Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 363 Entries. Saturday, February 7 View Page First entry of the New Year. Made a tuff decision on which out of 3 maters on this oplant to keep and went with this one. It is right at 60mm across. This Mater seems to be a 4 Banger and was pollinated on the 1st of Feb along with two others on this plant. Its growing pretty quick. I inspected the small hole that has developed and it appears to be just where the blossom seperated and not a bug. The other Steakhouse plant is doing really well with another nice Beggabloom that I pollinated this afternoon. I actually put night crawlers from walmart in the big pots and feed them coffee grounds along with bits of bread and corn meal, Self fertilizing I guess,lol. I wraped a 4" high wall of foil around the pots at the top angled inwards and it seems to keep the worms in. I Hope everyone out there is Healthy and The BEST SEASON in 2015 to ALL!!!   Saturday, February 7 View Page Another nice megabloom teased today off thee other Steakhouse Plant   Saturday, February 7 View Page I've got the 48 lb and another 42 lb ruttabaga in buckets set up to go to seed. So far so good. Crazy doing this in the house,lol. No I haven't got a problem growing, I've got a "Growing Problem",lol.   Monday, February 16 View Page Mater the mater is growing approx 2-3mm/day circ. I know its actually getting bigger than that sounds because of all the new light green growth in all the nooks and crannies filling out too,lol. Nice light green growth. Maybe the cooler temps with the lack of hot hot direct sun is going to let it grow but good. Time will tell. I now have the main vine in 30" of soil and think I will stop there for some major rooting. The crawlers have already made it to the top last night so there should be plenty of soil/microb action a goin on. I mixed in some Microzaes/Humic in the soil as I added the different layers of potting soils too. Mater is Narly lookin, Love IT!!   Monday, February 16 View Page Couple different angles of Mater the mater. Too bad theres not a winter mater weighoff,lol. Next entry if how to not repot for seeda 48 pound Rutty.   Monday, February 16 View Page Here is how "NOT" to repot a 48 lb Rutabaga for seeding,lol. OOPS 5 gal bucket just not big enough,lol. Whats scary is, it isn't slowing down, only speeding up.lol. You can also see the stacked conainers in 3 stages. Thats what Mater the mater is planted in. I started him out in the lower redish large planter and worked up to the black 4 gal shrub container for massive root growth along the main vine, Hope it workes!! Also growing another very nice Mega on the tomato plant on the other side. Will post pics of that one in a couple days.   Tuesday, March 3 View Page Nice flower to smell the first week of March   Tuesday, March 3 View Page Lookin under Mater Tomater this mornin. Got both tomatoes sitting on so called slings so there is no presure cutting of potential energy. This is the way I am growing this year as to put Zero stress on the stem and incoming rocket fuel,lol. This one is just at 3 lbs now. Not bad for growing in very little light in an empty south facing bedroom,lol. The root system is doing very well in growing out all along the 36" of buried main vine. Getting to be a very big root mass. This tomato still shows signs of alot of growing to do as well as Mater #2 The worms are loving the bread, cornmeal and coffee grounds & the Mater Plants are loving....well I think you know what their loving.   Monday, March 9 View Page Both Mater Plants takin up the sun this mornin   Monday, March 9 View Page Closer shot. The far tomato is Mater #2 and has caught up to Mater#1 within a 1/2" dia. They are both putting on between 1/2" - 3/4" per day in diameter but also putting on hieght as well. There is alot of unexpected upwards pressure on the stems so I need to lower the potato mesh abit to releave pressure. I'm starting the Foss, Finders, Hunt, etc competition plants today also.   Thursday, March 12 View Page Tomatoes in their perches early this mornin. Started some watermelon seeds for germ testing and grafting practice this morning. Thanks again Otis for the seed. Also started some Bushel Gourd seed from Otis off his 130# 2014. Starting all seeds this year in small 2 x 4 zip bags for stacking capabilty in the germ chamber, should work great. Also started all the competition Tomato seeds this morning.   Thursday, March 12 View Page Mater #1 still growing good. Hope it keeps growin strong for an early entry.   Thursday, March 12 View Page Mater #2 was catching up to #1 but #1 has sped up since yesterday after I threw some 0-0-25 and Boron at them both. Leaves are curled a bit this morning but they are beginning to relax,lol.   Thursday, March 12 View Page Only one concern on Mater #1 is that the growth is becoming faster/lopsided to the right if you can tell from the center where the stem hits. There is no rot like the pics appears to be just poor lighting, but It does look like alot of pulling to one side around the stem from faster growth. Hope it won't split at the stem area or crack. This is a good example of why I like having them supported from either a sling or netting supports like these things are in.   Thursday, March 12 View Page Started 10-Giant Swede/Rutabaga 75.2 Thomas 2011 Today. Growing in Large Raised Containers this season.   Friday, March 13 View Page New Reading Material may just get me there this season. Thanks Dr. Marvin Meisner for going that extra Step!!   Saturday, March 14 View Page 75.2 Thomas Rutabaga/Giant Swede has already broke surface. Started them at 6:00 am on the 12th, 2 days and they are up. I had the same response from seeds last year after I relocated the heating coils in the egg incubator from the ceiling to the bottom as you can see in the pic. The heat from below sure gets the soil warm. I have the ambient temp set at 90 degrees. Works perfect for most seeds. I have it regulated at 88 degrees for Pumpkin seeds.   Saturday, March 14 View Page Rutabaga Germed in 2 days!! The Germinator is working Great!!   Monday, March 16 View Page More goodies in the mail   Monday, March 16 View Page Half batch of tea running for the tomato plants. Will use it tommorrow evening for root drenching.   Monday, March 16 View Page Thats a 64" window so the plants have gottin pretty good size since I've topped them off last week. I'm holding the camera up high to get most the plant in the pic. The tomatoes are doing good. I've moved them to the west window but they also still get south sun from the other two side by side 64" windows. 7.10 Foss Tomato plants and the 75.2 Thomas rutabagas in the window sills soakin up the sun.   Monday, March 16 View Page Mater #1 sinkin in its hammock pretty good   Monday, March 16 View Page Bottom shot of Mater #1   Monday, March 16 View Page Did a Humic drench this morning on the tomatoes in anticipation of a tea drench tommorrow evening.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page Nice suprise in the mail today. GVGO is an Awesome Club for growing tips, Info & Awesome Seeds hence that 1486 Jarvis seed & that 1305.4 Lyons '14 (2009 Wallace x Self) lookin pretty good too. All the seeds are Awesome. Thanks to all who put seeds and Effort into the GVGO Seed Pack!!!   Monday, March 30 View Page Maters have been moved to one of the mud rooms. Mater #1 has started to turn so I guess I'll cut it off and get er weighed.   Monday, March 30 View Page Both Maters sittin pretty. #1 is the far one. Stacked containers worked perfect. Roots are abundant.   Thursday, April 16 View Page Changed Grower name from Pumpkingoober to MidWestGrower, same place same time. 2015 Line Up is as follows: 1873 Steil '14 (2009 Wallace x 2328 Meier DMG) 1117.5 Steil '14 UOW (1779 Werner x 2328 Meier DMG +14% 1172 Singleton '09 (1385 Jutras x Self) 1486 Jutras ('11 *WR*SQ)(1002 Jarvis x 982 Sherwood) 279.5 English '14 (177 Westfall'12 x Sibb)Bushel Gourd 130 Casey UOW '14 Bushel Gourd 120 McWilliams'14 LG Casey 50 UOW (290 Mudd x 316 Edwards) CCW.Melon 117.5 Young '14 (297 Kent x 291 Kent) CCW.Melon(my own)   Tuesday, April 21 View Page Here is a 24" upper in soil section of a 68" tall Steak House Tomato plant I grew this last winter in stacked buckets and planters. The root system was alot bigger than you see as most of it was tore up when I removed all the potting soil. There were big heavy roots all the way down in the bottom section as you will see in some other pics. I did not do anything special other than introduce worms and coffee grounds to the system with weekly watering. Did some simple pruning on this plant and produced a 2.68 pound Tasty Mater. The #2 plant I grew produced a nice 2.25 pounder, nothin special but a good experiment over the winter.   Tuesday, April 21 View Page Here is the same root system off the above entry before I tore them apart. The roots were massive towards the bottom but were very heavy in volume all the way coming off the 40" of buried stem. The worms were all located in the middle section, weird. These Steak House plants both had tons of bega blooms. I also harvested seeds off half of both tomatoes from both plants. I have other of these plants growing for this season. I am going to lay them down and make them grow vertical and bury approx 40" of stem again but in the patch/ground and hope for a low hanging mega bloom early on. Growing all plants this season including the 7.10 Foss and the 4.77 Hunt (Big Zak) in the same fashion.   Sunday, April 26 View Page A couple 130 Carey ouw Bushel Gourds (scion) grafted to my 783 uow AG (rootstock). Center hole grafting method. I only us clips on this method to assure I don't split drilling the holes for the scion. I have found in the past that if you use non-cutting rootstock (rooted), they are much more brittle and can split at the cot leaves with other methodes of grafting vs cutting the rootstock and waiting 5 minutes in which they soften up. The real test/accomplishment will be mailing these off to a friend.   Sunday, April 26 View Page After 3 days I know these grafts will take and take good because the cot leaves on the bushel scion begin to open up. The box is @ 100%+ humidity and I mist them as often as possible. I don't worry about 24 darkness because I feel uncut rootstock has alot less stress and the scion cots are not even open yet so less stress on them.   Sunday, April 26 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd. I have two of these ready to hit soil.   Sunday, April 26 View Page 7.10 Foss Plants just beggin to be outside. I have (3) 7.10's like these, (2) 4.77 Hunt plants, (2) 402 Finders and (1) - 7.10 Foss with a 4.77 Hunt tongue grafted to it for an additional root system. The 4.77 Hunt side is what I call floating right now so as not to create too much stress to the graft while it heals all the way. So far so good. All my plants after growing approx 18" of main vine will be put horizontal for a week or so until they turn upwards so I can get additional root growth out of them for more power!! I'm going with the shorter plant method this season...HMMM ....wonder why,lol.   