Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 96 Entries. Thursday, January 2 View Page Here are the two 5.59 Zappa (big zac) plants I started around Christmas time. This is my original grow chamber with about 3.5 cubic feet, a heat mat and a 300 watt equivalent LED.   Wednesday, January 15 View Page 5.59 Zappas moved to 8 inch pots.   Saturday, February 1 View Page The 5.59 plants are in a mixture of promix w/ mico, worm castings, vermiculite, perlite, and osmocoate.   Thursday, February 6 View Page Moved to final containers, 2 gallon pots. Trying to pollinate flowers.   Thursday, February 6 View Page I built a new grow area, about 2ft x 7ft.   Thursday, February 6 View Page Inside is a new triple chip 1500 watt equivalent LED. It’s very bright!   Thursday, February 6 View Page The new light has veg/bloom/both settings. I have running water in here too. My plants are very healthy. May add a heat lamp as I am having trouble getting much over 70 degrees F in the larger area. Bought a 20 x 48 inch heat mat so we’ll see. Ready to push some tomatoes now!   Monday, February 24 View Page With just under one month left in winter I finally have some action on my plants. Here on plant 1 there are several single tomatoes plus a fused one.   Monday, February 24 View Page Plant 2 has multiple tomatoes as well. These plants are every bit as strong as outdoors plants, with zero leaf defects or other signs of stress or deficiencies. Both plants were topped the other day terminating all veg growth. I am adding a 100w heat lamp tomorrow to raise air temp into the 80s. Soil temperature is consistent at 80 degrees. Increased 1500w LED to 17 hours per day. I think there is potential to really crank them now. Kinda exciting. I’ll know more in a week or two.   Wednesday, February 26 View Page The tomatoes are starting to get down to business and grow. Today I gave them the first additional fertilizer I’ve used with these plants. 1/2 tablespoon of Neptune’s tomatoes and vegetables blend in 3/4 gallon of water per plant. If they react well then I’ll probably start to do it once per week.   Saturday, February 29 View Page I had the girls out today for a trim etc. this is the plant with the single on it. In 5 days the tomato has quickly grown from Lima bean to larger than a golf ball.   Saturday, February 29 View Page This plant has the mega on it. It is now the only tomato on the vine as well.   Saturday, February 29 View Page Here comes megaman!   Thursday, March 5 View Page Right plant has the single and left plant has the multi.   Thursday, March 5 View Page Single measures 10.25 inches and is averaging 0.667 inches per day.   Thursday, March 5 View Page No BER on the multi yet.   Thursday, March 5 View Page BER has begun on the single. Not hurting growth though. Began .5 teaspoon/gallon applications of cal mag plus and put a fan on it.   Friday, March 6 View Page The tops of my plants are beginning to cook so Today I dropped the duration for lights on to 13 hours. This is about the length of day in late August where I live. These are the worst of it.   Monday, March 16 View Page Pre-amendment soil test. I had no idea how much those rains in 2017 and 2018 had depleted my garden. This is after some 18 yards of cow manure that went on before last season.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page I am absolutely flying through spring prep. I have never been so ahead. I've also never amended my garden as I have this year, following the Western labs recommendations while pouring with a heavy hand. Added the following (to ~3000sq ft), with tilling before and after: 50lb Sul-Po-Mag, 20lb Urea, 20lb KCl, 10lb Triple Phos, 1lb Borax, 2.5lb Mn Sulfate. Yikes. I'll either torch everything that gets near the soil this year or end up growing several huge pumpkins and realize I've been starving my plants for a decade and that's why weights have been down since 2011.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page Oops I also forgot to mention that I added 110lb cacitic lime and 50lbs of a product called Humistart which is made by a local company and is advertised as being able to break down nutrients that are locked in the soil. It has plenty of good stuff in it even if that doesn't work out but we will see.   Tuesday, March 17 View Page Back inside, the 5.59 Zappa continues to grow well and I am putting the stones to it now with 2 tablespoons of Neptune’s veg formula almost every day. The plants are taking it along with 1.5 gallons of water daily without flinching. The entire 2.5 gallon pot is literally roots. The other one is about shot but I’ll weigh it on March 20. My guess is 0.667 pounds. This one however is 13.75 inches and generally has been doing 0.5 inches per day. Right now the plan is still to keep this one going till it blushes. I have no clue how long that would be. Maybe anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks? This one has 4 lobes, there is one on the other side of the bottom which can’t be seen from this angle.   