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Darren C (Team Big-N-Orange) - 2014 Grower Diary Point your RSS aggregator here to subscribe to this Grower Diary.

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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 244 Entries.
Wednesday, January 1 View Page
Here we go again:)
 
Monday, January 6 View Page
Crazy A. -30 wind chill
 
Tuesday, February 4 View Page
snowing
 
Tuesday, February 11 View Page
This winter officially sucks
 
Monday, February 17 View Page
awl....poop machines
 
Saturday, March 1 View Page
:)
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
starting to get excited about growing
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
Got some new ideas
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
But its MY SECRET. Your not a real Pumpkin grower unless you have some, at least that's what they tell me:) So don't watch my diary because I'm terrible at keeping secrets. <]:)
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
I know it has something to do with this.
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
And these
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
So I'm adding plenty of this
 
Sunday, March 2 View Page
I also have a master gardener who will help me.
 
Monday, March 3 View Page
Got some more soil amendments. Thanks for the tip Chris.
 
Saturday, March 8 View Page
Wiz, Have you sold out to the dark side?
 
Saturday, March 8 View Page
Beware they always offer the first free, and then your hooked for life
 
Sunday, March 9 View Page
Look open water Yay!!
 
Monday, March 10 View Page
for meeeeeee....These are the times I wish for a bigger truck. That's OK I'll get it to fit:)
 
Wednesday, March 12 View Page
Tried some digging today but the ground is still frozen:(
 
Thursday, March 13 View Page
Dang Back.
 
Thursday, March 13 View Page
Other year gone and the wall still is standing but barely. Oh well just will have to make do. Maybe if I keep on adding soil and amendments it will just catch up the other wall:)
 
Thursday, March 20 View Page
Check this out everyone, now I'm a movie star! Even though I'm not so elegant <]:) Surprising how much wood pieces you can get from city compost. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRLYRdqL_FI
 
Saturday, March 22 View Page
Master I'm not afraid...... you will be....you will be... Ok I'll try, there is no try, do or do not.
 
Saturday, March 22 View Page
Beware the dark side growers. Once down that path forever will it dominate your destiny.
 
Saturday, March 22 View Page
Doing some soil sampling..... Alaskan style.. How's my technique Dale.
 
Saturday, March 22 View Page
I must of used to much fish fertilizer last year.
 
Sunday, March 23 View Page
>_<
 
Sunday, March 23 View Page
New addition to the pumpkin patch this year.
 
Tuesday, March 25 View Page
Brought in a few loads
 
Saturday, March 29 View Page
rough ride
 
Saturday, March 29 View Page
Guess which one grow pumpkins.
 
Sunday, March 30 View Page
Here's a very rare site in the garden. The allusive helpful child:)
 
Thursday, April 17 View Page
Its ALIVE!!!
 
Thursday, April 17 View Page
More to cut up. 4 weeks to go.
 
Saturday, April 19 View Page
Time to toughen them up.
 
Saturday, April 19 View Page
Time to toughen them up.
 
Monday, April 21 View Page
Welcome lady's and gentlemen, to the first fight of the season. Introducing the returning champion in the right corner Big Black Cherry!!....And in the left corner the Unnddrrdog Grafted Black Cherry. So lets have a good clean fight. No hitting bellow the ground, and No freezing. LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Ding...ding.
 
Thursday, April 24 View Page
My solution to rain and high winds. No!! honey, I haven't seen the chairs.
 
Thursday, April 24 View Page
Little big for a transplant. And it was the smallest one. Grafted Cherokee purple
 
Sunday, April 27 View Page
Time to getter started
 
Sunday, April 27 View Page
the line up
 
Sunday, April 27 View Page
The important is rarely urgent, and the urgent is rarely important.
 
Tuesday, April 29 View Page
Funny thing happened to me today. I went to check and see if my babies have started to root and started to put them and to their bigger pots. I had six pots but only five seeds. One just magically disappeared. I am really glad that I marked each seed so that I am sure of what is going to come out. Now I'm just waiting for the fun surprised to see exactly where it pops up.
 
Tuesday, May 6 View Page
April
 
Tuesday, May 6 View Page
10 days from soak
 
Thursday, May 8 View Page
Left graft. got some leaf burn, frost or something. Right control. Middle bucket much better growth. Usually the first to get a tomato from. They are all Black cherry. Started at the same time.
 
Tuesday, May 27 View Page
frost got me again. 2 days before the last frost date. even had them covered. Have to do a better job next year.
 
