this evening again with MIRACLE GROW...and insecticided and fungicided again....I believe I have ran into CUCUMBER BEETLES...in another section of my yard....Orange and black...flying insect...with a longated body ....and a stubby head...I sure hope this isn't a preview of whats to come??!! Roto tilled the next section of the patch again...for my main...to run..I'll be posting in Feet the next entry....Still a long ways to go!!!! This section is like a dust bowl...I will start watering tomorrow to build up the moisture content... CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MEASUREMENTS OF THE PUMPKIN START??!!!
JUNE 13 1999
It has been so HOT and HUMID....high ...90's all week...winds have also been a major factor this week...plants have been taking a beating.. but I did install another protective wind break ....I have been watering very heavily...2...3x's a day...I cut back a bit on the miracle grow...but increased the fungicide and insecticide...during this humid ...heat wave...
Roid #3 main is measuring 5' long and is my best
plant thus far...Roid #2 ....the transplant..is just starting to run...I still have 4 other plants in the ground that are doing quite excellent....some what of a surprise...I still have space and time before I make decisions on these extra plants. I am keepng a close watch out for the dreaded cucumber beetles...and checking my plants 3 to 4 times a day for needs and stress signs...Can't be to careful!!!! We are expecting a welcome break in the weather....and some much needed rain...They are calling for severe thunder storms this evening....I learned my lesson last year...I have and will continue to have overhead plant protecion through out the whole season this year...let it hail ...let it hail...I'm ready this year!!!!I begin my pruning in the A.M.
JUNE 14 1999
Finally some much needed rain and a break in the heat and humidity. I have delayed my prunning for a day ...so I could fertilize and insecticide after the rain....I DO NOT prune ...fertilize....and insecticide all on the same day.
I also did a bit more weeding....and gently worked the soil around the base of the plants.
My transplant ROID#2 is running ....but not doing as well as I would have liked...I may keep one of the other plants... that was suppose to be culled..One seems to be exceptional...A little over 4'...not to sure of the position of the plant in regards to ...my main plant...I 'll give it another week or so...then decide..
It is extremely hard to cull any of these giants...
JUNE 15 1999
The weather has gone from one extreme to the next.. was even watching for frost last night.
I culled one more oy my plants, sure was a hard thing to do, it was a beauty, but in the way of my main plant.
I prunned some secondary's off my main plant as well Roid #3 , and weeded again.
Roid#2 isn't doing very well:I still have 2 plants left to cull; both are beauties; I have re-directed one of these; and it may become Roid#2.
JUNE 16 1999
It has been cool, Only getting into the upper 50's low 60's.Nights are hoovering around the 40's. A little scary for our lake location, always a little cooler .
Rained again, but was and is needed.
I fertilized again today with miracle grow:I am going to Leamington This weekend to purchase my pail of 20/20/20/.
I put up another over head protector, Roid#2 has out grown the incubator..lol ...I am not complaining.
I used RAID (house and garden ) spray.
I sprayed under the leaves to let it mist up.
I find it hard to spray under the leaves with our nozzeled applicator.
Does any one know if they make a good mister for this type of spraying..??
Started to bury my vines as well, have quite a few roots growing.
I have noticed I have quite a few Lady bugs this year.They are a welcome insect, but so much spraying,can't be to good for them.??
And of course I weeded again.
Plants are very healthy so far..???
QUESTION: I was asked..???
Why are you pruning so early...and all your runners..??
Answer
I have all my plants growing on a large mound, as I did last year.
this mound is not settled: and I noticed last year with the rain and watering the mound would almost level out: only problem was parts would sink and other parts would not...it seemed the secondarys would sink and the main would not...therefore causing my MAIN to split from the added weight of the secondary's...So this year I am letting my secondary's grow but not until they have by passed the mound.So far not 1 vine split..!!!
JUNE 19 1999
I rolled back the overhead protective cover today to expose the plants....
I also took a vine and leaf measurement today:
MEASUREMENT
LEAF = 18" ACROSS
VINE = 7' LONG
All are doing great and very healthy.
I am allowing some secondarys to grow at this point ...I am well pass the main root area on the mound..so there should be no stress on the main now.
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JUNE 22 1999
Weather has been perfect, a little windy for the leaves though,
I fertilized this evening with MIRACLE GROW,haven't started using the 20/20/20/yet, plants are doing too good to switch at the moment.I should be use to the rate of growth, but I was taken back a bit with the new growth just in the last couple of days.I have placed a marker so I can measure and post it to yous.
insecticided as well...heavy concentration around the whole plant base as well.
I have 2 felines that I encourage to wander the patch, they are with me everytime I'm attending the patch , they are both layed back cats, but excellent varmit hunters, this is a plus ,with all the stories you hear of critter damage to plants.I would not encorage active cats though.Worked great for me last year, and no damage what so ever from them. Just a little tip, you might want to think about.
I also have a pond nearby with resident toads they are always in the patch, good for insect control as well.
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