Washington Update
It time for an update from the P-patch folks. And I am hoping that the
great pumpkin will find my patch to be the most sincere, even if it isn't
the home of the "Whoppers". Weather has been a factor again this year and
it has been a much better pumpkin growing season than last years non-summer.
Still we haven't had much in the way of significant heat, but it has been
very pleasant with highs in the low 70's to 80's and lows mostly in the mid
to low 50's until this past week when it has dropped into the mid 40's for a
couple of nights. No measurable rainfall in the patch since July 3rd.
Watering has been done with buried soaker hoses coiled at the planting site
and run out along the main vine for about 20', and overhead with sprinklers
and hoses.
The plants and fruit.
427 Michalec 99 two pumpkins:
"Linus" Pollinated 7-8, 6 lobe pollinator 563 Geerts. 8-13 measured 213 OTT
Low flat pumpkin on main vine 10 day average gain 12.4 lbs.
"Lucy" Pollinated 7-12, 5 lobe pollinator 563 Geerts. 8-13 measured 206 OTT
Higher rounder pumpkin on secondary vine. 10 day average gain 12.7 lbs.
563 Geerts 3 pumpkins
"Charlie Brown" Pollinated 7-12, 5 lobe pollinator 865 Mettler. 8-13
measured 210" OTT Tall blocky pumpkin on main vine. 10 day average gain 13.3
lbs. Very inconsistant growth. Checked every other day and it's been all
over the place.
"Snoopy" Pollinated 7-12, 5 lobe pollinator 729 Bobier. 8-13 measured 198"
OTT Same shape as Chuck. Secondary vine. 10 day average gain 12.4 lbs.
"Pigpen" Polliated 7-7 4 lobe pollinator 427 Michalec. 8-13 measured 173"
OTT Same shape as others on the plant on secondary vine. I cracked the stem
halfway through while attempting to adjust the position on the evening of
8-1. I didn't say anything. But I bit my toungue quite hard. (My daughter
was with me.) I would have culled it but since it's hardly doing anything
other than slowly picking itself the rest of the way off, I thought I would
let it go and see what happens. 10 day average gain 5.1 lbs.
835 McIntyre 2 pumpkins
"Woodstock" Pollinated 7-18, 6 lobe pollinator 865 Mettler. 8-13 Measured
162" OTT. Nice high round fruit. Very symmetrical on main vine. No 10 day
average yet.
"Ghosty" No measurements, late pollination on secondary, will be backup and
shock absorber for this plant.
Gordon and Rawley provided the Mettler and Bobier males for pollinating
mine. I had used the McIntyre for a few that ended up as culls. I had lost
my notes from last season and only have a couple measurements from August
and most of what I have is from September 11 on. But I am ahead of last
years pace with all but Woodstock, and Pigpen will be falling behind soon at
this rate.
The Geerts plant made most of the culling decisions itself by exploding the
fruit between cantaloupe and bowling ball size. The McIntyre did that with
one fruit as well. All in all they are doing well and I am on pace to
surpass my personal best of 508, although my goal of 700 lbs this season
looks to be in doubt unless I can coax them into a higher growth rate. I
will try pushing them a bit with more frequent fertilizer applications. I
had backed off during pollination to prevent aborts and have only used a
seaweed solution twice since the start fo the month. I may not even have
the biggest one in the P-patch this year as Gordon has a fine looking
pumpkin on the his 471 Hester that looks like it is putting mine to shame.
All I can say is good for him, and I hope mine end up weighing heavy for
their size. I'd like them to be those "Concrete" pumpkins like Paul Handy
seems to grow every year. I hope I tilled enough Quick-Rete cement mix into
the patch this spring.
I know this was a long one, but it's the last one for a while. I'll report
again after the Puyallup fair weighoff next month.
Chris Michalec
Covington, WA
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