| September 2007 |
| September 5th, The end is nearing. Less then 4 weeks to the weighoff. By the forecast less then 4 days until frost. Saturday is supposed to be cold so we shall see. The 1101, 857's and 869 will all be covered in plastic. The only pumpkin that will not be covered is the 500 Northrup. The pumpkins on that plant are still growing but just not at the pace that the others are. Even they are nothing to complain at measured at 673 and 611. Here are pictures of my frames that will hopefully protect my plants from the season ending frosts. They are not to be taken likely as they take 3-4 hours each to erect and the supplies to build them cost several hundred dollars (but the stuff can be reused). I have three of these in place. A wood fram is built completely over the pumpkin and then a 6 mil. plastic is draped over it. It has been up for about 2 weeks now and is working well. It is the most elaborate system I've had so far but it also seems to be working the best. I have heaters that can be plugged in at night for additional heat. |
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| September 6th, Had a long night last night. Cliff emailed me and said that my pumpkin was rotting down at the fair. Sure enough by the time I get there it is literally oozing goop. I did not arrive untill the fair was closing. They had buckets set up to catch the ooze but the entire building smelt like rotten pumpkin. I cut out the seeds right there. I ended up with about 240 good seeds. Ineresting only two seed actually had mold growing into the shell. The rest of seeds washed off easily. Thank heavens I had left the pumpkin on the pallet. It was relatively easy to haul it out and put it in a dumpster. Measured last night and still getting about 10#/day on all the pumpkins. I am begining to wonder how many pumpkins there will be at the weighoff. Several of the long time growers have had problems and will not have any pumpkins to bring. If you have one let me know. After cutting it open it was obvious why it was so light. The walls were THIN. The thinnest I have ever seen. The thickest it was was only about 4" and near the Dill ring it was 1-2". I do not know if this is genetics or environment. In 2002 when I had two large pumpkins each of them weighed extremely light indicating perhaps it was my patch. When you look through the AGGC at the varience of offspring from on pumpkin the difference is huge. Often ranging from 20% heavy to 20% light. I suspect it is environmental growing conditions that has them most effect on % heavy/light. Just my theory September 9th, The growth does seem to be slowing. The only way I will make 1000 is if they weigh heavy. The 500 Northrup will be done tonight as there is a freeze warning out and it is the only plant that is not covered at this point. 1101 Northrup estimated at 919#, 857 Christensen (karie's) = 746#, 857 Christensen main vine = 786#, back main vine = 889# (no growth over the last 4 days), 500 Northrup main vine = 717#, back main = 658#, and the 869.5 Calai is estimated at 993#. This pumpkin is almost impossible to measure and will not weigh anywhere close to this. I'm leaving town in the morning for 10 days. Leaving the plants to Mom, Kids and Mother nature. Hopefully as is well on my return. Sepetember 20th, I got back in town today. Not to surprizing Jabba as my wife named the pumpkin on the 869 Calai split while I was away. It is caulked up and hopefully holds together for another week. It tapes at 1127# but I seriously doubt it ways that much. Click on this link to see what I've been up to. |
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| September 24th The days are getting shorter and its getting hard to get anything done. Getting things put together for the Pumpkin Pickin Party on Saturday. I expect it to have the best year ever in terms of pumpkin weights. Not sure how the turnout is going to be. I've heard of a smaller pumpkin coming from the rexburg area, and 500 pounder from Idaho Falls. I will not measure again until Saturday. It is getting cold 51 degrees for a high today. I doubt there is much growth going on. Hoping for 1000 pounds! September 30th, The 7th Annual Eastern Idaho Pumpkin Pickin Party is complete. See this link for details 2007 PPP(not up yet) Jabba the pumpkin on the 869.5 is the biggest pumpkin ever grown in Idaho coming in at 1071#. It was a damaged pumpkin so therefore is not a "state record". The pumpkin on the 857 Christensen that I had my hopes on had a surprise awaiting under it. When it was lifted a hole was found on the bottom that pentrated into the cavityl. It weighed in at 1016# but again not a state record because of the hole in it. The last potential pumpkin which has been solid throughout the season hit the scales at 1040#. A new personal best and a New Idaho State Record! Three pumpkins over a 1000# in one year. I would have to give a two thumbs up to this season. The only huge drawback was the June 18th frost this set back most of my plants and killed my sons. I missed sharing his excitement in the patch. I did however get to share my wife's first growing season. Her pumpkin (also grown on the 857 Christensen) came in at 852.5#. She was totally tickled with this. I have my doubts that she will ever grow again. She can now say she has done it and will probably leave it at that. Although my hat is dipped to her as she helps me out through the season dropping doors, raising doors, turning on sprinklers ect. ect. I will try to get all my pumpkins up on a single page for review but it will have to wait a bit. Yes those are snow flakes in the pictures, and on the leaves and the ground. A fitting day to pick the pumpkins. Not much growth going to happen once it starts to snow. |
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| 1016 Christensen 2007 damaged 857 Christensen x 670 Daigle |
| 1071 Christensen 2007 (Jabba) damaged 869.5 Calai x selfed |
| 1040 Christensen 2007 Idaho State Record 1101 Northrup x 869.5 Calai |