Oregon Update
I guess it is time to jinx the pumpkin patch one last time before the
weighoffs begin..... It was a night much like tonight that the Oregon
updates began some three years ago or so. Much has happened since then, the
catastrophie of 1996 with mosiac III killing the patch including my #676 in
Mid August. The featherweight of 1997 measuring out at near 700 pounds and
weighing in at a anticlimatically anticlimatic #598. Then the discovery of
the periodic table of elements in tandem with micronutrients in the winter
between 97 and 98. Then came 98. Lost the top 4 biggies to my inability to
lay off the fertilizer, blowing them apart. In the end though the #789 was
very nice and the suprize at 15% heavy, the #720. Definately wont complain
about that. Now its 1999, and here is the rundown as I hear my last four
fruit split......
Cold start to the season in May and June, slightly behind 1998 after two
months. July average, but better plant health care, fertilizer program, and
better manacuring of the plants actually caught me up to 98. Then the trip
to Ohio, what a blast cant wait until next year to go back. Upon arrival
home I promptly received the killer storm which pulverized the leaf canopy
and damaged all but 3 of the fruit. The rain promptly blew up my top 3, #5
and #7 pumpkins in the patch. I had zero growth for 3 days as the plants
tried to regenerate from the damage which led me to the infamous "Season
Ender" update. Since then I have struggled with what was left, working with
injured leaves, and keeping quiet to avoid the disappointment if any more
went down for myself and others. I didn't want a repeat of "SCAR" from a
year ago. I went about my business at the fairs, County, State and Puyallup,
but now I will let on to what sits in the patch now.......
Site Sub Zero, #560 LaRue, Nothing special, odd shaped foliage, three fruit
all the same size around 350 pounds.
Site Zero, #990 Bax, great pollinator as hoped, 2 nice 990 purebred crosses
for seed and genetic saving.
Site One, #738 Stellpflug, harvested four fruit, #474.5, #200, #144, #111
from it, all nice green squash.
#900 Lyons, two fruit remain, one measures out at 550 on the
pumpkin chart and sounds like it will weigh right on, and another measuring
out at 760 on the pumpkin chart, but wow, heavy. Note, the current record
squash for the NW is only #608 set by Joel in 1992.
Site #2, #825 Shymanski, and #469 Hester #1, largest fruit from either plant
is at 225 pounds. Two flops.
Site #3, what was Erichs site until he lost interest in pumpkins. #469
Hester #2, harvest a #517.5 3rd at Puyallup, and have one fruit remaining at
#330 Est.
#737 Stellpflug, one fruit remaining at #420 Est.
#801.5 Stelts One fruit remaining 9/21/99 measure at 330 OTT,
710 pounds, putting on 10 inches every 5 days still.
Site #4, #879 Holland, one fruit remaining, 9/21/99 measure puts it at 351
OTT or 842 pounds, still gaining 6 pounds a day.
Site #5, 946 Geerts, flop.
Site #6, 475 Hester, flop.
697 Ciliberto, awsome plant, but fruit destroyed by storm.
Site #7, 935 Llyod, one fruit remains, 9/21/99 measure puts it at 331 OTT or
#714 pounds. Slowing considerably however.
Site P-1, #449 Marcellus, Splitter.
Site P-2, #720 Hester, One fruit only from the start, only about 90 leaves
remain since the storm in a 10 x 14 feet area, but, at 337 OTT or 752 pounds
still gaining 8 pounds per day.
Now then, if nothing splits, which I am sure it will since I posted this, it
will be a decent season after all. Only a couple days remain until I can
remove some fruit and release some stress for GPC day, and only 10 days out
from Canby and Half Moon bay cutting. I only hope now for the remaining
fruit to make it to the scale, I dont care if I get last or first, I just
want them on the scale
Good Luck to All on this near weighoff eve.
The Pumpkinguru
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