Snow

I loved the piciture of the snowy patch!  Here in Spokane the weather has
been up to 70 degrees F.  Just now I looked outside my window because I
heard an odd noise. Was was dismayed to see popcorn snow hitting the
window and piling up on the ground.  It is too early to be planting AG's
yet anyway, but I keep hoping for consistent nice weather so the ground
will be nice and warm when the transplants go out.

My biggest problem growing (other than my lack of patience in very early
spring) isn't snow, but wind.  First year growers, take note: those huge
leaves on the AG act just like sails and wind can rip your plant out of
the ground or snap the vines when it is young.  Last season I made
U-shaped stakes out of wire coathangers after the main vine on one of my
plants was severely damaged by wind.  It's easy and cheap: take a wire
coat hanger, and cut off the hook with a pair of wire cutters and discard
or recycle it.  It is too short to be of any use.  Then snip the long
bottom piece in half.  Pinch the two pieces together a little with your
hand. Voila!  You now have two U-shaped stakes to secure your pumpkin.
Take the stakes, turn them upside down, put them over a vine at a leaf and
press them into the ground.  If you put in enough your plant can survive
very strong winds.  If you don't, you may find yourself set back to
square zero for the season.

Good growing to everyone this year!  And to those who are in warm
enough climes to have start already: I am jealous, but our long
summers will more than compensate for your early start in the long
run!  Just wait and see!  

Until then, please keep your web pages updated with your progress.
Some of us have a severe jones for those first huge seed leaves.

Shaun

-- 
Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic bodies.. that which
to us is merely an evening's meal, but to them is life itself. -T. Casey
Brennan
polaris@wolfenet.com  ++  PGP email welcome

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