Sunday, April 26 View Page whos ready for rhubarb crisp   Sunday, April 26 View Page Four containers for Giant Rutabagas are mixed and ready for action. Plants are ready to go in with about 10 leaves on each plant. I have 12 plants ready but which one do you choose..they all look the same. 75 Thomas again this year. I still get a kick out of the people up at Anamosa last year who had no idea a Ruty could get as big as these do. Hope to break 75 lbs this year or at least over my 48 lber from last season.   Sunday, April 26 View Page 35' x 260' 9100 sq ft patch dedicated to the 1666.5 Steil at the far end and the middle 6 plants will be watermelon and bushel gourds with the 1486 Jarvis on this end.   Sunday, April 26 View Page The screen house this season will house both the 1873 Steil and the 1117.5 Steil. The patch just south of the screen house dedicated to the 1111.5 Banman the 197.5 Steil FP and my 783 Young uow '14.   Sunday, April 26 View Page this is the 50 carey uow '14 (290 Mudd x 316 Edwards). I am growing 2 of these and 2 of my own 117.5 Young '14 ( 297 Kent x 291 Kent). Otis sent me some of these seeds for grafting and in the end I'm growing all melons this year conventional. I will do much better this season because the melons are all up closer to water. Oh, and uh, I did get an interesting package via Royal Air Mail...hhhmmmmm   Sunday, May 3 View Page 120 McWilliams Long Gourd is doing great.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Longourd Trelis put up with alot of help. Much stronger than the one I had last year. It is square with the just of the daily southern sun. Maximum exposure without getting arrested for it,lol. Set up is for 150"+ of growth without digging a hole in the ground.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Screenhouse and adjacent patches are ready and W.O.W. Products put down before final tilling was done. They will get their plants today. Soil Temps are up and ready. Soil tests are back and the Screen house numbers have balanced out pretty good with boron being a bit high but we'll deal with it. Chances for that 1000 lber for sure this season are looking better.   Sunday, May 3 View Page Rutabagas are doing good and enjoying their new homes   Sunday, May 3 View Page 6 more Rutys in the ground for a total of 10 plants. They are all the 75 Thomas   Sunday, May 3 View Page Got a 40' x 40' patch of Tall Corn growing with approx 2000+ seed. Put it in with one of those seeders you push that you can set the seed depth and it has seperate seed disks you can change out. Counted the seed using an analytical scale, really precise. It should be interesting to see how they grow in a big patch. Soil temp was 62 degrees at time of planting so it took the seed 6 days to break surface but it all is growing strong at this point.   Friday, May 22 View Page Question. When you know darn well not to step into somthing you shouldn't but you still do?..WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!!!! A family got this piglet for their son as a 4H project...it lasted 2 nights of feeding and then came the knock at my door. He is 2 days shy of 3 weeks old. Yes his name is Pumken, no not Pumpkin but Pumken. Now I have a matching set of holes in my knogin, thee other being Pumpkin Growing,lol. He is a Landrace/Large White cross. He will get big........n tasty. What... everything in my freezer is named.....We're having Ed the Chicken for supper,lol.   Saturday, May 23 View Page My Giant Swede barrels are doing great. Cleaned weeds and exposed the trunk on them to the upper roots so they hopefully will get bigger this season. I'm going to do this all season long to encourage growth. These plants are bigger than he pics show them to be and these four plants are 3 times the size of the 7 plants in the ground. I have fed these plants with the Extreme Tea Brew. These plants are almost 4 times bigger at this stage than my plants last season, Fingers crossed. Its nice not to have to get on thee ole hands and knees to mess with them also.   Saturday, May 23 View Page Another shot of one of the four Giant Rutabagas in the half barrels.   Saturday, May 23 View Page Long Gourds are both 120 McWilliams '14. The one on your left has been soil/root drenched once with Extreme Tea Brew from Wallace Organics. Seems like good stuff so far. I would have thought thee other ones roots would have robbed a little of the ferts. Unless theres somthin else going on with that plant but prior they were both identical in size and color.   Sunday, May 24 View Page 1111.5 Banman '13. 11% Heavy (1386 Nieuwenhoff x 1684.5 Delaney. Pic is almost 2 weeks old. Plant is looking strong.   Sunday, May 24 View Page 1873 Steil '14 (2009 Wallace x 2328 Meier DMG). Growing in Screen House. Had some slight wind damadge from leaves rubbing side of protection but opened up now and doing good. No lack of Nitrogen this year Scott. Darn thing wants to shoot to the moon,lol.   Sunday, May 24 View Page 279 English Bushel Gourd. I have 2 of these growing and doing well. Also have (2) 130 UOW Carey '14 Plants growing that are bigger than these plants. Can't wait to grow one of these Gourds!!!   Sunday, May 24 View Page 1486 Jarvis Squash in the rain this mornin.   Sunday, May 24 View Page 130 UOW Carey '14 Bushel Gourd. I have protection on it still because it's over 38" and still won't lay down,lol. It will eventually. Both 130's are growing very well.   Sunday, May 24 View Page This is plant is off a 739 Harmon x Open '14 UOW that a guy I went to school with grew last year off a Holland Silver Bullet seed. The Pumpkin was beautiful, long/thick ribed & orange. I believe it was right at 9% Heavy also.   Sunday, May 24 View Page 1117.5 Steil '14 UOW (1779 Werner x 2328 Meier DMG) 14% Heavy. Starting to pick up steam.   Sunday, May 24 View Page The best growing plant thus far is my own 783 UOW (A Plant), '14. 1314 est Bryson (1818.5 est Bryson) x 401 Buck (1872 Wallace x 2009 Wallace. Should be interesting on thee outcome. I have three of these growing. Will choose which one to keep.   Sunday, May 24 View Page I need to NOTE: One of my 783's replaced a 1666.5 Steil plant in the Screen House because the 1666.5 would not come out of a ribbed vine. It was a huge growing plant but kept shooting out a flat morfed main vine. I have another seed to this plant and will grow it next season.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page AG's, Rutabagas, Long Gourd, Melons, Tomatoes and Tall Corn got "W.O.W" Tea Drenched yesterday. All the Ag's are layed down and running good. Raining this morning and forecasted the rest of the week, Again. Pic is from the plum trees, they are loaded this season and hope the Japanese Beetles stay away this year.   Thursday, May 28 View Page 1873 Steil '14   Thursday, May 28 View Page 783 Young UOW (B)Plant   Thursday, May 28 View Page 783 Young UOW (A)Plant   Thursday, May 28 View Page 783 Young UOW (C)Plant   Thursday, May 28 View Page 1111.5 Banman 11% Heavy '13   Thursday, May 28 View Page 1486 Jarvis Squash   Thursday, May 28 View Page 50 Carey UOW(A)Plant Melon Plant starting to throw out blooms   Thursday, May 28 View Page Our Big Maincoon Cat "Sam" was about 75 yards from me so I 12 zoomed in on him and took a few pics. It wasn't until I uploaded the pics that I saw he had a mouse in his clutches. Needless to say he got Xtra Treats. Good Boy   Thursday, May 28 View Page I whistled at him and he turned towards me, again with me not knowing he had a mouse. Sam is the biggest & tallest domestic cat I've seen. His feet are big @ 3" across. He is now 14 years old and still runs down chipmunks and field mice. Good Patch Cat. Our two new females watch him hunt all the time. Pay attention Girls,lol.   Thursday, May 28 View Page Our Piglet (# Weeks) is doin good. He is not known as Pumken any longer, Daughter says there are Too many Pumpkin references around the place as it is,lol. He is officially named Lil Joe. We picked him up yesterday from the Vet after he had his Marbles removed, Rabies Shots and Iron. Vet says he is in great condition but I should put more food in front of him and to start introducing pellets. She said he should be 280-300 pounds in 22 weaks. Still need to get him wormed since he's an out doors pig and roots in the dirt. He is for sure listed as a Landrace/Yorkshire/Large White crossbred. He's not a "Ham" for the camera, always wants to duck behind somthing.   Thursday, May 28 View Page That last entry should read 3 weeks old On the pig   Sunday, May 31 View Page Most plants are well over 6 ft in length now so they all got another systemic drench on fungicides yesterday   Monday, June 1 View Page First Mega on the 7.10 Foss, (A)Plant . Closed 3" Zip bag pollinated with two 4.77 Hunt Blossoms. 29th of May Pollination so 3 days old. 1 7/8" x 3/4" Calipered.   Monday, June 1 View Page My 783 UOW'14 at 7ft with a female on the tip. Way too early yet, Dang!!   Friday, June 5 View Page 7.10 Foss (A) Plant Mater growing good this morning. Used hand to block sun so Tomato would be visable without glare. There is an open cavity in the center but all is fused together in a ring.   Friday, June 5 View Page My 783 UOW '14 Plant(A), this morning sporting its first Male Flower. Fastest growing plant so far. That is the 297 English Bushel Gourd just behind it running south.   Friday, June 5 View Page Left to right is the 1117.5 Steil, the 297 English Bushel Gourd and right is the 1111.5 Banmann. Inside the screen house left is my 783 uow Plant(B) and right is the 1873 Steil, both smokin I might add. The 1111.5 Banman has ribboned on me so I hit it with more nitrogen, trimed it and hoping it comes out of it.   Friday, June 5 View Page In the screen house foreground is the 1873 Steil and background is my 783UOW (b)Plant. I had the rye cut and tilled in yesterday along with vines buried and kelp/humic added to nodes.   Friday, June 5 View Page Crazy lookin megabloom on the 4.2 Finders.   Saturday, June 6 View Page Noticed a little white butterfly looking for somewhere to lay eggs on the Giant Sweede/Rutabaga. Ran her off and quickly put up the screen material. Meant to already have this done. I watch some butterflys after dinner and they flew around it and proceeded elswhere. Cool   Saturday, June 6 View Page A nice mega on the 4.2 Finders. Stem coming right up the center, pretty cool. Hopes this means good feeding of the tomato   Saturday, June 6 View Page This is the tomato on the 7.10 Foss (A) Plant. Hope those are not eggs in the cavities, Yikes.   Sunday, June 7 View Page Here is the tip on the 1111.5 Banman. Looks like 4 sets. What a mess. Plant is 11 ft long with Quad vine. There is a female but the plant I feel is not big enough to support it with any degree. I've hit it with Nitrogen 2 times now in as many weeks. If anybody out there has any suggestions please let me know because I want to "Keep" this plant but will Yank-It out of the ground if need be. I do have a back up here that I can go with or can I cut my way out of this and repair it.   Sunday, June 7 View Page 120 McWilliams LG is climbing good at around 10 ft. This plant is 3-5 ft higher at this time than last years LG I grew.   Sunday, June 7 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd looking like an AG,lol. The leaves on this thing are larger than some of the AG's. First time growing these, wish I knew how big the plant should be before setting a Gourd. I've got another 279.5 like this one thats puting off females already and an even bigger 130 Carey UOW growing in a patch further away that I need to get pics of when I'm down there.Beautiful Plants.   