Washington Update
- To: "'Pumpkins'"
- Subject: Washington Update
- From: M* C*
- Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 15:01:01 -0700
Well it's been some time since I made an update and I figured since things
are finally doing something I would. We finally got a break from the cold
temperatures here in the Northwet and the plants responded by doing some
serious growing. Best so far is the 759 Mombert 97. Big leaves, main vine
at 8½ feet and secondaries growing out the sides of the cloche. I noted a
few female flowers forming out on the secondaries as I was pinching off
tertiaries yesterday. It will outgrow the cloche in another week or two.
This plant is on pace with last years best which was the 916 LaRue 97. This
years version of that plant is way behind with a 4 foot main. It is my last
place plant and suffered some damage early in the season when the plastic on
the cloche was blown down onto the plant in high winds in mid May. I didn't
get to the patch before the damage was done and some of the early leaves got
scorched when the sun came out. For a while I thought it was going to be
lost but it has made a nice recovery and I still expect good things from it.
The third plant in the patch is the 769 Mettler 98. This is one that will
be grown in a restricted manner with three main vines and no secondaries.
It's central main vine is at 5 feet and the other two are at about 3 feet.
This plant is going to have limited space to grow in because of it's
location in the patch, I will set a couple fruit on it and use it for
pollinating my other plants. For the most part we have had a very cool
spring. The last week of warmer weather has helped a lot. Seeds for all
three plants were started on April 21 and they were transplanted into the
patch on May 2. So far things look to be on pace to set fruit around the
first of July.
I will start to bury vines this weekend and will be hauling a load of
compost out to the patch to start mulching with. I may also use straw
around the plants for mulch as well. I am convinced that this will make a
big difference for me this year and help me break the 500 lb mark. Mulch
will help keep weeds down and help the soil retain moisture longer too. It
is the one thing I did not do last year that I wished I had at seasons end.
Enough for now, I have to pick up a load of compost.
Chris Michalec
Covington, WA
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