Experiment

Ok here is the completed form to fill in.  Sorry i haven't posted it sooner, i've been busy with Uni stuff and preparing my patch!!  Hope the form is ok.  I should hopefully be able to develope a website for this project later in the year.  I the mean time it would be useful to get everyone who is interested and is going to complete the datasheet to send me their contact information.
 
Regards
 
Chris
 
i*@gardeningexpress.co.uk
 
 
 
 
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 if growing on a slope: (eg South East)
 
Any obstructions causing shade? (eg Yes, Large Maple tree)
 
Time of day shade encountered (eg 12:00 - 14:00)
 
(if known)
Latitude_____
 
Longitude_____
 
Elevation_____
(height above sea level)
 
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.
 
Describe your soil
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed and Early growth stages
 
Seed chosen (eg 937Mombert)
(NB: if more than one plant is being grown in exactly the same way, simply list all here)
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Watering
Are you using River, pond, well, lake or city water for your plant?
 
 
 
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.
(eg 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 your 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___
 
Over the top measurements (days after pollination)
 
10___
20___
30___
40___
50___
60___
70___
80___
 
Add further measurments at ten day intervals if still on the plant after 80 days.
 
 
Estimated weight at harvest (eg1000#)
 
Actual weight (eg 800#)
 
weighed heavy or light (eg 20% light)
 
 
Any other information that you feel may be useful
 
 
 
 
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