Sunday, June 7 View Page Cecil messaged me and I believe he is right on the 1111.5 Banmann being a double vine and not a quad like I thought. I performed surgery on it opposite side of what the little kin is at, in hopes of it coming out of it. So for now I'll keep it in ground and hope for the best outcome and take Cecil' advise and water the HECK out of it just a bit for growth spurt.   Tuesday, June 9 View Page Hmmm   Tuesday, June 9 View Page I simply explained what would happen if he bothered the pumpkins   Tuesday, June 9 View Page The 1111.5 Banmann turned into a ribbon vine so I pulled it after watching it for days. Replaced it with a Back up plant which is the 1493 Witter & Benson '14(2009 x Self).   Tuesday, June 9 View Page Pollinated a nice Kin 11' out on my 783 UOW, X Self.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Closer inspection on the 4.2 Finders Tomato this morning showed 3 entirely seperate blooms. Culled the two small ones and left the biggest, possibly a 3-4 fusion bloom.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page Forgot to enter that the 197.5 Steil Field Kin did not germ but the back up 141 Steil did and it is in the screen House   Thursday, June 11 View Page Mater this morning off the 7.10 Foss(A)Plant   Thursday, June 11 View Page East Patch Looking South this morning after the storms last night. Drenched yesterday "Extreme Tea" on all AG's, Melons, Bushel Gourds even Tomatoes and Rutabagas. I was going to drench the pig but he wouldn't stand still long enough. Foliar feed "ALL" plants this morning with 5-1-1 Fish Cold emulsion and Kelp Mixture.   Thursday, June 11 View Page East Patch configuration looking South this morning atop the LG Trellis   Thursday, June 11 View Page 1117.5 Seil this morning. Took some hail but appears to be OK   Thursday, June 11 View Page Gettin bigger along with his appetite. No more 2-3 am feedings.....whew   Thursday, June 11 View Page 1873 Steil this morning. What a difference a season makes on soil balancing out.   Thursday, June 11 View Page My own 783,'14 UOW (C)Plant sporting a female bloom this mornin. Way to early on this one.   Thursday, June 11 View Page North patch configuration with Screen house (poorly cropped) in. Door Knob not included.   Thursday, June 11 View Page That last pic needs a correction. In the round plastic lower Center should be the "1493" Witter & Benson, not 1495.   Thursday, June 11 View Page I need one of these signs that measure 10 ft x 20 ft ,lol   Saturday, June 13 View Page 1873 Steil Plant decided to end the tip of the vine at 12 ft with a single leave post. I couldn't beleive it. At least I've got a pollinator with it this morning for my 783 UOW. I might try to set a kin off a side vine just for grins. Thought about hacking off the leave post and see if the side vine would take over. Any suggestions would be gladly appreciated if you've got the know how on one of these.   Saturday, June 13 View Page These males are all off the 1873 Steil and will be introduced to a little lady on my own 783 UOW '14(A)Plant   Saturday, June 13 View Page 739 Harmon UOW femaled baged from the Humidity & Bees. It will pollinated with thee 1117.5 Steil this morning. Female is right at 10ft out. This 739 was grown last year be a friend who lives about 4 miles up the road. You can see the humidity in the air this morning and you can also see we do not need any more rain. Wish I could send a bunch to Cali for the Folks out there.   Saturday, June 13 View Page 7.10 Foss Tomato just hangin around this morning. Grow baby Grow!! Fed the plant some of my liquified egg shells last night and also put some on all the Rutabagas along with some worm/Fulvic Tea.   Saturday, June 13 View Page I know I'll be laughing when mixing and applying this stuff because I'll be thinking of Gene Wilder asking Marty Feldman "What was the name on the brain you took?" ....Feldman(Igor), .."Abby...Abbynormal", lol.   Saturday, June 13 View Page Pollinated a nice 5 lobe on my own 783 UOW '14 (A)Plant x 1873 Steil 11ft out.   Saturday, June 13 View Page Pollinated this 5 lobe on the 739 Harmon UOW x 1117.5 Steil   Saturday, June 13 View Page My daughters 1 year old cat Sarafina. Both 1 year olds have been outdoor cats for about 5 weeks on and off. She needs to learn to hang on to her prey. Yes thats a chipmunk sitting in the first pic and creeping away in the 2nd pic then she turns and no chipmunk in the 3rd pic,lol.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Diary Correction: 739 Harmon UOW is not a 2014 seed it was grown in 2013 thus a '13 Seed. In between rain clouds this morning I got 2 Stump Covers up on the 1117.5 Steil and My Own 783 UOW (A)Plant. Just saw the forcast for midwest Illinois.......RAIN with Severe Storm/Hail Strong Winds and the occational Tornado Today thru Saturday the 20th. Trimed all 3rd vines off of the Bushel Gourd Plants. In a sad note my biggest Bushel Gourd Plant up on a Sandy Berm met its fate from a Buck. From the measurements of the Dew Claws on the hoof prints it was probably the size of a '55 Crown Vicky. Nearly 7 1/2 spread on the dews. Looks like he just wanted somthin to scrape up on and the 130 Carey BG Plant was it. I could tell he had the vine in his antlers because I found vine 30-50 ft away just thrown. I has just given it a Kelp/Humic drench. Next time I'll just put doe scent on it with an apple on top,lol.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page Nice sunset after the rain yesterday evening   Tuesday, June 16 View Page The 783 (A)Plant this morning is 30+ ft across the back now with one kin pollinated and another in a few days. Will terminate back two secondaries tomorrow.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 120 McWilliams '14 LG has reached the top @ 14+ft. I trimmed a bunch off the bottom and it just shot skywards.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 7.10 foss (A) Plant. It has takin me 4 years but I believe I have the pruning process working for me. This mater is putting on the weight. I have all of the leaf limbs(If you will) culled above the fruit on the same rising vine except the top leaves on that vine. It seems that all the juice is hiting the tomato first and the top leaves are suficing the single vine that the tomato is on. Just my theory. Them stem on the tomato is well over 1/2" thick now, see pic below. At 24" total plant length remember I laid the plants over and let the tip grow upwards for a about a week then buried thee entire lower section and half of the 12" up upwards vine growth for root mass!!   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 7.10 Foss (A)Plant Tomato getting some size with a nice thick stem. It has been so humid and rainy that roots are shooting out High above soil surface.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page North Patch showing how big the 279.5 English Bushel Gourd Plant is getting. The main vine is approx 18ft. The back side vines are at 25ft across. I had to turn the main (blue line)so it didn't meet with the 1117.5 Steil. I still think they will find each other,lol. Big hopes for the English Plant, Heck what am I saying...for all the plants,lol.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page East Patch this morning........MUD!!   Tuesday, June 16 View Page Pollinated a second kin this morning on the 739 Harmon '13 UOW x 1117.5 Steil. Nice 4 long lober.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 141.5 Steil Field Kin this morning in the screen house. What weeds.   Tuesday, June 16 View Page 1873 Steil Vine Tip. Got some good advice from a couple growers and after a single leaf stem ended the vine, I cut it off and the last side vine took over as the main tip. Bingo!!!   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 7.10 Foss (A)Plant 16.5" circ 20dap. put on 1" of circ in the past 24 hrs. Pollinated on 29 may. Starting to look abit like Grandma, the 6.83 Boudyo x open   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 1873 Steil Plant ramping up in all of this rain. Inspected that new tip growing closer tonight and it looks to have a Female coming out in about a week. It will be about 14ft-15ft out.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page 783 UOW(A) Plant Has one kin pollinated with two more females showing. Terminated first 2 secondarys on both sides. Each were wrapped to the back and front 6ft. Got all but 2 stump covers on the plants. We have had so much rain you'll sink the boards if you attempt to walk them which means the weeds are out of control. Fed wormpoo/humic/kelp tea to the raised Rutabagas/Swedes today.   Wednesday, June 17 View Page The 1117.5 Steil plant is turning out to be a beast. It has a couple females on it out around 12ft-14ft just appearing.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Growth Chart via too much coffee this am. Should have used darker pigment maybe but works. Save Print & use. Next entry should be other half of month   Thursday, June 18 View Page Growth Chart cont.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Pollinated the 783 UOW x 1873 Steil this morning. Nice even 5 lober. Very Very Humid this morning, low 70,s feels like upper 90's.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Pollinated this 5 lober on the 783 (D) Plant x Self. I have 4 of these plants growing.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Pollinated this 4 lober on the 739 UOW Harmon x the 1117.5 Steil this morning. Did a total of 3 pollinations this morning. Picked all the males last night & had then in water insid. Wanted the pollin to be dry with all this humidity. Don't know wether it makes a difference or not but OH WELL!!   Thursday, June 18 View Page Meant to add in the last entry that the kin pollinated is the 2nd kin on the 739 UOW Plant. 1st kin is slow to grow so far.   Thursday, June 18 View Page Melon Plants this morning, WET, WET, & MORE WET!!   Thursday, June 18 View Page Grapes are taking advantage of all the rain!!   Thursday, June 18 View Page It has taken me 6 years but I have gotten the grapevine pruning down pretty good now. More grapes and bigger with less salad at this time. I am doing a Grape/Rhubarb/Cinnamon Stick preserve this season.   Thursday, June 18 View Page 120 McWilliams is close to touching down up there. Did more pruning yesterday.   Friday, June 19 View Page ;^);^);^) FIRST BUSHEL GOURD POLLINATION OF THE SEASON (^;(^;(^; Pollinated 2 nice females on the 279.5 English Bushul Gourd (A)Plant x sibb very,very early this morning. I use the 2" x 4" plastic zip bags to cover them, it works great and I pull the males ahead of time, bring them indoors. Fingers Crossed   Friday, June 19 View Page Heres the two 297.5 English Ladies. They are both 13ft & 14ft out on the main, out secondarys 1 node out. This plant has had about 6 prior females open up and I just let them open pollinate and they never took. This time I closed pollinated so time will tell   Friday, June 19 View Page The pig is growing. He is really getting long, tried to get an ott on em but he just won't stand still long enough.   