Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 81 Entries. Monday, April 20 View Page Such a great time of the year, when we all start the season with enthusiasm and high hopes. To you....reading my diary....I wish you the best of luck, a big ol' pumpkin and lots of fun! � Monday, April 20 View Page This year's seeds surrounded by good luck charms - 2003 Haist - 2433 Paton - 745 Lawrence - 2005 Haist - 1382 Rea - 1533 Rea. We need all the help we can get! � Monday, April 20 View Page Heating cables are fastened to mats and ready to go. � Wednesday, April 22 View Page What a difference a day makes! Finally....finally....finally....the soil was dry enough to apply the amendments and do the final till. In spite of the cold and wind, I had to act fast, since rain is forecasted 8 of the next 9 days. Huts are assembled, heating cables buried, ceramic heaters turned on and walking boards are in place. Photo is a little deceiving. The huts are actually 4' wide, 8' long, and 30' apart. � Thursday, May 7 View Page Here is my entry for Throw-back Thursday. One of OVGPG's finest moments! Our own Christy and Nick Harp setting the new world record at 1725 pounds in 2009! Pumpkin excitement at its finest!! � Monday, May 11 View Page Crazy weather for Mothers' Day - cold and drizzly. I kept the heaters on and huts closed up tight. Then the sun came out.......120 degrees inside the huts! Opened one end. 2 hours later, I got a weather alert that severe wind and rain would start in 3 minutes. Rushed to the garden - turned on the heaters - lit the candles - closed up the huts. Drove my garden cart back to the house in the wind and rain. Sun came out, and here was this beautiful sight! � Monday, May 11 View Page Ahhh.........the life of a giant pumpkin grower! � Thursday, May 14 View Page Throw back Thursday - 2007 - One of our annual "punkin pickin' parties". These are Prizewinner pumpkins that we scratched the names on in mid-August. Several of these kids are now in college - 2 in the military - 2 have babies of their own! Ahhhh, the good ol' days! � Tuesday, May 26 View Page This is my 1533 Rea from last season. Patch mates are 2433 Paton - 2005 Haist - 1382 Rea. They went from a string of frosty overnights to coping with temps in the mid-80's. � Tuesday, May 26 View Page Ready for the heatwave........the plastic has been replaced with shade cloth - fans - and a high-tech, automated mister......that's me! � Wednesday, June 17 View Page Side view of 1533 Rea - growing nicely but not quite big enough for a pollination. This year I will go with Eddy's words......"size trumps date"! � Wednesday, June 17 View Page Party pumpkins are all planted.......20 total. There are a few sizes of jack-o-lanterns, some novelties & gourds, a 175 McKinnon, and I'm excited to grow a 745 Lawrence. Jeff Lawrence is a PA grower who flies somewhat under the radar and has grown beautiful orange pumpkins for years. His foundation stock is from 603 Muller and he has added in the 575 Wolf. � Friday, June 19 View Page The 743 Lawrence I mentioned is actually the 746 Lawrence...........and here she is! WOW!! � Friday, June 19 View Page GOT ORANGE? Jeff Lawrence collection from last season. Amazing! � Friday, June 19 View Page Jeff has been growing beautiful pumpkins for many many years and has been to just one weighoff. And did win the Howard Dill Award. If you're looking for consistant orange you may want to contact Jeff for seeds. As previously mentioned, these pumpkins are 603 Mullers and 575 Wolfs. � Friday, June 19 View Page One more! I wanted you orange growers to meet Jeff Lawrence from PA. Jeff, Looking forward to seeing you and your pumpkins at more weighoffs! � Monday, July 6 View Page Hot Hot Hot!! with several more days in the 90's coming up. I've put 4' wide strips of shade cloth right on the leaves, and so far have prevented scorched leaves. The downside is that it must be removed in the evening, so young leaves trying to grow don't get scrunched and tendrils don't attach. A bit time consuming..........but whatever works! � Thursday, July 9 View Page Crazy times........we need some funny women to make us smile! Lucy is my first pumpkin to hit 10 days - 2433 Paton, pollinated with a 2005 Haist. � Saturday, July 11 View Page This is Goldie (Hawn). She is a 1533 Rea, pollinated with a 1382 Rea, and 10 days old. � Sunday, July 12 View Page Another funny lady made it to day 10. This is Lily (Tomlin) - 1382 Rea, pollinated with a 1533 Rea. � Sunday, July 12 View Page OK.....so I'm not as big as my patch sisters, but I sure am cute! I am Gracie (Allen) - 2005 Haist pollinated with a 2433 Paton, and I am also 10 days old. � Sunday, July 19 View Page 2433 Paton - "Lucy......you've got some splanin' to do! Have you been sneaking icecream and Dove chocolates at night?" 