Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 148 Entries. Sunday, January 11 View Page I wish everyone a good year, if I throw some seeds out the window I should be able to beat last year ! I sent Moon flower seeds in the seed exchange, mine were in the small black plastic zip lock. Here are the only photos I have of mine, I pinched this plant 3 times(4 tops) It was grown outdoors and brought inside this one time to get a good look at the flower opening.   Sunday, January 11 View Page I think it took about 30 minutes to open   Sunday, January 11 View Page sorry for the poor quality, they have a mild sweet smell   Sunday, January 11 View Page This poor guy has been stuck in a 4 inch pot for about 8 months and is living in a east window in temps ranging from 45 to 55 degrees. It went through flowing and produced seeds outdoors , and is now starting to regrow. 2014 was my first year growing them.   Friday, January 23 View Page This is 1.5 miles straight north of my house, exciting I know, this feeds Clinton Lake and floods above the bridge deck several times a year. One of the best areas for bullfrogs, flathead, channel and turtle, its called the canoe access area.   Friday, January 23 View Page 1.5 miles south east of my home is The Clinton Nuclear Power Station, work started around 1977 and they are thinking about shutting it down already. I can see this from my bedroom window, if she blows ,she blows, the water in the previous pic flows to here and is sucked into the plant to cool the reactor   Friday, January 23 View Page another photo, you have to be careful being around the plant the security guards may stop you. I can hear automatic weapons fire from here on a weekly basis , they have a gun range to practice on. 9/11 really beefed up security.   Friday, January 23 View Page This is where the discharge water cools before entering the lake and recirculates back to the power station, water is still around 90 to 110 degrees at this point even during the winter. It makes this area of the lake a hot spot for birds and fish so hunting and fishing isn't allowed from Oct 15 to April 1st   Friday, January 23 View Page I built this with the help of coworkers   Sunday, February 1 View Page Win this lure , I will post a better photo each day, must be the name not the type, so don't guess "perch" etc Contest is limited to USA due to postage This may be the best lure I have used, Ive caught crappie,bass,walleye,striper,and hybrid muskie It is too light and flutters through the air so your casts are short.   Sunday, February 1 View Page Iowegian guessed it first Darren came in second. I have loved this lure for over 25 years,best used in a boat cast with the wind or trolled. I had thought of making the photo blurrier ,cant believe you got it so quick , In 25 years I have only told about 4 people about this lure. Good luck with it   Monday, February 2 View Page what is it   Monday, February 2 View Page Better ?   Tuesday, February 3 View Page Don't get brain damage thinking to hard   Tuesday, February 3 View Page Long arm pruners, just the guess pruners was the winner   Wednesday, February 4 View Page What is it #3 should be easy   Wednesday, February 4 View Page I skipped a few clues ahead   Wednesday, February 4 View Page Don young is the weiner, the checks in the mail. Good guess and you people think this is hard Its a drip tape / water filter, usually used to stop particles from clogging drip tape emitters   Thursday, February 5 View Page what is it #4 this is the only hint   Thursday, February 5 View Page my yard and 3 plots   Thursday, February 5 View Page the nuclear plant, my property, and where I work in the summer   Thursday, February 5 View Page I think MoTown Grower was the first to guess it correctly. a drip tape valve, used to shut off individual t-tape lines   Sunday, March 1 View Page .   Tuesday, March 3 View Page Testing out new germination stand, the wife gets two shelves and I get one plus there is an extra one, the wife already has eyes on it. The temp in this room is 50F when I cover the front with a blanket its 86 inside. Looks out of square in this photo for some reason   Wednesday, March 11 View Page went and got mulch for the wife ,load one of two, also got wire mesh for the heating cables   Wednesday, March 11 View Page Some new items for this year, 2 gutter cables, pump for the tote ,drip items   Wednesday, March 11 View Page another pile , ferts , grow juice, bulk insecticide and fungicide, fans ,peroxide and wetting agent, bought in bulk to save money so I should have enough for a few years on some items, about the only thing left is the myco   Friday, March 13 View Page Pollenated the 451 today at 11 ft with the only male flower I had another 451. I don't plan on keeping it my first secondaries are still have about 3 ft before terminating and I have another female at about 15 ft. Getting it covered for the next 7 days of predicted rains, killed the third mole of the year.