Re: you are correct sir!!

Scott,
    Yes, it is true. I lost my biggest one. The stats were not huge huge, like
som on this list, but were getting respectable for the lists standards. My last
measurement was 129/73/73=275"OTT. This is borderline 500 pounds. My thoeries
on the loss are as follows, and I think this is possible to be happening with
alot of growers out there.
1. Drought conditions are tough. Even with watering on a daily basis, the
fertilization process plays an important role in the growth of an AG. My belief
about the loss of my AG in 1999 is this.
2. The fertilizer porgram I had been using was basic, 15-30-15 for the first 60
days or until fruit sets, the switch to 20-20-20 until mid to late august,
where the push for potasium is picked up. Without day long rains once or twice
a month to give the soil a complete drench, not all of the fertilzer would
leach into the soil and reach te base of the roots. My story gets interesting
here.
3. I believe that when we got our first 2 days of all day rain for a great deep
drenching, (our first since the season began) , the feritlizer had been
absorbed by the plant, but without all the rain, alot of it laid in the soil
waiting for something like this drench. Well, we got the huge rains and it had
to sort of activate the dormant fertilizers that were laying deeper than the
water usually leached with my daily watering, and possibly kicked the plant in
the ass and got it to promote a growth psurt that killed my pumpkin. My theory
is backed by the fact that I was only getting 1 inch a day in circumference,
and the two days following the rain, I went from 121" to 124. then to 127, then
to 129.......... Tell me, what do you think? I assume that during drought
conditions, lower fertilization rates are going to be a necessity, especially
with the heavy propgrams of fertilzers we use. Oh well, It is back to the
drawing board for 2000. Good luck this year..

By the way, it is info like this that stimulates this list, creates informative
conversation, intelectual debates, and most of all, comradary between the best
and up and coming growers. There is no such thing as a dumb post, and if anyone
feels it is important enough to put pumpkins@mallorn.com ontop of thier email
header, it is important enough for me to read. Please dont infringe on someones
1st amendment by telling them what they must include, what they cant include,
and most of all, who can and cant be on this list. Thanks to all the supporters
out there who emailed me privately , your emails were heartfelt, and I
appreciate the kind words. lets talk pumpkins, even though some of us dont have
much left, lets focus on one thing......... FUN!!!!!!

Scott_Armstrong@LNOTES5.bankofny.com wrote:

> Hey rocky, what happened?  Heard you lost your best.  Man, sorry to hear
> that.  I don't know if you want to share the info, but if you feel like it,
> my emails always open.
>
> scott

--
***Rocky Rockwell***

http://home.cyber-quest.com/rocky.r

"Woodchuck - The Other White Meat"


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