Tuesday, May 27 View Page
1107 Zunino
 
Tuesday, May 27 View Page
1662 Stelts
 
Tuesday, May 27 View Page
left 890 Dill-MacDonalds. Right 377 Zunino
 
Tuesday, May 27 View Page
90% Grafted
 
Wednesday, June 4 View Page
They survived the storm!
 
Sunday, June 8 View Page
ha
 
Sunday, June 8 View Page
anyone know what wrong with my plant....virus?
 
Sunday, June 8 View Page
Do you think this is overkill?
 
Sunday, June 8 View Page
whats this?
 
Sunday, June 8 View Page
yellow dots
 
Friday, June 13 View Page
ha
 
Sunday, June 15 View Page
talk about a high stress moment. moving the main to till.
 
Sunday, June 15 View Page
getting ready for the storms...worry worry worry:)
 
Sunday, June 15 View Page
I love trying all the weird ones. Weird is as weird d-oes <];D
 
Sunday, June 15 View Page
mom said they couldn't get in the pool today...may as well they got just as wet anyways. :D
 
Wednesday, June 18 View Page
growing and going
 
Wednesday, June 18 View Page
never seen so many flowers on one plant. Brandy-wine. But still no mega blooms..Ne soil?
 
Saturday, June 21 View Page
Last 16 hours 4 to 5" of rain. good way to fill my pool.
 
Saturday, June 21 View Page
mornings are much nicer when get to go see the pants (Yesterday)
 
Saturday, June 21 View Page
when dew is on everything beautiful. (yesterday)
 
Saturday, June 21 View Page
Then there mornings like this one poured 8 hr straight. Grateful no hail. Got some cleaning up to do. Happy birthday to me <];)
 
Saturday, June 28 View Page
Time to rip out the back up. I hope
 
Saturday, June 28 View Page
almost time
 
Saturday, June 28 View Page
Safe sex
 
Saturday, June 28 View Page
deformed.
 
Saturday, June 28 View Page
Yesterday's conquest
 
Sunday, June 29 View Page
960 Gasert
 
Sunday, June 29 View Page
spent all day in the patch getting it cleaned and tilled. it was a very comfortable and enjoyable day
 
Sunday, June 29 View Page
I think kin growing is making me bipolar. I had such wonderful day yesterday. Today I just hate myself..lol. After spending all day looking at the plants. Today I wake up after sleeping in to find a female open. I would of thought I had 1 or 2 days WRONG CRAP!!! Plus rain..AGAIN! I found some viable pollen But the female......
 
Sunday, June 29 View Page
..all wet and funny looking.
 
Tuesday, July 1 View Page
1662 x 1107
 
Wednesday, July 2 View Page
june
 
Saturday, July 5 View Page
This is the latest for first tomatoes. I blame I let to many grow bush or 2 or 3 stalks, need to go back to single. Plus it don't help having dog's that love them. I would see them getting ripe then they would disappear :)
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
one of this year experiments
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
strip of paper sack. bury
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
results. The paper helped to hold in the moister
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
The grafted verses not grafted Black cherry tomatoes. no real differences. But on some other verity's like brandy wine, big zac and celebrity shows much more tomatoes
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
890 x 377
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
Got the week off. Morning are much nicer to do the work in. Think I can paint, 2nd shift:)
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
1107
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
1662
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
377 & 1662
 
Tuesday, July 8 View Page
your reading my mind.
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
Grafted Brandy wine
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
grafted pepper. 9 peppers wow
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
Don't drink the water!!!
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
Time to start thinking up names :) 890 Dill-MacDonald’12 x 377 Zunino 13 Dill princess :D
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
had a choice to make. I think I'm going to puke.
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
for this 1. I hope I wont regret it.
 
Friday, July 11 View Page
1662 stelts 09 x 1107 Zunino 13
 
Saturday, July 12 View Page
Will tomorrow be a double hitter
 
Saturday, July 12 View Page
960 Gansert finely ready
 
Friday, July 18 View Page
"Morpheus" 1662 Stelts
 
Friday, July 18 View Page
"Pugsley" 377 Zunino
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
"Maximus" 890 Dill- MacDonald X 377 Zunino
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
"Sméagol" 1107 Zunino
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
to bad it wasn't a mega bloom
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
Grafted pepper. the only way to go
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
grafted (left) not (right) no differences. Black cherry
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
Here is my late season attempt for sweeter tasting tomatoes in the fall. I want to see if older plants lose there flavor (maybe why I don't eat as many by the end of summer. Or if I'm just sick of them:) Plus I'm using Ron's grow bags.
 