Friday, June 19 View Page Pollinated the 783 (A)Plant Kin #2 x 1117.5 Steil this morning. I had rubber band on the flower last night. There is a lil Buggar that got in some how. Maybe right when I released the band and opened bloom?   Saturday, June 20 View Page Pollinated the 279.5 English(B)Plant Bushel Gourd at 10:00pm last night x Self.   Saturday, June 20 View Page Pollinated this big 2nd 5 lober on the 739 Harmon UOW x 1873 Steil this morning. As a reminder to me this is the #2 Kin out on this 739 plant.   Saturday, June 20 View Page Inspected the 75 Thomas Giant Rutagagas/Swede this morning and found from all the massive rain fall we've had that 4 out of seven rutabagas in the ground are rotting and all 4 75 Thomas Ruty's in the Half Barrels are Thriving. Very Obvious that the Drainage is better on the Barrels with the holes added on the sides. They are the bigger ones too rather than the ones planted in ground surface beds.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Happy Fathers Day Pollination 1117.5 4-lober Steil x 1873 Steil 5 flowers. Storms rolled through yesterday evening and most of the night. 70+ mph winds w/Zero Hail. 1 55 gal water barrel sitting in the middle of the 1486 Jutras right on the main with a couple broken leef stems, some Tomato plants blown over(Not Broke). I say I got through it pretty darn good. Wind protection, Wind Protection, Wind Protection....and LUCK!! Happy Fathers Day Dads and to the Moms who are Both Mom & Dads. Hang in there, Its a Great Ride!!   Sunday, June 21 View Page My daughters Tortiose Shell Maincoon cat. If you can't tell which ends which just go by the look on the ducks face,lol.   Sunday, June 21 View Page 7.10 Foss survived the storms. There is some pretty decent pressure in that sling,lol. Just shy of 20" circ @ 23dap. Don't know if that is good or not but time will tell. Keeping it covered from the sun with a hand towel.   Sunday, June 21 View Page Lil closer pic of the 7.10 Foss this mornin at nearly 20" of circ.   Sunday, June 21 View Page My own 783 UOW(A)Plant x 1873 Steil, 8 dap. 1st Kin on this plant. Nice and round.   Monday, June 22 View Page Pollinated this 4 lober on my own 783 (A)plant UOW #3 out on the main x 1873 Steil this morning. Again 3rd kin on this plant. I have been terminating vines on this huge Plant.   Monday, June 22 View Page Pollinated this 4 lober on the 1873 Steil plant(2009 Wallace x 2328 Meier DMG) X 1117.5 Steil (1779 Werner x 2328 Meier DMG). What an Awesome cross this should be. There is another very long looking kin coming up in about 4-5 days on this 1873 plant. Hope the storms miss Mark and Jacob up in Anamosa this morning. Last thing they need is all that goes with these Iowa Thunderstorms but for them the raising water level on that Creek. Best Wishes and be safe up there!!   Monday, June 22 View Page I just looked at Intellicast Radar, Bloody Heck..I'll be getting the same storms later on...BUGGA!!!   Monday, June 22 View Page Storms turned to the east, Thank Goodness for that!!   Monday, June 22 View Page ...Nasty Storms producing Funnel clouds coming across the Mississipi River out of Clark County Missouri, Northeast Corner. Plants are buttoned up and it is what it is. Emergency plan in gear, food, water,phone,radio all in the basement.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Pollinated a 5 lober on the 739 Harmon UOW X 1117.5 Steil this morning. Storm was harry yesterday evening. Watched what I pressumed was a funnel cloud (Vortec) basically forming 3/4 of a mile up our road running coming towards us. I've never before felt the air switch direction so fast and I remember my ears popping and the trees pulling towards it. Sent daughter to the basement while smart thinking Dad got a couple pics off the front porch as it seemed to go back up but still smart thinking Dad got his Ars to the basememnt as well. All is OK here. whew...   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Heres smart thinking Dads pic of the funnel cloud. I couldn't believe how hard it was pulling the air towards it. there were a couple of little funnels dancing around it and they seemed to be sucked into the bigger one. This I believe was on the southwest end on the storm cell that was just passing as you can see the sun shining also. It was crazy for a minute or two believe me. You can also see the trees being pulled towards it.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Heres the first pic I took of it when I stepped out on the porch. There were a few little ones dancing around it also. I wish I had a selfie of how big my eyes were,lol. All my daughter heard was "HOLY PITTSBURG PIRATES ON A PANCAKE GET TO THE BASEMENT." I had to explain later what that meant....In fact somebady needs to explain it to me,lol.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Made a decision on the 783,UOW (A)Plant and culled the 2nd and third Kin keeping the first at 12 ft out. 70 ott @ 10 dap   Wednesday, June 24 View Page You've heard of rescued animals well I notice out on an old barn foundation in an old burn barrel a tomato plant growing. Its from a couple Steak House Tomatoes I through out there last fall. You can see she had a check up and now has been adopted and is in a new home. We named her Lucky...well for now she is.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page Its raining again. Strong Storms ...again coming out of Northen Missouri, Southeast Iowa Right now. Forcasted everyday this week...AGAIN!! I've got a female covered in the screen house on the 1873 Steil and 7 males opening up in the kitchen from the 1117.5 Steil. May have to break out the Barry White Pumpkin Umbrella. Baby.   Wednesday, June 24 View Page Pollinated a nice 5 lober on the 1873 Steil x 1117.5 Steil. Dedicated growing or just plain stupid. I hope the lightning strikes put a little Zip in the pollination. I know it put a bit of a Zip in me getting back to the house,lol.   Thursday, June 25 View Page My 783 UOW'14 (A)Plant Keeper, 12 dap   Friday, June 26 View Page This is a 7-lober I pollinated this morning in the rain, yes its still raining here in midwestern Illinois....Still. This is My 783 UOW '14 (B)Plant second kin out on the main. The whole plant is in a nice pond of water. Please see next entry.   Friday, June 26 View Page my 783 '14 UOW (B)Plant sittin in waterpollinated 2nd kin out on main X 1873 Steil. Also Pollinated the screenhouse 783 '14 UOW(C)Plant x 1873 Steil this morning. Will get kin put in innertube later.   Friday, June 26 View Page The 7.10 Foss is really puttin a strain on that hammock,lol   Friday, June 26 View Page 7.10 Foss Getting longer as it packs on the weight. It passed up 22" circ a while back. I can tell it is putting good growth & weight on. Its getting alot wider also now.   Friday, June 26 View Page Kin on the 1117.5 Steil. Like the shape and that long Stem.   Friday, June 26 View Page Here is a much better daily growth chart I've made up to use. I messed up the last one in many ways. This chart lets me depict which sibb plant is be measured by puting a circle around Plant A, B, C or D and lets you keep track easily of what kin your measuring by puting a circle around Fruit 1,2 or 3. What ever your growing. You can also read this one better beings it is darker Printed.   Friday, June 26 View Page Second half of my new growth chart. Print-N-Use if ya Choose!!   Saturday, June 27 View Page Pollinated a female on the 279.5 English bushel gourd yesterday late evening. Found this female hiding under a leaf. Thanks for the tip on using a stick to turn the leaves Otis!! Crossed this one X Self. Notice thee amount of pollen lol, it took alot of males to get that much..Hope she takes!!   Saturday, June 27 View Page Another shot of the lil bushel gourd beauty I pollinated on the 279.5 X Self (B)Plant. Helps to pull them up and use the leaf to hold it still to pollinate. Fingers crossed ;^)   Saturday, June 27 View Page 783 '14 UOW X 1873 Steil settling in @ 14dap. Grown from the 1314 Bryson X 401 Buck.   Saturday, June 27 View Page Close-up of the 783 (A)Plant. This was grown from the 1314 Bryson(1818.5 Bryson X 1807 Steltz) x 401 Buck (1872 Wallace x 2009 Wallace). It is very Tacky and sweet lookin. Put 18" of ott in past 20 hrs. Nothin spectacular but growin good. It is way ahead of what the 783 did last season in daily growth so far.   Saturday, June 27 View Page 783 (B)Plant Too much rain so out comes a pallet. Done. Easy to set up because a long time ago I had the vine in a good 90 degree bend. Was easy to manage.   Saturday, June 27 View Page 783 (B)Plant X 1873 Steil 9 DAP w/vine position up on the pallet. Didn't have to remove the side vine. Very cool. Really like the long stem on this one.   Saturday, June 27 View Page 739 Harmon UOW 12 dap   Sunday, June 28 View Page Just looked at radar.......%#@*^!&+%$(Life Giving) Rain! and alot of it....AGAIN...Its like the movie Groundhog Day only less Pastrys and more electric toasters,lol.   Sunday, June 28 View Page ebay just removed this lot of two shot glasses I had listed with 7 bids on them...they were deemed too offensive...Does this mean that all confederate states theirselves will be dug up and gottin rid of? There goes your property Value,lol. Where is it going to end? Back to growing for now.   Sunday, June 28 View Page Fruit on the 1486 Jarvis. UM, there might have been a Mix-Up at the factory. Do yellow Kins turn green? Wonder if anyone has had a yellow genes develope on a 1486 Jarvis seed before. I mark the seeds as they come out of the Envelope so I know it came from the right one and I use pre tagged and marked pots after germing.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 783 plumpin up 15dap   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Pollinated a new kin on the 739 Harmon UOW'13 X 1873 Steil this morning the 30th of June. Have got Tomatoes set on the (3), 7.10 Foss Plants the (2), 4.77 Hunt and the (1), 4.2 Finders. The Finders Mater looks like an Unstopable Beast I must say. Circ on the 783 UOW (B)Plant is 38"@ 12dap, Circ on the 1486 Jarvis is 34" @ 9dap, Circ on the 783UOW (A)Plant is 59" @ 17dap and Circ on the 1117.5 Steil is 22" @9dap. All early morning reading. 783UOW (D) Pant aborted @22" circ, culled and should have another kin set on it in a weeks time. Trying to nail down the Illinois record on Biggest Tomato. It may be Shazzys @ 3.95 lbs, if anyone knows better please let me know. The 7.10 Foss is still growing nicely even in the soupy rain. I built a small shelter for it to keep back the constant deluge. Sprayed all Giant Swedes/Rutabages with fruit tree spray, Its got Captan and works on those pesky worms.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Meant to note that the 739 Harmon UOW 1st Kin did not gain anything in the last 24 hrs. Will cull tomorrow if no gain today.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page 7.10 Foss still growing well this evening. The weight of it is resting on the soccer ball. I wedged it under so it was sitting on it, and its not a deflate gate sanctioned ball,lol.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page 7.10 Foss Mater with the ball out front of it for size comparison.