Just a note to mention that I'm still alive. The 998 is alive as well. It lives under several blankets and a tarp over that. It's been warm lately, and I really should let it breathe. Most days I never make it outside.
One week from tomorrow is that final weighoff. I wonder if there is a prize? I wonder if anyone else will show up? I really hope so... This could become another weighoff to shoot for.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Cold and snow
It has snowed most of the day here. Not much is sticking, but it is very wet.
As for seeds, I have already had some inquiries about the very orange 423. On the good side, it is in fact VERY orange, it went heavy for it's size, and it has a rib-structure which I think could support a much heavier fruit. Get this one on a healthy plant, 15 feet out, and it would be real nice. On the downside, it was an open pollination. In fact, I was gone the day that it opened. I wish there was a way to determine a seed's color potential before committing to it.
To anyone interested in the 423 or the 617, they will be available. Likely I won't cut the fruit until around Halloween, unless it looks like we might go into an early deep-freeze. Freezing doesn't hurt the seed, but I'd rather not spend hours picking seeds out of COLD pumpkin flesh, lol.
The 998 is probably around 350 to 400 (guessing), but if it goes like the other two went, it could go into the 400's. I hope I can keep it healthy over the next few days, while the overnight temps dip down into the 20's.
As for seeds, I have already had some inquiries about the very orange 423. On the good side, it is in fact VERY orange, it went heavy for it's size, and it has a rib-structure which I think could support a much heavier fruit. Get this one on a healthy plant, 15 feet out, and it would be real nice. On the downside, it was an open pollination. In fact, I was gone the day that it opened. I wish there was a way to determine a seed's color potential before committing to it.
To anyone interested in the 423 or the 617, they will be available. Likely I won't cut the fruit until around Halloween, unless it looks like we might go into an early deep-freeze. Freezing doesn't hurt the seed, but I'd rather not spend hours picking seeds out of COLD pumpkin flesh, lol.
The 998 is probably around 350 to 400 (guessing), but if it goes like the other two went, it could go into the 400's. I hope I can keep it healthy over the next few days, while the overnight temps dip down into the 20's.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Pocatello Farmer's Market Weighoff
Believe it or not, there is one more weighoff for me this year. The Pocatello Farmer's Market is hosting a weighoff on Oct. 24th. That's right, right about when AG's are already a block of ice around here. That's a whole three weeks from this coming Saturday. It's quite likely that we'll have temperatures in the TEENS between now and then. Atlantic Giants have a very high water content. At those temperatures, the flesh of the fruit will actually freeze.
This could be an interesting experiment, to see if I can keep it going with lots of blankets and tarps. I might just trim it down to nothing but a main vine and the fruit. Essentially that is all that is left now anyway.
So, I'm hanging on with a 400 pounder (hopefully) on the 998 Bowles. It was supposed to be orange, but it's white/pink. I do appreciate the idea from the Pocatello Farmer's Market... I just wish it could be two or three weeks earlier.
This could be an interesting experiment, to see if I can keep it going with lots of blankets and tarps. I might just trim it down to nothing but a main vine and the fruit. Essentially that is all that is left now anyway.
So, I'm hanging on with a 400 pounder (hopefully) on the 998 Bowles. It was supposed to be orange, but it's white/pink. I do appreciate the idea from the Pocatello Farmer's Market... I just wish it could be two or three weeks earlier.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Betty's big orange one
Congratulations to Betty Urquidi, who really stepped up this year and grew this amazingly orange fruit. 507 pounds!
Brian's Weighoff
Well, I'm so slow to update this blog, I didn't even mention that I won Brian Christensen's weighoff in Rexburg this past Saturday! My pumpkin on the 1436 Nesbitt went heavy and ended up 617.5! It was taping around 530 or 550, so a finish like that always puts a good end on the season!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Main vine cut down to size
On the 1436, I've been worried about a potential rib split. I've been watching it a few days and it has not become worse, but we had a lot of rain yesterday. It's still cold now, but could warm up and with some warm sunshine and a saturated plant, those ribs could swell up and that would be it.
So, I cut the main. Not right at the fruit, but from the fruit to the base, I cut the vine so that there is only about two feet of vine in the ground before the fruit. There is also the vine after the fruit. Hopefully this will stop any major infusions of juice into the fruit, but keep it fresh.
So, I cut the main. Not right at the fruit, but from the fruit to the base, I cut the vine so that there is only about two feet of vine in the ground before the fruit. There is also the vine after the fruit. Hopefully this will stop any major infusions of juice into the fruit, but keep it fresh.
Monday, September 14, 2009
My blog is lame.