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page Right after I finished my new plot last year a mole moved in, caught the little bugger today.I had another one last year near another plot but haven't seen it this year. The trap at the bottom is gold but I don't think anyone makes them anymore, Ive killed dozens with it the one at the top has only gotten 2 or 3   Tuesday, March 17 View Page I have a 10x12 tarp ready by each planting hole, if it rains I will cover the soil to keep it dry, all I have to do is pull it across and bungee two corners down.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page .   Tuesday, March 24 View Page Got mole #2 its been a good trapping season, caught this one right in the butt,I just need 300 more to make a coat. I've been thinking about starting seeds April 13th and set them out on the 20th that's one week earlier than last year and I have 100% germ rate so far on practice seeds, much better than 2014   Friday, April 3 View Page Got the heating cables in 2 days ago,the soil moisture was perfect, had plans to till the entire patch but went to see my ill mom, sad but she probable wont see the month of May.Had a lot of rain since then so tilling will have to wait.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page .   Monday, April 13 View Page My mother passed away yesterday at the age of 87 she was a kind and beautiful woman   Tuesday, April 14 View Page I received a 2032 Mathison yesterday for joining the WWGG woohoo!! Thanks Mark   Tuesday, April 14 View Page I received a 2032 Mathison yesterday for joining the WWGG woohoo!! Thanks Mark   Friday, April 17 View Page ready set go.. set out 3 houses ,one is to the left and far out also added amendments to the holes just need to add molasses azos and myko. I might have wasted my time setting these up but better save than sorry.   Friday, April 17 View Page Then I came inside and washed my hands in the sink looked up and saw a friend taking a stroll   Thursday, April 23 View Page My plan was to cross 1744.5 fulk x 1433 Boudyo 14 --- 451.5 Weibel 14 x 1433 Boudyo 14 ----- 1433 Boudyo 14-x 1433 Boudyo 14 and use a 1320.5 Lombardi 14- as a back-up plant, all of them came up in 3 days except for the 1433 Boudyo but it has only been 4 days so I still have hope, the Boudyo was going to be the back bone for this year The above plants were going into my 3 grow huts and I plan to add a 835.5 podraza 2011 and 1048 Engal after the soil warms up on its own. 451.5 Weibel 14 x 1048 Engal 835.5 podraza 2011 x 1048 Engal Last year I had seeds planted for 2 weeks that didn't germ, and tossed them onto the compost pile, they sprouted a few months later, so never give up ! Here are 3 small heaters I bought for under $40 they have two settings 170 or 250 watts with 3 heaters and 3 soil cables it will be less than max rating for by breaker and wire, and shouldn't make the wife's eyes pop out when opening the electric bill.   Friday, April 24 View Page Today was day 5 for the 1433 Boudyo , I gently dug them up and the shells where half cot material and the rest was a thick white stinky goo, these may have been the seeds I received that I had suspicions of being squished by the rollers, they were white seeds without a hard shell...... plan B starting tomorrow .....1189 Stevens/Hopkins 14 x 787 Daho 13............ 451.5 Weibel 14 x 787 Daho 13............. 787 Daho 13 x 787 Daho 13............. 1048 Engal x 451.5 Weibel 14.............. 835.5 podraza 2011 x 1048 Engal.............. The engal and podraza will get small plots and will probable only receive vine pruning as special treatment   Wednesday, May 20 View Page Here is a 1744 Fulk that looks like it has a virus ? I am thinking it needs pulled but the other plant has a split main, all three of the larger leaves look the same. I have had large plants with a few leaves looking like this and they grew out ok but not a small one like this. I tried growing a 1744 in this plot last year but it got yellow vine , the year before that my plant was finished off by some type of chemical in the soil either juglone or 2-4-d   Sunday, May 24 View Page To all of the veterans past and present I worked with 5 other guys to build this at a small local state park(Weldon Springs)   Sunday, May 24 View Page almost all of the concrete was wheel barrowed in.   