Fw: Pumpkin Nook News, July 2003

'Tis the season to watch your pumpkin patch grow in leaps and bounds.
Enjoy.
Kim

Kim Thomas
Bitterroot Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off
mtgiants@bigsky.net
www.giantpumpkins.blogspot.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Ezpumpkin@aol.com
To: ezpumpkin@excite.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 5:34 AM
Subject: Pumpkin Nook News, July 2003


Pumpkin Nook News






Book 6, Volume #3
July 1, 2003




If July has arrived, it must be time to pollinate the pumpkins. Birds do it.
Bees do it. And, sometimes you do it. The pollination period is very exciting.
It is also an anxious time. Mother Nature doesn't always see to successful
pollination. Occasionally, she needs a "helping hand".

July and August are the busiest months in the patch. The plants are growing.
Baby pumpkins are being born. During this time growers are ever vigilant to
plant disease, insects, and perhaps other varmints. But as pumpkin growers, we
are driven to the promise of huge orange globes, bigger than anyone else in
the 'hood. A prize winner at a fall weighoff perhaps. Put up a picture of your
loved ones out in the patch. You won't have time to see them again until you
harvest your pumpkins!







In this Issue:
1. That Six Letter Word
2. Micro-Nutrients
3. Seeking Festival Info
4. Grower Diaries
5. From the Community
6. On the Light Side


1. That Six Letter Word

Pollen, it's a six letter word that works it's magic out in the pumpkin patch.
Right about now, you will discover tiny baby pumpkins resting underneath a
female flower. Without pollen from a male flower, your tiny baby will not
grow. But, don't worry. For the next few weeks, your plant will produce plenty
of male and female flowers. If pollination doesn't occur on the first try,
your plant will have plenty more chances. (They do say the fun is in trying.)

True or False: Dry Ice is very useful for pollinating pumpkins? Don't know the
answer? Read on!

The male flowers usually come to the party first and in big numbers. They
await the arrival of a young lady (flower). Romance is fast and furious. The
female opens up for just one morning and only for a few hours. With a little
luck, a bee or a bug will carry some pollen from a male plant and deposit it
inside a waiting female flower. A few days later, your pumpkin will begin to
grow. If pollination did not occur, a few days later, the baby pumpkin will
shrivel and die.

This time of year, the most frequent question we receive is about pollination
problems. The most frequent cause of poor pollination is high temperatures.
The next most common cause occurs when new growers spray insecticides on their
plants and kill off the pollinators. There are a number of other causes, too.
Got pollination problems? See Poor Pollination FAQs at
http:/pumpkinnook.com/howto/pollenfaq.htm


And now for the Dry Ice answer: True... In areas where daytime temperatures
reach the 90's, pollination success rates are very poor. Determined (AKA
Fanatical) pumpkin growers sometimes build a little tent over the female
flower, and put a little dry ice inside to lower the temperature. They then
hand pollinate the flower. If you love pumpkins, you'll go to any extreme to
grow them.





********** Hammocks, for Summer Relaxation **********

The garden is growing strong and is well tended. Now watch it grow from the
relaxing comfort of your new hammock. Place your new, top quality Twin Oaks
Hammock or swing in a shady spot, and you've got the makings for a perfect
summer.

Find the finest hammocks at the lowest prices, at TGN's Pumpkin Nook.....


http://pumpkinnook.com/shop/


***** Slow things down a bit with a Twin Oaks Hammock  *******





2. Micro-Nutrients

God put micro-nutrients in the soil for a reason. Everybody says they are
good, no make that essential, for healthy plant growth. Yet, most of us don't
get past N-P-K. So, I've been doing a fair amount of research and study
recently, digging into why micro-nutrients are so necessary.

The first micro-nutrient I studied is Calcium.  Why? Because after N-P-K,
Calcium is the most important micro-nutrient. And secondly, because the use of
Calcium is a top secret of some of the top growers. And, I'm letting the cat
out of the hat for all of you on Pumpkin Nook News, so you can grow bigger and
better pumpkins too.  Are you ready to grow bigger, heftier pumpkins? I
thought so.

Calcium not only makes strong bones, it makes strong pumpkins. Many of the top
growers aren't talking, but they are using Chelated or liquid calcium.
Calcium neutralizes acids in plants which aids in the uptake of water and
nutrients. It also promotes cell division, cell wall strength, and growth.
Thicker pumpkin walls are where the pounds are added to your fruit. In the
last couple of years, you've heard of a lot of pumpkins weighing in "heavier
than the chart." And, do you know one of the contributing factors?
Right.......liquid calcium.