OK, back for another installment in the world's lamest blog. I think next year I might switch this again and use a combination of Facebook and the blogging features on bigpumpkins.com. We shall see. Can we get an Idaho Giant Pumpkin Facebook thing going?
In the meantime, I did happen to win the fair. 423 pounds. There were some other "large" pumpkins there... some I could tell were not Atlantic Giant and one that was about 100 pounds, I'm not sure. But I really like that someone else sent some large fruit to the fair. To anyone in our area, plant some ATLANTIC GIANT seeds next spring and bring them to the fair!
At the fair I was talking to Sharon, and promised that next year eastern Idaho is going to break their record and provide 10 giants for the fair. I believe the record is nine. So, are we up for it?
The fruit on the 1436 is somewhere between 500 and 550. It's also very close to having a rib split. This one might be worth top prize at the weighoff, but if it splits it's worth nothing but bragging rights. I need to look at it closely tonight, and maybe consider cutting it from the vine. I hate to do that, but that split could happen. It might have already happened, because I didn't look at it yesterday, and right now the rain is coming down.
In the meantime, I did happen to win the fair. 423 pounds. There were some other "large" pumpkins there... some I could tell were not Atlantic Giant and one that was about 100 pounds, I'm not sure. But I really like that someone else sent some large fruit to the fair. To anyone in our area, plant some ATLANTIC GIANT seeds next spring and bring them to the fair!
At the fair I was talking to Sharon, and promised that next year eastern Idaho is going to break their record and provide 10 giants for the fair. I believe the record is nine. So, are we up for it?
The fruit on the 1436 is somewhere between 500 and 550. It's also very close to having a rib split. This one might be worth top prize at the weighoff, but if it splits it's worth nothing but bragging rights. I need to look at it closely tonight, and maybe consider cutting it from the vine. I hate to do that, but that split could happen. It might have already happened, because I didn't look at it yesterday, and right now the rain is coming down.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Heading to the fair tonight...
In fact, within two hours. Rumor has it that I may have the only entry this year. I hope not.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Coming to a fair near you!
If you are near Blackfoot, Idaho, that is.
It looks impressive, but it doesn't measure impressively. On the 1392 Bresnick. I think it would be double size if it were 15 feet out and in good soil.
I didn't do nearly enough soil prep in the off season, and it shows. I can really begin to see the relationship here. Back when I got a few truckloads of manure, and built up my soil, my weights, while small, rose. This year has been a disaster. I need to get back to basics, and also try some completely new things.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Next year, raised beds
Next year, I will do some raised beds. Formal raised beds, constructed from lumber. More details later.
A very cool late-summer
Heading for a low in the low-40's tonight. We've had several of these already and will have a few more this week. All in all, it's not a record breaking year. I just measured my largest, it's at a whopping 350 pounds now. If I'm lucky, it could get to 500. One thing it has going for it is a great shape and no internal cracks, just like the 779 from last year. So I suppose it could weigh heavy like last year?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Summer was one month
This year we really didn't hit full-time summer weather until just after the 4th of July. Now, it's sort of like mid-September out there. Cool, with drizzly rain. Overnight temps below 50. This is not going to be a record-setting year.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Zzzzz...
OK, well my blog is about as boring as this season is. I have one decent pumpkin, and two other slow growing ones. It will take quite a turn of events for me to get to a personal best this year. I'd like to top the 779 and get into the 800's, but, it's a long shot.
Here is the 1436. It appears to be my only hope.
Here is the 1436. It appears to be my only hope.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Down to three...
Well, the 779 fruit aborted. On this one, the main vine is simply running out of energy, much like the 964 did. I have no explanation for it. And on the 964, that "peanut" isn't growing. This puts me down to three fruits that have any chance at being competitive. If I get a split or two, well...
Friday, July 24, 2009
Everything is reversed
Well, here we go. This is just such a "good and bad" year.
Two months ago, if you had told me that the 1436 and the 1392 would be the kings of the patch, I would have not thought it possible.
1436 - Looking awesome. The fruit is growing nicely, and has a perfect shape.
1392 - Also looking great. The fruit is doing well, even though the plant doesn't seem like much.
998 - The double-vining freak plant. The fruit is coming on. It should be round and orange.
Now, for the two that I THOUGHT would do well:
964 - The fruit is PEANUT shaped!! Ugh. I might need to go with a side vine fruit. I'll post a picture, but this shape doesn't bode well for it's long-term prospects. My 964 plant last year produced a 100% perfect fruit with big walls and no cracks. This one, well I mentioned that the vine kind of died off near the fruit... looks like the fruit is bad as well.