Sunday, May 24 View Page A local veteran   Sunday, May 24 View Page My sisters and I placed a plaque here for our father   Tuesday, May 26 View Page I think I am going with the 1320.5 Lombardi in the south patch over the 1312 Clementz I have the 451.5 Weibel in the west patch after pulling a smaller one, the winds are treating it rough the last few days even with being surrounding with fencing, it also doesnt seem to like direct sun and low 80 temps I have stakes coming this week so I can make a shade cover with insect fabric. The 1189 Stevens/Hopkins is out pacing the 1744 Fulk in the north plot and will probly get the winners spot. I have two plants the 1048 Engal 12 and the 835.5 podraza 2011 that I just set out today its winding but cloudy so the should have a nice day these plants dont have heating cables or huts, and probly wont get the attention they deserve the budget ,time, and room are short. The 787 Daho and the two 1433 Boudyo 14 were my only seeds that didnt germinate , 787 Daho really hurt. A week of severe storms are predicted .   Wednesday, May 27 View Page Mehdi has been kind enough to send another 787 Daho to me, I know they are in short supply and want to thank him and wish his new daughter a great life.   Monday, June 1 View Page what is it? I am going to use it with my tote water   Monday, June 1 View Page Going to use it to strengthen my PVC fittings   Saturday, June 13 View Page The stump of the 451 cweibz should I remove this first secondary ,last year I had a foamer and someone suggested not having them close to the stump, if so when is the best time to remove it   Saturday, June 13 View Page cleaned up and covered we have 7 days of rain in the forecast a female opened on the 451 at 11 ft but I am waiting on the next one at 15 ft.My first secondaries have another 3 ft to go.   Saturday, June 20 View Page I think my plants would love me if I just stayed out of the patch, I snapped of the main of the 1320.5 Lombardi right before a 12'female and a 14 footer, I have one at 10' opening in a few days. I have lost about half the main on the 451 Weibel it just kept splitting open, hoping it doesn't rot. Pollinated at 14' today with a 1189 Stevens/Hopkins, and another a few days ago that's a self. The 1714 fulk hasn't been damaged by me YET it with be opening tomorrow at about 14' Pic of the 835 podraza the first seven spots were doubles but I believe it has come out of it, its at 5.5' planted May 24th without cables I just want to see the shape this pumpkin will have.   Saturday, June 20 View Page another podraza photo   Monday, June 29 View Page Zluta Kytice seeds grew the plant on the left I got these from the seed exchange we had, I bought the Chadwich cherry seeds that grew the one on the right. I want to thank the grower that donated the seeds, both plants were started indoors and received the same care, what a difference in size,they will be good to munch on out in the patch.   Monday, June 29 View Page THERE SHE FOAMS !!!!! This morning after a night of rain I found my already bad 451 stump foaming at the lower right corner   Monday, June 29 View Page I split the rest of the stump trying to follow the crack on down into the soil, sprayed it with 30 something peroxide and buried some more vines,30 minutes later it looking pretty angry. I dried it up, and covered it with sulfur also covered it with a larger piece of glass. I bet she's a goner I hadn't pruned tips on this plant very much trying to get the plants roots bigger because of the already damaged stump.   Monday, June 29 View Page AT 11 FT on the 451 I have this selfed pumpkin at 14 days.I have another at 14ft crossed with a 1189 Stevens/Hopkins and another at 20ft crossed today with a 1744 fulk   Tuesday, June 30 View Page I think I will remove the first one in the above picture and go with the 451 x 1189 Stevens/Hopkins there wont be size to it but I want the seeds I might take a week to cull it since the stump is already in the ER Here is my 1048 Engal its just starting to get into a good sunny location ,planted may 24 without cables ,as of today its 12 ft x 12 ft, it will be a flag shape   Tuesday, June 30 View Page the 835 podraza planted on the same date as the engal is 12ft long and 8 ft wide, it will grow under the green house frame ,and off to the right hopfully setting one right after the fence   Tuesday, June 30 View Page the 1744 fulk is 30ft wide with a 26ft main, finding roots 10 ft past that which is the end of the patch, I am using Hollands myco, I almost pulled this thinking it had a virus not to long after planting, but Shannon told me the errors of my ways   Tuesday, June 30 View Page some roots on the 1744 , maybe they are just swimming, I pulled a post out of the 451 plot yesterday today it was full of water to 2 inches from the surface and its basically a raised bed   Thursday, July 2 View Page This would be a great position for 1744 Fulk and right on the edge of the plot ,stem is close to 6" long, but I dont think it took if it did its a very slow grower. I may not have any sets on this plant.   