RE: Slow grower, or not?


Well Steve, I've sure learnt a lot already from you guys for which I must
thank you. I'm a mechanical engineer trying my hand at farming and had never
even heard of a Nematode before, (now I feel like my planet is being invaded
by aliens, they're everywhere!)

I think the biggest thing I have learnt is that I'm going to need some shade
cloth, I've heard white is the best, lets through all the good light for
plant development. I may also have been off on the bean story (i.e.
companion gardening). I had heard about a farmer in Zimbabwe whose life was
threatened years ago because his corn crops were so much taller and
healthier than his neighbour's, and was accused of "stealing" their crop's
nutrition some how, yet all he did was apply some companion gardening with
beans in amongst the corn. I don't know, perhaps an urban (or rural) legend.

Growth has however improved since 26 Nov, only 4 days and the plant has
doubled in size! We have been having quite a bit of rain so things are
cooler, probably a big plus. Tried switching to high Nitrogen fertiliser,
we'll see how that works. I attached some pics of the plant, don't know if
you'll get them through this medium? You can see how much perkier the leaves
are and how much they've developed. Now that I look at them I realise how
much heat they must be getting. Must fond some shade netting this weekend!

Alan

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On Behalf
Of Steve Jepsen
Sent: 30 November 2004 06:32 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: 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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[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of 26 Nov 4 wks old.JPG]

[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of 30 Nov 4,5 wks.JPG]

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