779 - Has a fruit pollinated at a good spot, but it just isn't growing much. There is still time for it to kick into gear, but so far I'm disappointed. Maybe this will become the Pocatello Farmer's Market weighoff fruit. ;-)
The 1232 is still around, and should produce some nice carvers.
Two months ago, if you had told me that the 1436 and the 1392 would be the kings of the patch, I would have not thought it possible.
1436 - Looking awesome. The fruit is growing nicely, and has a perfect shape.
1392 - Also looking great. The fruit is doing well, even though the plant doesn't seem like much.
998 - The double-vining freak plant. The fruit is coming on. It should be round and orange.
Now, for the two that I THOUGHT would do well:
964 - The fruit is PEANUT shaped!! Ugh. I might need to go with a side vine fruit. I'll post a picture, but this shape doesn't bode well for it's long-term prospects. My 964 plant last year produced a 100% perfect fruit with big walls and no cracks. This one, well I mentioned that the vine kind of died off near the fruit... looks like the fruit is bad as well.
779 - Has a fruit pollinated at a good spot, but it just isn't growing much. There is still time for it to kick into gear, but so far I'm disappointed. Maybe this will become the Pocatello Farmer's Market weighoff fruit. ;-)
The 1232 is still around, and should produce some nice carvers.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Update
Here is a general update. Maybe I'll post pictures later today.
998 - The plant is a genetic freak, with lots of vines going double, and vines going everywhere. I try to keep it pruned but it's hard to know what is what. I have a pollination at about 12 feet, on a vine that I turned into a "secondary main". It's too soon to know if this one will take, but if it doesn't just about any other fruit on the plant might do just as well.
964 - Was my best plant, but the leaves on the main just past the 10 foot mark seemed weak, would wilt every day, then finally the vine just DIED at the 13 foot mark! I don't know why. Some of the leaves there look my friend Brian Christensen's leaves, but certainly not as severe. I have a fruit there at 12.5 feet, and it will stay. Nearly all of the rest of the plant has had vines terminated already. There are a few still growing. But if the fruit takes, then it will grow at the end of the main. It has a good plant to drive it. For the moment I'm not taking off any other females until I know that this one on the main will stay.
779 - Finally had a main vine fruit pollinate yesterday. This one took forever to open. I sure hope it takes. Once I get to 12 feet, my vines really slow down.
1232 - Will be a wild plant to grow small giant pumpkins.
1392 - Plant looks a little weak, but it has my oldest main vine fruit at about 9.5 feet, and another one at around 11. It's doing OK.
1436 - This could become my best plant, depending on what the 964 does. It's a nice, straight plant that is easy to train. I have two pollinations on the main, similar to the 1392.
Looks like I might have a another weighoff to look at this year. The Pocatello Farmer's Market is hosting a weighoff, the week before Halloween. Not sure if I can keep a fruit going that long, but if so I might as well go down there and promote the sport. This weighoff appears to be really low-key. I suspect that over half of the entries will be field pumpkins. But maybe I can meet someone who is wanting to get involved, here in Pocatello. Or, maybe I'll be the only one there, with this weather we've had!
998 - The plant is a genetic freak, with lots of vines going double, and vines going everywhere. I try to keep it pruned but it's hard to know what is what. I have a pollination at about 12 feet, on a vine that I turned into a "secondary main". It's too soon to know if this one will take, but if it doesn't just about any other fruit on the plant might do just as well.
964 - Was my best plant, but the leaves on the main just past the 10 foot mark seemed weak, would wilt every day, then finally the vine just DIED at the 13 foot mark! I don't know why. Some of the leaves there look my friend Brian Christensen's leaves, but certainly not as severe. I have a fruit there at 12.5 feet, and it will stay. Nearly all of the rest of the plant has had vines terminated already. There are a few still growing. But if the fruit takes, then it will grow at the end of the main. It has a good plant to drive it. For the moment I'm not taking off any other females until I know that this one on the main will stay.
779 - Finally had a main vine fruit pollinate yesterday. This one took forever to open. I sure hope it takes. Once I get to 12 feet, my vines really slow down.
1232 - Will be a wild plant to grow small giant pumpkins.
1392 - Plant looks a little weak, but it has my oldest main vine fruit at about 9.5 feet, and another one at around 11. It's doing OK.
1436 - This could become my best plant, depending on what the 964 does. It's a nice, straight plant that is easy to train. I have two pollinations on the main, similar to the 1392.
