Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 49 Entries. Friday, January 31 View Page My family think I'm obsessed, but don't want to fall behind this year!   Saturday, April 4 View Page Siamese twins! Happens in humans, so why not in plants? Separated the runt..... had to pot it up, just to see how it fares.   Saturday, April 18 View Page 150 sq ft patch (12'6"x12' exactly after a bit of modification!!) mainly completed and drippers on to start wetting the compost. Intended seed is 97 Ressel but not managed to germinate one yet.... otherwise it'll be one of my own.   Saturday, April 18 View Page Patch for field pumpkins, and watermelons is also ready, near enough, again watering is on as it's so dry, even though seeds are being sown tomorrow. Field pumpkins will be my own 100.6 from last year, watermelons.... will see what germinates.   Saturday, April 18 View Page Main patch for AGs and Squash is still occupied by the winter tenants that are reluctant to depart......b#*@$y coronavirus! Anyone need 8000 Lupins, Delphiniums & Foxgloves? LOL Well, bailiffs will be evicting them tomorrow and the rotavator is warmed up and ready to go!   Tuesday, April 28 View Page So, it was a close call but the main tunnel patch is ready and planted on 27th. Squash- 526 Leach 2019 & 675.5 Maydan 2017 Pumpkin- 694 Leach 2019, 1501 Vander Wielen 2017 & a hybrid 2528 x 2363 Leach 2019   Tuesday, April 28 View Page 100% germination with field pumpkins, all from my debut effort last year, 100.6 Leach 2019 Only 3 of these will be grown for weigh-off, the rest are for Halloween sales......if that's not cancelled too!   Friday, May 22 View Page Planted my 150 sq ft entry today. After several attempts, managed to germinate a 97.4 Ressel so I'm now firmly in the contest! Many thanks to Patryk for the 2nd chance seeds. Also planted three 100.6 FP's a 198 Baggs marrow and an extra 526 squash in the 2nd tunnel, just leaving room for a couple of watermelons which I will be attempting to graft tomorrow.   Tuesday, May 26 View Page Little bit of weed killer damage, even though I was not close to the plants, I suspect some chemical vapour travelled in the air....... perhaps it wasn't the wisest decision to spray on the hottest day of the year.... but, sometimes you just have to seize the moment! Hopefully the damage won't be too great a setback?   Sunday, May 31 View Page One week on..... my 1st attempt at watermelon grafting appears successful. I imagine special rootstock should be used, but I utilized a few spare seedlings, so have grafted them on AG, LG, and BG. Few more days and I'll start removing the "grafting tape" (PTFE pipe tape!)   Sunday, May 31 View Page One week on..... my 1st attempt at watermelon grafting appears successful. I imagine special rootstock should be used, but I utilized a few spare seedlings, so have grafted them on AG, LG, and BG. Few more days and I'll start removing the "grafting tape" (PTFE pipe tape!)   Tuesday, June 2 View Page 1501 Vander Wielen starting to grow laterals, biggest plant in the patch currently. 27 degrees today, loads warmer in the tunnel, cooler days forecast from tomorrow which will be easier to manage.   Tuesday, June 2 View Page Giant tomatoes is another new venture this season. Growing 6.02 Doug Smith, although, having consulted the "bible" and other growers' diaries, I appear to be doing it all wrong! Seed sown 6th Feb, plants now around 4ft tall and largest fruit 4 in across. Also have a Mid-March sowing...not far behind, and a very late batch from rooted side shoots about 5 in tall.   Saturday, June 6 View Page 150 sq ft entry with "official" drink can. If I grow a record they might sponsor me! Weather cooled dramatically the last few days, so keeping tunnels mainly closed and completely shut at night.   Wednesday, June 10 View Page My 694 plant does not look happy, leaves appear slightly drooping except the youngest tips, and whole plant less than half the size of the rest, but, in the best tradition of television chefs...........   Wednesday, June 10 View Page ......."here's one I prepared earlier". Planted an 8ft spare alongside it! Will give them both a couple of weeks, and then see which one is for the chop.   Thursday, June 11 View Page Field pumpkins growing quickly now, despite the changeable weather, all my own 100.6 from last year. First fruit appear to have set, but will remove them as there were no FP males to pollinate.   Thursday, June 11 View Page 1501 Vander Wielen still the best looking in the patch, going to wait another 4-5 ft before setting a fruit.   Thursday, June 11 View Page Cucumbers look healthy, rather foolishly, I forgot to sow my own saved seeds, so.... 2 long Wursten, 2 heavy Wursten, and 2 heavy Baggs make the lineup. Made a lot of mistakes with the cucumbers last year so hope to improve on 31 inch & 14.4 lb of 2019.   Thursday, June 11 View Page 6.02 Doug Smith safely in it's hammock! Now 16 inch circumference, certainly the largest tomato I've ever grown. Removed the final other remaining fruit today, so she's on her own now.   