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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 149 Entries.
Tuesday, April 6 View Page
Seeds starting day 2021
 
Tuesday, April 6 View Page
Tilling in 14 yards mushroom compost, kelp, humic, boron, potash, perelite, chic-a-doo, osomote, and probably some other things I’m forgetting.
 
Monday, April 12 View Page
Sadly 2624 never Germinated. Replaced it with a 2517 Haist.
 
Thursday, April 22 View Page
Had to transplant to larger pots, due to weather. Seedlings had a rough start. My breaker was off for first 48 hours they had no light, old potting mix was bad, and I overwatered. Started 6 backups and waited it out, because I really want to put these seeds in the dirt this year.
 
Thursday, May 13 View Page
Backups are up, thankfully my original plants took a turn for the better. I planted the 2528 Geddes as a 5th plant. I said I was only going to do 2 plants this year, now I have 5 plus watermelons and Cantaloupes...
 
Monday, May 17 View Page
2517 Haist
 
Monday, May 17 View Page
2552 Mendi had a rough start.
 
Monday, May 17 View Page
2593 Patton had a rough start.
 
Monday, May 17 View Page
2112 Stelts had a rough start.
 
Tuesday, May 18 View Page
New Hoop house idea. 5x5 with 2 door hinges and a 30lb greenhouse opener. Works amazing! With Govee wifi thermometer/Humidity sensors you can monitor all from your IPhone. Small indoor electric heaters kept nighttime temperature at 65 degrees while outside temperature was as low as 28. Huts open when temperatures rises and highest date time temp recorded was 95 and only for a short time period.
 
Tuesday, May 18 View Page
Close up of huts.
 
Tuesday, May 18 View Page
Here’s a YouTube link to how the season started, I did about everything I could possibly do to kill these awesome seeds :( https://youtu.be/9Cr7pC3kjyw
 
Friday, May 21 View Page
Great weather, Hoop houses off, wind fence up.
 
Friday, May 21 View Page
2517 Haist, yellow gene, but healthy.
 
Friday, May 21 View Page
2552 Mendi, new leaves look healthy, growing fast.
 
Friday, May 21 View Page
2593 Patton, apparently the Haist yellow gene is in this also, but healthy looking plant other than yellow color. Besides I want a Giant Orange pumpkin!
 
Friday, May 21 View Page
2112 Stelts, I can’t wait to see this pumpkin. I hope it turns out like it’s parents. This was the coolest looking Pumpkin I’ve ever seen!
 
Sunday, May 23 View Page
He dug up 2- 305 MUDD Watermelons and 2 56lb cantaloupes :( and they say fish fertilizer helps plants, he thinks it makes em tasty...
 
Monday, May 24 View Page
2020 Growing Season
 
Monday, May 24 View Page
2020 Growing Season
 
Monday, May 24 View Page
2020 Growing Season. Kids and I Carving Pumpkins with chainsaw.
 
Monday, May 24 View Page
2020 Growing Season
 
Monday, May 24 View Page
2020 Growing Season YouTube links. https://youtu.be/17mAjuoqdxM https://youtu.be/l4OTxADVhDM
 
Tuesday, May 25 View Page
2528 Geddes. This was on of my backups, the 4 original plant pulled through and I couldn’t throw out a North American Record, so guess I’m growing 5 plants this year! It was started 28 days later than the others, but Im sure it’ll catch up.
 
Tuesday, May 25 View Page
2112 Stelts. Main vine grew 17” over night!
 
Tuesday, May 25 View Page
2593 Patton. Grew 12” overnight
 
Tuesday, May 25 View Page
2552 Mendi. Grew 16” last night, I don’t know what happened last night but all 4 plants grew the most in a single day I can ever remember.
 
Tuesday, May 25 View Page
2517 Haist. This was last nights winner, it grew 18” on main vine, and grew 3 side vines! I wish I knew what I did different yesterday so I could do it again...
 
