Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 26 Entries. Thursday, April 8 View Page The beautiful Spring makes us eager to start our pumpkin season! I hope this will be your best ever!   Thursday, April 8 View Page The Rea Patch is not sophisticated or hi-tech. But I'll show you some of my ways to get 'er done!   Thursday, April 8 View Page I use wood frames for early season protection. They are 4' x 8', so I can manage them myself and they are big enough to get me through till the weather warms up - and heavy enough that I don't have to worry about them blowing away! I can easily change from plastic covering to shade cloth, depending on the weather.   Thursday, April 8 View Page The inner boards hold the plastic (or shade cloth) down on 3 sides. The outer boards are the walking boards.   Thursday, April 8 View Page Each hut has a heavy-duty extension cord. One end is attached to a short metal post with 2 receptacles, that goes into the ground. The other end plugs into the electric panel.   Thursday, April 8 View Page This year I have new heavy-duty heating cables with soil probes and thermostats. I'm so glad I'll be able to tell that the cables are actually on and working!!.......plus give me the temp. My heaters will plug into the other receptacle.   Saturday, April 10 View Page There is a water supply at the 4 corners of the patch. Each has a hose for a hand-held sprayer and one for a sprinkler. So, no dragging hoses around or changing hookups!   Saturday, April 10 View Page I put these gadgets on each hand-held sprayer to measure water volume. I tested the gauges and they are accurate.   Saturday, April 10 View Page I use a 25 gal. tank on the back of my garden cart for foliar spraying and soil drenches. It does a great job, with a 25' hose and long spray range of 38' x 27'. It can also produce a very fine mist spray when needed.   Saturday, April 10 View Page The patch was prepared with 12 yards of "Bull Country Compost". And along with the Taberna soil test recommendations, the patch got Sea-Min-Kelp - Agro-Lig Humate - Blood Meal - Feather Meal. .....AND.......who cold resist the pretty bag with a name like "The Original Italpollina"!!!   Saturday, April 10 View Page Each 5' x 8' plant site was given some Pumpkin Pro - Granular Triazicide - Diatomaceous Earth - Rootshield - and worm castings. Soil prep and patch set-up is finally complete!!!   Tuesday, April 13 View Page Seeds were disinfected, then lightly sanded, and given a 2 hour soak in water/Essential Plus. They were wrapped in damp paper towels, put into baggies, then taped to the TOP of a food dehydrator at the lowest setting.....which is shown as 95 degrees, but I have never checked it. For many years, this system has not failed me, and almost never has a seed not germinated. Within 30 hours, all 10 seeds had a 1/2" - 1" tap root growing.   Tuesday, April 13 View Page Getting ready to pot the seeds in 5" peat pots. "Ohio Earth Food" potting mix - Pumpkin Pro - Azos - Rootshield - "Root" from WOW. This year's players are 1723 Rea 20 - 1869 Greathouse 19 - The 2005 Haist 18 will battle with the 1885 Werner 19 for the 3rd spot in the patch.   Tuesday, April 13 View Page This photo was taken Saturday at noon. Sunday evening 2 popped thru the soil. Tuesday morning 5 of the 10 are up and others beginning to move dirt. So.......You're asking, "What are the red things?" The top 2" of a Solo cup will serve as a seed-corn-maggot barrier. I've read they live in the top 1to1-1/2" of the soil. I used to put the rings on when transplanting to the garden, but was concerned about cutting into roots. Ask anyone who has had these nasty little maggots.........They are no fun!!!   Tuesday, April 13 View Page I think I've got my ducks in a row for now! And hope I've given newbies some things to think about for getting started.   Saturday, May 1 View Page This beauty is the 1869 Greathouse (1937 Werner x 1911 Urena). Plants have been in the ground 5 days. It was good to see they made it through last night's 30 degrees. Should be our last really cold night!   Saturday, May 1 View Page 1885 Werner (1501 VanderWielen x 2112 Skinner). There's always a spot in the Rea patch for a Quinn pumpkin!   Saturday, May 1 View Page 2005 Haist (1867.5 Barron x 2003 Haist). I'm happy to grow this again!   Saturday, May 1 View Page 1723 Rea (1382.5 Rea x 1533.5 Rea). 1810 and 1501 genetics on both sides. This plant is one leaf behind the other three. I started out thinking I would just plant 2 giants this year..........but weakened and decided on 3. Well, guess what? I planted 4!   Tuesday, May 11 View Page I have had 4 plants outside for 2 weeks. They were doing beautifully until Mother Nature decided to do battle with me! So.....2 plants were pulled today. The other 2 are hanging on. This photo is a 2112 Skinner. The seed started out at Chuck Greathouse's place. Then came here to be germinated. Then back to Chuck's to be potted and grown. Today, back to my garden to be a backup plant! Talk about team work! Oh.....what fun!   Saturday, May 22 View Page So.........things aren't going so well! Starting over! With two 1382 Rea's and two 1869 Greathouse's. The flowers are to cheer me up!!!   Monday, June 14 View Page The Rea Patch is having a tough time this year. I haven't been able to reach a conclusion as to how I lost my original plants AND the back-ups too!   Monday, June 14 View Page Right now there are 2 AG's growing and 6 "regular" plants. I'm sure hoping for good weather in late season!!   Monday, June 14 View Page Happy to say, my flowers are doing well!   Monday, June 14 View Page "Crazy Daisies" are ready to bloom.   Wednesday, August 18 View Page My 2021 season has gone from bad to worse. After pulling 3 sets of plants, I started a couple AG's very late, in an attempt to grow healthy plants and rule out the possibility of something "bad" in this year's compost. And also rule out diseased soil. The plants were growing healthy and ready to produce female flowers when a storm flattened them! So now my best hope is for a beautiful, round, orange porch pumpkin. Hey Gansert.....don't let me down!!!