Saturday, July 19 View Page
this tomato plant has Ron's grow bags in it. It the one with all the huge tomatoes on it. (Thanks Ron) My dogs looks depressed she can't get at them. she loves tomatoes
 
Monday, July 21 View Page
sometimes I wonder about pumpkin growers
 
Monday, July 21 View Page
LOL
 
Wednesday, July 23 View Page
Blower extension works great Cris, thanks for telling me about it.
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
1662. 238"
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
"Sméagol" is funky looking pumpkin
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
377
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
name change from "Maximus" to Oscar.....mayer weeeiner:)
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
almost maxed out.
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
this is maxed
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
can't believe the weight of tomatoes on this plant. Its not a graft. Its a grow bag.
 
Saturday, July 26 View Page
finally getting big tomatoes.
 
Sunday, July 27 View Page
Now you can't say I don't get you flowers:)
 
Sunday, July 27 View Page
I even got her a riding lawn mower.
 
Monday, July 28 View Page
dug out the tea bucket for Extreme tea
 
Wednesday, July 30 View Page
Glad I tested. I was thinking I was low on nitrogen, Go to show ya don't grow on you feelings:) Grow on the facts.
 
Thursday, July 31 View Page
Wet t-shirt contest
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
coolest july ever
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
its good to have a little wife, she makes the pumpkin look huge!...286. around 500lbs
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
got it made for the ugliest pumpkin, 200lbs
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
I was shocked to see how big this one got in a week small plant but still doing 20lbs a day.
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
the smallest plant..just 8 lbs a day.
 
Friday, August 1 View Page
The baby of the family
 
Sunday, August 3 View Page
sad day for pugsley
 
Sunday, August 3 View Page
all sulfured up. Growing pumpkins is not for the easily angered :)
 
Friday, August 8 View Page
I got the name...Limpy
 
Friday, August 8 View Page
looking good. dried up nicely. Thanks John
 
Friday, August 8 View Page
now this one?
 
Monday, August 11 View Page
New PB 343" :)))
 
Monday, August 11 View Page
But..... its not without issues
 
Wednesday, August 13 View Page
New PB 3 6.7 4.41 Timm Grafted. I'll sure grow this next year. It had the most mega blooms of any of the plants. Plus I think I will do more then just water:)
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
Someone should of cut him off.
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
890 Dill- MacDonald X 377 Zunino Would of made a pretty pumpkin boat if it had more plant. 255 ott, 310lbs est, 5 lbs a day
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
The drinker:)
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
960 Gansert Limpy 255 ott, 357lbs, 20 lbs a day
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
377 Zunino pugsley 297 ott, 555lbs est, 20lbs a day. Yes it a males name. Yes I know they say all pumpkins are female. But this is a plant it has both sexes. Just like worms are not all females, and I'm not renaming my worms ether. (soapbox) hee hee.:D
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
1662 stelts x 1107 Zunino Morpheus
 
Saturday, August 16 View Page
Sure is purdy
 
Friday, August 22 View Page
what the bleep,bleep,bleepity, bleep. rotting vine
 
Saturday, August 23 View Page
little bigger now:)
 
Saturday, August 30 View Page
getting really full
 
Saturday, August 30 View Page
fence did really good this year. Maybe if we get rid of the dogs I would have more room for pumpkins. Ya no more picking up dog doo...Ya right:)
 
Sunday, August 31 View Page
Here's a pumpkin first for me.
 
Sunday, August 31 View Page
Bonehead move of the year! I had a good one going. I was trimming a vine, but noooo it was the stem. O well there's always next year:)
 
Sunday, August 31 View Page
Crap!!! I think I'll go back to fishing. There's only a few stressful minutes. Pumpkins, day after day of stress.
 
Sunday, August 31 View Page
Tornado Watch!!! Wifey; Honey where's the memory foam off the bed. Me; I don't know sweetheart:)
 
Monday, September 1 View Page
377 Zunino pugsley 750lbs on 225sqf
 
Saturday, September 6 View Page
Beat my PB for the 2nd time this year. 824lbs
 
Saturday, September 6 View Page
oops
 
Saturday, September 6 View Page
Funny thing is they no longer think pumpkins like this are no big deal. lol
 
Wednesday, September 10 View Page
I got a big stem....and a big butt:) 24 days to Anamosa.
 
Friday, September 12 View Page
almost forgot
 
Friday, September 12 View Page
better safe then sorry still got 3 weeks to go
 
Friday, September 12 View Page
this one is shaped like a stawberry
 
Saturday, September 13 View Page
First patch tour today. It was the Biggest Nebraska patch tour so far. 2 area growers. really the only 2:) Blase Bigga and John Cotton. They are great guys. They showed me I was Measuring wrong! Glad that it was I was measuring less than it should be, by 4 inches!!!
 