Looks like I might have a another weighoff to look at this year. The Pocatello Farmer's Market is hosting a weighoff, the week before Halloween. Not sure if I can keep a fruit going that long, but if so I might as well go down there and promote the sport. This weighoff appears to be really low-key. I suspect that over half of the entries will be field pumpkins. But maybe I can meet someone who is wanting to get involved, here in Pocatello. Or, maybe I'll be the only one there, with this weather we've had!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
And the storm clouds gather...
This image is a prime example of how this summer has gone. Nearly every day there is some of this.
Last night we got pounded again. I've never seen so much rain in 30 minutes, at least in this part of the world.
As for the plants, despite all the water they look "wilty", probably because the soil is so compacted the roots are smothered.
Pollinations - 1392, July 3rd, open; 1436 July 4th, x964; 964 July 5th, x779;
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Update
I'm surviving here. The plants have responded to some nice weather and some good feedings. Although I'm never where I'd like to be, considering the weather I'm glad to have what I have.
One thing to note, the growth in the patch is not linear. That is, right now they are taking off. A week ago, they were not.
Pictured here is the 779 Warren. This is going to be a good seed. I already know that this one will be in my patch next year. It's at 10 feet right now.
The 964 is at 11.5 feet. The 1436 is around 9, and the 1392 is at about 8. The 1392 has taken a lot of hail damage. As for the 998, it's doing a little better but it's an odd plant due to it's propensity to throw double vines. On that one I'll probably set a few fruit wherever and keep the best one.
One thing to note, the growth in the patch is not linear. That is, right now they are taking off. A week ago, they were not.
Pictured here is the 779 Warren. This is going to be a good seed. I already know that this one will be in my patch next year. It's at 10 feet right now.
The 964 is at 11.5 feet. The 1436 is around 9, and the 1392 is at about 8. The 1392 has taken a lot of hail damage. As for the 998, it's doing a little better but it's an odd plant due to it's propensity to throw double vines. On that one I'll probably set a few fruit wherever and keep the best one.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
What a difference a day makes
I was so positive yesterday. Things have made a turn for the worse.
We got another downpour today, along with hail. Lots more leaves have been ripped up and shredded. The 1392 is particularly bad. I don't see an intact leaf on the plant.
My soil is so wet, I sink in 4 inches if I take a step on it.
We got another downpour today, along with hail. Lots more leaves have been ripped up and shredded. The 1392 is particularly bad. I don't see an intact leaf on the plant.
My soil is so wet, I sink in 4 inches if I take a step on it.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Catching up...
Here is where we stand. Not bad, considering the lack of warmth we've had!
998 Bowles - This one started out "gangbusters". Then the main vine went double, twice. I stopped the main and have anointed a secondary to become a new main. But it has taken forever to develop. One of the side vines is also a massive double vine. Many of the vines simply grow straight up into the air... it's a crazy plant and I'm not sure what I'll get from it.
964 Wolf - Awesome in every way, except that it has a nice split in the main vine. I think it's manageable, if I can keep it from getting worse. The main is out beyond 10 feet right now, I think.
779 Warren - Also very good. Almost as long as the 964, (from whence it came). It has a female at about 9 feet which should open in about 5 days. But that one is early. I should have a nice set at 12 or 13 feet, at the proper time!
1392 Bresnick - Odd looking plant, hairy, weird leaves, but doing OK. A little smaller than the first three I mentioned.
1436 Nesbitt - Looking fine. About the same size as the 1392. This was Elise's plant, but she seemed to have lost interest this year when she found out that the fair wasn't hosting a big money prize. So far I've done all the work, and so it becomes my plant. Between this one and the 998, likely one of these will need to be the fair fruit, because I can't get the others out until one of these comes out of the patch.
1232 Bailey - Out of the running. The plant has always been small, and then a section of the main got some sort of rot or it just didn't develop. It came out 90 degrees out of phase, and the main is now snapped... The plant might stay around simply because there is no other use for the space.
998 Bowles - This one started out "gangbusters". Then the main vine went double, twice. I stopped the main and have anointed a secondary to become a new main. But it has taken forever to develop. One of the side vines is also a massive double vine. Many of the vines simply grow straight up into the air... it's a crazy plant and I'm not sure what I'll get from it.
964 Wolf - Awesome in every way, except that it has a nice split in the main vine. I think it's manageable, if I can keep it from getting worse. The main is out beyond 10 feet right now, I think.
779 Warren - Also very good. Almost as long as the 964, (from whence it came). It has a female at about 9 feet which should open in about 5 days. But that one is early. I should have a nice set at 12 or 13 feet, at the proper time!
