RE: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #65

Tad with Cub Scout Pack 819. 

My question is on Ants.  Do they eat the pollin?  This year all of my blossoms are filled with ants. Shoul I use ant stakes?

Answering direct would be ok. 

Tad 

-----Original Message-----
From: pumpkins DIGEST [p*@hort.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 1:01 AM
To: pumpkins-digest@hort.net
Subject: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #65



pumpkins DIGEST        Monday, August 16 2004        Volume 01 : Number 065



In this issue:

        Temp
        Re: Temp
        Re: Temp
        RE: Thoughts on the gophermole
        Re: Temp
        Re: Temp

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Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 10:03:17 -0700
From: Don Crews <bigandorange@shaw.ca>
Subject: Temp

Hi List:

Could someone do me a favour?  Could someone that has a pumpkin chugging 
along at 20 lbs. a day or so, stick a soil thermometer in the ground and 
let me know the results??  I can tell you that my soil temperature is 
only 65 degrees Fahrenheit and  I think that will explain what is wrong 
with my patch.

Don
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 10:43:14 -0600
From: Dave <belcherdv@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Temp

Looking forward to seeing another monster from Medicine Hat at the Smoky Lake weigh off, Don!

Maybe that huge gourd is sucking all the heat from the ground!  ;o))

Dave, in Stony Plain



Don Crews wrote:

> Hi List:
>
> Could someone do me a favour?  Could someone that has a pumpkin 
> chugging along at 20 lbs. a day or so, stick a soil thermometer in the 
> ground and let me know the results??  I can tell you that my soil 
> temperature is only 65 degrees Fahrenheit and  I think that will 
> explain what is wrong with my patch.
>
> Don
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 15:54:41 -0700
From: eddyz@telusplanet.net
Subject: Re: Temp

Don
Same problem here in Airdrie. My soil Temp is 64 degrees and all I can get on 
a good day is 11 pounds. In the green house where the ground temp is 76 
degrees, we are averaging 20-25 pounds a day . The only problem is we had late 
sets due to the cold spring, even in the green house. The Tomatoes sure like 
it like this though. Never had a better crop.
Eddy

 Quoting Don Crews <bigandorange@shaw.ca>:

> Hi List:
> 
> Could someone do me a favour?  Could someone that has a pumpkin 
> chugging
> along at 20 lbs. a day or so, stick a soil thermometer in the ground and 
> let me know the results??  I can tell you that my soil temperature is 
> only 65 degrees Fahrenheit and  I think that will explain what is wrong 
> with my patch.
> 
> Don
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 17:44:04 -0700
From: "Bob Troy" <rtroy@socal.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Thoughts on the gophermole

Rich, 

The problem with the chicken wire is even though it's galvanized, it will rust through after a year or two. It's also easy to break through with a pitch fork, shovel or tiller. 

I had hundreds of gophers in my remote patch and what we did was rent a gas powered trencher and surround the patch with a trench about 6" wide and 3' deep and dropped plywood in the trench for now. 
We tilled the entire patch and killed any gophers that were there. 
So far, we have not had one gopher inside the patch but there are plenty on the outside. (I was a bit surprised it worked). 

If it was affordable, I would have poured concrete In the trench for a more permanent solution. 

I was told that pea gravel might work in the trench because when the gopher digs, the tunnel keeps caving in on him so he gives up and goes another direction. (I wouldn't count on it though).
 
If I were to spend any money for something in the trench, I might try some heavy gauge wire I've seen used around farms for kennels and other cages for containing animals. The kind with the square holes about 1/2" x 3/4". 

Maybe someone else out there has some other ideas as many growers have to deal with gophers, moles and other small destructive varmints. 
No,,,,,,,, shotguns, although fun, really are not practical. Especially if you cap one right next to your prize pumpkin! 

Bob

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Rich Canter
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2004 10:25 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Thoughts on the gophermole

Has anyone tried burying a large sheet of chicken wire, etc., a foot or so under the patch in the off-season? Just a thought.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Bob Troy
  To: pumpkins@hort.net
  Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:45 AM
  Subject: RE: 659 Troy 03


  Toby ,,,

  Sorry to hear about that .... I have been battling gophers for years and
  here are a few things that work ..

  Plywood or heavy fiberglass type material for under the Pumpkin.


  For the vines I've done a couple of things.

