Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 194 Entries. Sunday, January 1 View Page I start this year's diary with my new PB from 2016. The 407 Croot (2016) 1395.5 Luders x open.   Sunday, January 1 View Page ...and here was my smaller pumpkin from 2016. 278 Croot 2016 (538 Mu.Se x open)   Monday, January 2 View Page Happy New and I start this year's diary with my new PB from 2016. The 407 Croot (2016) 538 Mu.Se x open   Thursday, March 30 View Page Today was my first day I could get down to my allotment, the ground has been very wet in the UK. I did a bit of prep work back end of 2016, so this is what it looked like today.   Thursday, March 30 View Page I managed to extend the patch to the right by 3ft. This is what it looked like at the end of today.   Thursday, March 30 View Page Today I'm doing a germination test of the 624 Smith (2016), grown just 20 miles down the road from me in Hertfordshire. Thanks to SaladDoug for letting me have some of his seeds. Unfortunately he had a poor germination rate when he did his own tests, so I thought I might have a go.   Thursday, March 30 View Page Extending this year's main patch 3 ft to the right.   Saturday, April 1 View Page 2 car loads of manure from my friend who keeps 2 ponies.   Tuesday, April 4 View Page My Father inlaw has a new toy. A Quadcopter (drone) with a camera on board. So he sent it up.   Tuesday, April 4 View Page The view from above.   Tuesday, April 4 View Page The main pumpkin patch will hopefully have pumpkins 1 and 2, depending on which ones germinate. The number 1 position has had the most input. The side pathc will hopefuly be large enough for a third pumpkin, which was my plan last year but I only really had the time for 2 plants. To the left is where I plan on placing 2x 1000 litre water tanks (IBCs), and attaching an irrigation drip tape system. I can run a hosepipe from the mains water tap in the top left of this picture. I did all my watering with a watering can last year.....so I just have a bit more digging prep work to do before it is time/possible to do any planting.   Monday, April 10 View Page Slow going digging out the weeds as I go...and the nettles 'got me' again....   Tuesday, April 11 View Page I decided it was a good idea to extend my patch by digging out the stinging nettles.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page It took me 2 days to dig them out by hand...going down over 3 ft in places to get the root balls out = hard work.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page A fledgling robin took great interest in my digging.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page I think this is a song thrush.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page I still want to take some of the curve off this part of the patch if I have time...but I think this will be my #2 planting site as it is sheltered a little by the mound of earth to the right.   Thursday, April 13 View Page I thought I would do a germination test on my own 278 seed from last year. I have given quite a few of these away to new (younger) growers within my family so I wanted to be sure that they will actually be easy to germinate for them...this is the 30 hour mark...and my airing cupboard this week is cooler than normal, as we have already turned off our central heating boiler.   Thursday, April 13 View Page This is the 1027 Bridges seed, that I test germinated as well. Also at the 30 hour mark. 3/3 = 100%. Happy days.   Monday, April 17 View Page Seed starting day....a lot of the 624 Smiths as it is difficult to germinate...I'll hopefully get 1 or 2 out of those...plus it was grown only 20 miles from me, so might like my local climate/weather!!! The 1027 Bridges germinated well last week on my test run, so will hopefully do well for me. The 1109 Borgers is BIG and orange, and I am a sucker for orange. Also going to see what the (hopefully) orange 529 Wagler from Germany does. Happy days.   Tuesday, April 18 View Page Both 1109 Borgers and one 1027 Bridges are on their way at the 30 hours mark. Potted into warmed compost and left in the warm airing cupboard until they break ground.   Wednesday, April 19 View Page This is probably the least technical/expensive germination chamber you will see on BP....the bottom of my airing cupboard, in with the hot water tank. It seems to work as here in pots are 5x 1027 Bridges, 2x 1109 Borgers and 2x 529 Waglers. NO sign of life from the 624 Smiths but early days yet. Happy days.   Wednesday, April 19 View Page 42 hours in and x3 of the 624 Smiths are waking up. Watch this space.   Saturday, April 22 View Page A few beginning to break ground, 624 Smith, 1027 Bridges and 1109 Borgers. Now on the windowsill.   Saturday, April 22 View Page First out of the starting blocks is the 1027 Bridges. I did use a slightly smaller pot for them though.   