Thursday, March 19 View Page Final weight was 0.498 pounds for the winter grow. 12.25 inches. The BER hit this one bad. It dried up fine but stopped almost all growth.   Thursday, March 19 View Page The wuHan slammer as porkchop calls it is doing good. It is just under 14.5 inches and the plant is still fairly strong and healthy.   Thursday, March 26 View Page The 4th lobe in the back is getting bigger. Hope it will help it go heavy.   Thursday, March 26 View Page 16 inches on the nose.   Wednesday, April 1 View Page 17+ inches and climbing! I had to pull the light up a foot or so as it was beating the leaves up.   Wednesday, April 1 View Page Different perspective.   Wednesday, April 1 View Page Back side.   Friday, April 10 View Page 18 inches yesterday however I did detect the slightest yellow coloration to one of the sections.   Sunday, April 12 View Page One more day I think. Or let it really redden up? I’d love to see some data on that, % heavy wise.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page Today is the day. Scale is within calibration.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page 2 pounds 1.2 ounces is the (un)official final weight for my first winter grow.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page Anyways I’m glad to have the heat mat real estate back for annual flowers. Outside, 2x 1780.5 Wagner went in hoop 1 and 2x 1297.5 young went in hoop 2. The pumpkin plants love my tomato soil mixture.   Wednesday, April 15 View Page 1215 young was planted out in hoop 3 today, seed started around April 7. The 1297.5 and 1780.5 were started April 1 and planted out April 14. None of the 2x 993 or 3x 1059s or the 811 germinated. Expensive losses and damaging to my breeding program.   Monday, April 27 View Page All I can say is good thing for hoop houses and cables. Because there hasn’t been weather for planting, tilling or otherwise working or growing for weeks. Eastern PA is having a very slow spring. 4 of 6 hoops are planted now with another built and empty and one that needs plastic. And tie downs. Definitely need tie downs here. Best plants are the 1297.5s which have a few dinner plate leaves.   Thursday, May 7 View Page Throwback Thursday circa 1984.   Saturday, May 23 View Page My 1297.5 young plant has outgrown its hoop house.   Saturday, May 23 View Page My 1780.5 is close behind and will also have its hoop house removed this weekend so I can access the plant and bury vines. The weather outlook is finally favorable. The other 4 plants are laid down but not nearly as large.   Thursday, June 4 View Page For TT here is the first GPC pumpkin I ever grew. The 423 Gerhardt 2006. A 669 muller (603 selfed) x 603 muller cross. I never grew it because it was lopsided which you can’t see in the picture.   Saturday, June 13 View Page My first pollination of the season was today on this 1780.5 Wagner. About 12 out x 1885.5 Werner.   Saturday, June 20 View Page Finally got my pollination on the 1297.5 young today, (foreground) x 1780.5 Wagner. Also got the 965 Gerhardt x 1885.5 Werner today. All plants have at least 1 pollination now. The 1215 x 1780.5 on June 15. Two females opened that day on the 1215 so got them both. The 1807* x self and the 1885.5 Werner x 1297.5 young on June 17.   Saturday, June 20 View Page My competition plants. Left to right: 6.13, 6.23, 9.65. And my bucket plant is a 6.23.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Got another pollination on the 1885.5 today. Had vole damage to previous one.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Vole chomps. They also got both pumpkins on the 1215 not as bad as this though.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page 156 Paul is starting to vine.   Tuesday, June 23 View Page Day 10 for the 1780.5!   Wednesday, June 24 View Page Pollinated the 1215 with 1297.5 today. This was by accident, it was supposed to be the 1780.5. I see no point in backcrossing selfed seeds but I’m stuck with the males I had pulled the night before. Also selfed the 1807 holub squash today, as the one my wife pollinated did not take.   Thursday, June 25 View Page The 1215 Young twins are d10. Vole damage is healing over. I may keep them. We are really having good grow weather here right now. Perhaps this will be our year?   Wednesday, July 1 View Page Things are going great here. Jimmy is an awesome helper. We are putting in the work and it shows. I have pumpkins set up on all 6 plants. This might be the first time I have been able to do that before at least one plant checks out for the season. Heading away until Sunday, the irrigation is all hooked up but my timer is having trouble.   Saturday, July 11 View Page Here’s our 1807 holub it’s d17. She’s not getting much love. Normally I don’t have all 6 plants left once they get this big. I can only keep up with so much.   Saturday, July 11 View Page Covering up the twins on the 1215 young. Both d26.   Saturday, July 11 View Page D20 for the 1885.5 Werner today. 67.5 inches.   