Monday, May 31 View Page
2112 Stelts after a cold week.
 
Monday, May 31 View Page
2593 Patton
 
Monday, May 31 View Page
2552 Mendi
 
Monday, May 31 View Page
2517 Haist
 
Monday, May 31 View Page
150 Contest. 2528 Geddes planted a month later as a backup/Possible pollinator. Was going to pull, but decided the 150 contest would be a fun. I will set up a perimeter and add photos hopefully tomorrow, if weather allows it.
 
Tuesday, June 1 View Page
Picked off 6 pumpkins so far at about 6-8’ mark in last couple of days. Plants are averaging about 12” a day on main vines, should be pollinating by next week if weather cooperates. Planning on setting up wobbler heads tomorrow. Also planning on marking the 150 plant out. Also transferring 2 more cantaloupe and one more Watermelon outside to patch, I will fence these in to hopefully keep coons out!
 
Wednesday, June 2 View Page
5 Wobblers Sprinklers and a 550 gallon tank installed.
 
Wednesday, June 2 View Page
Irrigation setup and working great!
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
150 Contest idea.
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
150 Contest 2528 Geddes. Germinated on May 6th. In ground on May 20th.
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
150 Contest set up.
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
2- 56.22 Proschaska Cantaloupe. Watermelons 232 Mudd. 228.5 Mudd. 249 Mudd. 277.6 Mudd
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
2517 Haist was germinated 2 weeks later than 2593,2552,2112, and it’s already my biggest plant. This thing is an awesome plant!
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
2552 Mendi
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
2593 Patton
 
Thursday, June 3 View Page
2112 Stelts. This is the 2nd fastest growing plant. The 2593 and 2552 are just slightly behind.
 
Tuesday, June 8 View Page
150 Contest 2528 Geddes. Main vine down, starting to run.
 
Tuesday, June 8 View Page
2112 Stelts 11’ has a nice looking pumpkin, very tempting, but I’m hoping to pollinate at 18-20’ out by June 18th or sooner. Should be able to pollinate all 4 by June 18th at the 18-20’ mark.
 
Tuesday, June 8 View Page
2593 Patton. Germinated last, smallest on transplant day, still smallest plant at a respectable 9’ I’m still really hopeful for this one. It and the 2552 Mendi are planted in my best soil. Come June 18th hopefully It will be between the 15-18’ mark for my targeted pollination day.
 
Tuesday, June 8 View Page
2552 Mendi Starting to pick up speed, main vine is at 11’ sides are all present, they were a little slow at growing, but in last two days they are all really stretching out, has a nice looking pumpkin, very tempting, but I’m hoping to pollinate at 18-20’ out by June 18th or sooner. Should be able to pollinate all 4 by June 18th at the 18-20’ mark. Maybe even by June 15th! Last year I pollinated at 10-13’ on June 29 and July 1st, so we are off to a awesome start!
 
Tuesday, June 8 View Page
2517 Haist what can I say, but Wow! Germinated over a week later than others because 2624 very sadly didn’t germinate. I just planted this as an attempt for a Giant orange pumpkin for Halloween with no real goals for it. It was planted in my least fertilized plot. Its my biggest plant at 12’ with the most and the longest side vines. Also has a nice looking pumpkin at 12’ mark, very tempting, but I’m hoping to pollinate at 18-20’ out by June 18th or sooner. Should be able to pollinate all 4 by June 18th at the 18-20’ mark. This should be the earliest pollination!
 
