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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 41 Entries.
Tuesday, May 11 View Page
First time I have done a soil test. The results were really useful. In the big tunnel, (8m x 18m) the PH was too high - 50lb of sulphur chips added Phosphorus was too high - Ammonium Sulphate will be used for the next couple of years, rather than manure.Hopefully, the plants will take some up and reduce levels for next year. Manganese too low - 2lb watered in. Boron too low - 2lb of Borax (12% boron) watered in. Will get another soil test performed soon.
 
Tuesday, May 11 View Page
Majority of squash seeds were started on April 9th. Started off around 14 plants in total. Glad that I started them off a little later as the cold nights have meant keeping the young plants in my grow room for much longer. Will need to have 6 final plants, so spares are for pollination and in case of ribbon vine etc. I’ve managed to get some great top 10 seed together and have a great line up for next season too. Squash seeds started and early results...... 1. 1844.5 Holub > Looking fairly good. Would have preferred it a little more vigorous at this stage, but will be planting this in a prime polytunnel position. 2. 1109 Jutras. > Looking excellent 3. 1109 Jutras. > Looking excellent 4. 966.9 Kloch. > Looking Excellent - Thanks for the seed Kevin! 5. 1701 Jutras. > Looking good 6. 2118 Jutras. > Twisted cots as expected - poor plant 7. 1935.5 Jutras. > Looking good 8. 1288 Kline > Nice plant 9. 1282.5 Kline. > Nice Plant. This will be my pollinator 10. 1652 Zappa > Nice plant - Thanks Lee 11. 1486 Jarvis. > Did not germinate 12 3x 877 Barratt. > Looking good
 
Wednesday, May 12 View Page
1109 Jutras is certainly a great plant. Recovering nicely after being in the pot too long (to avoid frosts and wind)
 
Wednesday, May 12 View Page
The 1844 Holub also suffered a little, but catching up now.
 
Saturday, May 22 View Page
Picture from 19th May. 1109 Jutras growing steadily. The width is now 3 feet, so it will soon be outgrowing the double cloche. Hopefully it will time well with the improvement in the weather forecast. The cold dark weather has slowed it slightly, but will pick up soon.
 
Saturday, May 22 View Page
Photo from 19th May. 1844 Holub also steady, but behind the 1109. The leaves on this are the biggest of all the plants.
 
Saturday, June 12 View Page
First pollination. This is the 1109 Jutras. I pollinated it with the 1844 Holub on 8th June. It is not in the ideal position though. Only about 13 vines along the main. There are no other females appearing so far, so I might have to go with it. The 1844 is a different story though. 2 nice female flowers have developed and the second one is at the almost perfect position. Will be pollinating the first one tomorrow.
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
Looks like I might have both plants with a good pollination. 1109 Jutras pollinated with a 1282 Kline. This is to try to get a good cross of older, diverse genes from 2 diffefent strains. Hopefully, the seed from this will be amazing.
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
..... and the 1844 Holub x Self
 
Friday, July 2 View Page
1844 Holub squash today taking a soaking. It was 36lb yesterday, so I reckon it should be over 50lb when I measure it tomorrow. The 1109 Jutras is behind it but was pollinated 4 days later. DAP wise, the 1109 is doing better.
 
Thursday, July 8 View Page
I thought that the 1844 Holub was going to abort, but it’s still going. 111lb today.
 
Thursday, July 8 View Page
Back-up pollination on the 1844 (x 1288 Kline) today. I’ll cull the previous fruit if this performs better.
 
Thursday, July 8 View Page
Despite a 4 day DAP difference, the 1109 Jutras has almost caught up with the 1844 Holub. 107 lb today
 
Saturday, July 10 View Page
Drama at the greenie patch. The 1109 put on 22 lbs last night, but has a couple of nasty splits developing at the stem, extending into the fruit, so no looking good. It was crossed with a 1282 Kline, so fingers crossed for an amazing genetic cross for next season. Might have to look for another female to pollinate though in case the split gets worse.
 
Saturday, July 10 View Page
The 1844 Holub is another story of twists and turns. This little minx looked very dodgy a week ago. It didn’t look good and the 1109 Jutras was overtaking it. I was in two minds to terminate it and start off another fruit, however, it put on an amazing 38lb last night and now 186lb, so I think I’ll be happy to keep this going now.
 
Monday, July 12 View Page
No photo today, but quick update on the squash. The 1109 Jutras tapes at 203lb, although it has a split in the stem extending into the fruit, but I’m hoping that it will survive intact after dusting with sulphur. The 1844 Holub is approximately 211lb today, so growing steadily. I’m hoping that one of them will give me a new PB. Foliar feed was given to both plants. Mn is still showing as low (probably because the PH of the soil is still too high) so, I also gave them a root drench of manganese.
 