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page 7.10 Foss side view. You can see the lighter green growth on the inside that has appeared so its almost as wide as the soccer ball this way too. Hope she keeps it up.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page my own 783 UOW (A)Plant @ 17dap, 150ott   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Last entry should have read, my own 783 UOW (A)Plant X 1873 Steil   Tuesday, June 30 View Page The fruit on the 1486 Jarvis, 34" circ @ 9 dap. Definetly not a greenie.   Tuesday, June 30 View Page The fruit on my own 783 UOW X 1873 Steil, 38" circ @ 12 dap   Tuesday, June 30 View Page Pollinated the 279.5 English Bushel Gourd x sibb this evening at 8:40 pm. Used 14 males, tied the flower and put a tee pee tarp over it because of rain after midnight. Hope this one takes. Last 3 pollinations have not taken. I very lightly tapped on the sides of the flower after tieing it closed to hopefully work some of the pollin around. Fingers again crossed.   Wednesday, July 1 View Page A shot of the big stem on the 7.10 Foss (A)Plant. Plant is 36" tall with two trunks dead headed even at 36". Will pollinate a 2nd kin on the 1117.5 Steil this morning and a Kin on the 739 Harmon UOW this morning. I culled the 83.5 ott kin yesterday on the 739 Harmon because it aborted.   Wednesday, July 1 View Page Pollinated the 739 Harmon UOW X My Own 783 (A)Plant this morning and Pollinated the 1117.5 Steil X the 1873 Steil DMGthis morning as well   Wednesday, July 1 View Page A couple Melons on the 50 Cary UOW   Wednesday, July 1 View Page 150 Carey UOW Plant has six melons set. Don't know if I'll keep em just yet per enough plant linear vine ft.   Wednesday, July 1 View Page OOPS...Daughter was counting linear ft on melon vines and I made her lose count, lol.   Thursday, July 2 View Page Pollinated the 3rd, 739 Harmon UOW X my own 783 UOW (A)Plant and pollinated the 1117.5, 3rd kin X 1873 Steil. Both this morning. Also Pollinated 4 females on the "279.5 English" X bushel gourd X Self, Plant (A) and 3 females on the "279.5 English" bushel gourd X Self, Plant (B) yesterday evening. My daughter got a thin layer of play sand under all setting fruit.   Friday, July 3 View Page Pollinated 9 Females on the 279.5 English (A) Plant & 3 Females on the 279.5 (B)Plant Bushel Gourds last night as well as 4 pollinations on the 120 McWilliams Long Gourd. I put little hosery breathable bags over each and every female Bushel Gourd and Long Gourd and tie them off to prevent any possible cross pollination from anything.   Friday, July 3 View Page my 783 UOW X 1873 Steil this morning 20 dap with a 182.5 ott @ 140 lbs. Just made the Ailts/Landry Benchmark for 1400+ lbs of 20 dap @ 182 ott. I even took away an inch on all three measurements because of the new sand under the kin just to make sure of accuracy. Still very tack and has that new car smell,lol.   Friday, July 3 View Page 783(A)Kin sideview this morning   Friday, July 3 View Page Whats that lurking up above? 120 McWilliams LG. 1 dap   Friday, July 3 View Page Oooooooo.... theres alot of pressure in that thong,lol.   Friday, July 3 View Page 1486 Jarvis 43cc @ 12dap.   Friday, July 3 View Page 1117.5 Steil 34" cc @ 12 dap   Friday, July 3 View Page my 783 UOW (B)Plant 48" cc @ 15 dap   Friday, July 3 View Page Pollinated my own 783 (D)Plant X 1493 Witter & Benson this morning.   Friday, July 3 View Page 50 Carey UOW X 177.5 Berry (239 Leonard x 316 Edwards)2 dap on the carpet. Tendrils are grabing the carpet perfectly and thee entire plant is standing again. I also put mounds of sans at the nodes and the roots have rebound back. Too Funny. I just need to add an endstand and TV. I must say vaccuming is going to be hell.   Saturday, July 4 View Page New Pig Feeder. No more runnin pellets & corn to lilJoe. He is putting on good weight too.   Saturday, July 4 View Page His favorite 3 toys, his old feed bucket, a box and his new basket ball. Amazing how pigs can toss almost anything into the air with their snouts.   Saturday, July 4 View Page Gave all Tomatoes, Kins, Ruttys, Melons, LG's and BG's 0-0-50/Humic&Kelp this morning.   Saturday, July 4 View Page I noticed today that both of my 783 UOW Plants both A & B have kins that look a little different. One Kin, (A) is clearly going to be "Orange" but the other kin on plant (B) is clearly white but its telling me its actually Orange. I asked it what its parents colors were and it just pointed at its hair and looked at me in an insulting manner like...DUH? There will be a press confrence next week sometime on the issue and for now I'm going to contact the GPC on what rights that pumpkins have on identifying theirselves as being Orange. *****BREAKING NEWS***** This just in..This Grower has pictures of pumpkin 783 (B) at a much younger age that shows itself clearly as not being Orange and will post them soon.   Saturday, July 4 View Page 783 (B) KIn at a Young Age. Notice the color verses the "Orange" color of 783 (A). Hmmm   Sunday, July 5 View Page Pollinated a nice big long 5-lober on the 783 UOW (E)Plant (Screenhouse), X the 1873 Steil this morning. 1873 Steil still has not developed a viable female and I believe its the soil but then the 783 I pollinated this morning is planted 5 ft from it. Soil tests show the soil is good if not great. Roll of the dice as they say. Had a wonderful time with my Daughter last night watching the fireworks by Rand Park in Keokuk, Iowa. Parks sits high above the Mississipi River on a Bluff..Really nice.   Sunday, July 5 View Page Pollinated a 5-lobe female on the 739 Harmon UOW X my own 783 UOW second kin out at the moment approx 25 ft out on main.   Sunday, July 5 View Page ...and thee award for the Most Backwards Country Growin Melon Patch goes toooooo...lol. We added the den addition to the 177.5 Berry Plant this evening. Tons of roots at the nodes so we wet them down and put sand over them and wet them again with some tea drench. One more addition will be put in in the next day or two to accent the my own 117.5 plant. Plants are way behind wet the cool temps but it will warm up soon and they will take off.Putting grass on the outer flanks.   Monday, July 6 View Page I need a bigger Sticky Trap. I shot a small vid this morning of this bird flying right above the patches. Took a screen shot to post on here. He was spraying 1 field south of me and luck had it we have a southern wind of about 5-15 mph. You could taste and smell the Herbicide easily. Didn't taste like chicken although I wish it had.   Monday, July 6 View Page Here is a mega bloom off the 7.10 Foss (C)Plant. Vine has been pruned and deadheaded. Other 2 blooms on this plant have been culled.   Monday, July 6 View Page Last entry should have read "Tomato" instead of Bloom.   Monday, July 6 View Page Called our local rural County Market Grocer and asked permission to bring up a Mater to weigh. She was all excited to help weigh and witness this baby. I noticed just the beginning of blush on the other side. Not quite sure how long I should let color set in. I'll use the pics of Dans 8.41 as a go by. Possibly get her weighed this Friday!! I Keep straightening up the simple mater trelis its is because it keeps bending it over abit,lol. Good Sign in my book.   Monday, July 6 View Page An Awesome mega off the 4.77 Hunt (B)Plant. I like these because there is less space wasted and the fruits are more solid. It should be a big Solid Mater.   Monday, July 6 View Page 783 UOW (A) Kin is really sinking in at the blossom end.   Monday, July 6 View Page Pollinated another nice 5-lober on the screen house (E) Plant 783 this morningX 1873 Steil   Monday, July 6 View Page 96 degrees w/100% Humidity my 117.5 '14, Has new Carpet,lol. I'm lovin the hardwood floors. Same process, wetting the plant down first, digging where there are roots on the vines nodes, wetting again placing the carpet halfs. rewetting the carpet placing the vines back covering roots w/sand and "WOW" Humic/Tea drenching already the plant is standing back up. The carpet reads on the backside, "October Leaf" as the color, Hope it means October weight also. Too Funny   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Well...Not what you want to see first thing off. This kin was growing very quick. You would think being way out in the middle of nowhere you wouldn't be vandalized,lol. This was my 783 UOW (B)Plant, the kin that wanted to be Orange...Press confrence will be held in the ditch,lol. I guess its my fault for planting too close to the road,lol. The main was snapped in the process so I'll just pull the plant because its way too late to start over with this one. The melon patch is just 20 feet off of this area.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Color on the 7.10 Foss Mater. Will be weighed soon.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Top & Bottom of the 7.10 Foss Mater turning Color. When to Pic, don't want to take too long and lose weight.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Heres a nice Mater starting on a Steak House Plant.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Pollinated a nice 5 lober on the 1873 steil this morning X Self and Pollinated another of my kins on the 783 Screen house Plant X 1873 Steil this morning. I have about 10 Bushel Gourds on the two 279.5 Plants that are baseball size. I keep hearing Otis telling me to leave them for awhile till your for sure they take....Don't worry Otis...their staying for now!!   Tuesday, July 7 View Page First Mater of the summer. 7.10 Foss X 4.77 Hunt. 23.5 cc and weighed light at 3.40 lbs but a new PB for me so I'm happy. Man it went light. Frontier Communications is so slow out here in the country, my entry form won't email in and I can't even upload my form and pics to the GPC. I called in one time to complain about the slow speed which is always well below .7, not even a 1 out of ten in dsl speed and I was told be the Tech that its my fault paying for and trying to get faster speed where there isn't any, lol. I got the ladies behind the Deli to sign my form and take the pics so at least I know I grew it and thats all that really "Maters",lol.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Scale Cert. Decal at the County Market Deli in Carthage, Illinois. Dang they sell good fried chicken there,lol.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Just tried to submit my early Mater...AGAIN.. to the GPC and hears what Yahoo gives me when I try to attach anything..sucks   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Finally got my 1st Early Tomato Entry submitted.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page Rain Rain go away for about 2 weeks. My 783 UOW Kin X 1873, 25 dap. Had to pull the 1117.5 Steil kin forward because of the stem binding. Its growin very good.   Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1117.5 Steil X 1873 Steil @ 17 dap   Wednesday, July 8 View Page I like the ribbing on the 783 UOW X 1873 Steil(A) Kin   Thursday, July 9 View Page Just like last year I am covering pumpkins in July at night because of cool weather. We had a high of 59 yesterday with rain all day again. Suppossed to be in the 90's in a day or two.