Monday, June 14 View Page
Gonna be a long day in the patch tomorrow. Only watered and fertilized for last 5 days no burying or pruning. Plants are all 15-20’ in length, if all goes well we should be pollinating all plants by this weekend. Side vines all got a late start, they are all starting to really shoot out now, not in perfect uniform shape like some of the other plants I see in other diaries, but in next 5-7 days at the rate they are growing now everything will be ready by God’s grace to support a Giant:)
 
Tuesday, June 15 View Page
Bad new on the 2112 Stelts today, the main vine made a hard 90 degree angle overnight and snapped at 12’ . No idea what caused this, but secondary is turned straight and is the same size as the main vine. So I will use it as a new main vine. This happened right where a pumpkin was, it was really odd. It almost looked like the plant wanted this secondary for a main vine, it is perfectly straight and inline with the main vine. I think it is still going to be fine and able to support a Giant, (hopefully). Now I really wish I had pollinated the first pumpkin on the main vine at 12’ instead of culling it off:(
 
Tuesday, June 15 View Page
2593 Patton. Plant is large enough to pollinate next pumpkin on main.
 
Tuesday, June 15 View Page
2552 Mendi has a female at 17’ I will pollinate this one soon!
 
Tuesday, June 15 View Page
2517 Haist is at 17’ also. I will pollinate this female soon as well.
 
Tuesday, June 15 View Page
2528 Geddes. This plant has mammoth sized vines. They are almost twice the size as the others.
 
Wednesday, June 16 View Page
From left to right… 2112 Stelts, 2593 Patton, 2552 Mendi, 2517 Haist, 2528 Geddes, the 3 Mudd Watermelons and two 56.22 Prochaska Cantaloupe in fenced in area to the right.
 
Friday, June 18 View Page
6/18/2021 Top Photos vs 6/18/2020 Bottom Photos Wow what a huge difference! All four have pumpkins at 17-19’ that will be pollinated in next copy of days leaving a full 110 days growing time till weigh off, so hopefully by God’s grace I won’t do anything to kill them before then:) Last years pollination was July 1st at only 10’ with not enough plant behind them.
 
Monday, June 21 View Page
2517 Haist x Self. June 21st Pollination at around 19’ on main vine. 5 Lobes. I know self pollinations are frowned upon by most, but I think this could be a mistake the 3rd and 5th largest pumpkins in the world were self pollinations as well as many other Giants. Also I see alot of self pollinations used the following year for crosses that have very large gains in weight, so this year I have decided after many months of deep thinking to Self pollinate all 5 of the pumpkins in my patch to try to hold onto their awesome genetics for future crosses in following years, because realistically I can’t afford to buy seeds like these every year….
 
Monday, June 21 View Page
2552 Mendi x Self. June 21st Pollination also at around 19’ on main vine. 4 Lobes. I know self pollinations are frowned upon by most, but I think this could be a mistake the 3rd and 5th largest pumpkins in the world were self pollinations (2552 Mendi was a 2183x2183) &(2517 Haist was a 2005x2005) as well as many other Giants. Also I see alot of self pollinations used the following year for crosses that have very large gains in weight, so this year I have decided after many months of deep thinking to Self pollinate all 5 of the pumpkins in my patch to try to hold onto their awesome genetics for future crosses in following years, because realistically I can’t afford to buy seeds like these every year….
 
Tuesday, June 22 View Page
2593 Patton x Self at around 16’ on main vine with 24 side vines behind it to push the pumpkin. 2112 Stelts should be ready to pollinate tomorrow.
 
Wednesday, June 23 View Page
2517 Haist pollinated 6/21/21. 5 lobes. Anthesis application 6/23/21.
 
Wednesday, June 23 View Page
2552 Mendi pollinated 6/21/21. 4 lobes. Anthesis application 6/23/21.
 
Wednesday, June 23 View Page
2593 Patton pollinated 6/22/21. 4 lobes. Anthesis application will be done 6/24/21.
 
Wednesday, June 23 View Page
2528 Geddes is growing Giant vines and at an extremely fast pace! it’s out to 10’ with a pumpkin. This one leaves me with a couple of really hard decisions. 1st tough choice: It is my 150’ plant, but the aggressive growth and vine size of this plant makes me want to let it grow to its fullest potential and not cull it at 150’ size, O well I still have a couple of days to decide on that? Second choice do I pollinate this pumpkin at 10’ with not a huge plant behind it so I get full amount of growing days OR do I let it get out to 15’ and pollinate it in 1st to 2nd week or July sacrificing growing days for more plant behind pumpkin? Man I hate decisions ;/
 
Friday, June 25 View Page
2112 Stelts pollinated 6/25/21. 5 lobe.
 
