4-H garden update
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: 4-H garden update
- From: C* <C*@aol.com>
- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 17:33:33 EDT
Hi, everybody!
Just a note to tell you that the 27 AGs in our garden are thriving! Many have
minimum 3-4 ft vines, but most are vining out 6-8 ft. I am especially proud of
the way these plants look, large dark green leaves and green vines.
I am bringing loads of black gold compost in from a municipal source (yard
waste, not sewage) and the plants love it. I credit George Brooks with his
convincing article "Compost Feeding Your Pumpkin" found on the World Class
Giant Pumpkin web page, and Chris Andersen, for encouraging me to use
municipal compost as well.
Speaking of Chris, he would be proud to know his 977 seedling recovered nicely
from the earlier termite invasion, and is one of the healthiest, niest plants
in the garden. This plant has huge leaves and is vining at 4 ft.
Chris' 634s were looking great, but one was lost for unknown reasons, probably
someone's careless steps. The other 634 is growing great.
We have Hester's 676s, Brock's 599s, Renault 588s, Castellucci's 425's and
430's, Rooke's 486s, all of which are impressive. I might mention that the
Renault seed was very unusual looking, not smooth and hard seed-coated like
the average AG seed, but looking more like a Jurassic squash seed! This made
no difference, and the plants are lovely in appearance.
Tim Canniff's 459 is an especially slow growing plant, but has huge leaves and
is strong and sturdy looking. We are looking forward to crossing this
carefully, in hopes of surpassing Tim's FL record with his own plant! Speaking
of Tim, I spent last Sunday with him at both of his patches. He has an
impressive basketball sized pumpkin on his Baird 614. We did a bit of
pollinating and hope to see some more good looking fruit.
We have a few gargantuan plants to report. The largest in the field right now
is the Eaton 739. This is a most unusual plant, fast to grow (more than 6
inches daily), but the main vine is quite twisted and gnarly. The vine shape
concerns me, as it is oblong, not round like the others. The diameter of the
main vine on this plant is 3 inches, very respectable since planting 3/11. The
vines are about 8 ft out. I sure hope this plant does not go to a flat vine.
Anyone out there who can give me tips on the flat vine phenomenon? Do flat
vines produce?
The Baird 762 is another big plant for it's age, likewise the Castellucci
743.2 and the 682.4. Growth is fantastic on these plants. They are right
behind the Eaton 739 in vine length, at about 7 ft.
The Rouge Vif D'Etampes Cinderella pumpkins are growing well, too. They were
also slow to start, but have taken off lately and have 4 ft. vines. Tim Clark
from Redlands, CA sent me these seeds, and I am happy to report their success
to date.
We also have a few long rows of Gold Strike Hybrids, being grown for Pumpkin
Masters, Inc. of Denver, CO. I have to mention the seed I purchased from
Seedway is some of the finest seed I have seen. It came 2 days after ordering,
in a safe package of plastic lined foil. I experienced 100% germination...who
could ask for more? BTW, is anyone out there familiar with the Gold Strike
Hybrid? What was your growing experience like? Size of fruit and yield info
would be greatly appreciated.
The seed Joe Mills sent me by surface mail made it and germinated fine. He
sent a few Aspens and Baby Pams, which are looking great. Thanks, Joe.
The vegetable garden is also looking good. I put in 40 tomato plants and they
have taken off in the compost. They are about 18 inches high, and blooming
profusely. Some plants have set fruit already. We have Better Boy, Big Boy and
4 Sweet 100s.
In addition to the tomato plants, we have 13 rows of sweet corn, beets,
canteloupe, summer squash, green and wax beans, cukes and carrots. The corn is
about 12 inches high, and the green beans have bloomed and set fruit.
To all the growers who are represented in this field, I tip my hat. You are
responsible through your careful breeding and seed sharing to our success and
I want to say thanks.
I am documenting the growth by taking photos. If anyone is interested in a
photo of any of these plants, please let me know. I always get doubles and
would be happy to share.
To all of you Northern growers, I know you are getting things ready to plant.
Some of you are having bad weather and your soil conditions are less than
perfect. Take time and don't push it.
I wanted to plant three weeks earlier, but we couldn't get the ground turned
over in time. This was a blessing in disguise, as we had a series of killer
tornadoes come through and had we been planted, we would have lost it all.
Good luck to all and I'm interested in hearing how everyone's doing!
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