Sunday, June 14 View Page Blisteringly hot in the tunnel today, (forecast was for sunny intervals; our sunny interval lasted 14 hours!) bit of wilting so, installed a row of sprinklers to cool things down. Set to come on for 1 min every hour from 9am-7pm. Suffered quite a bit of scorching last season so this should make a noticeable improvement.   Monday, June 22 View Page First AG pollinated 2528x2363 2019 with sibling as no other options with male flowers this morning. 110 days to the weigh-off!   Sunday, June 28 View Page Really pleased with the establishment of my grafted watermelon plants. Was concerned the grafting process had set them back by around 3 weeks, but the good weather and extra vigour of the rootstocks means they are now only a couple of days behind last year, and growing rapidly.   Sunday, June 28 View Page 150 sq ft entry. Suffered a couple of scorched leaves during the week, but otherwise all well. Preparing for the 90° bend as it reaches the corner of the plot. Hoping for a female flower in about another 6ft.   Friday, July 3 View Page 7am today..... why you need to cover your flowers the evening before.   Monday, July 13 View Page "The King is dead, Long Live the King" 526 squash aborted, so board moved under the back-up...... it's tricky enough getting it in the right position without having to move it again!   Monday, July 13 View Page 150 sq ft patch is about 90% full. Pollinated the 97.4 Ressel with 1501 Vander Wielen today. Rather annoyingly, the female flower is on the wrong side of the vine, but I don't want to wait for another (except as a back-up). Hope this one takes, otherwise I'll be even further behind!   Monday, July 13 View Page First lady bits on the BG. Plant a bit young, but I will do some practice pollination. Managed to go the whole season without a successful fruit set last year.   Tuesday, July 14 View Page Gotcha!   Monday, July 20 View Page #2   Monday, July 20 View Page Seeds in the flower, 97.4 Ressel, 1st time I've seen this occur   Monday, July 20 View Page #3..... there should be a GPC category for catching critters!!   Monday, July 20 View Page FP don't get much mention on here and even fewer photos. 100.6 growing well, plant is massive, quite a challenge to find and remove all the secondary fruit. Now taping 170 on DAP 27. Already a PB I imagine.   Monday, July 20 View Page Just read my last entry.... should have said taping 170 ott, not 170 lb.....I wish!   Saturday, July 25 View Page 150 sq ft. I hope this is the keeper, 97.4 Ressel x 1501 Vander Wielen, DAP 12 and patch is entirely full.   Sunday, August 2 View Page Baggs marrows look impressive, largest is 38in long and 44in circumference at widest point   Sunday, August 2 View Page 150 sq ft, DAP 20, must be the healthiest plant in the patch, I suspect the nearly 3ft depth of compost is a big factor......gives me an idea for next season's main patch!   Tuesday, August 4 View Page Diary Menu Back to Previous Page Show Full 2019 Diary List Other Grower's Diaries Submit to Your Own Diary 150 sq ft, DAP 20, must be the healthiest plant in the patch, I suspect the nearly 3ft depth of compost is a big factor......gives me an idea for next season's main patch!   Friday, August 7 View Page Harvested the 1st fp, I know it's not an official scale, but happy with PB of 129 lb. Would have ranked #15 in 2019! Set the next fruit yesterday so hopefully will achieve better 2nd time around.   Sunday, August 9 View Page 150 sq ft, DAP 26 tapes 172 lb. Plant still healthy despite the current heat wave.   Sunday, August 9 View Page Bit of excitement amongst the bushel gourds! Managed to go the whole of last season without a fruit set, so this is definitely progress. 247 Kent in photo and also 384 Terry with a couple of hopeful fruit sets   Tuesday, August 25 View Page 4.19 pound PB from 6.02 Doug Smith x sibling.   Thursday, August 27 View Page Oh dear ... my FP thinks it's a marrow. Fortunately there are other contenders.   Saturday, September 5 View Page 150sqft entry, 97.4 Ressel plant remains healthy, sprayed for mildew again this week, DAP54 and taping 615 lb.   Saturday, September 26 View Page Had a practice weigh-off this morning to get the weighing team up to speed and test the lifting harness & scales. Well oiled team now!! No weights as some will be needed for next week.   Friday, October 9 View Page Ready for the trip to Southampton, didn't get loaded 'til after dark... running a nursery and giant veg growing aren't always compatible!   Friday, October 9 View Page Was awarded the HDA at Wargrave Nursery Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off last weekend. I hasten to add, this was judged by no less than the European GPC representative, so all above board!   Saturday, October 10 View Page 150 sq ft entry weighed at Southampton today. Great event with lots of friendly faces. 97.4 Ressel x 1501 Vander Wielen now the 756.2 Leach 2020. Will certainly be trying some seeds from this cross next season.   Tuesday, November 17 View Page Last gasp of the growing season. 1st fruit submitted to "early tomatoes" 8th July Last fruit harvested over 4 months later. 3 official fruit over 4 lb in my rookie year.... Isn't tomato growing great!!