Sunday, April 23 View Page Planting spot #3 is now 12 ft x 16 ft. Slow going.   Monday, April 24 View Page Delivered today 2x 1000 litre IBCs. I just need to sort out an irrigation system.   Monday, April 24 View Page Aerial view now that my water tanks have been delivered. I still plan on making the smaller right hand patch slightly larger.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page I have some builders in at home doing me a new patio, so I dug the home vegetable patch and prepared the ground ready for the green beans. I wish my pumpkin patch was this quick to dig.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page One of the reasons we needed a new patio was so we can lay the track for my garden railway (G gauge). I shall maybe paint the fence at some point this year, once all my digging jobs have finished.   Tuesday, April 25 View Page I also potted up x3 1027 Bridges plants and x1 1109 Borgers. I need to get some more large plant pots tomorrow to pot up the rest.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Here are the x2 624 Smith plants that have made it this far looking very sorry for themselves...I have given them the benefit of the doubt and potted them up....but I don't think they will make it into my patch.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page I am away from home for a few days so my pumpkins have gone on their holidays to my friend's greenhouse.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page x2 529 Waglers in amongst the x5 1027 Bridges.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page The x2 1109 Borgers have made it this far...with the plant on the right looking happier.   Wednesday, April 26 View Page I blagged x6 pallets for my new watering system today from my allotment shop. Apparently the are thinking of paying someone to take them away to clear some space, so were quite happy for me to help carry them 50 yards to my allotment.   Tuesday, May 2 View Page Having 6 days away in Paris with my husband and his choir...and here is the obligatory Tour D'Eiffel picture.   Thursday, May 4 View Page My baby pumpkins have returned home from THEIR holiday in my friend's greenhouse, 2x 529 Waglers...unfortunately one appears to have a split in it's stem; 2x 1109 Borgers and 5x 1027 Bridges.   Thursday, May 4 View Page I tried to spread the manure out and prepare 3 planting sites today...I shall attempt preparing the mini hoop houses tomorrow.   Friday, May 5 View Page I had just enough conduit tubing to make another 3 loops. The first length was 'guestimated' and then I cut the remainder in half.   Friday, May 5 View Page The pumpkins enjoying the sunshine on the garden table.   Sunday, May 7 View Page Some creature(!!!) has decided to delicately nibble around the cot leaf of my (better) 1109 Borgers...now dosed up with slug pellets.   Sunday, May 7 View Page The (Better!) 529 Wagler was also affected...yet none of the British born seedlings seem to have been touched...(yet!!)   Saturday, May 13 View Page Started a back up. 779 (uow) Wagler 2016. 1659 Miller x 1317 Clementz. This is at the 48 hour mark on an unsoaked seed.   Saturday, May 13 View Page My friend seems unable to germinate my 278 seed from 2016. This was my attempt at the 48 hour mark (seeds were not soaked). I shall probably take her a baby plant next time I visit.   Thursday, May 18 View Page Baby plants in my small car ready to go down to my allotment on 'planting out day'   Thursday, May 18 View Page 1027 Bridges, double planted.   Thursday, May 18 View Page 1109 Borgers, also double planted.   Thursday, May 18 View Page The 529 Wagler, only one of these made it into the ground, the other had a split stem.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page The 1027 Bridges was my strongest plant up until 3 days ago when we had a hot spell of weather followed by rain...It now looks a paler green so I gave her a good dose of Magnesium today. I also built a fence as it does catch the wind.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page The 1109 Borgers is doing well, unfortunately the cover blew off her 3 days ago so she sustained a little weather damage. She is still double planted, too early for any decisions yet.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page ...and here is the 529 Wagler, who seems to like having her spot to herself.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page A view of the tanks and my main patch and the fence around the 1027 Bridges. 1027 on the right and the 1109 to the left of this picture.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page My father inlaw sent up the quadcopter today for an overhead shot.   Wednesday, May 31 View Page ...and here I am putting the covers back over the plants!   