Saturday, July 4 View Page MOLES and more MOLES I have 3 moles in the yard one is under the 1744 Fulk and the 1048 Engal and its digging up everything ,it doesn't have much of its tunnel showing outside of the plant area so its going to be tough to catch. I had heard castor bean plants deterred moles ,I tried them all around the border on my yard once and it seemed to work that was my only test of them , if its true this mole must not care it tunneled right under this small castor bean on its way to the patch   Saturday, July 4 View Page I have sprayed peroxide on the 451.5 Weibel for a third time because it still foams up, after the first spray I made a trench sloping down hill away from the stump with my hand kind of like a karate chop, it was mostly liquid.   Saturday, July 4 View Page Which one would you choose these two pumpkins are on the 451 that has a foaming stump Ive been afraid to cut one off (over several days) This one is 56" SS at 19 days and 11FT, but the main is close to the pumpkin, Ive been rotating it slowly counter clockwise.   Saturday, July 4 View Page this is 14FT and 26" SS at 12 days, the main is a lot better. I know I have a some secondary's to remove I am keeping some to help on the foaming issue and if the stump goes, I want as many node roots as possible.   Sunday, July 5 View Page culled the first pumpkin on the 451 ,the second one has a better position. Removed the stump and the first two secondary's and main looks ok to me, I will be able to train back 3 tertiary vines the first secondary, and the second one has at least 2 I can train backwards. you never know this may be the biggest pumpkin of the year   Monday, July 6 View Page Pollinated a perfect 4 lobe on the 1048 Engal x 451.5 Weibel 14 used card board box ,ice jug and covered with a piece of insulation board   Wednesday, July 8 View Page noticed this crack in the culled 451 pumpkin, maybe it was from rough handling but am sure it appeared a day after I moved it. Pollinated the 835 podraza x 451.5 Weibel guessing at 10 FT the temp was 60F with a light rain, everything was keeped dry though the time was 8 AM   Wednesday, July 8 View Page MOLE #4 IS DOWN ! The SNGPG summer patch tour can have these for an appetizer , its not big game like a ground hog but they do a lot of damage to plants, this one was 4 ft from the 1744 Fulk's stump yesterday , I set 3 traps just for him. He did a lot of digging all through the patch I will just call it aeration of the soil.   Friday, July 10 View Page 8 day difference in the 1744 Fulk   Friday, July 10 View Page But came across this today it looked ok 12 hrs before but I should have inspected the main better, I have already removed the worst of it in this photo. Rotten main maybe a mole caused this, I cant find any sign of SVB   Friday, July 10 View Page I think it will be a goner I don't have any uncut secondary's left after removing the damage.the problem appears to stop one node before the stem, but the stem has some soft spots. The sun is actually out so I am leaving it to bake today with sulfur added The 451 had the stump removed(no more leaves in the plot next year) I snapped the main on the 1320.5 Lombardi it never took over, I have 4 pollinations on side vines only good ones left are the 1048 Engal and the 835.5 podraza both have limited grow areas   Saturday, July 11 View Page number five..this one went 100 ft down the front of the house through the flower beds then took a left down the south side ,that was his mistake, only had the trap set for 10 minutes   Saturday, July 11 View Page The 1320.5 Lombardi is dripping from the stump I already had a fan and glass cover, added sulfur and covered that with the large board, lightning and thunder just hit. I don't need anymore rain but I am still better off than a lot of you   Saturday, July 18 View Page Heat index 105 today its just a tad warm for me, I have one Dan sprinkler on this 451 plant 10 min every hour. Growing pretty good for not having a stump   Saturday, July 18 View Page Cut the 1744 Fulk the vine rotted before the pumpkin, I may have a squirrel munching on my vines I have two softball size pumpkins on tertiary vines.   Saturday, July 18 View Page Day 10 for the 835.5 podraza, something was scarred the skin in the last 24 hours no HD on this one   Saturday, July 18 View Page 1048 Engal x 451.5 Weibel its growing on a small plant, I guess it could be 150 SQ ft maybe larger. This is day 12 31 cc, it may looked scarred but that from my sweaty hand wiping off some dirt maybe a HD at Benstons ? I am sure I will damage it somehow   Saturday, July 18 View Page 1320.5 Lombardi x open tapes 30 LBS but doesn't look it to me This may be day 17 if not its close to that this one is still foaming up every 2 to 3 days, I have kept it covered and sprayed with peroxide. Growing on a uncut secondary that starts about 11 ft out. I broke the main on this plant and no secondary would grow out, I wonder if its because the last 4 remaining secondaries where all about 3 ft long and neither of them grew much either, maybe if I had ended them my "main" would have grown out.   