Friday, June 25 View Page
Patch on 6/25/21. Only 2528 Geddes left to pollinate. Need to add mill fabric and sand to other 4 pumpkins.
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
2112 x Self on 6/25/21. Anthesis application 6/27/21
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
2593 Patton
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
2552 Mendi
 
Sunday, June 27 View Page
2517 Haist
 
Tuesday, June 29 View Page
All four are 5-8 Dap. They are larger than a softball, but smaller than a basketball. Raked and leveled soil then placed pumpkins on a cut up trampoline with 4” of sand on top. More sand will be needed, but its a start. I wanted to get pictures of them uncovered but a storm came in and I got rained out.
 
Tuesday, June 29 View Page
All four are 5-8 Dap. They are larger than a softball, but smaller than a basketball. Raked and leveled soil then placed pumpkins on a cut up trampoline with 4” of sand on top. More sand will be needed, but its a start. I wanted to get pictures of them uncovered but a storm came in and I got rained out.
 
Wednesday, June 30 View Page
2112 Stelts
 
Wednesday, June 30 View Page
2517 Haist
 
Wednesday, June 30 View Page
2552 Mendi
 
Wednesday, June 30 View Page
Error entry this was actually the 2593 Patton.
 
Wednesday, June 30 View Page
This is the actual 2517 Haist photo, the other one was an error.
 
Sunday, July 4 View Page
150’ Contest. 2528 Geddes x Self. Top and bottom left 4 lobe at 14’ self pollinated on 6/29/21. Top and bottom right 4 lobe at 17’ on main self pollinated on July 4th.
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
2112 Stelts. DAP 13 circumference is 43”
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
2552 Mendi. DAP 16 circumference is 40”
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
2517 Haist DAP 16 circumference is 44” 2112 from previous entry was actually DAP 12, I wish there was someway to go back and make changes to an entry when you make an error, O well:/
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
And…….. the stand alone winner is the 2593 Patton DAP 15 circumference is 52”.
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
Everything about the 2593 Patton in large, check out these leaves!
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
First year for Watermelons and Cantaloupes. Three in back are 232,249,277.6 Mudd Watermelons. Two in front are 56.22 Prochaska Cantaloupes. Not taking it to seriously, but hopefully get some Giant Watermelons to eat!!!
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
First year for Watermelons and Cantaloupes. Three in back are 232,249,277.6 Mudd Watermelons. Two in front are 56.22 Prochaska Cantaloupes. Not taking it to seriously, but hopefully get some Giant Watermelons to eat!!!
 
Wednesday, July 7 View Page
And lastly a 24’ Sunflower from Italy.
 
Friday, July 9 View Page
Patch 7/9/21, try not to laugh, but I found Orange fitted sheets on Amazon. I got real high hopes for the 2593 Patton July 9th 17 DAP. 65”x45”x44”=154”OTT almost 100lbs on DAP 17. In last 2 days it gained 15” in circumference, I sure hope it keeps this pace without splitting!
 
Wednesday, July 14 View Page
2593 Patton on left at DAP 22. 2552 Mendi on right at DAP 23. The 2593 is growing over twice as fast as all others and others are still on track to do great. Hopefully by God’s grace no disease or splits will take place from all the rain. To Jesus I give all the credit and glory no matter what the outcome. That not so clear picture is from a very inexpensive battery operated wifi camera I installed so I could remotely monitor the pumpkins and watering system while I’m not around to insure everything is working properly. I probably won’t post anymore measurements till DAP 30. I usually measure every 10 days from then on.
 
