Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 16 Entries. Saturday, April 11 View Page I see the diary entries are picking up the pace and it's almost grow time. I better get a move on if I'm going to do a 2026 diary. I didn't do a very good job in finishing my 2025 diary. It had lots of highs and lows like most growing seasons do. The ups were getting a pumpkin to the scale which is always an accomplishment. Val and I headed to Ridgefield with our entry off of my 839 seed. 7 th place wasn't bad with the stellar lineup that was there and another one over 1000 pounds for me. I'm still old school and happy with that. Saturday, April 11 View Page It was great to see Tony Ciliberto there and witness his victory. I was in the top 5 with Tony at my first ever weighoff in 2001 at Altoona. Tony won that day as well. He is a world class grower and person. His 2352 was a beast. Saturday, April 11 View Page I entered a long gourd for the first time in years and was happy with my 132. I came in 2nd and lost by an inch. Ouch. My new trellis worked well Saturday, April 11 View Page My biggest disappointment was the tomato challenge. Being teamed up with John young and Cindy Tobeck the pressure was on. I was good at growing 3 pound ones but needed a couple of heavy ones to help our team and see if we could pull out a victory. I thought I had some potential candidates to make some noise in the contest. I decided to let them flash just a couple more days for some extra weight. The Domingo was looking heavy Saturday, April 11 View Page Uggggh. The morning of the pick tragedy struck. Miss Doe decided lunch was more important than any tomato contest. Note to self ! Put some better protection around your prized tomatoes. Anything can happen! Saturday, April 11 View Page It took me a long time to get over that disappointment. John and Cindy had banner seasons and we were so close and I wanted to do my part. Sorry fellow Chop Busters I thought I had a last minute hail Mary happening and could bust Chops Chops but it was not meant to be. I was very mad at that deer for a long time. The snack sticks were good anyway. Saturday, April 11 View Page So it's on to another season. I wanted to give a shout out to my Florida growing buddy Tim who is giving it another run at growing in the Florida sun. He started his seeds in February as usual. Saturday, April 11 View Page Tim expanded his patch a bit so he is hoping for a Big year. Saturday, April 11 View Page Get dirty Tim. It is grow time. Saturday, April 11 View Page His plants were off to a strong start this year. Saturday, April 11 View Page Time to cull down to one plant. Saturday, April 11 View Page I love his sectioned off greenhouse. Saturday, April 11 View Page Pollination time came and he only had one male ready for the party. Saturday, April 11 View Page I see some swelling going on. Saturday, April 11 View Page Tim is around day 20 now and the baby looks good. His chosen one this year is the 1765 Young. It looks like she is going to be a nice shaped orange lady. Keep it rolling Tim ! If someone is wanting big and orange I don't think you can go wrong with the 1765. Saturday, April 11 View Page It's time for me to get moving in my patch. The winter rye is coming in but I better get the patch prep going. I need an early pollination this year as Val and I have a bucket list vacation planned and we will be out of town July 1 for a week. That is sometimes pollination time for me.