Saturday, September 13 View Page
Blase Bigga and John Cotton and me. The Ne grower association. :)
 
Saturday, September 13 View Page
oops
 
Sunday, September 14 View Page
lifting practice. Plus i couldn't wait to play with my new scale, I got the one that goes up to 3000. I'll need that for next year:) This is the lifer for just weighing or putting on pallet (10'). I have the 16' ready for the truck.
 
Sunday, September 14 View Page
Great now what else can I weigh:)
 
Sunday, September 14 View Page
look no concrete glad I added the sand, plus it helped the soil hold water, I believe clay soil also acts as a wick and sucks all my water to my neighbors the sand helped hold the water in place. It is so cool when at the end of the year you can push a machete right up to the hilt with little presser.
 
Tuesday, September 16 View Page
Good problem to have..This is so cool
 
Tuesday, September 16 View Page
lol;)
 
Saturday, September 20 View Page
News crews stopped by to see the new state record. http://www.jrn.com/kmtv/news/Largest-Pumpkin-Ever-Grown-In-Nebraska-275901891.html
 
Wednesday, September 24 View Page
now this would be cool to see
 
Wednesday, September 24 View Page
Don't believe everything you read
 
Wednesday, September 24 View Page
I'm feeling much safer now with this tree climbers rope this wont drop the mighty morpheus. I was really sweating the 500lbs rope I got from home-depot. Thanks Don <]:) 10 Days :)))))))
 
Wednesday, September 24 View Page
oops
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
My Pastor stopped by and prayed over the mighty Morpheus! 6 days til Anamosa
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
red neck strap adjusters
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
have to get Pugsley moved 2 weeks early for The Harvest Bash. My bobcat guy is going on vacation so its now or never:(
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
this was a sad sight to see on Limpy. I could put my whole hand in the hole. it was gross.
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
The end, for limpy 698 lbs
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
pugsly
 
Sunday, September 28 View Page
limpy 699.5
 
Wednesday, October 1 View Page
September
 
Thursday, October 2 View Page
under cover shhhh:D trying to keep the ground dry for moving
 
Thursday, October 2 View Page
she does have a big butt
 
Thursday, October 2 View Page
14'
 
Thursday, October 2 View Page
almost time to load her up. Its hard letting go, its been quite the ride.
 
Friday, October 3 View Page
Had to make the lift with News crews..little nerve racking:)) http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Bellevue-Pumpkin-Takes-State-Title-278077351.html
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
Had a Great time, with some great guys. New NE. state record 1399lbs and Howard Dill too:)))
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
Top 10 and yep I'm in there. I'm the one with the first place smile:) even though I go 5th
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
Anamosa
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
She's so pretty. and the pumpkin isn't bad ether.
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
Have you hug your pumpkin today
 
Sunday, October 5 View Page
can you believe they what me to talk. they won't make that mistake again:)
 
Tuesday, October 7 View Page
note to self; Stop growing on the freaking wall <]:)
 
Tuesday, October 7 View Page
not bad for 50sqf
 
Thursday, October 9 View Page
Anamosa, Iowa Howard Dill winner: 1399 Christensen. The cross was 1662 Stelts 09 x 1107 Zunino 13.
 
Saturday, October 11 View Page
look who showed up at the Harvest Bash in Pawnee city. And I thought he was going to Still water :( :D
 
Saturday, October 11 View Page
So we got 2nd Thanks Don lol. 829lbs
 
Saturday, October 11 View Page
we had fun all four of us. Don had 1104lbs, Nanetle Hatfield 601.5lbs , Denise Delconing 497.5, Jacob Marintzer 563 DMG new NE record lol good one:D Great job everyone
 
Saturday, October 11 View Page
must of been a record for the biggest pumpkin mover.
 