Wednesday, July 21 View Page
30DAP 2517 Haist. 106x69x68 = 243” 335lbs. 7/21/2021
 
Wednesday, July 21 View Page
30DAP 2552 Mendi. 109x69x69 = 246” 343lbs. 7/21/2021 Both the 2517 and 2552 are on a good pace considering the last two weeks of none stop heavy rain. The 2112 Stelts has a couple more days till ot gets its 30 day measurement. But tomorrow I do my 30 DAP measurements on the 2593 Patton……. Here’s a little hint, it’s gonna be BIG…:)
 
Wednesday, July 21 View Page
Watermelons and Cantaloupes have several pollinations on them. I probably won’t cull them back to one fruit per plant, The kids and I like to eat them….
 
Thursday, July 22 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 30………… 126x80x78 = 284” 529 lbs.
 
Sunday, July 25 View Page
2112 Stelts DAP 30 119x76x72 = 267” 434lbs. At 30 DAP this is the second largest so far, 2528 Geddes still has a week to go before its 30DAP measurements, but its a smaller plant than others.
 
Sunday, July 25 View Page
Patch as of today starting from left to the right… 2112 Stelts, 2593 Patton, 2552 Mendi , 2517 Haist, 2528 Geddes, then three Mudd Watermelons and two 56.22 pound Prochaska Cantaloupes
 
Tuesday, July 27 View Page
Bad Day… 2552 Mendi had some serious stem issues that developed over night :/ I may loose this one.
 
Tuesday, July 27 View Page
Cleaned with toothbrush, Brillo pad, peroxide, and rubbing alcohol to remove all gunk and dry it out. Then treated with Daconil and Eagle. Will monitor and pray, it looks ok, but it’s the whole way around stem so Sadly I may loose this awesome pumpkin. It’s currently on DAP 37 and roughly 700lbs.
 
Wednesday, July 28 View Page
On a better note, 2593 Patton is enormous. Picture is from DAP 36.
 
Friday, July 30 View Page
Whole patch photo from a distance. From left to right. 2112 Stelts, 2593 Patton, 2552 Mendi, 2517 Haist, 2528 Geddes, then 3 watermelon and 2 Cantaloupe.
 
Saturday, July 31 View Page
2552 Mendi. DAP 40 7/31/21. 137x87x87=311” 694lbs. 35lb a day for last 20 days. Not bad, but was hoping for morel
 
Saturday, July 31 View Page
2517 Haist DAP 40 137x86x87=310” 687lbs 7/31/21 35lb a day for last 10 days also, Not bad, but again was hoping for a little more, great solid Orange pumpkin though. 2593 Patton has it’s 40 day measurements tomorrow and it’s definitely gonna be the biggest one this year.
 
Sunday, August 1 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 40 153x93x92= 338” 885lbs. 8/1/21 Only 35lb a day for last 10 days also :/
 
Tuesday, August 3 View Page
150’. 2528 Geddes WAS my 150’ plant, but I went on 12 days of vacation and it now more like a 500’ plant, so I have to remove myself from the 150’ contest. (Taking daughters to Disney is of higher importance to me than Pumpkins) This is my 2528 Geddes DAP 30 112x75x70=257” 391 lbs. 8/3/21. It is now my 3rd largest DAP 30 this year. It will be my only white pumpkin in the patch. I don’t expect this pumpkin to grow extremely large because I terminated plant at approximately 500’ to leave room for Watermelons and Cantaloupes to grow, ahh who am I kidding I actually just got to darn tired and frustrated of burying vines when we returned home from our family vacation, when I should have walked away and come back to patch a day later, instead I just terminated all the vines and called it large enough…
 
Wednesday, August 4 View Page
2112 Stelts DAP 40 143×92×89=324” 783 lbs. 8/4/21. 35lbs. per day for last 10 days also, all 5 pumpkins have gained exactly 35lbs per day for last 10 days, guess 35 is my patches lucky number, I wish it was 50…..
 
