weekend.   Sunday, August 5 View Page Tomatoes are doing well. I started 2 months later then I’ve ever started in hopes of having a fruit for a couple of the weigh offs. My plants are usually pulled, fruit weighed and done by September 1st.   Sunday, August 5 View Page I have a couple nice ones going on the 5.11 Dunn.   Sunday, August 5 View Page We'll see if this one makes it. If it does it should be a nice fruit.   Sunday, August 5 View Page Another we have going. All others are still flowers.   Sunday, August 5 View Page 1938 is really young still. Not lighting the night of fire but 355 pounds for day 26 I’ll take.   Sunday, August 5 View Page 1937 Urena,,, also not moving as fast as I’d like but there’s hope. Day 39 and sitting at 750 pounds.   Sunday, August 5 View Page Another shot of the 1937. Thanks again for the seeds Leonardo and russ Pingrey! You have me plenty so if I don’t grow a good one I can’t blame the seed! Lol I think I started 5 or 6 of each,,, if I want a seed in the patch I start as many as I can.   Monday, September 10 View Page Mid September and my 1938 Pingrey is still moving along! Looks like this seed could be one of those seeds the Howard Dill guys go for. I’ve heard of some big ugly ones so you just never know when choosing genetics for heavy. Big, bright and orange! It’s the longest fruit I’ve ever grown but surly not the biggest. If this one makes it she’ll be going to Elk Grove. We had such a fun time up there last year!   Monday, September 10 View Page Brinkley, Vince,,, not sure I can take you this year but I’m giving it my best shot! Just battling this disease all year has been very challenging. Big tractors and lots of new dirt for next year so it looks like no rest this winter. I’m having another issue with where I grow so dealing with that also. Thanks for the moral support Mr. D. It’s been very challanging as you know and a day by day ordeal.. If things work out the bright side is I’ll have new and clean dirt.:)   Monday, September 10 View Page I started a couple late tomatoes this year so I’d have something for our local weigh off and Elk Grove. If I can keep them from turning red I’ll be happy. 23” on this one and 24” on the next one and still growing well.:)   Monday, September 10 View Page My best shot at a good one this year. Don’t turn red on me now! Lol   Sunday, September 16 View Page No state records this year. I started 2 months later in hopes of having tomatoes for our weigh off and Elk Grove but everything is turning red. I should have one for our weigh off next weekend but my 2 biggest will already be weighed. Elk Grove is 3 weeks out so I’ll probably be empty handed by then. Pumpkins are pretty much done, 6 pounds a day on my 1938 and down to a crawl on the 1937. Disease was an up hill battle all year so I’m just happy to still have a couple fruit over 1000!   Tuesday, September 18 View Page We love Pumpkins so much even our snakes have Pumpkins on them!:)   Tuesday, September 18 View Page 1938 Pingrey. Not our best year but we’re having fun and still have 2 fruit for the end!   Tuesday, September 18 View Page Pumpkin pied on the Pumpkins.   Tuesday, September 18 View Page Last snake picture. Lol Weigh offs start this weekend!   Friday, September 21 View Page Fusarium at its finest... cut one of our pumpkins today for the Southern California weigh off in the morning. It’d been a trying year but happy to at least have a couple pumpkins for weigh offs. Depending on my disease numbers in the soil I may change out all my dirt,,,, we'll see next month after I speak with Harry.   Friday, September 21 View Page Only way I could make this pumpkin look Big was the good old fisherman style photo! Only taping 1280 so we’ll see what the scale says tomorrow.   Friday, September 21 View Page I think this was Eddy’s invention. Man did this make securing the pumpkins easy! I’ve never had my fruit so secure.   Friday, September 21 View Page They put the perfect amount of pressure on all 4 sides.   Friday, September 21 View Page Tight as a drum! If you don’t have one of these I highly recommend it!   Saturday, September 22 View Page The Southern California weigh off continues to grow! What a great day, 8 growers our first year 12 last year and 15 this year! Lots of personal bests and lots of smiling faces!   Saturday, September 22 View Page Kevin with his 689 pound Howard Dill fruit! What a beauty she was and great job getting her to the end!   Saturday, September 22 View Page Only picture I took of my fruit. This was off the 1937 Urena and taped 1200 and ended up at 1283 so I can’t be to upset! Going heavy for me is always a challenge! Disease pestered me all year but with the help of the disease master I was able to get her to the end! So thanks for that Steve!   Saturday, September 22 View Page Mike Prager waiting to see if he was going to best his personal best of 160 pounds...   Saturday, September 22 View Page Mike smashed the scale and almost quadrupled his best ever at 930 pounds! Great job today buddy! Proud of all your hard work this year!! He dealt with 3 days of temps over 117 degrees! Dam!   Saturday, September 22 View Page I missed John Brinkly on the stage but here’s he fruit. It was massive and his personal best was 660 I think. He smashed that and weighed in at 1172!! Great job John! That Pumpkin was massive!!   Saturday, September 22 View Page And the man in the winners circle!! Vince ( Gourdzilla) took the prize with his massive 1327 pound boulder!! It’s been a long time coming and I’m so proud of your accomplishments this year! Vince grows in a very small piece of dirt and the rest of the Pumpkin plants take over his driveway for the summer! That’s a good wife you have there letting the pumpkin plants take over her parking spot all summer!!! Again, amazing job my friend!!   Saturday, September 22 View Page I saw henry post a picture like this the other day. Really cool to see all the little holes where water and nutrients travels into the stem! this shows how important it is to keep your stem straight. Any bends of turns and these little valves get kinked. You want them wide open and flowing the best they can all season.   Saturday, September 22 View Page Another piece of the stem.   Saturday, September 22 View Page It’s a family affair! If it wasn’t for my wife none of this would happen! I can grow the pumpkins but she’s gets everyone fired up, does a breakfast, makes shirts,, she kicks butt!! Another great year in the books! Elk Grove and the regatta is two weeks out! Are you ready Kevin !?!!!!