Tuesday, October 14 View Page
Think this might keep them safe? Or should I get a sign saying if you hurt them I'll bury you in the back yard.
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
Sure are meeting a lot of people.
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
Grand kids are getting so big. So are the pumpkins:)
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
Seed shipper idea. I sent these seeds to Chris (in California) and had him send them back (thanks bud:). Just to see if it could be done, or if they would be kicked back for more postage. They made it there and back with just one stamp each way! But the real test was that they would not be damaged by there machines (the crushers)
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
To test it even further I ran it over with the car:) And it didn't crush or even crack them. Don't try this at home, I'm a professional To go through the mail this way the letter must be less than 1/4 inch thick. so I made them 3/16 which was less then the seeds. This won't work with the thicker seeds. but there are a lot that will, especially tomato seeds. But being cheap wasn't my goal. saving clubs money and getting your seeds to more growers safely was. Thicker rings could be use to ship them really expensive seeds. (the kind I could never afford:( Making them is very simple, 1" pvc and a fine tooth saw. just be sure to pack them tight so they don't move out of the ring. Hope this idea can help anyone who wants to use it.
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
Day 92 181,104,112= 397" 1336
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
or below the stem 405" 1416 Me thinks I should of stayed above the stem <]:)
 
Sunday, October 19 View Page
This gives me an idea. Now I just have to get Villafane's phone number.
 
Wednesday, October 22 View Page
Here's a good idea:)
 
Wednesday, October 22 View Page
can you tell what side did well and what one didn't. These tests are finally not in French .lol
 
Wednesday, October 22 View Page
oops this was the test I was referring to
 
Friday, October 24 View Page
just weighed my 829 again. it weighed 847 on the 29th. Then 829 On the 11th. today it weighs 817 21 days after it was first cut, it lost 30 in 25 days most of the weigh lost happens the first week. You know I'll keep the vine in bucket of water next year.
 
Saturday, October 25 View Page
It was atacked
 
Saturday, October 25 View Page
by me:)
 
Sunday, October 26 View Page
Pug-a-Saur
 
Sunday, October 26 View Page
side view
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
This is as fun as it looks
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
after some late hours carving
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
Morpheus got upset at times
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
The mighty Morpheasuarus was born!!! The Largest Jack-o-lantern in Nebraska:)
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
Had to start over when my first idea wouldn't work. Glad that it wasn't completely ruined.
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
Glad the walls was so thick
 
Wednesday, October 29 View Page
Can't believe all the cars and people looking at them. Can you guess what the number one question is?....That's right...Yes there real pumpkins:)
 
Tuesday, November 4 View Page
my wife's first 3-d carving.
 
Tuesday, November 4 View Page
God is truly amazing. I am so humbled by the amazing night that he blessed us with, we got to bask in his glory, sharing his creation with 350 to 400 people that stop by to look at the pumpkins. Some even forgot to get candy because they were so busy looking at the pumpkins. It's been an amazing ride. Thank you Jesus!
 
Sunday, November 9 View Page
Lower then i hoped for
 
Sunday, November 9 View Page
Try that again
 
Sunday, November 9 View Page
Well I finally had to happen I gave up my old dinosaur phone for a smart one and now I'm entirely lost. Oh well move forward with the times, I'm excited to be able to post pictures more, now we'll see if I can keep up with Bubba . Yeah right just kidding;)
 
Tuesday, November 18 View Page
Finally starting to get them out
 
Tuesday, November 18 View Page
I'm not smart enough to my get my smart phone to send a picture:( (above a picture of mail ready to go out) lol:D
 
Tuesday, November 18 View Page
Trying again
 
Tuesday, November 18 View Page
Yay! Now how did i do it;)
 
Wednesday, November 26 View Page
Got my first return to sender. I guess too sad to see this is pushing my luck
 
Wednesday, November 26 View Page
2 sets is pushing my luck
 
Wednesday, November 26 View Page
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=232003 Noooooooooooooooooooooooo:(((
 
Thursday, November 27 View Page
Happy Thanksgiving:)
 
Friday, November 28 View Page
I feel my pumpkin was the better pumpkin for the Howard dill reward By far. Do I feel ripped off. Oh ya. The judges choose a 495 lbs lumpy rose colored with the stem completely rotted off. Over my 829 that I grew for color and shape just for this reward:( I feel the judge shouldn't be the brother of the contestant and push the other 2 to his will.
 
Tuesday, December 2 View Page
A little tape keep the seeds in their place . Many have been shipped 0 have been damaged. I'm even useing in them inside the bubbles just as an extra bit of precaution who wants to see a broken seed. If somebody needed me to make somefor um just get a hold of me.I think 25 cents a each would cover making them and shipping
 
Tuesday, December 2 View Page
or more for less$$$
 
Tuesday, December 9 View Page
dun dun dun da da dun da da dun da da da da da dun da da dun ;)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE
 
Wednesday, December 31 View Page
Beanie weenies
 
Wednesday, December 31 View Page
Chili cheese dips
 
Wednesday, December 31 View Page
:-)
 
Wednesday, December 31 View Page
Let the fun begin
 

 

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