1392 Bresnick - Odd looking plant, hairy, weird leaves, but doing OK. A little smaller than the first three I mentioned.
1436 Nesbitt - Looking fine. About the same size as the 1392. This was Elise's plant, but she seemed to have lost interest this year when she found out that the fair wasn't hosting a big money prize. So far I've done all the work, and so it becomes my plant. Between this one and the 998, likely one of these will need to be the fair fruit, because I can't get the others out until one of these comes out of the patch.
1232 Bailey - Out of the running. The plant has always been small, and then a section of the main got some sort of rot or it just didn't develop. It came out 90 degrees out of phase, and the main is now snapped... The plant might stay around simply because there is no other use for the space.
These leaves.....
I wish I could figure out what's "eating" these leaves. They first appear as tears in the leaf. And then they progress.
Click on the images to get a high resolution version.
I did use neem about one month ago, and then I used it again today.
My leaves always look like this, every year. I'd like to know what causes it!
Still hasn't changed
I haven't needed to water anything for three weeks!
We're in the wettest month ever for Pocatello, and it's only the 20th of June!
We're in the wettest month ever for Pocatello, and it's only the 20th of June!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
998 Surgery
I performed surgery on the 998 Bowles, to stop a double vine.
First of all, if you are seeing this via Facebook, it's because I setup my blog to send the blog posts to Facebook as notes. But, on FB you aren't seeing the pictures. If you would like to see the pictures, visit me at:
http://cliffsgiantpumpkin.blogspot.com/
OK, well the idea is to stop the double-vine completely and then train a secondary to take over. You can see how this vine is a trouble spot. It's sticking straight up and probably won't come down.
The offending main vine:
With the amount of "stuff" pruned away, hopefully that will send a lot of energy to a secondary. The secondary I have picked out is two nodes up from the double-bundle of pumpkin parts.
Before:
After:
First of all, if you are seeing this via Facebook, it's because I setup my blog to send the blog posts to Facebook as notes. But, on FB you aren't seeing the pictures. If you would like to see the pictures, visit me at:
http://cliffsgiantpumpkin.blogspot.com/
OK, well the idea is to stop the double-vine completely and then train a secondary to take over. You can see how this vine is a trouble spot. It's sticking straight up and probably won't come down.
The offending main vine:
With the amount of "stuff" pruned away, hopefully that will send a lot of energy to a secondary. The secondary I have picked out is two nodes up from the double-bundle of pumpkin parts.
Before:
After:
998 double-vining
Well, I see now why the 998 has such a monster vine. It's double-vining again. It had done this early on, then it split and I terminated one. Now it's double vining again. Not to panic... I'll just have to look at it and decide how to best manage it. Pics are forthcoming, I hope. And, it does look like it's spliting again, and if so I'll just terminate one.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Comeback
These plants never cease to amaze me. On Friday I was blasted by wind. The plants were a mess. I pruned out quite a few twisted vines and a lot of broken leaves. By Sunday evening, the plants are looking great again. To the untrained eye, it would appear that nothing happened! They just fill in the empty spots and look great! I should always remember that top growers take out 1/3 to 1/2 of their secondaries anyway, and it should be good for the plant.
I'd say that I'm nearing 7 feet on the mains of the 998 and 964. That's pretty good considering that I've been with cool temperatures over the past week. Today is the first day that we're starting to see some sun in quite some time. This rainy pattern is supposed to continue through this week, but I'm hoping for some lucky breaks of sun.
The 998 is a monster. I've never had such a vigorous plant. The main vine is huge for this stage.
I'd say that I'm nearing 7 feet on the mains of the 998 and 964. That's pretty good considering that I've been with cool temperatures over the past week. Today is the first day that we're starting to see some sun in quite some time. This rainy pattern is supposed to continue through this week, but I'm hoping for some lucky breaks of sun.
The 998 is a monster. I've never had such a vigorous plant. The main vine is huge for this stage.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Is this the end?
I'm not talking about the end of my giant pumpkins.
When we have to turn our central heating on, in June? When we get more rain in one week than we usually get in a year? I've had the sprinklers off for a week now. That has never happened before. The sun is at a low ebb, but it's out of character, out of it's normal cycle.
On Friday the wind really did a number on my plants. I had to do a lot of pruning, but they will come back just fine. Right now I'm wondering when the weather will give them warm growing conditions.
When we have to turn our central heating on, in June? When we get more rain in one week than we usually get in a year? I've had the sprinklers off for a week now. That has never happened before. The sun is at a low ebb, but it's out of character, out of it's normal cycle.
On Friday the wind really did a number on my plants. I had to do a lot of pruning, but they will come back just fine. Right now I'm wondering when the weather will give them warm growing conditions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)