Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 74 Entries. Sunday, May 5 View Page I’m starting this diary in hopes to help some growers learn a few things I have found works for me growing long gourds. I have been asked how l start my LG seeds. First cut the tip just a little and then sand all the edges really well. Put them in warn water for six hours. Place them in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in a 80 degree area. In about 48 hours check them and you should start to see some of the roots popping through the tip of the seed. Some will take a half a day to a day longer. The ones I just started I had very good germination rate for long gourds 17 out of 18.   Thursday, May 9 View Page Long gourd trellis that was made in 2006 at that time a 12 ft high trellis was big enough to grow a world record. My son and I built this one on the 4 of July holiday weekend my plant was three ft long when I planted it on it. It turned out to be the first long gourd over 125 inches 126 1/2 WR   Thursday, May 9 View Page This is the trellis I grew the 159” LG on last year but still had to dig a hole so it wouldn’t hit the grown .It was on the 14 ft high side there’s a 14 ft high x 16’ x 12’ wide and the 12x12 x12 side by side. It’s a trellis that can be moved with my tractor. This 2024 season will be the fifth time I have moved it to a new location.   Thursday, May 9 View Page On the move to a new and improved trellis.   Thursday, May 9 View Page I’ll try is again 14ft high x16ft long and 12 ft high x 12 ft long side x side   Thursday, May 9 View Page Hopefully right side up   Monday, May 13 View Page Thanks to my good friend Steve Sperry for the help we raise the roof and deck on the trellises in the new location.   Monday, May 13 View Page It took some doing but turned out real nice already to go for the 2024 season 16 foot high 12 feet wide 28 feet long.   Monday, May 13 View Page should be ready in a few weeks when weather warms up. Hope to put the drip tape and weed mat down this week.   Sunday, June 16 View Page It’s been two weeks since the LG plants have been planted they are about four ft tall. Looking back at last years pictures I would say there about a week ahead. I have seven plants on the trellis five on the west side and two on the east side. There’s three 121 two 115 one each 154 and a 159. Got the weed mat and drip tape down that’s most the work done.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This my 150 sq ft plant it’s a 1093 Jutras from last year. It’s a 2365 Wolf x 1109 Sq. Going to self it and try to get a green one next year maybe if I try 10 I can find one green one.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 1139 from last year it turn out to be a white pumpkin i was hoping it would stay green this year it’s back to orange SOB. Going to x it with the 1109 Sq.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 475 it’s a 810 Cantrell x 1109 sq it is green but has a double main. Will see if I can get one on a side vine.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is my 1109 Sq in the GH it’s two days old today.   Sunday, June 16 View Page And it’s a very uniform six lober haven’t had many of those.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This is the 2501 growing in the GH great plant out 16ft 10 sides on one side 9 on the other.   Sunday, June 16 View Page And a three lober hasn’t seen many of those but have had a lot on this plant. they tend to go heavy let’s hope it does.   Sunday, June 16 View Page Sorry this looks more like the 2501 pumpkin.   Friday, June 21 View Page Trying something new this season to hold up the leaves at my walk way. last year at a pumpkin picnic, Andy Wolf was mentioning that he had seen caution tape being used. I thought it was a good idea.   Friday, June 21 View Page This is at the age of your fruit between 10 to 20 days. You have a chance to shape the bottom of your fruit to try to make the stem and blossom perpendicular as much as possible. This the 2501 it is at 13 dap. Just starting to get going last couple of days with the heat we’re having.   Friday, June 21 View Page Also using the tape at the sides of the greenhouse to keep them from getting damaged when I drop the curtain when we get bad weather.   Friday, June 21 View Page Tools They make your work a little faster in your patch. Small shovel tape to broom to reach those roots that pop up every now and again that you want to cover. Telescoping prunes to pick the male flowers so you don’t have to get into the plant. Wolf extension stirrup oh lockdown weeds in a hurry and my favorite a homemade cultivator.   