I really have no use for a hurricane

After all, the irrigation system already runs four times a day, and the wind would be Really Bad News. But this storm is going to go way to the east of us and we probably won't even get much rain.

At day 5, the girls look fine:



















And just for the heck of it, I'll repost why I named both girls Jemimah...

In the past, I've waited until I've pollinated a fruit before I officially named it. Not this year. This year's monster is going to be Jemima.

Why Jemima? Well, all pumpkins are female to begin with. I like a good southern name, and all the better if it's a name you associate with a big old gal. After all, I'm trying to grow A BIG OLD GAL!

Beyond that... before she was immortalized by the Syrup Cartel, Jemima was a daughter of Job. That's right, the Job from the old testament. Now Job I can relate to... I figure I've suffered about as much in my pumpkin growing as he did from disease and pestilence. Anyway, at the end of the story, God rewarded Job with the three most beautiful women on earth for his daughters. One of those daughters was Jemima.

So to sum it up, I'm planning to grow a big old Southern syrup-lickin' beautiful pumpkin, and we will name her Jemima!

Day 4, Growing Well...

But we don't *really* need a new picture every single day, do we? Both Jemimahs are noticeably larger and laying down on their pink Styrofoam now.

The 7-Up can is there to give perspective. Without another object in the picture, it's hard to get a feel for the size. When the pumpkins get bigger I switch to milk jugs... and then to neighborhood children.

I wish I could have found my lucky Mellow Yellow can. Lots of caffeine, maybe to pump up the growth? A can of Jolt or something would be even better.

The 2006 world record holder chimed in about the pumpkin being so far down the vine:

"Your weather and temp from here on out means a lot more that the distance out on the vine. At 33 ft out you will have plenty of food factory to feed the fruit."

It's sort of cool to be noticed by such a celebrity!

The Jemimahs, Day 3

This is Jemimah 1, the fruit on the main vine. I measured her at 33 feet from where the seed was planted. I know people normally want the fruit closer to the stump, but I don't know how much it really matters.



















Looking at the measurements from last year, she should be about 2 pounds after a week - but about 40 pounds at the end of week two!



















Jemimah 2 is already laying down. I thought her stem had broken when I first saw that.

The Twins - Day Two

The second day, and all is well. Well, except for the latest threat - powdery mildew:


















But fungicide should control it. Anyway, the girls both slept through the entire night - Most Impressive!


And I swear, this kid in particular - is she the spittin' image of her father, or what!?!? Look at that long, long stem. She'll be an easy pumpkin that won't rip herself off the vine.

Welcome to the Twins!

I was going to wait a couple of days and make sure they survived the birthing process, but what the heck... the twins were born today!

I was a little late working on the pollination and really had to fight the bees for the flowers:




































But in the end they are beautiful children. They'll more or less sit for 3 days or so, and then hopefully take off and start growing like weeds - I mean like pumpkins.

Pictures From the Patch

I wonder what this creature is... and whether it's responsible for the new caterpillars that are eating the flowers?



















And the REAL question: how could a pumpkin get this close to blooming and then fail to complete the deal???

I've Got No Idea

How a female bud could get this close and then decide not to bloom:


















I'm changing tactics and have gone back to fish and seaweed fertilizing today. Maybe the extra nourashment will convince a couple of pumpkins to set.

I'm Going to be a Father!

But... but... but... I don't know if I'm ready.

This is all happening so fast...


NOT!!!

This is the day we've been waiting for since Baby Magnolia was eaten last July. Saturday morning will be Pollination Day for Jemimah. The weather will be a touch cooler and she'll have ice blocks nearby to help keep her comfortable.

The plant may not be quite as strong as last year's, but it's not bad. It will be grateful for the seaweed baths I can start applying again next week.

It's time to get this party started!

Fluffy Attack!

She struck during the night this time. Thank goodness she prefers new tender growth instead of the old tough leaves.

These vines needed to be terminated anyway, so no major damage, no big deal. She could have left a couple of extra leaves on there though. But the main vine was protected, and she only clipped the vines on one side of the plant.

Running with Vengeance

That would be a good Indian name, don't you think? Anyway...

The vines look great; spreading and filling out the back yard. But I can't get a pumpkin to set. It's either too much fertilizer, or too much heat. As in, day after day of 95 degrees without a cloud in the sky. There's still time, and we're waiting to see what Preemie #4 does in the next couple of days.