Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 18 Entries. Friday, January 10 View Page 2025, here we go! First soil test of the year.   Friday, January 10 View Page Something I've never tested for before... Nematodes.   Tuesday, January 14 View Page The trio of pre-season reporting is complete (for me). Got this back from Western Labs, and the results are pretty much what I was expecting. I've already done one mustard cover crop. Over the weekend I threw seeds out for Hairy Vetch, Clover, and Winter Rye in the patch for my second crop cycle. I just sprinkled a handful of mustard seeds in as soon as I got home today after seeing this. If the weather plays nice I just might be able to squeeze in a 3rd cover crop before the season begins, and that would be more mustard. I need to do some research on biologicals that could assist to combat the specific diseases I have...   Friday, January 17 View Page Soil cables installed. Also added some pro mix to the pit to loosen it up. After 12" it's all clay so I didn't go past that point   Friday, January 17 View Page Weak!   Friday, January 17 View Page My goal this season is to be a root farmer first. The plant and pumpkin will follow. I hope to see big improvements this post season when I pull the plant.   Sunday, February 2 View Page Today was a maintenance day. Cleaned out the water tank to prep for the season. Received my drip tape shipment to be assembled another day. Drenched a mix of Clearys 3336 and Stergo MX to combat disease. The off season days are just as important as anything else. How many days until the show?   Saturday, March 15 View Page Getting closer to the final cut and till of my off season cover crops. We've had a bit of rain lately and that is causing the invasive weeds to explode on the hill side. I have started gathering materials for my shade structure and have gone so far as to build out a special calendar on my phone for my grow plan this season. Excited for the season.   Saturday, March 29 View Page Shade structure up. Drip lines next.   Sunday, March 30 View Page After a pressure test, my drip system is set.   Sunday, March 30 View Page This season I'm trying to do things slightly different in the patch. One of those things is to bring 110v power in. It opens this season up to soil heating cables, non-battery powered fans, cameras, sensors, those inflatable wavy-arm things you see at car dealerships, you name it. Pictured is my thermostat for the heating cables, which are buried. The white PVC pipe will be topped with a small bucket to keep water off the electronics if needed.   Thursday, April 3 View Page After a soak, the 2025 season is officially underway. Good luck this year everyone.   Saturday, April 5 View Page In keeping with my goal of being a root farmer this season, I've made up some walking planks for the patch. Last year I didn't make a whole hearted effort to keep the soil compaction to a minimum. This will help.   Friday, April 18 View Page Plants in the ground! Still figuring out the heating cables, soil temps were 60* before I flipped the power on. This season I'm also trying out new cameras for a time lapse. Anyone have experience with that? I'm not sure if a photo every 10 mins is too infrequent.   Wednesday, April 23 View Page I'm going to grow 2 plants "outdoors" in 2025. I am going to start them in a gigantic hothouse. It is going to be 24' wide x 40' long. I've been playing around with how I'm going to build the frame. I'm planning to build it from 2- 10'x20' Harbor Freight car port frames & 16' pieces of pvc I've been using for years.   Thursday, June 5 View Page I had a pretty slow start with my plant once it hit the ground, but it's finally moving along. Colder than normal weather has put me behind last years pace when looking at photos. Still have a long way to go until weigh offs and I might end up pushing back my anticipated/planned pollination week to get the plant more established if it's not where I want it. It's too early to say for sure. It all depends on the weather cooperating and I see a lot of sun in the forecast. That's a great thing!   Tuesday, June 17 View Page I am about a week behind what I planned, but the plant seems to be kicking into gear. The weather has been much better lately. This is going to be my pumpkin, putting the good juju out that it will take upon pollination and not put me further behind schedule. It's about 17' down the main and in a great spot in the patch. I'm incredibly excited to see if all the changes I've made in my patch translate into a better growth curve for the fruit. Fingers crossed!   Friday, June 20 View Page 2560 Gienger x 2144 Barron, pollination day.