JUNE 6 1999
It is hot and windy today...I moved one of my
plants...that was originally to be culled...
...hopefully it will survive..
Removed all the green house plastic today...left the
top cover on for protection from storms...also put up a new overhead shelter for the transplant... INSTALLED
WIND BREAKS TODAY...and did some very heavy
watering.... I will be fertilizing this evening with
10/52/30.....root starter...and is excellent for
transplants...use this according to directions...can
damage your plants very quickly.... Continuing to weed
the patch....try to keep your patch as weed free as
possible...weeds suck up your soils nutrients very
quickly
JUNE 8 1999
It has been torrid!!!...Highs have been 95+
...humid....and windy....like a blast furnace... Some
of my plants have sustained wind damage...even with the wind breaks we installed....Nothing that will
compromise the plants....but is a little
unsightly..until I prune the damage leaves. Still
however this is a form of plant stress...something I
have been going to great lengths to avoid... I have
some leaves measuring 9"across...I will credit this to
DIRECT SEED SOWING....Last years leaf measuremnt didn't reach this size as quickly. My transplanted
plant...(ROID #2)...wilted quite badly...touch and go
....but appears he will make it.. I have been watering
extremley heavy and often ..due to the temps...and the
plants appearance...they are in need. I fertilized 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.
JUNE 23 1999
I HAVE A PUMPKIN,ROID #2 It is about 9' from the main
root..on the main...I also culled another plant ,it had a pumpkin as well ,BUT I believe the cucumber beetles
left their mark on it.
Roid #3 is vining out well.
I have one more plant to cull ,It's in #3's way now.
CUCUMBER BEETLES ARE PROVING TO BE A TRUE PEST THIS
YEAR..keep the SEVIN heavy.
SEE MY NEWTROUBLE
SHOOTING
JUNE 24 1999
ROID #3 HAS A PUMPKIN...ABOUT 7' / 8' from the main.
this was one of the original transplanted culled
plants...has done exceptionally well.
The Original Roid #3 is being culled this evening...
So now I am down to 2 plants.Lessens my work....
Roid #2 is mine ..Roid #3 is now my Husbands, so now
our own competition begins, and own care taking as
well.
"MEASUREMENT"
24 hr.main vine growth rate =15.75"
JUNE 25 1999
I went chemical shopping today; these nasty Beetles
have got to GO!!!!.
I found a vegetable dust, combination
pesticide/fungicide:which lists CUCUMBER BEETLES
While I was applying it the MOTHER of all beetles
showed up...IT didn't even land;tried to several times, Maybe I'll win after-all;Time will tell.
PRODUCTS I USE
JUNE 28 1999
Didn't do much over the weekend: It has been hot and
humid.Got some much needed rain, finally.
Had to move the wind break, main is really growing,
Buried all my secondarys.
Removed some infected leaves, from My plant ,Roid #2
My husbands plant Roid #3 is doing great .no sign of beetle damage.
I added my Rose food , worked into the soil and watered in.This keeps my nutrients consistent,in between my
routine fertilizing.
I have also noticed a lot of similarities between roses and pumpkin requirements.
Diseases,fungus,insects,watering,pruning,and some nutrient requirements.
(This is one of my own ideas...ROSE FOOD... when Roid
was detroyed last year by hail..I applied a 1/2 bag of
rose food, it would either kill it or revive it...IT
revived my plant.The original Roid should not have
survived the hail damage it obtained. So I attribute
the survival of Roid last year to Rose food.I could be
mistaken, but it didn't hurt the plant...???)
I am now lining up a pollinaing plant,my flower will be open this week, member of the club has a 1061, growing.
JUNE 30 1999
Kinda glad to see June go..Hopefully the beetles will to.Still have a few of the pesty little guys around.
Weather a bit cooler, quite a change .Added manure to the patch last night,re-directed and buried some vines.
Roid #2 ,pumpkins are all on my main so far.
MEASUREMENT
ROID # 2 = 16' LONG / ROID # 3 = 13' LONG
BOTH HAVE PUMPKINS ON MAIN ONLY.
ROID #3 REMEMBER IS THE TRANSPLANTED CULLED PLANT ,NOT TOO FAR BEHIND FOR BEING TRANSPLANTED.
HELLO JULY
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ENTRIES ONCE A WEEK....ALONG WITH ANY OTHER USEFUL
PUMPKIN INFO...I RECEIVE...DEBORAH
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