CT. update Alan Reynolds
List,
First an apology to all who have E-mailed me over the last several
months. It's not my style to not answer my mail, but without a long
explanation my circumstances did not allow it. Again, please except my
apologies. I'll now give my update.
567.4 Wallace plant- one of my best - has a small female flower starting
only 3-4 feet out on main vine. Plant has suffered wind damage -4" split on
main vine- have covered with dirt. Have high hopes for this plant still.
947 Patrick - Do not like this plant. Had odd shaped seed leaves at start-
doubled vined on me but snaked tongued into two single vines on it's own. If
this plant can sense my feelings it's all over. I had high hopes for this
seed.
760 Patrick - Sister pumpkin to the 947- Great plant, one of my best- Has
suffered animal damage to it's last three leaves on main vine- Hope this will
not stunt plant, two leaves completely Eaton- Sorry Al E., couldn't resist!
My 937 Mombert X 906.5 Lloyd from last year. Looks good-set out later then
others.
801.5 Stelts- Looks real good- will be my dominate pollinator plant.
929.2 Kuhn- Not as happy as I wanted to be with this plant- Doubled vined on
me but also on it's own returned to single vine
My 488lbs- 597 Reynolds X 937 Mombert from last year- Looks good- younger
than the rest.
835 McIntyre- Was my best plant- planted in spot that does not get full day
sun. This is slowing growth. Good looking plant though.
My 1056 Stellpflug x 614 Reynolds from last year. Looks good, Hoping it will
be shiny orange like my 614 was. Trying to get good color back into the 1056.
My 937 Mombert x 614 Reynolds from last year. Looks real good- planted in
spot with half day sun- youngest of all my plants and only one with
greenhouse still on.
Hey Rocky, Ya, some of my crosses are not listed on the AGGC site. Do have
some measurements around, but most were not weighed. I usually call them
culls.
This year I saw Cuc beetles on May 15th! very early. I have Stink bugs
already, did not see them last year till late August. Oh that mild winter. I
did bite on that Ironite, but applied it very light-Largest leaf as of 6-3-00
was on the 801.5 Stelts 21" followed by the 760 Patrick at 20"-My longest
vine as of 6-3-00 was only 35" on the 835 McIntyre- Have had much wind damage
to biggest leaves, most broke and look like a limp flag- Lots of severe
storms for this early in the summer. After last years summers heat and
drought, I'm trying an experiment with shade. I have planted Cannis flowers
throughout the entire garden. They were picked because they will not draw
animals like corn and will not blow over in wind as easy as corn. They grow
about 8' tall and put up a spike of red flowers that attract Humming birds.
Fun to watch when your weeding! They are better at wind protection than corn.
All plants will have some shade at all times during the day. I hope I will
not need to mist as much and will see less flagging of the leaves during heat
spells. I think all Southern growers should try this. With all this partial
shade I'm hoping for lower soil temps and better retention of moisture in the
soil too. I have also planted Marigolds around every plant base in a circle,
hoping the odor may keep vine borers from laying their eggs on my pumpkin
plants. I have also planted decoy Squash plants without the Marigolds around
them. Again hoping any vine borers will be attracted to these plants. These
plants will be pulled if vine borers are spotted on them.( after I get my
yellow and green squash for dinner) I found last year the Vine borers
preferred the squash plants to my pumpkins. The squash plants were less dense
and they seem to be able to find the main vine easier. Also the plants on the
perimeter of the garden had more borers. This year most of my perimeter is
lined with squash decoy plants. Seems they stop at the first plants they
find. Best of luck to all.
Alan R.
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