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Got these in the mail yesterday and they will be in my arsenal for my upcoming winter projects and next season. Nice to have various genetics even unknown at times.   Thursday, July 9 View Page I have some of these older blenders and got thinking, what if I make a mixed liquor out of the worm poo and then use it in that form during the brewing process...I only use half a bag of poo because of thee "Extreme" concentration after blending. I put the humic in the 5 gals get the humic disolved with the aerator, blend the worm poo for 5 minutes and whala....a mixed liquor that would apease even the fussiest of fruits. I wish I had my old Turbidity Meter because I could make a standardization from a normal mixed batch of tea by reading thru the Meter. With useing the poop your wanting an easy suspended solids number. I would take the reading minus the humic added. I drenched my first batch this morning on the 1117.5 STeil and my 783 UOW. Also gave a systemic fungicide,(again) to all plants because of the none stop rain.   Thursday, July 9 View Page 7.10 Foss B plant nice mega has split, ouch. Will let it go for abit to see what it does. Too much i+ worm poo I guess.   Thursday, July 9 View Page Low shot of my 783 UOW (A)plant X 1873 Steil. Sides are beginning to push outwards. 26 dap-89cc, 63fb, 69ss 221 ott @ approx 245 lbs.   Saturday, July 11 View Page Pollinated 2 melons on the 50 Carey UOW X 177.5 Berry and Pollinated 1 melon on my own 117.5 '14 x 50 Carey UOW This morning I culled 12 softball size Bushel Gourds off the 279.5 English (A)Plant and left two bigger growing gourds and put plastic Soda Crates under them for now. Also terminated vines and culled around 50 other small females and all male flowers off that same (A) 279.5 English plant. Took me nearly two hours to do all this, this morning. Crazy Big Plants these BG's are. Will do the same to the 279.5(B)plant tomorrow morning. Have got a few nice 120 McWilliam LG's growing also.   Saturday, July 11 View Page ;^)   Saturday, July 11 View Page Nice Mega on the Volunteer Steak House Plant   Saturday, July 11 View Page A young Bushel Gourd on the 279.5 English(A)Plant   Monday, July 13 View Page Pollinated 2 melons on my 117.5 (297 Kent x 291 Kent) X (50 Carey UOW (290 Mudd x 316 Edwards) this morning, also this mornin pollinated a nice 50 Carey UOW '14 X my 117.5 '14 there somethin about the melons lookin good on that Autumn Leaf colored carpet,lol....Theres no weeds..thats why it looks good,lol.   Monday, July 13 View Page Sorry for blurry pic. This is a set mater off the 7.10 Foss (C)Plant this morning. The way I'm mixing the "Extreme" Tea by blending the worm poo up first then going through the aeration process with the humic and kelp is making it so strong that I'm blowing up mater,lol. I've turned it back to mixing at a ration of 3 cups of tea/gal of water. This tomato is 4 dap from quarter size. Hope it stays together. I've got a 4.77 Hunt that is doing a new land speed record on growth right now,lol.   Monday, July 13 View Page Heres a nice one on the 4.77 Hunt X 7.10 Foss (A)Plant. I use the 3" cotton draw string bags to keep them Isolated after pollinated but yet they can still get air and it helps keep the hot sun at bay. This tomato is growing at a pace twice as good as the 3.40 I weighed last week.   Monday, July 13 View Page Couple nice LG's on the 120 McWilliams. The one on the right is doin a bit quicker in growth. They are on the highest part of the trellis so plenty of room to grow a 15 footer,lol.   Monday, July 13 View Page OOHHH the 783(A)Plant X 1873 Steil is pushin as you can tell by the lighter colored seems stretchin. The top center and back are really filling out as well and I can almost watch the sand being pushed forwards on the sides and front bottom.   Monday, July 13 View Page Back center top really filling out, heck the whole thing is,lol.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Lg's have grown alot past couple of days. Culled off it seems about 8 Billion other females on the vine this morning. I've grown Long Gourds now for two years but man-o-man.. this plant is female bloom crazy!!! Will let these two grow together for a few more days and make a cull on the slowest one.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page 1117.5 Steil aborted at 199 ott, 181 lbs. Probably heat related. Will probably pull plant in a week if nothing else sets. Culled 11 various size bushel gourds hiding in the weeds on the 279.5 (A)Plant so its down to the 1 Gourd that I have selected and it is soccer ball size this morning. The pig loves pushing all the gourds around,lol. OOPS, it make him skinny exercising too much. My daughter helped me this morning get a 4'x 4' board with sand under the 45Lb 739 Harmon UOW. Nice cool day today in the lower 90's....and me without my muffs!!   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Fingers crossed the heat doesn't take this one out too.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page Yesterday culled the 20 Lber melon of the 50 Carey,UOW and fed it to the Hog. He went crazy on the seeds and inner fruit. There are five melons on that plant currently, 7 melons on the 177.5 Barry and six on my 117.5 plant. The cats are still confused why the carpet out of the house in under these melon plants, lol.   Wednesday, July 15 View Page I happened to look out the window to see my daughters cats sitting in the shade two days ago with their mouths wide open...Heat index was @ 108 F with 98% Humidity. I went out to get them and Stella Pictured, couldn't move very well so I knew she was seriously over heated. She is a Long Haired Tortious Shell Maincoon. She was pretty much lathargic and needed cooling off fast. I cut most of her hair off with scissors, as you can see in the pic, cooled her off with water and a fan. It will all grow back fine and she is doing much better now. The vet told me they would have done basically the same thing. Yes I had to leave that bushy part on the tail,lol. They had water but still the heat can get your animals fast and unexpectedly.   Friday, July 17 View Page 4 dap, I need to dial back the Worm tea abit and a bit of sulfer and we're good to go.   Friday, July 17 View Page My Keeper on the 120 McWilliam Long Gourd this morning right about 4.5 ft'. Skinny, Skinny...hope thats good!!   Friday, July 17 View Page Bushel Gourd this morning on the 279.5 Enlish. Shiny, Shiny.   Friday, July 17 View Page That last post should have read, 279.5 "English" (A)Plant   Friday, July 17 View Page The 297.5 English (B)Plant has a very nice Gourd on it just a bit smaller than the A Plant Gourd   Friday, July 17 View Page 739 Harmon UOW 3rd time around. This will be the last one on this plant I will try to grow. They all have gottin around 80 lbs and abort. This one had a seed in the blossom as you can tell by the button so maybe it will go forth and part the pumpkin tape.   Friday, July 17 View Page gotta get the tractor out and pull the board forward about 6" because the 783(A) is growing back and pressure on the stem. Drum Roll Please. Right at 340 est lbs.   Friday, July 17 View Page We got the measuring Tape put up on the 120 McWilliam LG. I was of a bit off on my guess of 4.5 ft lookin upwards from ground level. Today it measures 46"   Saturday, July 18 View Page Well, I can't ignore this pumpkin any more. Yesterday it had a cc of 60" and this morning it has a cc of 64", ee of 45", ss of 44" and I pollinated it with seeds in the 5-lobe blossom on the 5th making it 13dap 84 est lbs...crazy. I have ignored this plant because it has aborted the last 3 kins and I blew up the kin that was further out at about 28' on the main. I've never had one this big this early even with that I'm not getting my hopes up too much with it. Its mother was real long and blah lookin but over percentage on the scale @ 739 UOW. It came from a Silver Bullet Hollands seed that a friend of mine grew in '13 locally here. this plant is in rough shape and tons of weeds. Will slowly get it back in condition hopefully. It is crossed with my 783(A)plant UOW '14. Also this is the only plant that seems to like the mid 90's temps and High Humidity. No Flagging at all.   Saturday, July 18 View Page 120 McWilliams gained 6" since yesterday afternoon   Sunday, July 19 View Page Will be another 6" easily on the 120 McWilliams LG today, 7dap 58" by 12-2 o'clock noon today. Also we got shade cloth put up on the this LG Plant this morning between storms. It blocks the afternoon sun from the West, Southwest direction. Next week in the mid to upper 90's again hence the shade cloth.   Sunday, July 19 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd this morning is now wider than the Coke caddie so I probably should get to Home Depot or somewhere to get some shelving material like Chris, Otis and others are using.   Sunday, July 19 View Page Melon on the 50 Carey UOW this morning.   Sunday, July 19 View Page We used a 30' section x 36" and folded it by 3 to make it hang approx 10' down for shade on the 120 McWilliams LG. Storms and rain this morning making the pics dark. Looking close you can see the LG hanging in there.   Sunday, July 19 View Page Just shy of looking like a weed infested Gypsy Camp along a rivers bank somewhere around Osage Beach Mo.,lol... The 783 has sprung back to life and is putting on weight again in the mid #20's daily.   Monday, July 20 View Page Stem side of the 739 Harmon UOW. Noticed yesterday that there were 3 places that I culled aborted kins on the vine making this the 4th kin on this plant and not the 3rd. All thee others had aborted and like I stated earlier this kin had a couple seeds in the blossom but I pollinated it anyway X the 1873 Steil and figured it would die too. Gave it some more Kelp, Humic, Poo Tea at bed time. It is at 15 dap with a 70" CC, 49.5" EE & 49" SS.   Monday, July 20 View Page Buttun end view of the 739 Harmon( Holland Silver Bullet X Self), this mornin. I noticed yesterday too that the lower side where the seeds were in the blossom has started to fill out and look normal. A Positive sign that this kin might not abort. 15 dap 168 ott @ 111 est lbs.   Monday, July 20 View Page Bushel Gourd off the 130 Carey. Took awhile for this plant to come around but it has developed pretty nice. This gourd is on a Coke Bottle Crate too and has been sheltered from the sun , Hence its name.."Whity" off of the,Leave It To Beaver Show,lol.   Monday, July 20 View Page Mega on one of the Steak House plants is growing nicely   Monday, July 20 View Page 120 McWilliams LG this mornin at 6:30 am, 8dap. Shade barrier is workin great.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 739 Harmon UOW this evening 17dap, 177.5 ott. 129 est lbs, 73.5 cc   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 739 Harmon UOW top view, 17dap, 73.5 cc..177.5 ott   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 120 McWillaims Long Gourd 10dap, 71"   Wednesday, July 22 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd (A)plant 19dap, 49"cc   Wednesday, July 22 View Page This is the button end of the 279.5 English bushel gourd seeping. Anyone know if this is normal on these gourds please shoot me a line. Thanks   Friday, July 24 View Page Meant give a shout out to some of the folks out in Salt Lake City Today, HAPPY PIE N BEER DAY!!!   