Friday, August 6 View Page
Here’s a short clip of my 2552 Mendi’s first 40 days. It had some serious stem issues, I believe I finally got to dry out and start healing over, hopefully…. I’m going to try to do the 40 day video clips for all 5 pumpkins. https://youtu.be/WMXl5LdDEsQ
 
Sunday, August 8 View Page
We had some nasty swirling winds last night, the 2552 Mendi sustained the most damage, it is the one I have been daily battling with stem issues anyways. Just when I had it almost completely healthy, the Big Bad Wolf huffed and puffed and blew the stalks down! I may loose that pumpkin due to the stem anyways, at least the others didn’t sustain as much damage, but sadly they all lost some stalks:/
 
Tuesday, August 10 View Page
2552 Mendi Dap 50 144x91x91=326” 797Lbs. 8/10/2021 Only 103lb for last 10 days =10Lbs. per day:( Stem issues have really slowed its growth down..
 
Tuesday, August 10 View Page
2517 Haist DAP 50 157x94x99=350” 978 Lbs. 8/10/2021 29lbs a day for last 10 day’s between days 40-50.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
2517 Haist First 40 Days. https://youtu.be/lr8zCqYNYIE
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
2112 Stelts First 40 Days. https://youtu.be/IQd9VjXlBwY
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
2593 Patton First 40 Days. https://youtu.be/6o0-80jlG3E
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
4 watermelons between 40-50lbs. 4th can’t be seen it’s inside 2558 Geddes plant. This is a first for me I learned a lot from my mistakes, definitely need more room to grow these.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
3 Cantaloupes between 15-20lbs are hidden in that mess of vines. Unfortunately they are way to entangled to place on grates to keep off the hay, hopefully they will not rot. Again 1st time trying to grow Giant Cantaloupe and need way more space, but I guess that’s how you learn from your mistakes.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 50 169x105x104=378” 1213 Lbs. 8/11/2021 32.8lb per day for last 10 days. This pumpkin is the brightest Orange pumpkin I’ve ever grown and it solid like a boulder! I think it’s gonna go real heavy. I will be planting these seeds for sure next year. I know it’s way to late in the season to do this but tomorrow morning I’m gonna pollinate a pumpkin about 30’ out the main vine of my 2528 Geddes with this 2593 Patton. I realize it won’t grow much over 500lbs this late in season, but I’m so happy with this Patton I think crossing my backup 2528 with this 2593 Patton to seal in the genetics for seeds for next season!
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
Sunset on the patch.
 
Wednesday, August 11 View Page
Sunset on the patch.
 
Tuesday, August 17 View Page
2528 Geddes around 400lbs at DAP 30 was heavy, solid as a rock, and growing extremely fast, woke up took sheet off and saw a soft spot by blossom, assuming it to be blossom rot. After further inspection whole pumpkin had turned to mush and did a full abort between day 30-35. Hard to believe that stage that can happen, but it did.
 
Tuesday, August 17 View Page
2112 Stelts DAP 48 :(RIP) Small crack on blossom end:/ Final Weight 1018Lbs at DAP 48 on my crane scale. Lifted with new Steve Handy tripod I purchased early this spring. I will harvest seeds tomorrow. This was a beautiful bright orange pumpkin with those white polkadots like the 2152 Ganter and 2261 Schmitt, that was starting to get really tall like it’s mother was. I’m aware it’s Way to late in the season, but today I pollinated one pumpkin on the 2112,2552,and 2528 all with my 2593 Patton. They only have 55 not so perfect weather days to grow till weigh off on worn out plants so I don’t expect them to grow anymore than 300-1,000lbs. But I loved this 2593 Patton so much I decided to cross them all with it for the genetics for next season!
 