Friday, June 2 View Page Today's view through the rain. I've opened up the covers to let them get some sun and natural rain.   Friday, June 2 View Page Here's the vine tip on the 529 Wagler. She currently looks the strongest in the patch.   Tuesday, June 6 View Page The rain in the UK today has been torrential. Once it stopped raining the winds stayed up, so I went down to check on all my plants this evening. This is the 529 Wagler, coping well under her shelter.   Tuesday, June 6 View Page The weather made my decision for me of which 1109 Borgers to go with. The (weaker) plant had the main vine hanging off when I got there...so I removed the plant.   Tuesday, June 6 View Page I still have both 1027 Bridges plants but they aren't growing as vigorously as the other 2 plants.   Monday, June 12 View Page Today's view of the 1109 Borgers.   Monday, June 12 View Page 529 Wagler.   Monday, June 12 View Page 1027 Bridges. Beginning to grow...I still haven't decided which one to cull yet.   Thursday, June 15 View Page Today's view from above.   Thursday, June 15 View Page Time to make some gazebo type shades out of old bedsheets...hopefully it's going to be warmer/sunnier this coming weekend.   Thursday, June 15 View Page 1027 Bridges. Trying to cover both plants with shade as there is no clear keeper yet....although the closer plant has an extra 2" length on her main vine.   Thursday, June 15 View Page 1109 Borgers. She is now growing well and is larger than the Bridges, but the earlier leaves are a little wind/weather worn.   Thursday, June 15 View Page The 529 Wagler appears happy enough. She gets the plastic table as a shade cover....she MIGHT get a larger shade sheet tomorrow.   Saturday, June 17 View Page The yellow hose is filling up my tank.   Saturday, June 17 View Page 1109 Borgers   Saturday, June 17 View Page 1027 Bridges   Saturday, June 17 View Page 529 Wagler under her own shade sheet.   Saturday, June 17 View Page Female on the 529...far too early so I shall wait until the plant gets larger.   Saturday, June 17 View Page In the sunshine today.   Tuesday, June 20 View Page Culled the weaker 1027 Bridges...and did some vine burying.   Sunday, June 25 View Page 1027 Bridges   Sunday, June 25 View Page 529 Wagler. She has a couple of splits to the main vine JUST past the stump. The splits are luckily dry and I hope they will just heal over/become callused. Too late to go with a back up now so I am trying hard to carefully bury the vines to give her the best chance. The plant itself looks to be doing well.   Sunday, June 25 View Page 1109 Borgers. She seems to be growing the quickest of the 3, but not throwing out many secondaries. I'm trying to curve the main vine to make best use of (the limited) space in my patch.   Monday, June 26 View Page 1109 Borger. Taking pictures for my work colleagues to show how large these leaves can get.   Monday, June 26 View Page 1027 Bridges. Even larger on this plant.   Monday, July 3 View Page 1109 Borgers, beginning to grow some secondaries.   Monday, July 3 View Page I meant to also say that I have a potential female on the 1109 at the 12 ft mark.   Monday, July 3 View Page 1027 Bridges. Bigger leaves but a slightly shorter main vine.   Monday, July 3 View Page A potential female on the 1027 at the 10ft mark, with another potential female 2 leaf nodes along.   Monday, July 3 View Page 529 Wagler. The longest plant of the 3.   Monday, July 3 View Page NOT a great picture of 2 potential females on the 529, at the 13ft mark.   Saturday, July 8 View Page View of my allotment, with the 1027 Bridges in the foreground and the 1109 Borgers to the right and the 529 Wagler to the left.   Saturday, July 8 View Page 1109 Borgers   Saturday, July 8 View Page 529 Wagler   Saturday, July 8 View Page Another view of the 529 Wagler   Saturday, July 8 View Page So, we went to the local pub this afternoon and I'm sat there thinking I must go home via the allotment in order to tie the flower as it may open tomorrow morning. I have some string in my car but it was at home as I was enjoying a pint, and no-one else had any string on them either....   Saturday, July 8 View Page So this flower on the 1027 Bridges is tied up with a folded paper serviette!!   Saturday, July 8 View Page The 529 Wagler may also open tomorrow.   Saturday, July 8 View Page Another serviette put to good use.   Sunday, July 9 View Page The 529 Wagler at 05:45 this morning.   Sunday, July 9 View Page 529 Wagler with 5 lobes x Male 1109 Borgers   Sunday, July 9 View Page 1027 Bridges with 3 lobes x male 1109 Borgers. Hopefully the next one to open will have more than 3 lobes.   Monday, July 10 View Page Trying to fit a new 3 way tap onto my IBC water tanks to set up an irrigation system.   