experiment question part one

hi everyone, i have made a start on possible questions! what do you think, obviously room for many more especially weather etc eg temperatures at critical times.  I'm sure you'll let me know how to improve what i've already done
 
Ok list,
i think it would be unfair to ask growers to all start on the same date, right now whilst some people have 10' of vine others still have snow ( we had a shower of the white stuff today!).  So perhaps we should best have a system like this, the day we plant the seed we call day one, and record events such as 10' of vine on a day basis ie. 5' vine day 50, 10' day 55 and so on, i think it would be best for us to work this out once we had collected all the information rather than ask the grower to do this.  They can simply write down the date.
Although in an ideal world when discovering the varibles which affect growth it would be great to use clones, i think at the moment it will have to be seed out the same pumpkin. Preferably one which appears to have a good genetic background so we can get as many growers on board as possible.  The main reason against clones at this point is the cost, transportation to growers and availability.  So we may have to live with the genetic variences we mey experience with seeds this time around. 
I welcome everyone to criticise and change my basic idea on information to collect which i feel may yield some very interesting info. for growers of AG's in general as well as the nature nurture side of growing.  Do i ask enough or to many questions, are they the wrong ones?  If you would rather some one else take this on let me know.
 
Chris
 
 
 
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Experiment
 
Growth Data Collection Sheet
 
Please try to complete as much information as possible, it is recommended that you complete this as the season progresses rather than at the end.
 
Site
 
Location: (eg Buffalo NY)
 
Size of patch: (eg 1000 sqft)
 
Soil type: (eg Heavy clay, well drained sand loam etc)
 
Aspect: (eg South East)
 
Any obstructions causing shade? (eg Yes, Large Maple tree)
 
Time of day shade encountered (eg 12:00 - 14:00)
 
Latitude (if known)______
 
Soil
 
Fall pH_________
 
Any soil deficiences known in the fall?
NPK etc.
 
Soil amendments/improvers over winter
eg 5yrd rotted cattle manure per site, Cover crop winter rye, Lime, Sulphur
 
Spring pH________
 
Any soil deficiences known in the Spring?
NPK etc.
 
Seed and Early growth stages
 
Seed chosen (eg 937Mombert)
 
Date seed planted (eg 24 April) (would be day 1)
 
Date seed germinated (eg 30 April, would be Day 6)
(seed leaves unfurling above ground)
 
Did you treat seed with a fungicide dressing, if so with what and how. (eg yes, dusted with captan powder)
 
Do you use the direct or indirect method to start your seed
 
If indirect what size and type of pot was used (eg 4" peat pot)
 
What starting media was chosen?______________
 
Was additional heat supplied when starting your seed, if yes what temperature (if known) and for how long
(eg kept at a constant 85 degrees for 3 days after planting the seed)
 
Did you treat your seed in any other special way? (eg yes, soaked in dilute seaweed solution overnight before planting)
 
Planting out date (eg May 6)
 
Please detail how you prepared the planting site (did you make a hill or dig a pit)
 
How are you protecting your young plant from adverse weather conditions
(eg I use a large 'mini green house'  6 x 6 x 3 high made of clear poly carbonate sheeting.  This is ventilated on warm days by opening the lid.  I also have a small fan heater at night which comes on if the temp drops below 60.  This is totally removed when plant outgrows it and it is replaced by a ring of 3' high conservation fence to protect from buffeting winds, this is grudually increased in size as the plant grows until the plant cover about 300sqft)
 
Please detail the feed and watering regime you are using this season.
eg. I gave a weekly soil drench once a week with Miracle Gro (15-30-15) and liquid seaweed after planting out for the first four weeks.  I then gave seaweed as a foliar spray and a drench for the rest of the season weekly.  I switch miracle grow for urea 40-0-0 on week five and used this for another four weeks.  On week 9 i switched urea for peters proffesional 20-20-20 and fed this for the rest of the season until a month before harvest (week 17) when i switched to 10-10-30 formulation.
 
When the plant started to vine did you encourage achorage roots to develop by covering the stems with soil?
 
Did you use a mulch, if yes what was used. (eg yes, 3" old mushroom compost)
 
Vine Growth
5' (date)
10'
15'
20'
 
approx. Area of mature plant(eg 1000sqft)
 
approx (largest) leaf size
width
length
 
First male flower opened (date)
 
First female flower opened
 
Vine Management
Did you prune your plant, if so in what way.
I only grew the main primary vine, removing all other mains.  I let all secondaries grow 15' then removed the tips, i removed all the tertiaries as the grew.  As the pumpkin increased in size secondaries near the fruit were removed to allow growth of the pumpkin.
 
The Pumpkin(S)
How many fruit did you plant support (eg 1)
 
Which pollinator was used (eg 875 Dill)
 
Pollination date
 
Lobes
 
Position on vine (eg. second female on main)
 
Circumference (days after pollination)
 
10___
20___
30___
40___
50___
60___
70___
80___
 
Estimated weight at harvest (eg1000#)
 
Actual weight (eg800#)
 
weighed heavy of light (20% light)
 
 
 
 
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