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RE: Stuck In a Rut/Something Missing


George,

I understand what you mean about "something missing".  I'm no expert at 
gardening but I have learned a lot in recent years, mostly about growing 
roses.  The experts (at least those writing the books,) and the old timers 
talk about "soil sickness" with roses.
It seems that if you grow roses in a bed for a long time they take something 
from the soil that you won't find in a soil test but is essential for new 
plants to have healthy growth.  The roses that are established there may be 
just fine, however if you replace a plant with a new one, if it grows, it 
will be weak, spindly, prone to disease and slow for the blooms to repeat. 
 Noone seems to know why this is but it is definitely a real problem and I 
don't believe it is confined to roses.  The agriculture experts could make 
themselves heroes if they could find the cause and a cure for it.  It 
doesn't seem to affect other plants you may put in that spot, only the 
roses.  Maybe it isn't something the plant takes from the soil but is 
something the plant puts into it that makes it incompatable for new plants 
of the same species?  Anyway I just thought I put in my 2 cents worth on the 
subject.

Good Luck,
Chris Michalec
Kent, WA
 ----------
From: GBPUMPKIN
To: pumpkins
Cc: AndreaRay
Subject: Stuck In a Rut/Something Missing
Date: Monday, September 01, 1997 6:47PM

Stuck In a Rut/Something Missing

Not a great, (better than last), year for me, but I may be on to somethin=
g.

Problems I deal with in growing Atlantic Giants:

1. I have a garden to work with not a farm.  Have been growing in this ga=
rden
for 24 years, Giant Pumpkins since 1978.  When you grow the same crop in =
the
same place year after year it takes something from the soil.   Unfortunat=
ely
it is "NOT" listed in a soil test.  You can have a text book test results=
 and
still have mediocre crops.  I believe it is some nutrient that we do not =
know
about.  This year I have some nice Atlantic Giants but no giants!  The go=
od
news is my whole garden has done better.
I thought I would share my growing troubles with you so you could compare=
 my
results if you have some of the same problems.

Good luck to everyone at the Weigh Off=92s

George
N. Tewksbury, MA USA
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