Saturday, July 25 View Page 120 McWilliams Long Gourd is at 79", 13dap. Nice grower and still very thin. I figure that if this gourd grows at least 3" per day avg for the next 22 days it would easily hit well over 140". Thats if it grows at least 3"/day for the next 22 days. Hope it does more!! Dang I probably just jinxed it,lol. Thanks to Mark, (the grower of this seed) reminding me, I have got it safely secured at the top stem with half cut noodle sponge!!   Monday, July 27 View Page 279.5 English bushelgourd was at 136ott yesterday on the watermelon chart that is an est of 75 lbs. Word of the day is..WEEDS....Also..BUGGA!! 120 Mcwilliams LG was at 82" 14 dap   Monday, July 27 View Page I better get these final melon pollinations entered, pollinated the 117.5 J.Young(297Kent x 291Kent) X 50 CareyUOW(290Mudd x 316Edwards)7/22/15 5dap. Pollinated the 50 CareyUOW(290 Mudd x 316Edwards) X 177.5Berry(239Leonard x 316Edwards)7/20/15 7dap. Pollinated the 177.5 Berry(239Leonard x 316Edwards) X 117.5 J.Young(297Kent x 291Kent)7/22/15 5dap.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page I did not know that LG's put out roots at the nodes. 120 McWilliams Plant   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 279.5 English bushel gourd has outgrown the coke crate by far but yours truely has put off on replacing it. We attempted to get it out but decided its best to leave it there,lol. How can this thing feel that heavy,lol. Its nearly impossible to get an ott now. Might try today to get a peice of plywood slipped under it on top of the crate for meauring ease.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page 4.77 Hunt Mater starting to turn. This one feels heavier than the 7.10 Foss I just picked not too long ago. It is very high on the plant and I have been worried it would pull itself loose from the stem because of the bind it is in. Moving it nearly every day has it sitting nearly on end.   Tuesday, July 28 View Page A nice tomato on the 7.10 Foss (C) Plant 14 dap. Both the 7.10 Foss A & B plants along with a 4.77 Hunt plant have been pull & burned because of disease. I also Harvest a ton of seeds of the 3.40 X 4.77 Hunt Tomato I grew off the 7.10 Foss (A)plant this morning and have got them on screen drying. Supposed to have heat index Temps again today in the 107-109 range. Humidity is at 100% here and you just pour with sweat when you walk outside, hits you in the face. Pig has all new water in his swimming pool and a large drinking container along with fans in his house. Hot, Hot, Hot!!   Thursday, July 30 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd 27dap.   Thursday, July 30 View Page Another view 279.5 English Bushel Gourd 27dap   Thursday, July 30 View Page Heat is really slowing up the 120 McWilliams LG to 86" @ 18dap.   Monday, August 3 View Page Removed the 120 McWilliams LG at 86", 21dap. It just simply stopped growing at 18dap. There are a few really nice ones on that plant that I have pollinated in the past few days, watching close. Pumpkins are basically done. Either they have gotten soft spots or like my 783 have slowed way down at est 400 lbs. It got so hot here for a little over a week and stopped all kins in there tracks. I do have 3 nice melons growing now so I am watering them regularly to try and keep them growing good. Temps are suppose to be in the mid to high 80's this week so better get the blankets out. Tomatoes are still growing but slow. I picked 2 more tomatoes weighing 1.97 and 2.59 off the 4.77 plants. Its too HOT!! I need an Air Conditioned Green House,lol. Tall Corn is loving the heat and well....growing tall. Giant Rutabagas are struggling in the heat also even with shade cloth, cold temp plants.   Monday, August 3 View Page Meant to add that both the 279.5 English and the 130 Carey UOW Bushel Gourds are doing fairly well with the heat and the fact I have a good chance at winning the "Worst Weeds" Contest in a patch EVER!!,lol.   Tuesday, August 4 View Page 279.5 English bushel gourd got a burst of growth and split at the button end. Cleaned w/peroxide and packed with sulpher.   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Still don't like how it sets on the stem and vine for support. May insert a wooden cradle/jack right at the base of the stem something adjustable.   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Selected 2 Long Gourds on the 120 McWilliams plant to go with for now. They both are selfed at 5 dap today. Culled everything else this morning along with all immediate future males and female blooms.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Oh that's so purty. This is the 130 Carey'14 X 279.5 English UOW bushel gourd. under it some where is a Coke' Crate,lol. See Otis I told you I should win the Tallest Weeds Contest,lol.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page The stem is so big on the 130 Carey bushel gourd that it is keeping it from tipping over but with that said I need to figure out some kind of support and fast.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page The 50 Carey UOW Melon. Like the shape of it. Growing nicely.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Button end view of the 50 Carey   Wednesday, August 5 View Page The 177.5 Berry this morning. It is going to be wide.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page 177.5 Berry Button end view. Getting Wide.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page All right Chris Kent...This is my 117.5 '14 (297 Kent X 291 Kent). Some of you may remember "PIG" from last year lookin like Dan Blocker from the stem end,lol. Well it too started out with lumps and bumps on top just like you see here in this pic. Only problem last year was the 117.5 last year was decent size but it was hollow as some pumpkin growers heads...including my own,lol. This time this one has the potential of staying full shaped.....fingers crossed Chris!!   Wednesday, August 5 View Page My 117.5 (297 Kent x 291 Kent) '14 Button end view.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page The 279.5 English bushel gourd in ICU this morning for some evaluation and Sulfer packing of its end split. The Gourdiologist/Proctocurcubitiologist is expected on the floor at any moment. Please, ONLY 2 viewers at a time are allowed per the rules. Thank YOU   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Here is the 120 McWilliams LG that was growing so fast and just stopped with the heat. Notice how skinny it was still at 86". Man-0-Man.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Look closely and you can see the next gourd on the 120 McWilliams Plant. I like it because it is growing on the East Side!! Shaded in the afternoon. There are two growing close together but its the outside one you see here in this pic that I think will be the Keeper.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page My 783 UOW is still chugging along. Getting bigger. Mmm, Mmm yes..yes... My strategy I think yess...is working to...to... utilize the weeds as "Vertical Spheres of Growing Shade Matter" to...to... quell thee onslaught of UV Rays wanting to with thee assistance of thee morning dew coagulating thee UV's with Positive Dustiness Suspended Media to form a film on thee leaves of thee said Squash....Squash Plant. Only in theory of course at this point.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Nice mater on the 4.2 Finders   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Bottom view of the 4.2 Finders   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Update on rooting nodes on watermelon vines grown over carpeting. Here you can see mature Plants over carpet with sand washed away at the nodes. see next pic   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Close up of vine over carpet. when I pulled up on the nodes everywhere I initialy put sand they would not budge, they were anchored by roots. See next pic under Carpet seam.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page Root systems are great under the carpet layer. Not only have the taproots gone thru the carpet, the entire root system appears normal down into the subsoil area and thriving not choked from a lack of air like I thought they would be. I thought I would smell a musty anaroebic smell but quit thee opposite, it smells clear and earthy not moldy and sweet. This is one heck of a weed barrier and I guess like I thought thee old style 1950's-60's heavy burlap weave allows air to get under and through it. The melons are putting on weight so I guess time will really tell.   Wednesday, August 5 View Page I might just be the only person to be able to say that I just put down 30 gallons of molasses/Humic/worm poo Tea on the Diningroom, Livingroom and Den carpeting this evening and not worry about cleaning it up,lol.   Saturday, August 8 View Page This is the characteristics of the melons that are growing on my 117.5 plant (297 Kent X 291 Kent). I just cringe when I find them and cull them. This particular one was open pollinated on the 3rd and is 7" in length, Huge stem and very Long perfect shape. Even with the large melon growing they just excel in growth.   Saturday, August 8 View Page My daughters big grey Tiger Sarafina. She and her sister keep voles and mice out of the melon patches 100%...Got mice...get a couple cats..they work better together as a team..seriously, they do. She is guarding the 117.5. They both regularly patrol the melon huts and vines day and night.   Saturday, August 8 View Page The 177.5 Berry under the 4 ft fence hoop. It is turning into a wide beast. I water daily, Foliar on Tues and Drench on Thursdays.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 4.2 Finders Tomato this morning. Will pic & weigh at noon today. Solid Tomato   Sunday, August 16 View Page 50 Carey UOW outgrowing its board this morning. Nice solid growing melon, smallest of the three I've got growing but its daily numbers are going up.   Sunday, August 16 View Page My own 117.5 (297 Kent X 291 Kent) is now in the lead passing up the 177.5 Berry. Nice daily gains.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Another shot of my 117.5, I've noticed it is starting to push out those lobes at the bottom just like its mother did last year. Hope this melon has the same wide body with the full round size up top not sunken in on top like its mother was. Lookin Good!!   Sunday, August 16 View Page 177.5 Berry This morning putting out nice daily numbers. Notice how the 5/16" plastic board is bending under its weight, Nice!! This melon is very wide.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 177.5 Berry This morning putting out nice daily numbers. Notice how the 5/16" plastic board is bending under its weight, Nice!! This melon is very wide.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 177.5 Berry Wide Body "Tank" this morning warming up a bit.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 2nd 120 McWilliams LG this morning. I haven't measured this one and won't until its done visually growing. I don't want to jinx it,lol.