Direct Start Update 6/5/00
Direct Start Update 6/5/00
May continued April's cloudy pattern with 21 days of at least half a day or
more of restricted sunshine, very unusual for May. Precipitation 3.44".
Lowest May temp 29 highest 90 (1 Day) average low 45 high 69. Number of
Frosts 3
Last year 1999 precipitation 3.47". Lowest May temp 28 highest 90 (1 Day)
average low 44 high 72. Restricted sunshine days 15. Number of Frosts 7
The plants are still holding up with the cloudy conditions without burning on
sunny days. Had to make the agonizing choice this past week, go from 4
plants to two. The toughest was the 802 Eaton and the Geerts 756. Both
plants were identical but the Geerts was positioned better to grow correctly
in my small garden. Sorry Al.
Mound #1
Eight AG- AG-560-98-GB Frozen Seeds:
This is the seed from the "Living Dead" (1006 x 1006) "Son Of The Living
Dead"..
7 out of 8 seeds germinated. Broke ground in 5-7 days.
Today the vine is 6' 0" largest leaf being 20"
Mound #2:
2A: One AG-803.5-AE-99 Seed Al Eaton (946.5 Geerts 96 x 780 Eaton 98)
Pulled
2B: One AG-1092-98-BU Frozen Seed:
Pulled earlier in the month.
S2C: One AG-756-PG-97 Frozen Seed Pete Geerts (567.5 Mombert 92 x 559 Geerts
95) Broke ground in 6 days.
Today the vine is 8' 8" largest leaf being 22".
All were planted using the Direct Start Method & Compost Feeding Method.
Mound #2 has a 6' heating cable and mound #1 has a 3'. That may account for
the difference in the plants because they are both averaging 5" a day now
that it has warmed up a little. Big Nor-eater coming into tomorrow with
heavy rain and wind, hopping for the best. Very unusual for June, that is an
early April type storm.
Compost preparation: Built 2 Compost Piles one on each side of the Pumpkin
Mound. Started by deep forking in Bradfield Plus, Iron Sulfate, Chicken Pen
Dirt, Cat Chow & Lime in the hole. Layer compost and Chicken Pen Dirt with
Cat Chow & Bradfield Plus in between. Topped off with slightly rotted hay.
George Brooks
North Tewksbury, MA USA
Approximately 25 miles Northwest of Boston
in the Merrimack River Valley
Zone 5N
Personal Bests
617.6 1991
641 1993
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