20 day circumference 93" !! � Tuesday, July 21 View Page 1533 Rea - Goldie, enjoying chocolates with Lucy, shows off a 20 day circumference of 96" ! � Wednesday, July 22 View Page 2005 Haist - Gracie rounded out at 20 days with an 83" circumference. � Wednesday, July 22 View Page 1382 Rea - Lily also made 20 days and leads her patch mates with a circumference of 97" ! � Saturday, July 25 View Page Here is the entire patch, where I think I spend half my life! 20 "party pumpkins" on the lower half - 4 AG's at the top. � Saturday, July 25 View Page All just about 25 days old - Lily - Gracie - Lucy - and Goldie are lined up and politely social distancing at 30 '. � Wednesday, July 29 View Page 2433 Paton - Lucy doesn't care about not entering the beauty contest. She's content that at day 30, she gained 200 pounds in the last 5 days, for a 617 pound total. � Friday, July 31 View Page 1533 Rea - Goldie's 5 day average is 38 lbs/day. She is at 30 days with a 133" circumference and 629 lbs. � Saturday, August 1 View Page 2005 Haist - Gracie made the 30 day, 500 lb. mark with 501 lbs.! Grow Gracie! � Saturday, August 1 View Page 1382 Rea - Lily has the smallest mother of the 4 pumpkins, but so far sports the biggest numbers. At day 30, her past 5 day growth is 49lbs./day, leading the Rea Patch at 694 lbs. ! � Tuesday, August 11 View Page 2005 Haist - Gracie, looking pretty, at day 40 and 770 lbs. � Tuesday, August 11 View Page 1533 Rea - Smooth as silk, Goldie is 40 days and 939 lbs. � Tuesday, August 11 View Page 2433 Paton - Lucy, on the other hand, is a bit lumpy. 40 days and 963 lbs. � Tuesday, August 11 View Page 1382 Rea - Lily is nicely filled out at both the stem and blossom ends. 40 days and 1,035 lbs. � Tuesday, August 11 View Page The 35' x 120' "party pumpkin" patch, with 20 plants, has filled in, and will have lots of fun treasures for the kids! Many thanks to Tom Swain and Joe House!! � Wednesday, August 19 View Page Tis the season! Cool evening temps means time to haul out the blankets and tarps. � Wednesday, August 19 View Page The play set is happy to multi-task as a drying rack. � Wednesday, August 19 View Page And then the tarps need to dry off from the dew and condensation. I know this time consuming "cover/uncover" exercise helps keep the pumpkin warm.......I can feel the difference. What I don't know for sure........Does this actually keep the pumpkins growing better? What say you?? � Friday, August 21 View Page 2005 Haist - Pretty Gracie holds her head up high, even though her daily gains have slipped. Her provider/caretaker let her down by not properly managing some disease that set in. She is close to 1000 lbs. � Friday, August 21 View Page 1533 Rea - Goldie is shaped like her mother, but the color didn't pass on. I guess when I named her Goldie, she thought she was supposed to stay gold!!........mid 1100's. � Friday, August 21 View Page 2433 Paton - Lucy's lumps and bumps have got her past 1200 lbs. She's hanging in there at 24 lbs/day. � Friday, August 21 View Page 1382 Rea - Lily takes center stage as she grows at 26.6 lbs./day and has danced past 1300. � Tuesday, September 1 View Page Mr. Abbynormal............I think you're ahead of me on groundhogs. Haven't you caught 8? I've caught 7. BUT............have you had one come knocking at your side door?? � Saturday, September 5 View Page 2005 Haist - Gracie is creeping along, but still growing, and made it passed the 1000 mark. � Saturday, September 5 View Page 1533 Rea - Goldie is a steady grower with no drama, and in the mid-1300's. � Saturday, September 5 View Page 2433 Paton - Lucy, on the other hand, loves the drama - "Better treat my stem" - "Oops! My stump needs attention" - "Hmmm, I've got a little disease going on" - "Watch out for my main vine......it's grown out of my space and 30 ft. over past my neighbor!" Mid-1400's. � Saturday, September 5 View Page 1382 Rea - Lily minds her own business......just quietly keeps growing. Gotta love her! