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Re: Milk Feeding Discussion

Sally Anne,
   You may be right. I don't have Vanessa's E Mail address but if I came on
too strong yesterday, I am sorry Vanessa. I have been growing giant pumpkins
and conducting non stop research for 15 years. I don't pretend to know all
the answers....if I did I would grow a 1,000 pounder every year. It is
important, however, to not put out unproven research as fact. New growers
could pick up on it and waste a year of growing. With all research, it is a
good idea to only try new techniques on one or two plants to have something
to fall back on. I could right a book on the crazy things I have tried to
grow a bigger pumpkin. Most people do not follow Howards techniques
exactly....everyone has their own tricks. I was using 1,000 watt metal halide
lights to increase day length 10 years ago. I once grew a pumpkin in a sling
to get a round bottom ( don't ask me why). In 1985 I constructed a trolley
that allowed me to hover over the pumpkin patch without ever stepping on the
soil. 10 years ago I was working on chromosome counting and doubling the
chromosomes in an Atlantic Giant......I came up with a seedling that showed
promise of doubling and put it out on my deck for some real sun and my son
ran it over with his tricycle (he now drives a car). My track record is
checkered with trying unusual things. I have a degree in science and am very
tolerant of new ideas....they must be proven first, then passed along. That's
it! As far as the organic Vs. chemical techniques , I find myself using half
of each. Unfortunately many people think more is better....the worst thing
you can do is overfertilize. In 1990 I overdosed my field using organic
techniques. I am a commercial farmer and through my friends, I had trailer
dump loads of coffee ground compost, truck loads of seaweed, maybe 100 yards
of cow manure and spoiled hay, 30 yards of leaves,etc. etc. I spread this
concoction of a field and it ended up being over a foot thick. It was so deep
I couldn't plow or harrow it in. Finally after many passes I got it in the
ground. In the spring I direct seeded with heated soil. After a week nothing
came up, I checked the soil with a thermometer and it was 120 degrees. I
turned off the heat and it was still 120 degrees the next day. Then I
discovered I had put in so much organic matter that I had made a one half
acre compost pile that heated up and killed my seeds. Even organic techniques
can be overdone.......cow manure (a staple of the organic grower) can pollute
the groundwater. Everything in moderation.
                                                pumkinguy@aol.com
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