Monday, July 13 View Page The 1780.5 is my first d30, and this must be a record for me as far as timing goes. Circ is 116.5. Not the looker I was hoping for on this seed but maybe just big? A big one for once would be nice. By my patch’s standards this plant is certainly capable of getting me a new PB. And it’s not even my best one. Hopefully my good luck continues.   Monday, July 20 View Page Our 965 on d30 was 102.5-74-68, 244.5 OTT. It’s 6 day average was around 25/day. Neat shape. This one is named prince Charles. We need to get Charlie out here for a photo shoot.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page The 1297.5 young d30 was 116-82-72, 270 OTT. It’s 6 day average was around 35/day. I wouldn’t call it a wheel but it is going to be a damn tall pumpkin. This one is named king James and we are very excited about its potential.   Tuesday, July 21 View Page This is the 1885.5 Werner d30. Clearly it’s got rhombus in its family tree. So this one is called lunchbox. Lunchbox had a 50+ day today. More impressively a 40+ average for the past 4 days. Those are lonely numbers in my patch. Haven’t seen them for years. 111.5-83-71, 265.5 OTT.   Thursday, July 23 View Page The pumpkin on the 1780.5 Wagner was named Big Daddy by Jimmy. D40 had 145-82-75, 302 OTT. 3 day average still 26/day.   Friday, July 24 View Page 156 Paul is ready to set pumpkins   Friday, July 24 View Page Despite me hacking the main off, our long gourd is now nearing the top.   Friday, July 24 View Page Over there in the right corner is our under appreciated 1807 holub squash, the grinch. It is d30, 110-73-67, 250 OTT. It gets the least care but is trying to hang in there. 6/6 plants still left and 7 pumpkins heading into August, which is phenomenal. We are leaving for a week vacation tomorrow, hopefully we return to several pumpkins approaching 1000 pounds.   Saturday, August 1 View Page We returned from vacation today and the pumpkins did not disappoint. The plants are messy but healthy. Like most years I will have a hard time recovering. But unlike most years we have all the plants left and the pumpkins are quite big already. Here are the twins on the 1215 young. I was barely able to save the main running in between before it was sealed forever. Because of the arrangement I cannot measure but they look around 550 each.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Grinch on the 1807 was 128-82-74, 284 OTT d37. Almost all my squash tend to go beanbag. This is my son Charlie. He is 7 months old.   Saturday, August 1 View Page Lunchbox on the 1885 Werner continues to break patch records and is 144-107-89, 340 OTT d41. At 43 pounds per day over the last 9 days he will hit 1000 pounds in 3 days. Keep in mind this patch hasn’t put 1000 on the scale since 2011 and it’s only August 1. So this is exciting. Crossed with 1297.5 young.   Saturday, August 1 View Page The 1297.5 young, king James. A beast. 141-101-88,330 OTT d42. 27 pounds per day over the last 9 days indicates this pumpkin will hit 1000 around d50. Not quite a wheel but very tall. Some cantalouping and very orange. Crossed to 1780.5 Wagner.   Saturday, August 1 View Page The 1780.5 Wagner. Big daddy is a crazy fat pancake. Hints of orange now. 163-89-86, 338 OTT d49. 27 pounds per day over the last 9 days indicates this pumpkin will hit 1000 in about 5 days. Crossed with 1885.5 Werner.   Saturday, August 1 View Page 965 Gerhardt 131-92-84,307 OTT d42. 27 pounds per day over the last 9 days indicates this pumpkin is ramping up rather than down so we will see. A very round pumpkin and orange for sure. Crossed with 1885.5.   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Welcome to hurricane harbor   Tuesday, August 4 View Page First we got flooded now we get pounded. The natural balance in the universe is trying to reclaim my abnormal season and make it normal again.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Big daddy is d57, 174-96-89, 359 OTT. One of 2 plants on life support after isaias. Averaging just under 20/day for the last 4 days.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Lunchbox is d49, 157-114-96, 367 OTT. Still getting 25/day over the last 4 days.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Prince Charles is d50, 140-98-89, 327 OTT. Gaining 15/ day over the last 4 days. We are really happy with the looks!   Sunday, August 9 View Page King James is the other one on life support. D50, 150.5-106-92, 348.5 OTT. Just 13.5/day now.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Yes my son insists on posing for all pictures! The grinch is d45, 143.5-84-80, 307.5 OTT. 20/ day over the last 4 days.   Sunday, August 9 View Page King James d50. Also a quick note, I unburied and checked all of the mains today and amazingly they were all intact and looking great.   Monday, August 17 View Page King James got over the 1k hump. D58 155-109-95, 359 OTT. Gaining just 10/day over the last 8 days.   Monday, August 17 View Page Big daddy continues to fatten and turn creamsicle orange. D65, 181-100-93, 374 OTT. Somehow this plant has provided for 15/day over the last 8 days.