September, 2005

September 3rd, 2005           This is the 451 Christensen 2005 (1048 Companion x selfed). Very nice color. This had been my biggest pumpkin in the patch and I was going to leave this one for the PPP but of the 4 pumpkins left in the patch it was the only one that didn't grow the 4 days before the fair. The other 3 pumpkins all had a great 4 days (for this year anyway) averaging between 6 and 12 pounds a day. The 670 passed this one and is estimated at 436 pounds. The 451 weighed in a little heavy it was estimated at 427 pounds.

This is Blake's pumpkin that weighed in at 387.5 pounds. It weighed in a little heavy at it was estimated at 369 pounds. This is out of his 641 last year and crossed with 961 Daletas. It isn't as big as his last years pumpkin but he was pleased. He took this to the fair along with cantalope, cucumbers, jack-be-little, jack-o-lanterns, and corn. He had a total of 8 entries and he ended up getting ribbons on everything at the state fair. He competed in the adult class not the Jr. division. He was bouncing off of the wall with excitment. He had to go look at produce at least 4 times while we were at the fair. This is one reason I grow giant pumpkins.      This plants did get a little frost damage this week. We had two nights that were about 31 degrees. But for the most part they are still up and running.     I spoke with John Taberna this week out of western labs. Unfortunatley he didn't have a lot of suggestions. My tissue sample was okay and he didn't think that sulfur and managanese were low enough to cause significant problems.    I will not be putting on manure this season but I will be adding about 100 bale of chopped straw and all the leaves I can find, trying to "feed the soil"

Will also be pulling the 898 (as its the sicliest looking plant) and get it analyzed for pathagons and repeating my soil test to see where my pH is. If my pH is still at 8 I will be adding 900 pounds of sulfur to the patch.     This is a picture of the giants at the state fair. 451 is front left, it took first place as well as Grand Champion, Cliff Warrens 412  is front right. This pumpkin was supposed to be about 500 pounds but unfortunatly it went way light. Blake's 387.5 is in the back. Cliff had the only squash 280 pounds. 3 weeks to the 5th annual Eastern Idaho Pumpkin Pickin Party

September 11th     Starting to stock pile organic matter for the fall patch prep. I hauled 100 bales of barley straw yesterday. The plan is to simply till this in this fall. My dad then reminded me that I have at least that much old hay at his house. I'd forgot all about it. I think I will begin a compost pile with it so that I will have some good compost to fill my planting pits this spring. I did not dig the pits this year but I will be doing it next spring.      pH returned at 8 again. I will try the sulfur but from all my reading it is impossible to lower the pH of calcerous soils (they contain free lime, mine is 7% lime).      The 670 Daigle is doing okay. It is now estimated at 493#. It ain't huge but it might break 500. Have had three light frosts but no killing frost. It feels like fall outside now so I suspect it will happen this week. Once it does I will harvest the pumpkins and begin the fall patch prep.

September 17th      1 week to go. Hit by frost pretty good this week. It got down to 28 degrees. I had the sprinklers on but still had significant damage. Only grew 1 inch on the 670 this week. I've turned the sprinklers off and will think about ripping out the plants this week. Lots of patch work to do for  next spring. Kids harvested their pumpkins today so that they are out of the way.    Hauled about 50 bales of spoiled hay and made a large compost pile out of. Thank heavens for a tractor to turn this thing over. It is about 5' tall and 15x20. This is what I will fill my planting pits with next spring.