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Harvest time means time for the Rea Punkin Pickin' Party. � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Two pretty girls! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page We used the plant frames to mount picture posters from past parties. � Tuesday, September 29 View Page 40 posters in all. Party guests loved looking at them! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Cousins, Megan and Brandon, look at their picture from 12 years ago! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Happy with their picks! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Father and daughter. Mom has been deployed to Kuwait for a year! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page More cousins.....lovin' Lily! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page "I can do this myself!" � Tuesday, September 29 View Page My niece Jodi and boys. � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Annie is found her pick! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Brenda, Kasey and Megan with Charlie and Annie. � Tuesday, September 29 View Page "This is heavier than it looks!" � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Be careful......don't trip over the vines! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page Chase, enjoying the beautiful day! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page This might be a happy face......maybe not! � Tuesday, September 29 View Page A good time was had by all! About 60 guests were here on a beautiful sunny day. The patch was picked clean. Lots of fun, donuts, and laughter with family who hadn't seen each other for quite a while!! � Monday, October 5 View Page This is Joe.........and the displays he created, with treasures he found in the Rea Pumpkin Patch. One of the special perks of this hobby is sharing some fun with others. I'd like to say thank you to the growers who grew my seeds, and shared some happiness with me, by sending notes and photos of their results. It's so nice to hear of Howard Dill Awards, personal bests, and the fun that surfaced above the hard work! � Friday, October 9 View Page Loading day - Here comes Papa Rea with his old ford tractor! � Friday, October 9 View Page And we need our super nephew Brandon - the famous Nick Harp - and most special niece Heather! � Friday, October 9 View Page Helping to make it a special morning were a bunch of spectator friends and plenty of donuts! � Friday, October 9 View Page I was excited to hear there was going to be a big prize for the flattest bottom!! � Friday, October 9 View Page Loaded - ready to cover, tie-down, and head for Canfield. Looking forward to another special weighoff with OVGPG friends. Best of luck to all! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page The OVGPG weighoff was a huge success - beautiful sunny day - hay bales for seating spaced far apart - 60 giant pumpkins, quickly and efficiently weighed - Tim Parks banter, keeping it fun! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page Big orange pumpkins lined up to be weighed. � Tuesday, October 13 View Page More beauties! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page This is my Gracie on the scale, weighing 1,095 lbs. I wanted you to see the weighing system that OVGPG uses. A lifting ring on each end - so as one pumpkin is getting weighed, the next one is getting strapped up and ready to move to the scale and the previous one is getting moved off. Weighing Crew Supreme!! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page Here is Goldie (1533 Rea) getting inspected before going to the scale. Final weight is 1378.5 lbs. � Tuesday, October 13 View Page Dave and Carol Stelts with their winner.......2111.5 lbs. Congratulations on a huge, unique and beautiful pumpkin!! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page From the garden - to the scale - to the front yard. This year's display is in front of the barn. � Tuesday, October 13 View Page I'm excited to say.......these 3 weights total 4,197 lbs. Three cheers for a jacket!!! � Tuesday, October 13 View Page Beautiful Lily, from my 1382.5 Rea 19, weighed in at 1723.5 lbs. Oh happy day! She's basking in the sun and getting photos taken with our visitors. � Wednesday, December 23 View Page MERRY CHRISTMAS! I wish you a fabulous New Year and a great big pumpkin! Glenna �