Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 13 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page Several growers have been very generous and I think I might have come up with a pretty good short list for 2016. PUMPKIN (x2) 2230 Wallace 15 (2009 Wallace x 1916 Barron) - Thanks Ron! 1683 Warner 15 (2002 Hawkley x 2032 Mathison) - Thanks Jeff! Backup: 1733 Kline 15 (1542 Kline x 1676 Daletas) - Thanks Todd! 1542 Kline 14 dmg (1622 Young x 1789 Wallace) FIELD PUMPKIN (x3) 164.7 Horde 14 (103 MacKinnon x 128 Lyons) - Thanks Iwan! 117 Horde 15 (211 MacKinnon x 164.7 Horde) 83.3 Wursten 14 (128 Lyons x 121.5 MacKenzie) LONG GOURD (x4) 149.50 Eaton 15 - Thanks Al! 141.31 Kline 15 - Thanks Todd! 122.88 Eaton 12 137.00 Eaton 15 MARROW (x3) 142 Wursten 15 dmg 140 Toten 15 - Thanks Dale! 129 Toten 15 66.2 Baggs 12 TALL CORN (x8) Tuxpeno Maizon Montana Blanco CARROT (x4) Flakkee TOMATO (x2) 5.50 Johnston/Butler SWEDE (x3) LONG RADISH (x2) And maybe a few others for fun. Friday, April 8 View Page The 2230 Wallace, 1733 Kline and 1683 Warner have all germinated. I have a 2nd and 3rd Warner as backups. The 2230 patch is ready. It is a new patch with a new polytunnel with roll-up sides. The tunnel is too small but the plant can eventually grow on outside. I added old cow manure, compost, lime, boron, kali, humic acid and basalt. The 1683 will go in the old and much larger polytunnel which I fitted with two large windows for ventilation this winter. Added compost, boron, kali, humic acid and basalt. The plants have received Rhizotonic, mycorrhizae and amino acid. The tall corn is about a foot tall. The heavy carrots are in the garden and are about a foot long. Today I helped 6 biology students from the University of Utrecht sow giant corn, tomatoes, kohlrabi and carrot seeds. I also gave the head gardener at the Botanical Gardens in Utrecht a few 1549 Kline 15 (1870 x 2009) seeds which he is going to plant this afternoon. He hopes to grow one or both in one of the many large polytunnels at the Gardens. They will also be hosting our weigh-off on September 24. Wednesday, April 13 View Page 2230 Wallace is no more. Germinated as a mangled mess without a growing tip. The 1733 Kline backup will take its place with as backup a 1683 Warner with 3 seed leaves. My wife's other two 1683 Warner plants are doing well. Tuesday, May 31 View Page All field pumpkin seeds germinated. Going with 140 Crews, 159 Butler, 117 Horde, 164 Horde and 83 Wursten. Marrow seeds have been sown and 142 Wursten are up and running. Waiting for 140 Toten, 129 Toten and 73.6 Wursten. 1683 Warner is doing great in the large greenhouse. First females are showing. 1733 Kline in the small greenhouse is very small and miles behind the 1683. All LG seeds germinated. Going with 122.88 Eaton and 2x 149.5 Eaton. Slugs got hold of the 141.31 Kline and ate the tip off. Not sure it will make it. Got 3x Jalapeno and 1x Montana tall corn in the corn cage, as well as two Nieuwenhoff sunflowers. Got 2x 94.5 Hunt and 1x Cornish swedes in a netted raised bed. Also 5x Flakkee carrots in a cold frame. Just sowed 2x 5.50 Butler/Johnston tomato seeds. Got 4x 23.2 Wursten red beet plants going in raised beds. Just sowed a bunch of Mooli heavy radish seeds. Going with 2 in a raised bed. Still have to start the Mooli long radishes. Have room for 2. Friday, June 24 View Page 1683 Warner in the big polytunnel. About a week ahead of other years. Friday, June 24 View Page 1733 Kline in the small polytunnel. Much smaller plant than the 1683, but also totally different soil. Pollinated a mutilated 5-lober today. Might have to wait for a better one. Friday, June 24 View Page Quickly becoming the wettest first half year since records began in 1901. Slug and snail epidemic. Thanks to them, only two marrows left. Replaced with field pumpkins. Here, from front to back: 159 Butler FP, 140 Toten marrow, 140 Crews FP, 122.88 Eaton LG, 149.5 Eaton LG, then tall corn and sunflowers and the 1733 Kline. Wednesday, July 20 View Page Extremely wet year here, even for Dutch standards. Very few sun hours as well. Lost all the swedes to drowning (even in raised beds...). All sunflower plants have rotted away. 1733 Kline is gone. Only messed up fruit on that one. 1683 Warner in the big greenhouse is the slowest grower and smallest fruit I have ever had. Also a very wierd shape. Not sure it will make it. Maybe next year better. Thursday, August 25 View Page 1683 Warner - day 66 - 800lbish est. Smallest day 66 I have ever had and weirdest shape pumpkin ever as well. Most of the plant has rotted away. Down to less than 100 sq ft of plant. Very rough season weatherwise. Except for two field pumpkins on sandy soil, lost almost all other giant veg to flooding, cold, lack of sun, etc. Long gourds, runnerbeans, tall corn, tomatoes and marrows severely stunted. Giant beets, sunflowers, swedes and heavy radish completely gone. Left with two field pumpkins (of 7), a heavy carrot and possibly a long radish (you never know with them what's in the tube). Thursday, August 25 View Page 140 Crews field pumpkin - day 28 - multiple (but not yet fatal) splits in the blossom end. Taping 80lb+. Thursday, August 25 View Page 159 Butler - day 30 - slowing down too fast - taping 100lb+ - have had bigger, but never in one piece... Monday, September 26 View Page The end of a dismal growing season has finally come. A mix of slugs and snails, flooding, cold temperatures and little sun was enough to wipe out all my giant vegetables this year. The 1683 Warner still managed to make it to 1031 lbs, which considering what kind of a year it was here, was not bad. It became a boat after the weigh-off and many people from the public were allowed to paddle their way through part of the Botanical Gardens in it. The only two giants that made it were the two field pumpkins that I grew on my new sandy plot. The 159 Butler made it to 133.4 lbs and the 140 Crews to 110.2 lbs. Monday, September 26 View Page On the left, the 110.2 Wursten (140 Crews x 159 Butler) and on the right, the 133.4 Wursten (159 Butler x 140 Crews). I lost all 5 other field pumpkin plants to flooding. So next year, only sandy soil these guys.