Monday, July 10 View Page 1027 Bridges at the front...with hardly any male flowers in bloom, but what look like lots of male flowers in bud. The 1109 Borgers towards the back, fortunately thee are plenty of available male flowers on the Borgers.   Thursday, July 13 View Page 1027 Bridges   Thursday, July 13 View Page 1027 Bridges with 3 lobes on DAP 4   Thursday, July 13 View Page 529 Wagler with 5 lobes on DAP 4   Monday, July 17 View Page The view of my 1027 Bridges at 05:45 this morning.   Monday, July 17 View Page Female 1027 Bridges with 4 lobes x Male 1109 Borgers   Monday, July 17 View Page 1109 Borgers with 5 lobes x Male 529 Wagler   Wednesday, July 19 View Page A bouquet of male flowers from the 1109 Borgers   Wednesday, July 19 View Page 529 Wagler with 5 lobes x male 1109 Borgers   Wednesday, July 19 View Page 529 Wagler with 4 lobes x male 1109 Borgers   Wednesday, July 19 View Page The 1027 Bridges on 10 dap with a 2 dap in a better position ~ if it takes.   Wednesday, July 19 View Page 529 Wagler on 10 DAP   Friday, July 21 View Page Plot view.   Friday, July 21 View Page 1027 Bridges 12 DAP   Friday, July 21 View Page 529 Wagler on 12 DAP   Thursday, July 27 View Page Today's view of the plot.   Thursday, July 27 View Page ..and from the other side   Thursday, July 27 View Page 529 Wagler at 18 DAP   Thursday, July 27 View Page She really is not in the best position and she has some scarring that seems to have healed up. She is now about the size of a football (soccer ball) I'm hoping to set another one further down the main vine.   Thursday, July 27 View Page I prefer the placing of these 2 which are DAP 8. We have not had much sun this week.   Thursday, July 27 View Page 1109 Borgers on 10 DAP   Thursday, July 27 View Page 1027 Bridges on DAP 10. The first fruit aborted.   Sunday, July 30 View Page 1109 Borgers 13 DAP   Sunday, July 30 View Page 529 Wagler 21 DAP   Wednesday, August 2 View Page 1109 Borgers 16 DAP   Wednesday, August 2 View Page 529 Wagler 24 DAP ~ 41 lbs. First time measuring her. I've terminated the main vine JUST after the pumpkin to give me a little more space.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Volunteer(open) back up on a secondary on the 529 ?7 - 8 DAP   Thursday, August 3 View Page 1109 Borgers 17 DAP. One of my friends asked for a comparative object to give a sense of size to the pictures....hence the sunglasses.   Thursday, August 3 View Page 529 Wagler. DAP 25 measuring up at 48 pounds....the weather is not helping (cold, grey and wet) and I am now behind last year...despite having larger plants.   Sunday, August 6 View Page 1109 Borgers 20 DAP   Sunday, August 6 View Page 529 Wagler 28 DAP now 71 lb. Slow going with our lack of sunny weather.   Monday, August 7 View Page 529 Wagler AKA "Hildegard" now positioned onto a pallet whist we can still manually lift her.   Thursday, August 10 View Page 529 Wagler 32 DAP ~ 101 lb.   Thursday, August 10 View Page 1109 Borgers 24 DAP. Growing slightly unevenly.....and slowly!   Sunday, August 13 View Page Today's culls.   Sunday, August 13 View Page 529 Wagler on 35 DAP ~ measuring 121 pounds.   Sunday, August 13 View Page 529 is growing WITH her scars.   Sunday, August 13 View Page 1109 Borgers is not going to win any prizes this year! 27 DAP.   Tuesday, August 15 View Page 1109 Borgers, 29 DAP, beautiful colour and ribs...and still only 27 pounds. She will be the right size for the children so enjoy.   Tuesday, August 15 View Page 1027 Bridges, there are 4 pumpkins this size now on the plant...the one on the left is on the main vine and the one on the right is on a secondary. All other pumpkins have aborted on this plant, neither does she produce any male flowers....her days are numbered.   Thursday, August 17 View Page 529 Wagler on 39 DAP - measuring 149 pounds. Colouring up nicely.   Thursday, August 17 View Page Good looking stem on the 529   Sunday, August 20 View Page Hildegard Pumpkin on the 529 Wagler on 42 DAP ~ 171 lb ~ 12 Stones 3   Monday, August 21 View Page 529 Wagler 43 DAP ~ 176 lb   Monday, August 28 View Page A week away in York and my plants have been a little neglected for the last few days.   Monday, August 28 View Page Hildegard pumpkin on the 529 Wagler, 50 DAP ~ 229 lb ~ 16 Stones 5.   Monday, August 28 View Page Kevin on the 1109 Borgers ~ 42 DAP ~ 69 lbs   Monday, August 28 View Page Introducing Thora on the 1109 Borgers ?14 DAP ~ an open pollination, but already growing faster than Kevin did.   Monday, August 28 View Page 2 open pollinations on the 1027 Bridges. The one at the back appears to be growing more quickly than the nearer one, with probably 3 or 4 days between them.   Thursday, August 31 View Page Kevin pumpkin on the 1109 Borgers, 45 DAP ~ 93 lb   Thursday, August 31 View Page Hildegard pumpkin on the 529 Wagler ~ 53 DAP ~ 251 lb   Saturday, September 2 View Page Kevin pumpkin on the 1109 Borgers...47 DAP...she remains on the plant in case it heals/scabs over...I think she is terminal.   