Friday, June 21 View Page Made from a 4 inch paint roller heated up with a torch and flattened with a hammer. You can buy the extension handle at Lowe’s for $17 to go from 6 feet to 12 feet. It will be the best tool you can get for less than $25 guarantee, I’m sure you’ll like it.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 1109 Sq 23 dap 239 lbs doing 33 lbs per day. Growing 720 Sq Ft inside green house. Going to be a high wheel of a fruit with the six lobes it has.   Sunday, July 7 View Page Out door addition have another 250 plus ft to be close to 1000 sqft plant by some time in Aug.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 2501 29 dap 348 lbs doing 34 per day nice shape. Have about 900 sqft of plant with about 200 sqft to fill. This the earliest pollinated fruit I’ve ever had.   Sunday, July 7 View Page Lg are about 18 ft long maybe too far along for this time of the season think I may do some pruning to slow them down.   Sunday, July 7 View Page 150 sqft plant it’s my 1093 DQ from last year it is a 2365 Wolf x with the 1109 sq. I self it and hope to select a green offspring from it next year it’s 14 days old today.   Thursday, July 18 View Page 2501 40 days old today 804 lbs she’s had a slow start but still going in the right direction. I’m glad that. Plant looks good at around 1100 sq ft.   Thursday, July 18 View Page 1109 was 30 dap on Sunday 501 lbs   Thursday, July 18 View Page My 150 sq ft plant was 21 dap on Sunday at 146 lbs. Sorry no pic i’ll take one this Sunday.   Sunday, July 21 View Page 2501 pumpkin 963 lbs doing 48 per day hope to keep her going.   Sunday, July 21 View Page 1109 37 dap 762 lbs doing 37 per day ??   Sunday, July 21 View Page 1139 26 dap 429 doing 39 per day   Sunday, July 21 View Page 1093 150 sqft plant 28 dap 327 lbs doing 20 per day   Sunday, July 21 View Page 475 sq great color 30 dap 464 lbs doing 39 per day on about a 600sqft plant.   Sunday, July 21 View Page 1093 150 plant pic   Sunday, July 21 View Page Long gourds I cut six ft off them last week you would never know it still to early. There growing like a weed with this heat we’re having. Go to take some work knowing what plant is being pollinated with what plant.   Sunday, July 21 View Page wall of leaves   Sunday, July 28 View Page Well, my fruit have reached the maximum weight gains per week and they’re on the decline. Just hope they don’t go down too fast.1109 squash 994 lbs 33 per day.   Sunday, July 28 View Page 475 Squash 37 dap 700 lbs doing 33 per day   Sunday, July 28 View Page 1139 33 dap 611 lbs 26 per day   Sunday, July 28 View Page 150 sqft plant 475 lbs   Sunday, July 28 View Page 2501 drop a lot don’t know why plant looks good will fight it out to the end. 1110 50 dap down to 21 per day   Sunday, July 28 View Page 1109 Sq pic   Sunday, August 4 View Page It’s been a very hot week days in the 90 with high humidity we had pretty decent sun with a inch and a half of rain.The two squash seemed to hold pretty decent weight this week the 1109 is at 1240 lbs doing 35 per day. DAP 49   Sunday, August 4 View Page 475 sq dap 44 916 lbs 30 per day plant looks very good most likely my best looking plant only 700 sqft I have a small one growing on a side vine at 186 lbs.   Sunday, August 4 View Page 2501 biggest plant in good shape but fruit is slowing down dap 57 1222 lbs 16 per day.   Sunday, August 4 View Page 150 sqft plant dap 42 617 lbs 20 lbs per day   Sunday, August 4 View Page 1139 plant has A foaming stump and is Sapping very bad on the shoulders not quite sure if this Fruit is going to make it to the way offs. Dap 40 707 lbs 13 per day.   Sunday, August 4 View Page Long Gourd plants are a tangled up mess I will never cut the mains on the plants again. Next year I Think I’ll start a couple of weeks later. Goes to show you when you try something new you should only try it on a few plants not on all of them, finally got a couple of them to take. It’s like pumpkins timing is critical   Sunday, August 4 View Page 150 sqft plant pic   Sunday, August 11 View Page 1109 sq has slow down as they do now we have to have steady growth for the long haul. Dap 56 1384 20lbs per day.   Sunday, August 11 View Page 495 Sq Dap 51 1101 lbs 26 per day   Sunday, August 11 View Page The 2501 is 1338 lbs holding at 16 per day. My 150 sq ft is Dap 49 741 lbs doing 17 lb per day. Lost my pumpking that was sapping and had a foaming stump not the least bit surprise. My small sq on a side vine split her blossom didn’t see that one coming but that’s how it goes growing these fruit.LG are starting to get going 18” to 28” long.   