Orono-Millbrook Weather Corridor

Well Wayne, it looks like more clouds and rain ahead for the next few
days.  I know those of you suffering from drought will not appreciate my
complaints of too much rain but what I'm really complaining about is too
many clouds.  Pumpkin growth has slowed considerably as Mr. Sun plays
peek-a-boo all day.  The 10 degree C nights probably are not helping
matters any.

So, while I have been waiting for sunnier days, I have come up with a
few questions:

1. I'm finding more cucumber beetles now (mostly in the blossoms).
Exactly what do they do that is detrimental to the plant?  How worried
should I be about their presence?

2. I'm thinking ahead to next year and plotting some plots.  My
neighbour has three horses and 24 chickens and has offered me fresh
manure.  I am also expecting a bonanza of maple leaves this fall.  Here
is my plan:  rip up the grass where I want the garden to be and lay some
manure on it now.  Cover it with a tarp and in the fall, pull the tarp
back, add leaves and replace tarp for the winter.  In the Spring, I'll
remove the tarp an roto-till the plot.  How does this sound?  Any
suggestions?

3. My pumpkin stem are too short!  They're only about six inches long
which which keeps the pumpkin too close to the vine.  Do some
strains/seeds carry genetics that produce long stems? (No, I'm not
suffering from stem envy)

Randy Banderob
Millbrook, Ontario

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