RE: bleach

I have had great luck with baking soda and water. About half an ounce per
gallon then spray your leaves. 


Steve Haberman
Insurance Management
959 E 4th St.
Marion, IN 45952
Cell: (574) 551-5601
Email: shaberman@insmgt.com
Fax: (765) 664-0761

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Bridgette Antoinette Tojek
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:43 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: bleach

My question is this: I have started to wipe down the big gal with the
recommended bleach: water ratio because weather wise, it has been so wet and
my lower garden has shown signs of mold and fungus and I am taking all steps
to contain it to that garden and not transfer the disease to the giant. It
has also been like late September temperatures rather than early August.
Will this cooler 49 degree evenin  g weather be detrimental to growth? How
critical is it to pumpkin growth to have hot dry days during the peak night
time growth
period- which I am about to start- I pollinated July 13th and am expecting
to hit a steady growth spurt soon since I buried my secondary and tertiary
vines two days ago and fed all the plants. Will this bleach water do
anything to alter the integrity of the shell?
Does it enhance or deter hardening or softening quicker or slower than
usual? I decided to not put anything under her because when I first did, the
cushy Styrofoam that I used actually pooled the water under
her- I think because the ground/ soil drains so well, and is on an incline,
I think it best to be on the ground.
As for watering- I am the drip irrigation- I have been lucky with the
rain- I have not had to carry water to my pumpkin in at least 10 days.
Here in the South of Western NY the other farmers are not happy but I am
delighted. I had my two 12 yr old siblings and myself on a three hour
rotating schedule that would have mimicked the trickle hose and we have yet
to use it!  Is it too much water or too much heat or a combo of both that
causes splits in the fruit(Not the stem, but the fruit)? My one plant, not
the competition plant, but the one I was growing to reach a few hundred lbs
just split in two, right around the center blossom to stem wise. That was my
community carving pumpkin that no longer exists.
 I thought I planned out the planting spot well, but in truth it could not
be farther away. BUT, it, the mound, is on a slight incline and is the best
draining area that I found. Since I did not remove the grass from around the
mound AND I decided to companion plant with sunflowers, horseradish, mustard
greens and an acorn squash, I find myself feeding all the plants
individually so as not to detract from the pumpkin nutrients. So far so
good, well at least I think so for my first year. When something is chewing
on the giant sunflower, its not gnawing on my pumpkin leaves. I do have a
pic from a week or two ago on my website- www.i-tang-o.com  - it is bigger
than my fat head!
So Really- should I continue with the bleach water and is this ok for the
leaves if I spill some on them?-- What is the main cause of fruit splitting?
What Common Temperature issues can I expect?
I cant wait to hear her grow! There has to be some sound to something
gaining 30 lbs a night right? I am so excited and eagerly await your reply.
Bridgette
The Angel whispers serenity,and the echo is peace.

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