RE: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #65
Kathie Morgan had the same question recently, regarding getting rid of
ants. Tom from Bohica gave this answer...
"Try Sevin, used lightly, it will not kill the bees.
Tom (Bohica)"
Personally, I am not sure why the ants are a bother. Anybody know?
Toby
mr-sprout@sbcglobal.net
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of Tad Miller
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 9:35 AM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
_______________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now.
http://messenger.yahoo.com
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
*****************************
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing archives: http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing archives: http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
