I added 50 bales of barley straw, 800 bags of leaves, and 50 bales of hay to the patch. These were spread out and left to mulch and decompose. 32 yards of manure was added to the patch thanks to Steve Hatton
February 12th, Just when I was thinking spring might be coming we get the biggest snowstorm of the year. All the snow was gone as of 6:30 this morning. By 7:00 we had an inch and tonight we have about 4 inches. Just a reminder that winter here in Idaho is long and isn't over until at least May.
As I contemplate this coming season I wonder just how much time I will spend in the patch. Growing pumpkins is an enormous undertaking, and there are other things to be done. No doubt I will wonder about this all season long but ultimatley I will spend as much time as I do in the patch and the important thing is to enjoy yourself as the season goes.
My daughter informed me this morning that she would not be growing a pumpkin this year. She has gone back and forth several times already. We shall see. That would give me spot for another plant but I'm not sure I can care for what I have space for anyway. I will have room to grow 5 full size plants (double christmas tree style with about 1500 square foot each) or 10 smaller plants (single christmas tree style)
The following seeds will be planted this coming season. 670 Daigle, 1101 Northrup, and the 869.5 Calai. On the short list will be the 857 Christensen I will probably start several of these as backups in case the primary seed doesn't germinate. 603 Muller which has grown some pretty orange pumpkins but nothing with any great size, the 1069 Ligget, and the 1250 Kline which is an unproven seed from last year but it had great color and size. The longer list includes so great seeds 891 Northrup, 710 Companion, 689 Sandercock, 500 Northrup, 504 Christensen, 940 Mombert, 1074 Calai and the 730 Dill. Everyone of these has great orange genetics. No ugly pumpkins in my patch this year.
I will be giving a growers seminar on March 24th 2pm at town and country gardens in Idaho Falls. This is just to generate some interest in growing giant pumpkins here in Idaho.
March 25th
What an incredible spring!! We've been in the 60's for much of the past 10 days. This is April weather not March. I have no misconceptions that this will last. Winter will return. But you know what they say Make Hay while the sun shines! The planting pits are dug and I got them about half full. I'm layering, 1 year old horse manure, old hay that has been cold composted for the past 2 years, leaves from last fall and soil back into the pits. Once that is done I will deep fork at least where the cloches are going if not more. I would really like to get the cloches up a little early this year to stimulate some weed growth that I can they kill before I plant.
Had a small turnout at Cliff's seminar in Pocatello on Friday aobut 10-12 people. Had a much better turnout at the seminar in Idaho Falls yesterday (around 40 people). Hopefully there will be a few larger pumpkins in Eastern Idaho this fall.
Time to start think about what I am going to plant. Again I am growing for orange. It is a tough decision as there are so many seeds out there. But the tenative list is as follows. I will have five plants, My wife will be growing one, and my son two squash (both of my daughters have decided not to grow this season. I will start several 504 Christensen, and 857 Christensen for backups (a total of six) in case any do not germinate or fail the thrive, Blake will start several of his 262 squash from last year (848 MacKenzie x self) for backups.
Brian's List Karie's List (she will have to decide which one to grow) Blake's List
1101 Northrup 603.5 Muller 895 Hester
670 Daigle 940 Mombert (2000) 1131 Timm
869.5 Calai 1233 Reiss 848 MacKenzie
500 Northrup
730 Dill
Other seeds being considered are 1225 Jutras (it grew my 833 last year but it wasn't orange), 1069 Ligget, 1250 Kline, 710 Companion, 1048 companion, 689 Sandercock, 1074 C alai, and the 1099 Clark.
Interestingly last year my two largest pumpkins were the earliest pollinated (July 2). I'm not exactly sure what exactly that means but my take is that those were the most vigourous plants and they continued to be that way through the season. I would like to pollinate a little sooner. I think that if I pollinate a little sooner my frosts that always happen around September 1st might not be so devastating. It is easier to protect a small plant from the frost then a large one. So I am considering moving my planting date up a week this year. Particularly if I cna get the patch in shape in plenty of time. My typical day is April 23rd I may move up to April 15th.