Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 67 Entries. Tuesday, April 7 View Page Greenhouses are in place. The 2020 growing season has started. Good luck to everyone this year! I hope that others have also made the decision to grow this year. Got to do what we love doing... I'm doing something a little different this year. Rather than growing 4 plants like I usually do,I'm going to do 3, give them a little more space and experiment with the diamond shape plant pattern. I'll be looking for plant size in the 1,200 square foot range.   Tuesday, April 7 View Page These are the seeds I've chosen to go with this year. I started them yesterday. I also started several of my 1614's from last year in case any of these don't germinate.   Monday, May 4 View Page I put in two plants last night. This is the 2294 Noel started on 4/19.   Monday, May 4 View Page This is my 1614 started on 4/13   Monday, May 4 View Page This is the 1450 Fifolt started on 4/1   Monday, May 4 View Page View of the patch. Winter rye is getting a little out of control.   Monday, May 4 View Page Long gourds will be ready to hit the dirt soon. I'm hoping I can keep them in the pots for another 2 weeks or so. It will depend on the weather and how soon they outgrow their pots.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page All the hoop houses came off this weekend. This is the 2294 Noel. It was the latest one started so it's the smallest. It is currently about 3 feet or so long.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page This is my 1614 from last year. Started about a week before the 2294. It is currently about 4 or 5 feet long.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page This is the 1450 Fifolt. It was started a couple weeks before the other two. Currently at about 10-11 feet, just starting to kick in the side vine growth. Cut off a nice female blossom this morning at about 9 feet. Need a much bigger plant than this before it's time to set a pumpkin. Shooting for a mid June pollination on this one.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page This is the flower I cut off this morning. Hope the future ones are as perfect as this one.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Last but not least, the long gourds have been in the ground for a week or so now. Starting to reach for the trellis.   Monday, June 15 View Page I pollenated this 6 lobe blossom on Friday 6/12 on the 1450 at 17 feet. It's got 20 secondaries behind it so I hope it takes.   Friday, June 19 View Page Pollinated another one this morning on the 1450 at 20 feet. I've got one that I pollinated last week at 17 feet that looks like it took. I'll hopefully go with the best looking one of the two.   Friday, June 19 View Page This is my 1614. I had one open this morning at about 12 feet, I removed it in favor of a couple more showing that will open next week. To me the plant is still a little too small to set a pumpkin. Rather have a larger plant as long as I'm still pollinating by the last week of June.   Friday, June 19 View Page The 2294 is coming along. There are a couple pumpkins showing that should be ready to go next week.   Friday, June 19 View Page Long gourds are about 10 feet tall and getting close to the top of the trellis.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This is a 15 day old pumpkin pollinated on the 2294 on 6/22.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This is a 16 day old pumpkin pollinated on the 1614 on 6/21   Tuesday, July 7 View Page This is a 18 day old pumpkin pollinated on the 1450 on 6/19. I ended up removing the one I had pollinated on 6/12, just didn't have a good shape to it. This one is at about 23 feet out so it's got a big plant behind it.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Close up of the 1450 pumpkin. I like the shape of this one.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page The patch is filling in quickly.   Tuesday, July 7 View Page Long gourd plants are growing good. No gourds started yet.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page The 1450 was 30 days old on 7/19. 30 day estimated weight was 520 pounds.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page The 2294 is 30 days old today. Estimated weight 535 pounds. My 1614 will be 30 days tomorrow. I'll measure that one in the morning and post a pic tomorrow.   Wednesday, July 22 View Page Day 30 today on the 1614. Estimated weight 445 pounds.   Thursday, July 30 View Page Yesterday was day 40 on the 1450 Fifolt pumpkin. Right around 900 pounds.   Thursday, July 30 View Page Yesterday was day 40 on the 1450 Fifolt pumpkin. Right around 900 pounds.   Thursday, July 30 View Page I've been pollinating several long gourds every night. Got a few started but haven't made the final selections yet. I like to try and get 4 or 5 going on each plant and then select the best ones to keep when they are 4 or 5 feet long. Usually by then you can tell which ones are growing the best.   Friday, July 31 View Page Today is day 40 on the 2294 Noel pumpkin. Estimated weight 1050 pounds. 52 pounds per day average for the past 10 days.   Wednesday, August 12 View Page My 1614- yesterday was 49 DAP. Estimated weight 1036 pounds.   Wednesday, August 12 View Page The 1450- Yesterday was 52 DAP. Estimated weight 1145 pounds. The heat is really taking a toll on this plant.   Wednesday, August 12 View Page The 2294 Noel. Yesterday was day 50. Measurements were 192 X 116 X 106 for an OTT of 414. Estimated weight 1544 pounds. 