RE: Slow grower, or not?
Don,
Don't count me in with "The Hitters Club" yet. Maybe some day, but not
yet. That takes years & more space, sun & time than I have given to this
hobby/sport so far!
I wonder if "Hitters" aren't already sharing what they know by example.
The only secrets they know are evident by what they don't do. They don't
burn their plants. They don't over or under water. They don't (usually)
blow up their fruit. They don't let their neighbor use 2,4-D in the wind
(like me). They don't make frequent posts to the internet when they
could be out in the patch weeding. Etc, etc, etc....LOL
I think their dedication is what makes them hitters. What they know is
dedication. I haven't met one yet that can fully explain the principal
of cation nutrient exchange. I can explain soils so most would
understand, but I haven't broken 300 lbs! I can engineer a pest program
& routinely instruct & accredit professional pesticide applicators for
their State issued licenses & even some "Heavy Hitters". I can control
any pest there is if the client has a budget. But I can't grow a 1000
pounder (YET!).
Why? Job, Son, pets, Scouts, Wife, etc....
Who are theses hitters? They can be retired, independent or self
employed & successful, work at night or just plain extremely dedicated &
hardworking people. But do they possess some secret of agronomy they
aren't sharing? Do they have a bottle of "Silver Bullet Pumpkin Juice"
in the garage? Not at all.
I don't think that many "Hitters" are well schooled in agronomy or soil
science. Rather I think they have made contacts with people who are
uniquely equipped to help them make good decisions. They also tend to
have an extreme dedication to being with the plants everyday in
*non-injurious* ways. They've been to the school of hard knocks, taken
their beatings, & moved on a little older & a little wiser. They know &
feel the proper time & techniques for vine training. They don't "forget"
to do stuff. They don't have excuses for not having time. They make the
time. That's the "dedication" part that is so much more important than
the "knowing" part.
What they know is in print. The non-Hitters have to learn the dedication
to apply it unfailingly all the time since AGs never forgive or forget.
Jeez....I gotta get some work done. LOL - Steve
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