Re: post season plant analysis
Richard J. Noffke wrote:
> Down To the Root-of-the-Matter:
>
> The one thing I'd contribute to this discussion is that I've observed the
> rooting depth of these AG's to be dependant on the soil structure. When I
> grow AG's on old farm land that has a firm fragipan only 8" down, the roots
> stop there. When I grow AG's on loose deep sandy loam the roots will run
> down 18" or more.
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Rick well said...............the discussion strayed away from my originl idea
that if one doulbled the depth or tilth of their patch is that likely add some
square footage...........sure in the root zone..................and your right
"I don't think that you can generalize anything about AG except they have
leaves and roots" its all based on personal envirionments and different
conditions.........but if I had a small patch I would definetly double
dig.......................the other argument is whats the big deal you loosen
the ground 8 inch and when the roots hit the pan they go horrizonial and keep
growing any way.....................right?..........been there done
that......but how can I improve my ground...........so i am going deeper this
year with the tilth.......why? why go through the extra hassle when biggies
can be hit on shallow tilling.............I haven't hit a biigy that way so
"I" have to do something more................so heres my reasoning........I
call it the cereal bowl theory you fill the bowl half full and there is only
so much in the bowl ...to eat..doesn't matter if the roots go straight down or
horizontal there only so much in the bowl to eat..............now you fill the
bowl to the top and the feeder roots have more opportunity . Thats it plain
and simple...........any deeper that 2 feet you don't have the abundant
oxygen................... so I'll stick with 18"
> I have to also agree with you on the evolving ability of the Ag to hit the
> higher weights...................structurally the the pumpkins genetics have
> to get there..........a long with the cutural
> practices..........understanding what causes walls to get thick...... is
> it all genetics......is it genetics to a point then the grower does
> something that enhance the genetic trait.....check this out I give my
> brother some different pacs of seed he starts a bunch of AG and gives one
> to his 70 year old neighbor.................his neighbor puts the plant in a
> pile of aged horse manure and never water it or does anything..........sure
> it got water from some rain maybe once a week or less.........the end
> product a 500lb with 16 inch thick walls..........so I ask my bro what seed
> was that........he goes I can't remember AHHHHHH!............was it the
> genetics ?was it some thing in the soil ?, was it the way it got
> water.?.........I have nticed that some pumpkins that have grown slow with a
> little stress have been denser...................so Rick I think your right
> that 1500-2000 is obtainable as a thousand pounds seems to be the tip of
> the iceberg..........brock
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