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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Saturday, May 24, 2025
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Henry-the giant pumpkin grower
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Topsfield, MA
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Entry 51 of 60 |
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It is time for an update. Let me first start off with that this has been an extremely frustrating start to the 2025 growing season. I've never had this poorly of a start in the 10 years I've been growing. Last week I made the decision to pull the 2080 Lopresti and 2465 Sperry. They were CONTINUING to struggle to have no secondaries until the 10-12 foot mark of the plants. Absolutely sucked with all the work put in so far. Both the main vines were growing a foot a day and wouldn't slow down. I would've had a pollination well past 20 feet on both plants with half the plant having no sides for the first 10 feet. The secondary's before the 10 foot mark completely went dead on me on both plants. I knew that with the weather this week that I would've had to open up the hoop house with lows in the low 40s. It has been a shameful start and I am pissed off about it. I don't know why the secondaries were non existent but I most likely cooked them with over fertilizer potentially.
So let me explain what you see in this picture. Thanks to Ron Wallace, he was extremely generous (as always) and gave me a backup plant which is the closest plant you see here. This is the 2020 Paton which I've heard has been a very aggressive plant for those who grew it last year. This plant was pretty rootbound so the first 2 feet or so will not have any sides but beyond that point they look promising. If they have the same problem I may just take a vacation. It is coming out of the nitrogen bloating which I am not sure why it's so jacked up but looking better with the newer growth.
Behind the 2020 is the 2456 Leblanc which I got from another generous grower. It was grown by Barry Leblanc last year and went 20% heavy. It is quite a bit behind and is just starting to vine. The weather finally looks to get better in about 7-10 days from now with 80s. It has been rainy and in the 40s here the last 5 days. Late weigh offs this year on October 2nd and 10th. My second year I pollinated on June 28th and grew an estimated 1275. Still plenty of time but if I want to rival my PB I'll have to get over 30 pounds a day which I haven't been able to the last few years with my typical luck..
Not giving up but will see what happens. Tough start!!
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