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page Lunchbox is at a new patch PB for OTT. D57, 165-121-102, 388 OTT. Still getting 22/ day across the last 8 days.   Tuesday, August 18 View Page 813.5 Gerhardt 2020 UOW. There was a soft spot on blossom that went into the cavity. Possible rodent or hurricane or combo who knows. This was my prettiest one this year and a real letdown. Cross is 965 Gerhardt x 1885.5 Werner, final measurements were 145-100-90, 335 OTT. This and the 965 should both have a spot in my patch next year.   Wednesday, August 19 View Page 813.5 Gerhardt UOW.   Sunday, August 30 View Page Lunchbox, 1885.5 is done with growing and the plant is toast. Here’s what we got, d70 168-123-104, 395 OTT. Norm I will not be joining you in the 400 club this year. But we are anything but disappointed... now to keep alive... pumpkin and stem are very healthy.   Sunday, August 30 View Page King James the 1297.5 squeaked out 3 per day and for certain won’t get much more. So for this one we get d71 160-111-97, 368 OTT.   Sunday, August 30 View Page Big daddy continues to find some juice in the plant and grabbed 9 a day. That or I’m getting more creative with the tape like most years. Anyway it’s cracked 1200 and I’m pretty certain it’s going way heavy so forget the particulars of measurements. The only one in the patch still growing any, d78 187-103-94, 384 OTT.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page Team hammer first tomato 3.11 pounds, 22 inches off the 6.13. A single, there was not one mega all season and the plant is now over 8 ft tall.   Tuesday, September 8 View Page Team hammer #2 3.6 pounds off the 6.23. 23 inches. Still hoping for more.   Friday, September 11 View Page We are ready for the trip to Woodstock!   Saturday, September 12 View Page What an awesome day we had at the beautiful home of Gene Lariviere today aka the Woodstock fair weighoff. Congratulations to Matt debacco and norm Gansert on their PB pumpkins weighed today! I suspect there were several others as well. It was really nice to meet everyone although the masks made it difficult with so many new faces. Congrats to us on our new PB as well! 1247 pounds! 1885.5 Werner x 1780.5 Wagner.   Sunday, September 27 View Page Last week, king James went 982 at the local oley valley weighoff, disappointing to the 1065 estimate but an awesome pumpkin all the same. This meant that we would need 1271 at Durham with our final pumpkin in order to reach the benchmark 3500 pound club this year. Cross is 1297.5 young x 1780.5 Wagner.   Sunday, September 27 View Page Daddy pumpkin got the job done with 8 pounds to spare! 1279 pounds and 8% heavy, and we have now bested our personal best that was set just 2 weeks ago. Cross is 1780.5 Wagner x 1885.5 Werner. Hats off to the New England gang for another awesome weighoff! We felt very welcomed on both visits.   Wednesday, October 14 View Page The final push for team hammer! This raised bed has full southern exposure and still gets 10 hours of sun per day.   Wednesday, October 14 View Page The 9.65 PC plant is very old and like a question mark shape so despite the leaves all being above the tomato they are actually behind the fruit. There is little or no growth beyond the tomato. Cold and dreary weather the last few days makes it hard to estimate growth but it’s anywhere between 1/4 and 1/2 inch per day at this point. The leaves are flexing in the tomato seems to be firing on all cylinders for the moment. It is 20.5 inches today. No idea what to expect growing in the fall like this. Stay tuned   Tuesday, October 20 View Page The 9.65 is now at 21.5 inches which ties the measurement for my current entry #2 for team Hammer. No signs of ripening yet. Growing this tomato is kind of like, taking off in an airplane at night and getting up to altitude and speed and then just kind of fly along in the dark.Just flying along without being able to see anything and land or crash the plane whenever and wherever it runs out of gas LOL.   Wednesday, November 4 View Page Had to pull the porkchop yesterday before soft spot could develop. Here is the 100g calibration weight on the scale.   Wednesday, November 4 View Page The tinier of the two team HAMMER tomatoes was slightly disappointing but still was good enough to be my biggest this year and increase our team score by .55 pounds! 3.66 pounds.   Wednesday, November 4 View Page 3.66, only one tiny area had ripened. It looks like a small insect may have bored in there and triggered it. I had to pull it while it was still legitimate.   Wednesday, November 11 View Page Here is a pumpkin growing hack I came up with this year. Zip tie the wimpy heating cable to some nylon rope every foot or so and add a little tape around the cable and wire every so often to prevent slipping. You can grab hold of one end and pretty much straight up rip a 48 ft heating cable from 6 inches deep with no fuss and no breakage. I hope this helps a few people- it sure helped me. If you also happen to have a broad fork it’s like butter.