Sunday, August 11 View Page somehow, I always seem to miss a picture so here’s the 1109   Sunday, August 18 View Page It’s that time of the season when you have to start your vomit protection. I got two mice around the same pumpkin. I also put some mouse bait out and they have been chewing on it. They have started early this year so stay ahead of them.   Sunday, August 18 View Page 150 sqft pumpkin at 811 doing 10 per day   Sunday, August 18 View Page 495 squash 1170 dropped to 10 lbs per day   Sunday, August 18 View Page 1109 sq still holding strong 1515 doing 18 per day . The 2501 has drop down to 6 lbs per day at 1384 lbs.   Sunday, August 18 View Page Biggest Long gourd is around six ft   Sunday, September 1 View Page The good and the bad the good thing is I though my 495 squash was in trouble it had drop down to only 2lbs per day. Decided it was time to get it out of the patch and take it to the way off. It weight 1202.5 and was nice green color kind of a birdbath shaped pumpkin, but all in all not too bad looking. Now the bad two days later while on display started to leak and we all know that smell that sure not good . Had to be pulled from the line up. But as we all know, it happens all too often unfortunately. Most likely seeds are NG.   Sunday, September 1 View Page 1109 Squssh still chugging along not breaking any records but slow and steady. She did 11 last week and seven this week for a total of 1641 lbs. here in New England we’re lucky to grab another 150 to 175 pounds till the end of season. Hope it does that I’ll be happy. 🤞   Sunday, September 1 View Page 150 sqft plant growing at 6 lbs per day at 855 lbs. 2501 doing the same at 1449 this time of the season I usually only tape every other week.   Sunday, September 1 View Page This is a 1 1/2” pvc pipe supported by an angle iron to support the stem of the long gourd. This gives the stem a big radius to prevent it from kinking too badly. I also have the junction of the stem and the vine, tied back with a pice of cloth to support the weight of the fruit.   Sunday, September 1 View Page As the gourd gets to be about eight feet long i put a pice of wood along side of it to prevent it from swaying in the breeze, I tied it loosely with a cloth and keep an eye on it. You have to move the cloth every other day as the gourd grows. Right now it’s doing about 2 1/2” per day at about 130”   Sunday, September 8 View Page 1109 Sq front View still going in the right direction let’s hope it keeps going . We had some pretty cold mornings this week, but the next 10 day forecast looks pretty good better than last week.   Sunday, September 8 View Page 2501 it’s been 14 days and she’s done 4.7 per day for a weight of 1515. Looking like it is heavy with the shape and color on the front shoulders.   Sunday, September 8 View Page 150 sqft plant it’s been 21 days since I last measured it’s done 3.6 lbs per day for a total of 931 lbs.This plant is just about done and will be the next one off to a weigh off.   Sunday, September 22 View Page It’s been 14 days since last measurements all the fruit in the patch have slowed down to a crawl. Only thing growing here are the weeds lol. We will see what she weighs Tuesday night at the Durham fair also bring along gourd.   Sunday, September 22 View Page When I cut a long gourd down I always tape it to a pice of wood. When you have it tightly fastened to the wood, then you can cut the stem of the fruit. We’ve been pretty dry here and this Saturday we had about an inch of rain and I started seeing some weeping from the long gourd so I decided to take it down before I would have any problems with it . In the past, I’ve had lost long gourds after they have stop growing from splitting after big rain storms so better save them sorry.   Sunday, September 22 View Page Some of the small splits starting after this rain we had yesterday. Doesn’t take long with the massive root system these long gourds plants have to pump more water than the fruit can handle.   Sunday, September 22 View Page 1109 Sq has three weeks before the weigh off I wish the plant was in better shape and was able to put on 50 more lbs but I think she just about done. The only thing you can hope for now is that’s it’s putting weight on in the inside and will go over the charts.   Sunday, September 22 View Page 2501 This pumpkin started off white turn cream now has gone green and orange. Not very big but think she’s heavy. I don’t think I would keep a three lobe fruit again.