Tuesday, August 17 View Page
2112 Stelts R.I.P. April 6, 2021 - August 17, 2021 Lived a short 48 Days but was loved. Passed away at 1018 lbs…
 
Tuesday, August 17 View Page
2528 Geddes around 400lbs at DAP 30 was heavy, solid as a rock, and growing extremely fast, woke up took sheet off and saw a soft spot by blossom, assuming it to be blossom rot. After further inspection whole pumpkin had turned to mush and did a full abort between day 30-35. Hard to believe that stage that can happen, but it did.
 
Friday, August 20 View Page
Mendi DAP 60 144x92x94 = 330” 826lbs. 8/20/2021 +2.9lb a day in last 10 days. Still alive……….. Stem issues also completely stopped its growth 20 day ago or so. I did pollinate another two on this plant with my 2593, if nothing else they will be great seeds for future seasons
 
Friday, August 20 View Page
2517 Haist. DAP 60 171x98x105 = 374” 1178 lbs. 8/20/2021 +20lb per day last 10 days. This is now my 2nd largest due to loss of 2112 Stelts, 2528 Geddes, and the 2552 Mendi slowing growth almost to a stop.
 
Saturday, August 21 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 60 185x106x108=399” 1403lbs +19lbs. for last 10 days. Slowing growth a little faster than I was hoping most likely due to excessive rain and little sun, but it’s still a Giant Orange Boulder! Im glad I made the tuff decision to self this seed for next season.
 
Saturday, August 21 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 60 185x106x108=399” 1403lbs +19lbs. for last 10 days. Slowing growth a little faster than I was hoping most likely due to excessive rain and little sun, but it’s still a Giant Orange Boulder! Im glad I made the tuff decision to self this seed for next season.
 
Monday, August 30 View Page
I can’t believe it’s still alive! 2552 Mendi DAP 70 147x94x92= 333” 848 Lbs. 2.2 Lbs. per day for last 10 days. This stem is probably the worst ever and plant was destroyed by wind, tertiaries were let grow wild to fill in, weeding stopped because I assumed it couldn’t possibly stay alive until the OVGPG weigh off, but here we are and it’s still alive…
 
Monday, August 30 View Page
2517 Haist DAP 70 178x103x109= 390” 1320 Lbs. 14.2 Lbs. per day over last 10 days. 8/30/2021 It’s not huge, but I’m sure glad I put this backup in the soil instead of the compost pile, after two of my best pumpkins split. It may catch my biggest the 2593 Patton as it has slowed way down unfortunately.
 
Tuesday, August 31 View Page
29.4 Lbs. Cantaloupe, it was probably around 35lb. before a mouse made a Giant whole in bottom and ate dinner yesterday. 8/31/2021 I have had rat poison in patch all season, but seems like no matter how much preparation you take, anything can still happen…
 
Tuesday, August 31 View Page
Small 17.8 lb. cantaloupe. Still have 5 more on patch growing that are bigger as long as the mouse or mole stays away.
 
Tuesday, August 31 View Page
5 decent watermelons growing, all over 100lbs, never grew these or Cantaloupe before, so not sure how much more they will grow before the Weigh off. Hopefully one will be over 200lb ???
 
Tuesday, August 31 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 70 192x109x112= 413” 1535lbs. 8/31/2021 13.2 Lbs per day for last 10 days. Looks like a 2,000 pounder will be off the table for this season, but still a great looking Orange pumpkin!
 
Tuesday, August 31 View Page
5 decent watermelons growing, all over 100lbs, never grew these or Cantaloupe before, so not sure how much more they will grow before the Weigh off. Hopefully one will be over 200lb ???
 
Friday, September 3 View Page
Cut up two more Cantaloupe to eat today. One was 29 lbs. and other was 27 lbs. Sneak peek of my 2517 Haist in the background.
 
Thursday, September 9 View Page
2552 Mendi DAP 80 149x93x95= 337” 878Lbs. +3lb per day for last 10 days. I Can’t believe it’s Still Alive…..
 
Thursday, September 9 View Page
2517 Haist DAP 80 This ones showing no signs of slowing down… 30 more days to grow!!!
 