Saturday, September 2 View Page 1109 Borgers   Saturday, September 2 View Page Hildegard pumpkin on the 529 Wagler ~ 255 lb ~ 115 kg   Sunday, September 3 View Page So Kevin on the 1109 Borgers is in the car ready to come home and sit in my garden for a few days.   Monday, September 4 View Page 1109 Borgers AKA Kevin. Using the bathroom scales at home to weigh her. 116 pounds (8 Stone 4) ~ 52.6 kg. She measured up at 103 pounds...that's 11% heavy to the chart.   Monday, September 4 View Page Kevin enjoying the (G scale) garden railway   Monday, September 4 View Page Visitors to the pumpkin patch today...and these guys thought that Kevin was big .... Hildegard is measuring 286 lbs which is well over 20 Stones on dap 57...less than 6 weeks to the show.   Wednesday, September 6 View Page Thora pumpkin on the 110 Borgers is doing quite well. Of unknown age but ?23 DAP (open). Just letting her do her own thing, measuring at 42 lbs.   Wednesday, September 6 View Page Above picture is 1109 Borgers.   Thursday, September 7 View Page Today I pulled up the 1027 Bridges plant...the largest plant of my 3.   Sunday, September 10 View Page Hildegard on the 529 Wagler is slowing up now....or maybe I am just having trouble with the measuring tape and her ribs....307 lbs.   Sunday, September 10 View Page late pollination on the 1109 Borgers. 60 lbs   Wednesday, September 13 View Page Hildegard on the 529 Wagler ~ measuring at 315 pounds on 66 DAP. I think I may be undermeasuring her as that is only a 2 inch increase in the last 3 days. 1 month to the show.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page 529 Wagler ~ a small split dusted with sulphur powder this morning.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Overhead shot of my allotment. The 1027 Bridges is pulled up at the top left, with a late pollination on the 1109 Borgers and Hildegard pumpkin on the 529 Wagler to the right. The plants are in the worst looking I've ever had, very aged and covered in Powdery Mildew.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Thora pumpkin on the 1109 Borgers, a late open pollination, but growing well. Her show will hopefully be on the 7th October.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page Hildegard pumpkin on the 529 Wagler. Her show will hopefully be on the 14th October in Southampton.   Thursday, September 28 View Page Late pollination on the 1109 Borgers. "Thora"   Thursday, September 28 View Page 529 Wagler. "Hildegard"   Wednesday, October 4 View Page The 529 Wagler plant looking very tired.   Wednesday, October 4 View Page 529 Wagler   Wednesday, October 4 View Page Allotment   Saturday, October 7 View Page 1109 Borgers "Thora" pumpkin fits neatly into my small car ready to travel 20 miles to her show.   Saturday, October 7 View Page Thora placed third at 112 pounds in Flitwick Village Autumn Show, my first pumpkin rosette....the same colour as her.   Saturday, October 7 View Page Second place was 125 pounds and the winner 300 pounds.   Saturday, October 7 View Page Large enough to sit on....had to be done.   Saturday, October 7 View Page I did like the marrow trophy.   Thursday, October 12 View Page 529 Wagler, lifting her tomorrow.   Thursday, October 12 View Page This puts her into perspective.   Friday, October 13 View Page 529 Wagler AKA Hildegard   Friday, October 13 View Page Strapping her down. Ready for tomorrow's drive to Southampton. Approx 190 miles.   Friday, October 13 View Page The lifting crew.   Sunday, October 15 View Page Unloaded ready for weighing, with the Patons' pumpkin behind me.   Sunday, October 15 View Page Lifting onto the scales.   Sunday, October 15 View Page She weighed in at 350 pounds, and placed 10th. My first GPC rosette making her the 350 Croot [529 Wagler x 1109 Borgers (2016)]   Sunday, October 15 View Page Ian and Stuart Paton broke (their own) UK record with their 2269 pumpkin.   Sunday, October 15 View Page Matthew Oliver broke (his own!) outdoor grown UK record with his 1498.   Sunday, October 15 View Page 2 squash entries this year.   Sunday, October 29 View Page Time to retrieve the seeds from the 350 Croot (529 Wagler)   Sunday, October 29 View Page With help from friends.   Sunday, October 29 View Page The walls.   Sunday, October 29 View Page Official seed count of 775.   Monday, October 30 View Page Lit up using the new outdoor Christmas lights we bought...she's meant to be inspired by the Cheshire Cat.   Saturday, November 4 View Page Sorting through my seeds from the 350 pumpkin, and most of them have only filled 3/4 of their seed casings. I do have over 100 decent looking seeds. (from 770+)   Sunday, November 5 View Page Final photo of Hildegard pumpkin, chopped into movable/manageable pieces.