It is cool,windy, rainy,here today...not ideal pumpkin growing weather. I seem to have the beetles under control, finally. Checked my root system, very tricky to do,takes forever,but I was astounded with the length of the roots.I have traced some of them to be 18" minimum in length.This was my primary goal, a well established root network. If you don't have the patience for this teadious investigation, then I suggest you don't DON"T try it.It took me a litte over 2 hrs.to check.You would think I was excuvating TUTTS TOMB...lol. Main is growing at a incredible rate, a whole new section daily.I shouldn't be surprised at this: this year.

JULY 3 1999

It's been WINDY,had to remove the overhead protective cover due to the damage, Now it will hail. Plants are little unsightly with the wind damage,and I have some yellow spots,I believe from the beetles.I have had to prune a lot of leaves because of it, mainly on ROID # 2, my plant. Sprayed with DIAZANON,and fertilized.Buried some more secondary's.Watered quite heavily today. I have baby pumpkins popping up all over the place now.,on both plants.

JULY 7 1999

I am not happy,It has been so HOT...and HUMID..BUT the WIND has been relentless.The wind breaks have been almost totally useless.It has been gusting now since Thursday.I have a lot of leaf damage. It has finally cooled down a bit , and the wind has been diminished now to a breeze.But what a mess.I have been watering 3x's a day,and misted the leaves as well. I added more obstacles for the wind,my patch looks like a junk yard,No damage to my vines ,they have and were all buried and anchored.I will be pruning today, and insecticiding.Getting ready to pollinate, should be this week. I am behind last years, plant.Surprised at this with direct seed sowing..??? and the controlled pruning. Perhaps all my efforts are under ground in the root system..which will pay off in the end.

JULY 8 1999

Well if this isn't the icing on the cake:I have researched, planned,implimented new ideas,been diligent,just been a doating pumpkin mother...I DIRECT SEED SOWED, I'm ready to pollinate,sometime today...and guess what..???? Due to my limited foresight, and my competitive drive to get the jump on the other members of our club...which I have done..I have jumped wright into...NO-ONE in our club has any flowers yet,so I can not cross- pollinate !!!!I can't believe I didn't see this coming..daaaahhh! I installed soaker hoses today as to avoid tramping the roots and to maintain an even high moisture content.

JULY 9 1999

POLLINATED TODAY ROID #2

Temperature - 70° : rainy: breezy:used 3 flowers from Roid #3, and used 3 flowers from Roid #2(self) Had 5 pollination points.Tied the female shut...now I wait.No danger of insect pollination, I have checked the flower every 20 min.since 5:30 am.Rain and wind has also kept the insects at bay this am.

SOME-ONE HAS POSTED A QUESTION :ON THE MESSAGE BOARD :THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO. CAN ANY OF MY VISITORS HELP OUT.THANKYOU.

JULY 11 1999

Worked in the patch the majority of the day...weeding and prunning, Buried all the secondarys. Roid #2 pumpkin is the size of a tennis ball, moving wright along. Roid #3 flower will be open tomorrow to be pollinated.

JULY 12 1999

Have a 675 lb.plant lined up for cross pollination of Roid #3.Covered the flower with a nylon until the flowers arrived to pollinate.Pollinated this am.Temperature:68° : pollination 5 points: tied the flower shut.Been very lucky , no natural pollination by insects, It's hard to beat us pumpkin people to pollination when we are setting alarms @ 4 :00 am,to check a flower...lol.We are not obsessed!!!!???

I just got back from vacation. My Aunt has done a great job for me while I was gone . I am astounded at the one weeks rate of growth???? on Roid #2. I have a jungle to tame and a pumpkin that has gone from baseball size to bigger than a basketball. Roid #3 I don't believe set; with the cross pollination from the 675 flower. I'll start pruning this p.m. and removing other pumpkins.Extremely hot and humid, today,I have been told it has been this way all week.Have to put up the shelter soon.

I have been prunning and prunning..I can't believe the mess from just 8 days of growth while I was on vacation. We have had 2 horrific storms, actually unconfirmed tornados,on the 24th and the 25th.My main was rolled but no apparent damage .Upon futher inspection today of the pumpkin on Roid #2 I had to remove it.The stem was snapped 3/4's of the way off...the force of the wind here on the 25th...has done a lot of damage to our community,so I consider myself blessed that I only lost a pumpkin....along with some pretty tattered looking landscaping. I do however have 2 other pumpkins that set while I was gone ...so I will let them continue and I'll see what happens. One is on the main and one is on a secondary. I am still battling cucumber beetles as well...So far Not a happy growing season for me.Temperatures have been too hot and humid , and No rain. Other members of the club have also reported hail and wind damage.

I am truly happy to say GOOD BYE to JULY !!!!! Roid #2 plant has survived...so far????I have one outstanding pumpkin growing at present. I have removed all other pumpkins ; flowers;and unrooted vines.All my eggs are in one basket ...so to speak now. This one pumpkin is grand...considering I wasn't around to pollinate it ;feed it ; prune it; bury the vines; mist it; or to make sure it set; It just happened..imagine that..???? Roid #3 HAS NOT PRODUCED a fruit..According to a few other club members...I am not alone with this problem this year. I will be culling Roid #3 plant this week...and such a beautiful plant too. BuT I can use the extra space to give Roid #2 my undivided attention.TLC. I have begun the potasium feeding and increased the fungicide. Still have cucumber beetles...not as many ...noticed the neighbors patch is not being treated what so ever; so I will have to deal with their neglect of insect control. My first entry for August will be a measurement...!!!!!

PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN, ENTRIES ARE ADDED ALMOST DAILY AS MY PUMPKIN GROWS. BOOK MARK MY SITE;OR JOIN MY MAILING LIST;I WILL SEND YOU THE LAST 7 ENTRIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS;FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. THANKYOU:DEBORAH.

GOOD LUCK...GROWING YOUR PUMPKIN..!!!!