Friday, September 10 View Page
2593 Patton DAP 80 Slowing down some, but still has 30 more growing days to pack on the pounds!!
 
Monday, September 13 View Page
2552 Mendi x Self Not still alive…, after two months work to heal one of the nastiest stems I’ve ever seen back to life, who would have known a mole would have ate his way into the bottom :/ and this is with a proper base under pumpkin, poison, and traps, very disappointing, but O well, you can only do so much.
 
Sunday, September 19 View Page
2517 Haist x Self DAP 90 185x108x113=406” 1468lbs. 9/19/2021 +4.8lb a day for last 10 days. Final day today. Unofficial final weigh from Crane Scale 1438lbs. (‘21 McMillin 1438) Picked 20 days before my weigh off. This beauty wiil not be attending an official GPC Weigh Off this year, but will be displayed this September 24-26th at the 2nd annual glass pumpkin festival in Hocking Hills Ohio where the Squashcarver will turn my ‘21 McMillin 1438 into one of his masterpieces. If you have never seen his work, I highly recommend checking him out at Squashcarver.com His work is absolutely amazing!!!
 
Monday, September 20 View Page
Plant is in excellent condition, but we had lots of rain and cooler nights and weight gains slowed way down, like a turtle. We just had 4 beautiful days, and everyone always says don’t be a moron, slow and steady, but…. (Well I didn’t listen) Because of this beautiful weather I fed it everything I had in the garage and some more for last 3 days, praying it didn’t explode. And to my surprise it had enormous gains, #112lbs in 3 days! Thats 37.3lb a day for last 3 days!!! It turned back on! By God’s Grace, Canfield Ohio here we come :)
 
Monday, September 27 View Page
21’ 1438 McMillin (2517 Haist x Self) This pumpkin was on display last weekend at The 2nd annual glass pumpkin festival in Hocking Hills Ohio, where Gus ‘Squashcarver’ Smithhisler turned my 1438 McMillin into another one of his creative masterpieces. Check him out at Squashcarver.com #giantpumpkin #nightmarebeforechristmas again Gus thanks for your amazing work!
 
Saturday, October 9 View Page
1691.5 McMillin (2593 Patton x Self) 426” OTT
 
Wednesday, October 13 View Page
To my surprise, they taste delicious! Not Giants but not bad for first attempt. 108, 108, 105, 104.5Lbs, and the largest one over ripened before it could make a weigh off. I think next year I will put a little more effort in and try to grow a Giant Watermelon.
 
Wednesday, October 13 View Page
To my surprise, they taste delicious! Not Giants but not bad for first attempt. 108, 108, 105, 104.5Lbs, and the largest one over ripened before it could make a weigh off. I think next year I will put a little more effort in and try to grow a Giant Watermelon.
 
Friday, October 15 View Page
Plants and water lines removed. 19 yards of mushroom compost tilled in, cover crop of winter wheat planted, 2022 here we come! I got something risky planned for next season, it’s either going to work great, or kill everything….
 
Wednesday, October 27 View Page
1691.5 McMillin Stood it up, it’s almost 6’ tall! Going to remove seeds, and carve it today or tomorrow.
 
Friday, October 29 View Page
Time to carve with Chainsaw;)
 
Friday, October 29 View Page
Carved
 
Friday, October 29 View Page
Light it up.
 
Friday, October 29 View Page
1691.5 McMillin (2593 Patton x Self) I will be planting this seed next year for sure!
 
Friday, October 29 View Page
Happy Halloween
 
Monday, November 1 View Page
1691.5 McMillin 21’ (2593 Patton x Self) Here’s a YouTube link from the 2593 Patton seed to 1691.5 McMillin Pumpkin carving!! https://youtu.be/yS5SWveC2Fg Also if anyone is interested in seeds here’s an eBay link. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224670512188?mkevt=1&mkcid=16&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
 

 

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