Re: new theory on droughts and fertilizers..

>This is an ongoing discussion I have been having with a few growers on
>the list, and my local growers. If youhave any ideas or comments, let me
>know..
>
>QTE:
>
>   As for the 936.5 Handy  my friend was growing, he has lost all of his
>pumpkins, the 936.5 down due to a crack after it had reached 600 pounds,
>and the 1092 Burke he lost after it reached about 450 pounds. The 1092
>went down to catastrophic stem split/rot. We had a real rough year with
>a drought, but I think I learned more this year for future years than
>anyother year I have grown. My conclusion is this about splitting. When
>the weather is dry (like we had this year) it is imperitive that you
>backoff the fertilizers a bit, due to the lack of water that goes deep
>enoughinto the soil to help the leecheing of that fertilizer into the
>soil at its anticipated rate. Even though I watered 50-70 gallons a day,
>I beleive that a good percentage of the 20-20-20 and the early 15-30-15
>treatments I applied laid unreleased, and when we got our first big 2
>day rain in the beginning of August, it activated alot of the dormant
>fertilzer that didnt get into the soil and to the plants, there by
>creating an overfertilized plant, followed by a growth spurt, and then
>followed by the crack. It hapened to me last year, and I do believe that
>this is the case this year. My partner, Mark Elsbree, and I discussed
>this at length and both agree that without those soaking rains we have
>grown accustomed to atleast 1-2 times a month, the fertilizer must be
>backed off to avoid this from happening. Or atleast until after a few
>days of rain where there is proper moisture in the soil. I would water
>50-70 gallons in the morning, and come home after work to find the plant
>dehydrated and leaves drooping, very sad. So where is all that water
>going? Not deep enough, is our answer. Any ideas from your end? I am
>going to additionally post this theory to the group for discussion.
>
>--
>***Rocky Rockwell***
>
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Rocky,

I believe that you may have something there.........but I would bet that
you would still get splitting and rotting even if your weren't
fertilizing.....if your plants were in the least bit lacking in water then
it rained this would swell the fiber cells and be too much and split.
Perhaps the plant overreacts and sucks-up too much too fast....perhaps
every pore stomata is absorbing too... I split some pumpkins this year
merely because i got behind on the water....then watered a good amount..and
split..tomatoes and fruit will do the same thing if droughted too long then
watered heavily or a light rain whamo they split.  Also if a plant is
lacking in water it is more prone to scorch from the sun and I also believe
that it is unable to cool its self off and leads to over heating then
rot.................just few more cents worth.....Brock


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