1303 Sweet

1468.5 Stevens

Giant Tomato

1674 Hopkins

I hope the worst of the weather is past.  The 1674 Marsh which has been my most aggresive plants suffered some wind damage.  I think it will be ok.  It has a female pumpkin on the end of the main vine at about 8-10 feet.  May not have a male blossom to pollinate with. Have had one male on the 1303 Sweet.  Here's hoping for some good weather. 

Is this a sign? I hope so.

Whether a sign or not it is pretty impressive.  My daughter made this last week.  Pumpkins are doing great; but am losing some sleep over the cool weather.  Was up at 3 this morning, greenhouse heat had gone out and  temp was 34 degrees.  Gotta protect those babies.

Pumpkin Season 2011

The 2011 season is off to a good start, it seemed that it would take forever with the cold wet weather.  I have been devoting most of my free time to the greenhouse construction.  Seems like I always have a big spring project that seems to take forever. 

The pumpkin seminar was a success with 21 people attending; I just hope that all of you grow a big pumpkin.  I want to thank Renee Kittle and Brenda Richey for helping and promoting the seminar.  Their work is much appreciated.  The tenative date for the weighoff is September 26, 2011 at the Ronan harvest festival.  I would like to have some patch tours during the growing season if you are interested. Mine is always open for you to come visit.  Just give me a call.  Ph. 250-5154

1520 Sperry inside cold frame with heater

Cold Frame

1468.5 Stevens and 1303 Sweet inside greenhouse, looks like the 1468.5 Stevens is starting to run

24 x 60 greenhouse

Need help give me a call. 

2011 Pumpkin Year

Well folks the 2011 growing year is kicking off. Plants are up, but I started them about a week later this year.  Seeds were soaked and put in 5" peat pots on 5/10/2011.  Rotating one patch this year.  Amendments are in place on that patch.  Soil was tested fall and spring with results to Tom Bohica at Extreme Pumpkin Store.  He recommended that I add 50 lbs kelp meal, liquid gypsum, 20 lbs blood meal, 4 lbs humic acid, triple phosphate, compost or age manure. Putting in a 24 x 60 greenhouse in the lower patch. That is not quite done yet.  Hope to soon get that done; weather has been a factor.   I hope to have plants in the ground by next week.   

We had 21 people for the pumpkin seminar on Tuesday evening. Meeting lasted about 2.5 hrs.  Thanks to all that came.  We plan to have a weighoff on Sept. 24th. at the Harvest Festival at the fairgrounds in Ronan.  Get your plants started and good luck.  If you need help call or e-mail me.  I will try to upload some pictures with this post of the pumpkin class and my greenhouse construction.

511 May on left.  This is from the 1579 Revier pollinated with the 1725 Harp.  The pumpkin on the right is the 588 May which if from the 1528 Starr crossed with the 1725 Harp. Harvested 9/17/2010

From the right is the 511 May, 588 May and the 601 May.  The 601 May was from a 1502 Wallace pollinated with the 1725 Harp. 

At the weighoff in Hamilton, Montana.  From the right is 588 May, 601 May and then the 782 Lutke/Koshmeder.

Bringing the 588 May from the patch.  Scott Kaiser on left, Emmett May (grower) on right.  Emily May in background. 

Pumpkin Final

Took 3 pumpkins to the weighoff on Saturday.  One was used for a guess the weight and two were entered into competition. The 1502 Wallace weighed 601 lbs and the 1528 Starr weighed 588 lbs.  Not bad for a terrible year weather wise and being hard hit by hail.  The guess the weight pumpkin was 511 lbs. 

The two competition pumpkins got 2nd and 3rd place.  A 782 lb pumpkin from Shelby beat me.  The pumpkin was raised under a hoop house all year. 

I am already plotting next year's crop.

Pumpkin Update

Only 8 days left before the giants are lifted from their beds and loaded for the competition. I must say that it has been a tough year.  Cold and wet for the most part.  That along with angular leaf spot and hail.  I must say it has been a challenge.  Pumpkins slow way down in the cold weather. 

I still have managed to do fairly well, the 1528 Starr should make 600 lbs and the 1502 is stalled at about 560 lbs.  Maybe next year will be better.  I thought in July that I might have a chance at a 1,000 pounder but the weather was just crappy.  No heat this summer.  The tomatoes in the garden won't ripen its been so cool. 

We're having the 2nd annual pumpkin harvest party on the evening of the 17th.  Expect about 30 guests.  It is a fun affair.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, salmon burgers, etc. after the loading of the giants. 

Been building a lifting ring the last two days.  It it complete and will be used at the weighoff.