Re: Raising the Titanic
Hey Greg
Hang in there big guy. Six weeks is nothing compared to what you've already
put in. OK, Ok, maybe a short therapy session.
Greg Schraiber
(waiting for an update from George)
Gregory Sliwka wrote:
> List,
>
> After a long absence, I am back to post a season update from Woodridge,
> IL. I'll begin by summarizing the season to this point. After delays
> caused by a very wet spring, plants were transplanted between the 17th
> and 24th of May. Plants were at two sites.
> Site 1 - 729 Hackney '96
> 296 Sliwka '99
> Site 2 - 918 Handy '98
> 854 Holland '98
> 858 Baird '97
> 937 Mombert '98
>
> Early on the 937 Mombert, and 296 Sliwka pulled out in front. The 854
> Holland began to show stunted growth which was surprising after the
> fairly good showing last year (370 UOW blossom end split at 44 days).
> In mid June the 729 Hackney suffered a broken main, inches from the
> stump, in a strong storm. The stem was broken 3/4 of the way through and
> I nearly pulled the plant. Instead I buried the damaged area and waited.
> By mid July the vine was recovering at 14' with 22" leaves. By this time
> the 854 looked so bad that I pulled it. The 918 also looked bad, and
> although it wasn't pulled, it failed to produce any decent pumpkins. by
> 7/16 the 296, 937, and 858 all had set fruit.The 729 finally set a fruit
> on 7/30 and although it was a late set, it has been gaining on the
> others. The current standings are:
>
> 296 Sliwka - 102"C 231.75"OTT at 48 days
> 858 Baird - 88.5"C 211.5"OTT at 39 days
> 729 Hackney - 79.25"C 195.5"OTT at 27 days
> 937 Mombert - 106.5"C 251.5"OTT at 47 days
>
> Along with the usual problems to deal with (cuke beetles, vine borers,
> powdery mildew, etc...) I have 2 potentially fatal problems to add. I
> fear that mosaic virus has shown up on the tips of two seperate plants.
> If that weren't enough, vandals have again visited my remote site and
> pulled a section of fence down and trampled some vines. The pumpkins
> were not damaged yet, but history tells me they'll probably be back, and
> of course my biggest pumpkin is at that location. With 6 weeks to go
> until the weigh-off I'll probably wind up in the nut house or at least
> some kind of therapy group.
>
> Holding my breath,
> Greg "Titanic Atlantic" Sliwka
>
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