Friday, July 24 View Page the 451 taped 350 LBS today maybe I can get a PB from this one. Drenched merit and systemic fungicide yesterday and caught the 6th mole of the year, starting to get invaded but I am holding the fort.   Saturday, July 25 View Page The no stump 451 gained 21 pounds in the last 20 hrs and all of the patches got a fertilizer drench for the first time using the tote and sprinkler set-up , we will see if I overdosed them in a few days.   Sunday, July 26 View Page the 451 Weibel est 401 pounds DAP 34 up 30 pounds in 24 hours....the 1048 Engal is 89 pounds DAP 26.........the 835.5 Podraza is 127 pounds DAP 18.....the 1320.5 Lombardi is 129 pounds DAP 26   Saturday, August 1 View Page The 835.5 podraza has a name Guilly as in guillitone, I had the vines growing under this frame in case I wanted to move it but all I see is someone tripping and falling with it so its staying where its at. est at 248 pounds a gain of 121 pounds in 6 days DAP 24   Saturday, August 1 View Page I may have to name the 1048 Engal Blockhead as its getting a square shape, est 192 pounds a gain of 103 pounds in 6 days DAP 32 This plant is small and in the shade of a tree half of the day   Saturday, August 1 View Page lost the picture somehow ..... The 1320.5 Lombardi still has a foaming stump but its getting better ,still using peroxide every few days est 211 pounds a 82 pound gain in 6 days DAP 32 This pumpkin is growing on the 4th secondary   Saturday, August 1 View Page The 451 Weibel est 501 pounds a gain of 100 pounds in 6 days DAP 40 Seven more pounds and its my PB but I have wondered if a PB should count if its not healthy when removed from the patch. If I can prevent foaming stumps next year maybe I'll have a good one. I gave the podraza the engal and the 451 some WOW Tea today and surrounded them with mothballs   Monday, August 3 View Page My wife saw a ground hog on the west side of our property yesterday, the closest pumpkin to that is the 451 ,only about 70 feet away. Told the neighbors kid I would $10 for its died carcass   Thursday, August 6 View Page Didn't look at the pumpkins for 2 days due to working long shifts ,shame on me found this on the 1048 Engal and I powdery mildew on 3 out of 5 plants. Sprayed daconil last night I think my mildew starts from the lilac bush we have its downwind of the worst infected plants so it will be treated tell its cured or poisoned to death   Thursday, August 6 View Page Here is the 1744 Fulk on a tertiary vine ,what for it.....   Thursday, August 6 View Page I kind of let this plant grow wild when the main rotted and I had no pumpkins set on the main or secondary's,so since the pumpkin is so small I decided to just cut out the old leaves and remove the ones with the most PM. This may be some of the cause for slow growth I may have stepped on this a long time ago, the photo makes it look thicker than it is your seeing the curled up edge of the vine before the pumpkin with 3 quarters on top. Shut off the stumps fan,soil cables and even the drip tape. Might make a carver or one for the kids to smash.   Saturday, August 8 View Page The 1048 Engal gained 134 lbs this last week coming in at 326 pounds   Saturday, August 8 View Page The 835.5 podraza gained 2 more pounds than the Engal this week, it added 136 pounds coming in at 384 pounds The butt end has disappeared curling over on itself   Saturday, August 8 View Page The stumpless 451 Weibel tapes 588 pounds today gainig 87 pounds for the week if it makes it to 800 I would be thrilled but this is already a PB for me.   Saturday, August 8 View Page another view of the 451   Sunday, August 9 View Page What is this ? Its on the 451 weible and is only on one vine ,the older leaves get it first, should this be removed from the patch   Monday, August 10 View Page For those wondering what the above leaf problem is its Mosaic virus You can read more about it here http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=245192   Saturday, August 15 View Page The 1320.5 Lombardi tapes 419# she is a cracking but if I remember correctly this kind isn't much to worry about ,I added a fan and keep it sulfured Gained 208 pounds in the last 14 days   Saturday, August 15 View Page The 1320.5 Lombardi stump has stopped foaming for about 2 weeks now, if