Solid Calcium won't do. As a matter of fact, we read several reports that
suggested solid calcium can actually cause excessive buildup in the soil.
Liquid Calcium on the other hand, is readily absorbed by the plant. Foliar
feeding of liquid calcium is recommended in most articles. It can also be
applied directly to the roots.

We see the increased use of liquid calcium as one of the top three reasons why
more and more growers are producing bigger fruit. (We'll talk about the other
top secrets later) Now you know a "Top Grower's Secret."  The playing field
has been leveled. We hope you use it to join the ranks of top growers.

Let's dig back several years ago to the persistent rumors about milk and
pumpkins. Some growers believed if you fed milk to the roots, you'd get bigger
pumpkins.  Do you know what is in milk? Right, lots of liquid calcium.
..hmmmmmm.






********** Back Yard and Deck **********

With summer in full swing, it time to add that deck box or barbecue cart to
the deck. Maybe a garden or yard cart perhaps. What about hose carts? And,
don't forget to personalize your garden with a unique statue or garden elf.
We've got 'em all at TGN's Pumpkin Nook.


Click now : http://pumpkinnook.com/shop/


***** Unique, selection, price  *******




3. Seeking Festival Info

As soon as the pumpkins begin to arrive in the patch, people begin thinking
about the fall festivals and weighoffs. We do our best each year to post
information on when and where they are held. It's a big task. We are updating
those pages now.

We need your help. If you are a festival organizer or member of a pumpkin
organization, please help us to promote your festival. It will increase the
attendance to your event.

How can you help? Check to see if the information we have is current. Go to
http://pumpkinnook.com/giants/festival.htm  If updating is required, email us
at ezpumpkin@pumpkinnook.com Include the festival name, date and location.







Thought for Today: There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself,
hire someone to do it, or forbid your children to do it.




4. Pumpkin Diaries

Pumpkins are vining out at a fast past. You hear reports of vines growin 2,4,
6 inches or more a day. How do you stand in the race?

There are a lot of growers out there who maintain diaries and growth logs on
the Internet. They are posting their sites for fun, and to share their results
with others. After surfing a few of them, you can see if your patch is ahead
or behind the pack. You can also pick up a lot of tips to help you pump up
your pumpkins.

Find grower diaries at http://pumpkinnook.com/commune/diary.htm

.ps During your visit, drop these internet growers an email. You just might
make a new pumpkin pal.




********** Vegiforms  **********

You work hard in the garden all season long. So, why not have a little fun!?
Vegiforms are the perfect garden toy. Place a vegiform mold around a young
fruit. As the fruit grows, it takes the shape of the mold.  There are five
different molds to choose from for use with pumpkins, squash, cucumbers,
zucchini and eggplants. Molded fruit makes a great conversation piece at the
dinner table and parties.

Buy all five vegiforms and save.

Click now to the "Gardening- Supplies" department at :
http://pumpkinnook.com/shop/


*****  A garden toy!  *******








5. From the Community

Here is an email from my very favorite kind of pumpkin grower...the "Newbie."
Getting a newbie into growing pumpkins is easy. There's a natural lure to
growing pumpkins. Keeping a newbie into the hobby is the challenge. Long time
growers know that much can go wrong in attempting to grow that first Jack
O'Lantern, that first giant pumpkin, or even that first Jack Be Little. Giving
Newbies encouragement and knowledge to help them successfully grow their first
pumpkin is what will keep them growing pumpkins for years to come.... make
that for life. And so, Pumpkin Nook strives to provide growers with the
information they need in a light hearted manner, to successfully grow
pumpkins!

Here is Liz's note:

"Hi! I am a new subscriber to Pumpkin Nook, and I just wanted to write and
tell you how awesome I think it is!  Thanks so much for making pumpkin info
available, interesting and fun!  Have a great day!" Liz, Smolak Farms

Welcome aboard Liz








********** Statues 'N Elves  **********

Add a little "Pizzazz" to your garden.  Add a colorful and attractive garden
elf or statue to provide just the right accent to your garden.

We've got a big selection to help you to personalize your flower or herb
garden. View your new garden elf or statue now at
http:/pumpkinnook.com/shop/


***** Thanks for supporting Pumpkin Nook *******







6. On the Light Side

July arrives with a bang! Up in Canada, it begins with Dominion Day. See
http://holidayinsights.com/other/dominion.htm

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we celebrate the birth of our nation. See
http://holidayinsights.com/july4/

Take a few minutes from the patch to celebrate one or both of these holidays.
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday!



Next Month:

1. 'Puttin on the Pounds
2. Ripening Already? Kewl!!
3. And the Heat goes on......
4. And much more!


Bob Matthews


Visit the fun and informative content sites in our family:

Pumpkin Nook , The Gardener's Net  and  Holiday Insights

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