Another screwball question.
Last year I had two plants that grew very differently. One was fast and
rangier looking, smaller leaves, medium green, but a real speedster. At the
end of the year, I had two pumpkins on it. The other was slow as molasses,
but very sturdy looking. Taller, BIG, dark green, lush leaves. Fatter
vine. Gorgeous looking plant. And I never set a keeper pumpkin on this
plant. One got up to 120 pounds or so and had a blossom end split, no
others stayed on.
After the season I did all kinds of soil tests in the different parts of the
garden, but found no obvious differences. Perhaps a real soil scientist
would have found differences, but I couldn't notice anything. Anyway, I was
left thinking that the two plants had different genetic characteristics that
accounted for the different growth habits.
This year, I have two main plants, and each is growing exactly the same as
last year's plant in the same spot. Okay, it could still be genetic. It's
only my second year growing in this spot, and it could be coincidence.
The main thing that's bothering me about the slow, beefy plant this year is
that the leaves keep falling down. It's got 26-inch leaves. The stems look
sturdy, although with some pronounced crinkling. So far five big leaves
have fallen over, apparently from the weight of the leaf. Last year's plant
in this spot did the same thing.
Is this genetic? Like thoroughbred horses whose hearts are occasionally
stronger than their legs when they go down in a race? Or is there some
scientific explanation? Too much of one thing or not enough of another?
I have a small patch and the plants grow side by side, but the back half
(where the slow beefy plants have been) had a tree removed in June 99, plus
there is a big old decomposing stump in one corner. I'm not sure if those
things are relevant. I did notice a post earlier this year when Pumkinguy
said too much nitrogen can interfere with fruit set... that set off a little
alarm in the back of my brain since the back plant had set problems last
year.
Does anyone know if those decomposing roots are ODing that plant on
nitrogen? Or on the falling down leaves... could too much nitrogen make the
leaves too big for the stems? Does anyone know any other explanation for
why the leaves crash?
Thanks! Again, knowledgeable explanations are welcome, as are any sort of
speculation or shots in the dark!
Thanks,
Beth
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