  I bought a roll of chicken wire and cut it about one foot wide and three
  to six feet long. I folded the one foot wide part over so it was about
  six inches wide. I laid the strips of chicken wire ahead of the main
  vine so as the vine grew, the chicken wire would be buried under the
  vine. It's a lot of work but it definitely worked. A gopher chewed a tap
  root up until it hit the chicken wire and then it stopped. It didn't get
  rid of the gopher but at least it saved the vine. It is however a lot of
  work and doesn't get rid of the gopher.

  Another thing gophers don't like is dry blood meal. It's a territorial
  thing but it also adds nitrogen to the soil. I used it and it does work.
  At least it drives them away from the pumpkin plants.

  A sure thing is a chemical called "Fumitoxin". It's bad stuff and
  requires a license to buy and apply. (At least in California). It last's
  about two months or so but it definitely works.

  I have also had some luck with a trap called "The black hole". It's a
  black plastic cylinder about the size of a coffee can with a wire snare
  in it. You put a carrot in one end and burry it wherever there is a
  fresh hole. It works for me about 75% of the time.

  I'm glad to hear the plant was doing well for you. If you would like
  some more seeds, I'd be glad to send them to you..

  Bob


  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
  Of Toby
  Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 2:00 PM
  To: pumpkins@hort.net
  Subject: 659 Troy 03

  Sometime over the past few days, a gopher dug under my 659 Troy, came up
  under the main vine, and chewed through it about 2' from the base. Its
  a goner.

  I loved that plant! (boo hoo boo hoo)

  I have 7 other AG vines (only 1 looks as nice as the Troy) that are in
  jeopardy of vine-a-cide via gopher.  Any ideas on how to get rid of
  gophers without poisoning the rest of the patch?  Ya know, if it takes
  dynamite, I'm there... as soon as I harvest the last plant.  What about
  RIGHT NOW?!

  Signed, the groundskeeper from Caddy Shack (Toby)

  mr-sprout@sbcglobal.net
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 17:46:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: vince <anaid_tecuod@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Temp

Hi Don,

Weather has been cool here, but the soil temp has remained between 65 - 70 degrees - three to four inches down.

Lilu is still chugging along at 20+ pounds a day - day 44 and counting....

http://zunino.net/diana/chronicles/of_lilu.htm

I would be happier with another 5 degrees in soil temp but Lilu was cranking near 30 lbs./day two weeks ago with the soil thermeter reading about 65 degrees.

vince

- --- Don Crews <bigandorange@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Hi List:
> 
> Could someone do me a favour?  Could someone that has a pumpkin 
> chugging along at 20 lbs. a day or so, stick a soil thermometer in the
> ground and 
> let me know the results??  I can tell you that my soil
> temperature is 
> only 65 degrees Fahrenheit and  I think that will explain
> what is wrong 
> with my patch.
> 
> Don



		
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Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 22:05:56 -0700
From: Don Crews <bigandorange@shaw.ca>
Subject: Re: Temp

Thanks Vince.  I was hoping the soil temperature may be part of the 
problem but it looks like the real problem is the very cold nights we 
have been having all year long (frost warnings recently, several nights 
of frost in late June and when there wasn't any frost, it was close to 
it).  My plants have struggled this year.  My 1026 Holland aborted at 
about 20 days during a stretch of cold weather and my 1373 Dueck-Papez 
just split the blossom end.  It was the only pumpkin in my best 
spot--the one I cover and equip with a heater for September.  I have a 
couple more plants going though but not great.

By the way Dave I am from that frosty City of Lloydminster and not that 
warm place of Medicine Hat.  LOL

I hope I have a pumpkin for Smoky Lake.  See you there.

Don

vince wrote:

>Hi Don,
>
>Weather has been cool here, but the soil temp has remained between 65 - 
>70 degrees - three to four inches down.
>
>Lilu is still chugging along at 20+ pounds a day - day 44 and 
>counting....
>
>http://zunino.net/diana/chronicles/of_lilu.htm
>
>I would be happier with another 5 degrees in soil temp but Lilu was 
>cranking near 30 lbs./day two weeks ago with the soil thermeter reading 
>about 65 degrees.
>
>vince
>
>--- Don Crews <bigandorange@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Hi List:
>>
>>Could someone do me a favour?  Could someone that has a pumpkin 
>>chugging along at 20 lbs. a day or so, stick a soil thermometer in the
>>ground and 
>>let me know the results??  I can tell you that my soil
>>temperature is 
>>only 65 degrees Fahrenheit and  I think that will explain
>>what is wrong 
>>with my patch.
>>
>>Don
>>    
>>
>
>
>
>		
>_______________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now.
>http://messenger.yahoo.com
End of pumpkins DIGEST V1 #65
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