Central IL update

Hi All, hope everyone had a good 4th. (except of course for you kanucks,
hope you had a good Sunday <g>

Twas asked Friday about IL growers: Here is one newbies story.

4/5: Direct seeded 4 Dill 881.

4/19: Emergence of first plant

5/2:  Emergence of second plant; no others would arise

within the next three weeks I managed to cook or not get to emerge my
remaining 4 seeds.

6/6:  The most excellent Reggie Elkins offered his backup plants for my
"backup" patch.  (1) Dill 881, (1) Wentzell 914, (1) Lloyd 906.5, (1)
Pacilli 1406 (UOW):

The Dill was transplanted on 6/8 in an excellent patch.  The others were
"mudded" in on 6/10.

To date:

7/2 First female pollinated on Wentzell 914 by Lloyd 906.5:  12' main,
medium leaves

My original Dill 881's are "double dipping at my house garden. 1 main 18'
long, 1 main 23' long:  1 female on each will be ready w/in 3 or 4 days.
24" leaves. a real monster, although I think I have too much N, as the mains
are still putting 6"/day on, and the sides are running nearly a foot a day!
Switched last week to a high P fert.  Will see what happens.  These plants
are under a misting system running 4 45 min. cycles from 11:00 am til 4:00
pm w/ an hour in between (roughly).  The misters take the droop right out!
The system is from drip works and I highly recommend them.  They are very
helpful and the whole deal only cost about $80.

BTW, my panicked message last week about the "slime" attack was a red
herring, as it was some kind of mold or fungus.  The fungicide removes it
w/in 3 hours and it pops up everytime I bury vines w/ compost.  The host
must live in the compost and grow on plant matter when it contacts it.  No
damage from it to date.

The Pacilli has a 7' vine and lots of male flowers.  1 female slowly coming
up.

The Lloyd has a 10' vine and is catching up nicely (or was before the 98
degree weather this weekend.)

The remote Dill 881 has a 9' vine and looks perfect in every way, except for
its size.  I expect it will jump as soon as it cools down.

shooo! that's a lot of typing! But, you asked.

Also, I saw someone suggest letting 300 leaves set before allowing a female
to set???  If I let the Dill's go to 300 they will have taken over the
house!!  At what leaf stage do most of you set the 1st?

I also see the Morton Pumpkin fest is Sept 15!  Why are they doing it so
early?  With the late set of the Dill's, I won't be able to compete with
Reggie by then <G>.  Anyone else going there?

Thanks for the time.

Mike Mott
Champaign, IL

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