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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 15 Entries.
Saturday, April 18 View Page
Writing this 8 May but wanted to outline the plan. I'm in a rental property in Germany so I don't want to dig up the whole yard for growing. So the plan is to use a 4ft by 7ft area for the mound and main vine and then let the plant invade the yard to the north and east. Expectations (with proper luck and care) are that the plant will take up half the yard. I will attempt to dig an 8" or so hole at every leaf node to bury the vine to get some additional roots going. Not sure how well ill be able to keep up with the grass over growing the area or how well ill be able to bury every leaf node for roots, but I'll concentrate on the main vine and hope for the best. Previous years growing were twice in Colorado and once in Korea. My first time in Colorado I was 17 years old and first realized I was attracted to the science and excitement of growing giant plants. That year, I got some run of the mill Big Max seeds from Walmart and some giant sunflower seeds also from Walmart, I believe. Despite numerous hailstorms I i was able to produce a 50lb or so pumpkin at 7500ft elevation. I tried again a couple years later but the plant couldn't handle the stress of being left to its own accord during the days I was at college. Flash forward 5 or so years and I tried again in Korea at a community plot with a 1200lb genetic seed (don't remember exactly, but it was more legitimate than Walmart as i remember buying it from a reputable source). I put a lot of work into the patch that year but didn't have all of the items I really needed to go full force. Despite that, I had a very healthy plant into late July with a pumpkin set successfully. It was growing rapidly and was probably around 70lbs when sometime in August the famous Asian Changma deluge caused it to grow too rapidly and split on the bottom. Trying to prevent bottom rot i purchased sand to put underneath before it got too heavy when I noticed it had already split and started rotting. Bummer! I'm sure it would have ended up being several hundred pounds otherwise. Now this year, I've purchased several seeds. The 1515 Asam (German grower) has likely the best genetics and is my backup based on the growth of my primary which is a 1160 Langheim that has been super aggressive. The Langheim was started 14 April and the Asam started 23 April. Additional backup is a 1552 Globe and 2 more 1160 Langheims that were much slower out the gate.
 
Friday, May 1 View Page
First leaf development
 
Saturday, May 2 View Page
Leaf development
 
Sunday, May 3 View Page
Leaf development
 
Wednesday, May 6 View Page
Leaf problem. Taken in morning
 
Wednesday, May 6 View Page
Close up of leaf problem. UV burn?
 
Thursday, May 7 View Page
Transplanted and in mini greenhouse
 
Friday, May 8 View Page
3rd leaf growing still after transplant. I think the transplant went well. Next leaf looks healthy and doubt ill have any ongoing leaf issues.
 
Friday, May 8 View Page
3rd leaf growing still after transplant. I think the transplant went well. Next leaf looks healthy and doubt ill have any ongoing leaf issues.
 
Friday, May 8 View Page
Transplanted this backup as well. I think the smaller pot I used was hindering it. The tap root had wrapped around the bottom 3 or 4 times. Seems to be doing well on its first day in the ground. No wilting or trouble shown.
 
Saturday, May 9 View Page
Cloudier day, but still growing. Next new leaf still looking normal. Burnt leaf still growing, looking a little less bad today.
 
Sunday, May 10 View Page
Happy with how it's doing. Next leaf looks perfect. Next week looks cold with freezing temps overnight, maybe as low as 24F tomorrow overnight. Going to put a halogen work light into the cheap little plastic greenhouse and cover with a tarp.
 
Monday, May 11 View Page
Temps in the 40s and over an inch of rain today. 48F inside the greenhouse so I put a halogen worklight in the corner to warm it up. Seems to have stabilized the temp to about 68F. Supposed to get down into the mid 20s tonight ??
 
Tuesday, May 12 View Page
Sunny today but a cool 58F. Turned off the halogen light last night before i went to bed. Temp got down to 32F but the plant was fine. Thermometer inside the greenhouse said 57F when I looked, but some sun had already started hitting the plant. Tonight is supposed to be another frost, so I'll do the same.
 
Friday, May 15 View Page
Plant seems to be accelerating. New leaf emerging, previous leaf blew up in size today. So fun to compare photos. Crushed up some eggshells today and buried it along the path the main vine will take. Maybe not bioavailable this year, but next year it should be.
 

 

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