Re: the limits of pumpkin knowledge
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: the limits of pumpkin knowledge
- From: S*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 15:41:51 EDT
In a message dated 98-09-09 15:17:57 EDT, you write:
> Here is a question for the list: what "established practices" of pumpkin
> growing have people violated and gotten away with?
>
> This came to mind because of the experiment Pumpkinguy mentioned ... which
> argued that foliar feeding is really root feeding in disguise, so why
> bother? Yet we all accept foliar feeding as a kind of wisdom.
>
That was just one conversation that he had with a guy at a fertilizer company,
I think. There HAVE been proven controlled studies that showed the uptake of
nutrients through the leaves, especially the undersides. So it isn't a myth
(like the infamous "milking the pumpkins" deal), it is proven fact that the
nutrients do get taken up through the leaves. SOme poeple might question
whether the extra uptake is NEEDED if the root system is adequate, but still,
foliar feeding does work, as far as getting nutrients intop the plant system
FAST, (within 10 minutes of application).
> I know of one grower that produces 700+ lb pumpkins using soil with 50%
> organic content (vs the 8% - 10% levels that seem more "normal" for this
> sport).
>
> I'm told same guy deep waters once a week, vs any sort of a regular daily
> plan.
>
Deep watering is the best for any plant, I think. (Except tropical rainforest
plants adapted to shallow root systems). Also, if he has that much organic
matter in the soil, the water is probably retained fo a longer time, therefore
he only needs to do one deep watering a week.
> Doc Pumpkinstein once told me he didn't hand pollinate, but left the job
> completely to the bees.
>
You can do that. The only problem with it is that you can't control who the
father of the seeds are. Some people say that "extra" pollen ensures a good
seed set, and will make the pumpkin heavier.
> What about other established practices? Has anyone out there produced a
> 700 lb pumpkin without burying vines? Without pruning? Without
> roto-tilling even once? How about without adding *any* fertilizer during
> the growing season (foliar or otherwise)?
>
Yep, some have, I think! It is called LUCK!
> I'd really like to hear about growing practices that break common wisdom.
> The answers could be instructive, if a bit humbling.
>
> Dan Shapiro
>
Hmm, O.K., here you go. One guy on the list had a rotting main stump on his
pumpkin, so he CUT IT OFF. Yep, the main stem! And it KEPT GROWING (from the
taproot system alone). The "stumpless wonder". You can go to the archieves and
read all the posts about it. Also there was the "pumpkin tree", the container
grown pumpkin, the upside down pumpkins, and all kinds of weird stuff.
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