its still alive? who knows   Saturday, August 15 View Page I terminated the main on the 835.5 podraza at 26 ft past the pumpkin, it had to stop somewhere. Gained 128 pounds this week, that may be off a little because I have a trench dug under the pumpkin to keep the curled under button off the ground, so my tape never really touched the ground, I will have to lay a board across the back next time I measure est weight 512 pounds   Saturday, August 15 View Page forgot the pic   Saturday, August 15 View Page The engal is at 549 pounds looks pretty to me ,kind of a square but it was also a 4 lobe.BUT... sad news I could stick a grass stalk into the cavity today, the crack was full of sulfur so I am hoping that kept any bad guys from getting inside. I had plans later today to cut my 4x4 posts for a tripod, so I guess I may move it to a trailer to show it off ,it had gained 126 pounds this last week.   Saturday, August 15 View Page The 451 Weibel gained 89 pounds pounds this week, Chad can do the math. My PB at the end of 2014 was 508 pounds, I have bet that 3 times this year and probable will do it one more time too, not big numbers but it feels good.   Monday, August 17 View Page I had to get the Engal loaded up Sunday or possible have to wait 2 weeks to do it, it was rush rush rush but I got it done, I had the 16' 4x4 already but that was it,had to cut them ,make straps the whole works. its now the est 549 Bartimus 15 (1048 Engal x 451.5 weible )Bar-ti-mus   Monday, August 17 View Page I gave the tripod one practice run in the yard then went for it   Monday, August 17 View Page everything went smooth no problems I watched Cecil's video twice even had to make my own eye in the rope I used   Friday, August 21 View Page This is on every plant I have more on the "middle age" leaves than others the two photos here are the same leaf one of the top and one of the bottom side.   Friday, August 21 View Page Could it be spray damage, I am hoping its not Mosaic   Saturday, August 22 View Page just a quick reference for me, temps have been in the upper 50's at night this week 835.5 podraza up 70 for the week bringing it to 582........ 1320.5 Lombardi up 62 bringing it to 481............. 451 weible up 47 to 722 pounds   Wednesday, August 26 View Page The 1048 Engal lasted 9 days after I pick it has some large soft spots and that liquid isn't pretty, a lot of cars have stopped to take a good look   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Thought I smelled BO and it wasn't me when I checked the 1320.5 Lombardi the cracks appeared dry but my finger easily scooped out some rotten flesh. Stole a kitchen spoon and scraped it out and sprayed with peroxide it already has a fan and will sulfur it later today . I remembered to bring the spoon back from the patch.   Wednesday, August 26 View Page Leaf off of the 451 Weible , assuming it is from the mosaic virus that was on a single vine a few weeks ago, I have leaves like this scattered about the plant 1 or 2 in each location. I will probable send in a sample to be tested to find out exactly what it is as recommended by Matt. I still have problems with the other plant in the August 21st photos that hasn't been positively identified   Monday, August 31 View Page The next 3 pics are the 1320.5 Lombardi , tell me what you think, some type of mold or rot ? The cracks that I treated seem fine but this discoloration gets worse as it gets closer to that area. This pumpkin is covered with a sheet and the sunshines directly that for about 4 hours a day   Monday, August 31 View Page .   Monday, August 31 View Page .   Monday, August 31 View Page Enough of the depressing photos ,after 9 days the Lombardi is up 63 pounds or 6.8 per day The Podraza is up 59 pounds or 6.5 per day and the 451 up 53 or 5.8 per day, yesterday was the first day of good growing weather we have had for almost a week, but the temps are heading to the 90s for the next 7 days .The 451 should reach 800 that was a small goal so I have that say.   Monday, August 31 View Page Advise from other growers think the Lombardi is either a ugly duckling, or has scab or Bacterial leaf spot, I believe 2 votes for each   Tuesday, September 1 View Page my high tech drawing, how to lay out a 16ft tripod to center it over pumpkin   Tuesday, September 1 View Page The distance between my posts for my 2 WD Chevy truck, this is wider than necessary   Tuesday, September 1 View Page If you want it to be 60" wide at 50" tall layout strings in the yard and put your posts to that   Wednesday, September 9 View Page wont have to worry about loading this one up the 835.5 podraza which taped 641 pounds a few days ago has turned to mush . When I went to remove the sheet flies were buzzing and I just knew it was gone