49.5 pound average for the past 10 days. It's amazing to think that a pumpkin can grow 1000 pounds in 20 days. I guess that's what makes this hobby so interesting.   Friday, August 21 View Page This is my 1614 from last year. Yesterday was 58 DAP. Approximately 1145 pounds.   Friday, August 21 View Page This is the 1450 Fifolt. This plant looks terrible, but the pumpkin continues to grow pretty good. Yesterday was 61 DAP & the OTT was an even 400 inches for an estimated weight of 1412 pounds.   Friday, August 21 View Page The 2294 Noel. Yesterday was 59 DAP and the pumpkin measured 440 OTT, for an estimated weight of 1800 pounds. She's a beautiful looking pumpkin!   Friday, August 21 View Page Another pic of the 2294 close up.   Friday, August 21 View Page Despite the long gourd plants really taking a beating from the tropical storm winds we received a few weeks ago, somehow we've managed to have some good long gourds going.   Monday, August 31 View Page Took measurements on the Noel pumpkin yesterday. 216 X 126 X 115 for an OTT of 457 and an estimated weight of 1970. Should be taping over 2K in the next day or so.   Monday, August 31 View Page Plant is still looking healthy, hopefully I can keep it growing.   Monday, August 31 View Page Couldn't get this picture to post the first time.   Monday, August 31 View Page I think this is something that most growers do. I've removed all the old leaves along the main vines on all three plants. Trying to keep a close eye on those main vines and keep them dry, in the sun and free from any vine rot.   Tuesday, September 1 View Page Our best long gourd has been picked and is in the basement for safe keeping until the weigh-off. There are a lot of growers in NH growing long gourds. Will we see a new state record this year?   Wednesday, September 2 View Page In case anyone has wondered what the wall of vines are that surround two sides of the pumpkin patch, we grow lots of bird house gourds,long handle dipper gourds and other types of gourds each year.   Wednesday, September 2 View Page One of the long handle dipper gourds.   Wednesday, September 2 View Page This is the 1450, taping around 1500 pounds.   Wednesday, September 2 View Page This is my 1614,taping around 1200.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page Love the view from the deck this time of year.   Friday, September 11 View Page 2294 continues to grow. The plant still looks great for mid-September.   Friday, September 11 View Page Starting to get more orange color.   Monday, September 14 View Page My daughters came by this weekend for the annual tradition of taking pictures with Dad's pumpkins. This is the 2294, currently taping right around 2,100 pounds.   Monday, September 14 View Page This is the 1450 Fifolt, taping around 1500 pounds. It looks tiny compared to the 2294.   Monday, September 21 View Page 32 degrees at my house this morning. My growing season is over. Now we'll just be cleaning up and waiting for the weigh off's the weekend after next. The pumpkins were still doing about 10 pounds a day, so it's disappointing to lose those last 10 days of growth.   Tuesday, September 29 View Page Took some final measurements this past weekend. The 1450 is taping approx 1600 pounds. The 2294 Noel is taping right around 2,200 pounds. My 1614 from last year is way behind at approx 1200 pounds. They all get weighed this Friday and Saturday. I hope at least one of them goes heavy!   Monday, October 5 View Page The 1450 Fifolt loaded for Topsfield on Thursday.   Monday, October 5 View Page We thought we had a 1600 pound pumpkin, so we were very surprised and happy with the weight. Good enough for 3rd place at Topsfield.   Monday, October 5 View Page Then it was time to load the 2294 on Friday. A big thank you to Steve Geddes, Jason Dubois & Marc Magarian for the help.   Monday, October 5 View Page 2294 safely on the trailer.   Monday, October 5 View Page The pumpkin finally hit the scale at the Deerfield weigh off on Saturday. Needless to say, we were very happy with the weight. A big thank you to Alex Noel for giving me a great seed to grow and for making the trip up from CT to attend the weigh off. We had a lot of fun this season growing this pumpkin.   Monday, October 5 View Page We also got a new personal best and new state record with our long gourd at 146.5 inches.   Monday, October 5 View Page Let's see if we can get a pic that's not upside down.   Monday, October 12 View Page Our 1895 in the front yard. Normally we donate all our pumpkins to be used as boats for our local regatta, but this year it is cancelled.   Monday, October 19 View Page My wife Linda's nephew owns a restaurant in Hudson NH. Our 1263 now decorates the entrance. The 2268 is heading to the Botanical Gardens in NY City tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures to post.   Friday, October 23 View Page We ended the season with a 143 and a couple mid-130's inch long gourds that never made it to a weigh-off. They are still hanging on the trellis in the back yard. We decided to just leave them hanging for the winter to dry them out.   Thursday, October 29 View Page A student from NYU who was visiting the NY Botanical Gardens contacted me for info on how to grow them and also sent some pictures. The three pumpkins on display were grown by Joe Jutras, Steve Sperry and Myself.   Thursday, October 29 View Page One more picture-   Friday, October 30 View Page Happy Halloween!