Well it is getting close to the 2018 season so I thought that I would run a full diary from start to finish. My season started at the beginning of February with the planting of carrots which were followed by Parsnips and then Kohlrabies and finally fodder beets.
Parsnips are the feature vegetable for the Royal Winter Fair this year so I am going to give them a try. They all start out so slow unlike AG's which are ready to go in just a few weeks after germination. I start three or four plants in each pot and then remove the lesser plants and keep the most aggressive plant.
Halloween is always fun for pumpkin growers because we get to have the biggest jack o lanterns on the block.
My 108.5 field pumpkin ended up in the lobby were I live. I was not able to be there because I was at the Royal Winter Fair weighing giant pumpkins.
My 11% light 925 lb. pumpkin got carved by Phil Hunt. Apparently it had very soft flesh which would account for it's light weight
Phil and Jane's 1959 lb. pumpkin got the professional carver treatment. It created a lot of attention along hwy 35. and drew a lot of people in to take pictures.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair was the last stop of the season for me. The number of entries was down this year but there were some big entries. I took first place with a 48.8 lb. fodder beet and my other field pumpkin took first place in the newly created field pumpkin category at 104.4 lbs. My giant pumpkin came in at third at 1024.2 lbs. and my Kohlrabi came third at 27 lbs.
I was very happy with my new personal best parsnip which also took first place at 13 lbs. For a parsnip that is a big one as the world record is listed at 17.3 lbs.
I was able to fit all of my Royal entries along with Phil and Jane's on Saturday. We were happy with the weights or at least how heavy they feel. Looks like we are going to have a battle of the giant root veggies.
My field pumpkin will have to ride shotgun with me until next Saturday.
Last Saturday was the Wellington weigh-off. I had nothing to enter so I went and was also the main judge as well. It was a lot of work because of the high number of entries but with help from Phil Joynson I was able to get the job done.
Unfortunately I did not have my camera and missed a great opportunity with so many orange pumpkins lined up at a weigh-off. Several personal bests were had with Harley Sproule taking first place at 1761.5.
The patch is looking a lot better now, all cleaned up and almost ready for 2019. The weather has become a real problem now with very cold nights and relentless winds making plant protection a real problem.
Pulled out my big fodder beet due to a large area that was rotted out on the back side. It weighed just over 60 lbs. and despite an area missing due to rot it could have set a new Canadian record at the Royal.
My alternate fodder beet. much smaller and I guess around 30-40 lbs. will be my Royal fair entry this year. Unfortunately I know of another one that will give me a run for fodder beet bragging rights.
The Woodbridge weigh-off was a lot of fun and despite the dark skies we only had a few light showers. The turnout was great and there was a lot of great pumpkins weighed. My 2624 Willemijns weighed a disappointingly 11% light at 925 lbs. and ended up in 7th place. Maybe things will turn out better next year.
Phil and Jane Hunt and their 1959 lb. pumpkin. It was great to see it finally get weighed and the door is still open for a 2000 lb. pumpkin maybe next year. Congratulations Phil and Jane.
Al Eaton with a ridiculously impressive long gourd at 148". Only 1.5 " short of his world record. Awesome job Al.
My last and smallest pumpkin is loaded for the Woodbridge Fair. There was a reason why I even kept it on the plant in the first place and I am glad that I did otherwise I would only have one pumpkin to weigh. The male pollinator was the reason. The worst kept secret this year for sure.
Good luck Phil and Jane at Woodbridge Saturday.
It took a little extra work but it was safely loaded today. A huge thanks to Matt Leach. I can't imagine trying to lift this pumpkin with my tripod.
Big pumpkins need big tractors. Hopefully it will be a personal best for Phil and Jane.
Port Elgin Pumpkinfest was again a great experience and although my giant pumpkin was not too impressive it did manage to place ninth at 1053.5 lbs.
The 1053.5 Lyons 2018. 2624 Willemijns x self. It went a little light and was only 73 days old when I cut it off the vine.
The stars of the show. The 1855 Matesa on the left and the 1871.5 Bryson on the right. Lots of other great pumpkins there as well.
Things have really gone downhill during the past few weeks so I decided to suck it up and load a bunch of not so giant vegetables for Port Elgin after work today. I'm not expecting much and I am really only going for fun. This will be my 29th consecutive year at Port Elgin and only once did I not take a giant pumpkin. I can't imagine not being there and I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Its been a rough year, have lost many plants. Yours look great.
Jim
Saturday was the first weigh-off of 2018 at Bracebridge and since I had less work to do in the patch and a big tomato and field pumpkin I decided to go. Had a great time at a great fair and weigh-off and set a personal best for tomato and a first place field pumpkin at 116 lbs.
At 5.36 lbs. it is a personal best by .04 lbs. It was grown off the 5.68 Porkchop and is a Domingo variety. I have another on the same plant that is coming along well at 23" cc.
It's Pepper power time now. The bell peppers are getting to world class size now. The one on the right is a Willemijns which is growing long bell peppers and on the left are the Nieuwenhoff world record peppers. I have no idea how they will weigh but they are big.
The 2624 Willemijns twins are still alive and growing at a less than great rate but they are over 1000 lbs. for sure. I gave them their last feeding of the season today and I still don't know where they will be going to be weighed. I should know by next weekend.
Growing giant pumpkins can be a cruel endeavor for many at this time of year with many big ones going down without warning. The crazy weather swings like we are experiencing now make it very difficult to manage the aging fruits and plants. All we can do now is be vigil for possible problems and hope for the best.
The 2118* Jutras at day 65. When I pulled the sheet off on Saturday I new it was done. The colour had faded and a quick look underneath revealed that the blossom had finally split open. Not a big surprise but it could have been special. Ended up just under 1200 lbs. and is an absolute boulder.
The 2624 Willemijns at day 54. All that I have left now is the Willemijns twins. I have some doubts about whether they will make it as well due to a bad bottom shape on this fruit in particular.
It's still growing OK for September but the extreme weather shifts make me wonder if I should push it or let it coast in for the last few weeks.
My largest fodder beet is really big and seems to be in good shape. It will be a personal best for sure but it has a long time to go before it gets weighed.
My carrots and parsnips are all very large at the surface now. I pulled one rotten carrot that was around 5 lbs. I won't know what any of them are like until they are harvested but I'm sure that some of them will be big.
That's tough Chris. It's been a really frustrating year for most. Lots of rib splits and blowouts this year. Speaking of which I have a worse sag in a rib than you have and I'm pretty sure I'll be adding to the compost pile as well. Thanks for doing a diary this year. I enjoyed the Sunday night updates all season.