Florida garden still growing
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Florida garden still growing
- From: C*@aol.com
- Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 10:40:12 EDT
Group:
I thought I'd take a moment to report that despite the FL widfires, extreme
heat, ash fallout and pollution, lack of rain and other weather atrocities, my
pumpkin plants are alive and well, producing many flowers and setting fruit.
So far, I have not been able to keep fruit on the vine longer than 10 days
after setting.
Have decided to spray Daconil twice weekly while fruit is set, hoping to
drench the plant, leaves and ground to prevent fungus. Want to see if the heat
is the only culprit.
Chris Anderson and others who are growing the 977 will be interested to learn
that the 977 plant of mine is finally begining to bear females. Oh, Chris was
right when he said that females will appear about 18 ft. out. My plant is
enormous, and the females are appearing on the distal ends of the secondary
vines about 2- or so ft from the stump. Better late than never.
The Brock 599 is covered in blooms. A low profile plant, but very large, it
has surprised me with the profusion of blossoms.
The Eaton 739 is also blooming, but too early to predict fruit sets. It is
interesting to note that the stump of this plant is very large, like a man's
thigh, and appears to have a thin layer of bark on it. I also noted this on
the Canniff 459 when it was pulled last week. The main vine had grown a thin
layer of bark as well where it was buried.
I have culled my field down to about 6 AGs. The rest were pulled due to
Mosaic. Will concentrate on these plants, and hope for the best. The Rouge Vif
D'Etampes that Tim Clark in Redland, CA sent me are producing beautiful
fruits, have harvested about a dozen already and the plants are still strong
and blooming. I will definitely grow this variety again.
It will be my luck to have a few fruit sets just as I head north in August. If
that happens, Mike (husband) will be their surrogate keeper.
These plants have been in the ground since 3/11, and I wonder how long they
will go before disease, vermin or other consequences cause their demise. AGs
are very hardy plants.
If nothing else, this garden has been a delightful experience, and a great
feasibility study for the south. My soil wasn't the greatest, I foolishly
planned no wind protection and allowed the water situation to get critical
before purchasing a pump. Live and learn. Despite all those things, I did get
a 220 pounder from my Baird 762....I still feel I have gained a tremendous
amount of knowledge and am already thinking about next year's plan of attack!
Well, best of luck to all in the northern latitudes who are just setting fruit
on your vines. May you enjoy the rain we need so desperately and grow
yourselves a grander!
Barb Kincaid
Orlando, FL
The
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