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 130 Carey Bushel Gourd this morning. I checked on it a couple days ago and found it grew its self right off of the coke crate that was under it. It rolled right off of it and didn't lose a beat. No stem damage, man are these things tuff!! It is over 130 pounds so I hope I'm doing Otis who grew its mother Proud. I just think what it would be doing minus the thousand pounds of Weeds its growing in. I go through the patch and lift of the vines so the sun gets too them, most of the vines are 24" or more elevated,lol...actually that's pretty sad,lol.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 279.5 English Bushel Gourd is still growing strong, unbelievable. The split across the button is now 9" across and still only 1/2" deep but it is still very slowly seeping but again not rotting. One word to describe these this in my book, Tuff, Tuff, Tuff. Its measuring over 150 lbs a few days ago   Sunday, August 16 View Page 279.5 English BG, Tuff-N-Ugly   Sunday, August 16 View Page Giant White Cushaw Squash. This one fed right will be huge. 2 dap selfed.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Our pig is getting bigger at a bit over 3 ft in length. He is tall also but man I wish he was fat. I was told that since he is not confined he is getting good exercise and is lean. He is 13+ weeks old and around 80 pounds. He should start putting om real good weight from day 100 on. He is on 50% Cracked Corn, 50% - 18% High Protien hog pellets. Any body know of any other goodies I can feed him till November please let me know. Hes still a adolesant you can tell he gets all excited and bucks like a bronco and runs and runs,lol. No I'm not getting attatched to em,lol.   Sunday, August 16 View Page My daughter on youtube. She is so talented and I am so proud of her. I recorder her just messin around with her new Ibanez electric acoustic guitar, she is just learning her chords and it is coming very easy to her. The sound is just through an open mic and not High Quality Input. I believe she is a natural. I have put her a little recording studio together in one of the spare rooms including a Korg D8, 8 Individual Track Digital recorder, a Tascam D4 Digital Recorder, a Behringer Q502 Sound Mixer and of course her Ibanez Amp. She can put it all thru an extra pc we have and compile the sounds she wants and burn it all to a cd, pretty cool. Thank God she knows how to do it all because I don't have a clue,lol.   Sunday, August 16 View Page 279.5 English is done from rot at the button end. ott was 181... 168 DMG UOW est lbs but it went down to rot..too bad. Too much to just clean out & sulfer pack. Next pic should explain.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Yikes, 279.5 English bushel gourd, more rot than one could ever control and way too deep. The 130 Carey bushel gourd is still growing very well and appears to be able to hang in there the rest of the season.   Sunday, August 16 View Page Tomato off the 4.2 Finder today 3.30 lbs. This is crossed with the 7.10 Foss. Nights in the 50's, days in the low-mid 90's brought this color on I believe. Will grow this seed and my 3.40 over the winter and next season. 3.40 UOW X 7.10 Foss.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page Short from saying there's more than one way to skin a cat I'll just say that there's more than one way to Un-Officially weigh a Gourd. 279.5 English Damaged weighed 125.53 if I've done my math correct. It measured out bigger but it laid in my yard for a few days getting lighter I presume. The 130 Carey UOW bushel gourd is still growing solid and is easily beating this one. Terminated all melons vines...AGAIN, JEEEEEEZZZZ!!   Sunday, August 23 View Page My 117.5 growing nice and full. The blossom may end up disappearing if it gets any fuller, lets hope so. The 177.5 Barry has passed this one up again by a half inch on the ott, what a race. Gave all three plants a nice tea drench with warmed up tea since the nights have been in the low to mid 50's. Melons are covered up with layers.   Monday, August 24 View Page We have had temps in the low 50's at night and colder right before sun up. Yesterday afternoon I pulled the covers off the 130 Carey UOW Bushel Gourd and to my surprise it had picked up steam. It now has an ott of 190 and est @ 193 lbs. This is a tuff plant in horrible weedy condition. Am going to try and clean up the plant and weeds today. Going to get help and drag the vines to the sides, mow and set the vines back down. Sad, I know. These vines are not as brittle as kin and melon vines, you can do this. my 783 UOW Kin is still growing with only stump & vines roots, no leaves,lol. It is solid with zero Netting so far, beautiful Orange. Will it hold on for Anamosa?   Monday, August 24 View Page Good weeding Music, Watermelon in Easter Hay by Frank Zappa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9DqykUsqRY   Monday, August 24 View Page 130 Carey bushel gourd uow 190 ott, est 193 lbs and growing. Cleaned up gourd plant/weeds and leaves are in full sun now!! Trunk is huge and well.....Solid no soft spots anywhere.   Monday, August 24 View Page 130 Carey uow   Monday, August 24 View Page More than one way to unload pumpkins. It is Processing time at Libby's in Morton, Illinois. I wouldn't recommend this for our hobby although it would be entertaining.Hmmm, wonder what the cylinder size is on that lift...Geeeeeezzz   Monday, August 24 View Page The 177.5 Barry is living up to the name I gave it, "Tank". Getting wider n wider. 32 dap plant is Perfect condition.   Monday, August 24 View Page 177.5 Barry   Monday, August 24 View Page My 117.5 , (297 Kent X 291 Kent)'14 33 dap Plant is perfect   Monday, August 24 View Page 50 Carey uow, 35 dap plant is perfect.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Here is thee 177.5 Berry. It is over 2' across now and nearly 36" linear. It appears narrow at the stem end but it is not, its just so darn wide. Its been consuming everything I throw at it. Well..its a Pig!Hope it keeps going.   Thursday, September 10 View Page 177.5 Berry top view, no thump just a Sakcrete sound ;^)   Thursday, September 10 View Page The Biggest melon in the patch ever is my own 117.5. It has passed up the 177.5 Berry and is not looking back. It is a Beast and it goes without saying, (short of going down in some fashion) my Personal Best.   Thursday, September 10 View Page Top view of my 117.5   Thursday, September 10 View Page The 177.5 Berry and my 117.5 yesterday soaking up a bit of early morning sun. The 177.5 berry is the closer one.   Thursday, September 10 View Page ...and thee award for the most well balanced bushel gourd(and I might say "Biggest") grown on top of a Coke crate in the worst looking patch of Weeds go's tooooooooo....   Thursday, September 10 View Page As horrible as this plants condition is in it is beyond my witts on how this thing continues to put on weight...but it does and it is. There are only about 30 leaves on the plant but the stump is rock solid. This is the 130 Carey UOW '14. I know the cc on it but I really have no exact clue on the ss & ee,lol. I also know I can't budge it,lol. Otis you've got a pretty tuff seed my friend!!   Tuesday, September 15 View Page Pulled the 279.5 English bushel gourd today. The cc stopped going up for a week now so figured I better pull it.   Tuesday, September 15 View Page ****Correction****, this is the 130 Carey '14 UOW Bushel Gourd. Took it up to our local recycle center and got an Unofficial weight. It was impossible to measure in the patch being perched up on that Coke case. 143 lbs UOW and it was and still is solid as sears. Otis I guess its not too bad for my first year growing one of these crazy things, Learned a lot with yours and Chris Kents Help. Now the 143 J. Young UOW (130 Carey UOW X 279.5 English). Told you the Plant was big. This gourd was 68' out Half way down on the main out on the end of a secondary, Huge Plant with solid stump and roots still but only about 30 leaves....one word..WEEDS!!   Thursday, September 17 View Page My 117.5 J. Young has smashed my personal best. Still growing very good and hope to get this one and the 177.5 Berry up to Anamosa. 5 Gal bucket for size   Thursday, September 17 View Page 177.5 Berry with 5 gal bucket for size   Thursday, September 17 View Page 177.5 Berry button end   Thursday, September 17 View Page Dang...Won't Fit   Saturday, September 26 View Page Anamosa Iowa Melons early this morning soakin up some Rays!! 1 for Show and 1 for GO!! They are both measuring exactly the same. The scales will tell who's for Show and who's for GO. 177.5 Berry on your left and my 117.5 J. Young on the Right. 7 more days!!   Saturday, September 26 View Page 177.5 Berry aka TANK   Saturday, September 26 View Page WARNING: Objects in Image may be further away than they appear   Saturday, September 26 View Page 117.5 J. Young '14 (297 Kent X 291 Kent)   Friday, October 2 View Page Loaded up for The Ryan Norlin Weigh off at Anamosa Iowa tomorrow!! Good Luck to all and be Safe!!   Sunday, October 4 View Page Was taking this picture of all the Melons yesterday at the Anamosa Ryan Norlin weigh-off when I was approached by a couple growers who asked me if I saw the damage on the melon that had just come in. It was an area that measured over 5" across and was brown and rotting way into the pink fruit of the melon. It knocked me out of 2nd place before another melon a little later on putting me out of 3rd place $100.00. I was amazed as it was accepted as being in good condition, clearly damaged. GPC Rules were clearly not followed at this site.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Another close up pic of the damaged Melon that was allowed. GPC Rules clearly state that all soft spots must be cleaned with a spoon and inspected to be further judged...it was never done. After being persuaded into bringing this issue up to the Site Director I got a chuckle on how afraid any of the other growers were to bring it up theirselves,lol. The site judge even announced in front of about 200 people or more that they new the melon was deeply damaged but after 4 of them had a talk it was allowed...amazing this can go on without basic GPC rules not followed but then again the site judge also announced in a nearly 10 minute speech that him and the grower had been friends for over 27 years,lol.   Sunday, October 4 View Page Here is another pic of the damaged Melon that was allowed at Anamosa yesterday. Closes melon in pic bottom left side in pic. I didn't even know I got a pic of it until it was pointed out to me by a couple other growers while I was taking it. Then I took a close up pic, (earlier post). The site judge was clearly upset with me for bringing up this issue and I went to apologize to him later on but I got a dirty look and he turned and walked off,lol. OOPS..I need to learn my place at these events I guess because when it came time to load up my melons I was ignored and received no help from any of the guys helping others load they all ignored me,lol. An awesome first time grower from Iowa helped me load up and I greatly appreciated the Help!! Still had a good time beside the hick up!!   Sunday, October 4 View Page With all the Stink Raising,lol I forgot to include: I beat my PB of 117.5 in melons with a 146.5 and a 132.0 (Exhibition). Very Pleased. Plan on planting both of these next season.