before even looking. The blossom end had moved almost straight under the pumpkin,I tried to keep a trench under it to keep it dry looks to soft to figure out what really did this   Thursday, September 10 View Page I got lucky while removing the now 641 Bartimus from the patch , I think this is a mouse hole on the bottom side of the rotten pumpkin. Having dug the trench under the pumpkin to keep the blossom dry provided a home for the mouse there were several Hickory nuts were under the pumpkin too. I had mouse traps out for over a month and only caught two near this pumpkin   Thursday, September 10 View Page Had nice thick walls   Thursday, September 10 View Page I had thought that the blossom end had rotted under the pumpkin, but found it under the goo, seems fine to me   Saturday, September 12 View Page I made a lifting ring and a hoist hanger for $40 in material including paint, I did the labor   Saturday, September 12 View Page This will eliminate wrapping chains around the legs, I thing once you have it upright the chains do nothing but hold the hoist   Saturday, September 12 View Page I couldn't find my one inch drill bit so the welding shop drilled those for me, I used 1/4 inch steel   Saturday, September 12 View Page this isn't fully up right but you get the idea, this is light than using the chain I had too   Saturday, September 12 View Page Should have said,this is lighter than using the chain I have   Friday, September 18 View Page This pumpkin has grown without a main starting at DAP 18, can it reach 900 before Bengtsons, we wont know if it gets wider than the truck bed , could have been my first one over 1000. 451.5 wieble 14   Friday, September 18 View Page Helped the neighbor take apart his raised beds got 20 ten footers and about 20 at 4 foot , I may have a permanent raised sidewalk going down the mains next year, at least in the shady north plot so I can watch for rotting vines   Friday, September 18 View Page My leaf compost that I started in the fall of 2014 , I may use this for vine burying next year, I need opinions if this could worsen my chances for foaming stumps a problem that am plagued with.   Sunday, September 20 View Page oops   Sunday, September 20 View Page The Lombardi is down and out, rotted from the bottom we just had 2.5 inches of rain but that was only 2 days ago. The drip tape in the photo hasn't been used all year and the soil was dry underneath the pumpkin. I know the usual rot smell but this also has a definite odor of BO like no bath in 4 days just think its weird   Sunday, September 20 View Page I asked in a earlier post about the spots on the skin, had lots of opinions and I was leaning towards it just showing squash. The outer light colored skin comes off without much effort at all, but it appears like the discoloration doesn't go into the flesh. ?? I have one pumpkin left hopefully it makes it another week   Thursday, September 24 View Page Bought my new tiller went over the budget from $1000 to $1500 but I think it was a wish choice, for that price it was delivered to garage right to the work area   Thursday, September 24 View Page 30 inches wide   Thursday, September 24 View Page Doesn't have very many parts a lot of the bolts and washers where extras as this is a universal fit tiller   Thursday, September 24 View Page Two passes and its looking good   Thursday, September 24 View Page This can be removed by pulling two pins unscrewing the hitch and pulling the belt off the PTO, the directions left a lot to be desired so I did some things twice, I spent about 2.5 hours getting it setup almost half that time was spent staring at the directions. You can barely hear it running and its smooth to operate, so far I am very happy with it.   Saturday, September 26 View Page Got her safely loaded for Bengtsons tomorrow   Monday, September 28 View Page Won 5th place at Bengtsons and had a great time its now the 880.5 Bartimus 15 (451.5 Weible x 1189 Stevens/Hopkins 14) taped 347" and came in 5% light My name sounds out Bar-ta- mus (sounds like must without the T sound)   Saturday, October 3 View Page displayed in the front yard   Thursday, October 8 View Page rustoleum true orange   Friday, November 6 View Page I have my compost pile finished   Friday, November 6 View Page actually that was the city dumping area, here's load two at my house, I will need to get a lot more manure before am finished   Friday, November 6 View Page This is the first time I have loaded the truck too, it works pretty good at getting the pile stacked up higher and the city is loading me this year so I may not have to pitch fork it any longer. This is going to save me a few trips into town as the trailer is packed tighter and higher, maybe 6 more loads will have my spot full