Friday, July 16 View Page
1109 Jutras, DAP 28 taping at 303lb today. Averaging 28lb per night at the moment.
 
Friday, July 16 View Page
1844 Holub DAP 32 taping at 339lb. Putting on around 36lb each night for the last 3 nights.
 
Tuesday, July 20 View Page
Giant Squash coming on nicely. Placed some sun screen over them today to help slow ripening, and reduce the amount of water hitting them from the overhead watering system. Again, I’m hoping that I can achieve a new PB. 1844 Holub. Today estimated at 450lb and putting on around 30lb per night. Hopefully, lots more growing to do. has a weak spot on the top, but hopefully it will fill out and strengthen.
 
Tuesday, July 20 View Page
1109 Jutras. 401lb today and increasing by around 26lb per night, but pollination was 4 days later, so on paper doing better.
 
Thursday, July 29 View Page
New UK Record Long Chilli. Very pleased with 45.7 CM. Seed from Martin Workman and the UK Seed Exchange. Measured, witnessed and certified by Martyn Davis.
 
Tuesday, August 3 View Page
Long cucumbers. Best is 36” at the moment. Hoping that there is some growth left in it. Another 6” would be nice, lol..... Second best is 33”. I don’t want to talk about the worst..... I don’t think that they will make it to the shows, but you never know. Hoping that the cross pollinations of both of these will result in great genetics for seed for next year
 
Tuesday, August 3 View Page
... and here is the 33”
 
Friday, August 6 View Page
Huge giant corn from the UK Seed Exchange. Many thanks Brandon....
 
Friday, August 6 View Page
The 45.7 CM Long Chilli made the nationals. Page 3 of the Sun yesterday. Now who would have put money on that one??
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
Some other giant veg. 37” Cucumber. Probably won’t grow any more. A little dink in the tip, so I dusted with yellow sulphur.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
Tomato, 22” circumference at the moment, so I’m guessing around 4lb.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
Found a rogue long chilli on a second plant. This one is just over 45 cm.
 
Friday, August 20 View Page
A photo of Todds 1282 Kline Squash. I’m growing this seed this season. Probably as a pollinator.
 
Friday, August 20 View Page
The 37” cucumber has bit the dust. Started going rotten on the blossom end, and that is where the viable seed is most likely to be, so I had to perform a seed-ectomy. I am not 100% certain, but this was probably the 3rd longest ever. It came from a 38” parent, so it’s seed should have great genetics. It grew very fast in a very hot polytunnel, so hopefully next year, some steady weather should result in slower, longer growth.
 
Friday, August 20 View Page
Harvested around 100 viable seeds from the 37” cucumber, so it wasn’t a complete failure. These went directly into the seed dryer... NOTE TO SELF: Start cucumbers a couple of weeks later next season.....
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
Results today from the Giant Vegetable Championships at Malvern. Managed a first prize for Celery 45.86lb
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
First prize for Tomato 4.78lb
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
Second for Squash, went very light at 1025lb
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
Second for Bell Pepper
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
Second for Heavy Cucumber 22lb
 
Friday, September 24 View Page
Third for Long Chilli, and fourth for Swede
 
Monday, October 4 View Page
Reading Wargrave weigh off. Very pleased with results. Both squash weighed in over 1000lb. This was the 1844.5 Holub x Self) was 1041lb EXH
 
Monday, October 4 View Page
Second squash snook past the 1000 pound mark. (1109 Jutras x 1282 Kline) weighed 1000.4lb.
 
Friday, December 24 View Page
I have 2 seed packs from the UK Giant Vegetable Seed Exchange that I will donate to the first two seed associations who contact me. They can then be placed for sale in your auction this year. Containing around 80 packs of seeds, including from World Record, Regional and State Record holders. The first 2 associations to contact me will get one pack each. graham.barratt@btinternet.com
 
Thursday, December 30 View Page
Really excited with this year’s line-up so far with some of the best seed in the world. I have 3 x World Record Marrows, 3 x 1109 Jutras Squash, WR Cantaloupes as well as Tony Prochaska monsters, 38” Cucumbers, UK Record Long Chillis, Ian Neale Beetroot, Peter Glazebrook Runner Beans. 186 Nesbitt and Yohe Field Pumpkins. I’m not yet finished with the line-up, but it’s a great start. I love this time of year and getting my seed line-up together.
 

 

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