Trudging along - Update 06/29/20
June weather - it's been crazy! Dodge City will end up being the 5th or 6th windiest June on record. There have been some extreme wind events (19 days with 40 MPH and higher gusts) with the storm on the 21st producing the strongest (70-75 MPH here at the hacienda). On top of that has been just one wet period with the remainder being exceedingly dry. The giant pumpkins have suffered ill effects. But despite Ma Nature throwing just about everything at my attempt to grow a giant, the plants have made progress. If you go to the the post I did on the 18th (you can read it by clicking here) I have a comparison from the 1st through the 18th. Since the 18th further good growth has take place.
But - gosh there ALWAYS seems to be a "but"....
About 5 days ago I fed them a concoction from Agronis, a company that produces various agriculture supplements. I obviously used too much, well I'm guessing. A few days later and the main vine on the 250 and the main vine and large secondary on the 1257.5 shriveled and dried up! Dangit! The 1257.5 had a pretty good female candidate to pollinate on it's main vine. It's still there but I doubt it will flower. For whatever reason, the 1713.5 plant that didn't get planted until May 31st, did not show any problems. That is very puzzling.
This morning, the 1713.5 was looking really good given it is less than a month old and in a new part of the garden!
The 250 plant was growing pretty good and there was a female that opened this morning and likely got pollinated by bees. But, that "baby" pumpkin was too close to the base of the plant. I would like it to be at least 10 feet away, but preferably 13 feet. I removed it, so will have to wait for the next in line on the main vine. There is one but it's at least a 5-6 days away from opening. Here was the 250 this morning....
The 1257.5 plant has been a strange one from the start with a flat main vine and a very large secondary vine that started from a split. Regardless, the tips on the main and secondary shriveled and dried up.
Can you see the female flower (left center)? I doubt it will open. But, if it does, I might try to grow that one.
Here is the entire plant (the vine going off to the left is a secondary vine (or a 2nd main vine). Again, it's strange.
There are a couple of females on the tertiary branches off the large secondary. I "might" pollinate one of those, although that is definitely not preferred. It depends on the above mentioned female at the end of the "shriveled" main vine.
If you are interested in keeping up with my attempt to grow a BIG one, here is the main link to the blog: https://jeffsgiantpumpkins.blogspot.com/
But - gosh there ALWAYS seems to be a "but"....
About 5 days ago I fed them a concoction from Agronis, a company that produces various agriculture supplements. I obviously used too much, well I'm guessing. A few days later and the main vine on the 250 and the main vine and large secondary on the 1257.5 shriveled and dried up! Dangit! The 1257.5 had a pretty good female candidate to pollinate on it's main vine. It's still there but I doubt it will flower. For whatever reason, the 1713.5 plant that didn't get planted until May 31st, did not show any problems. That is very puzzling.
This morning, the 1713.5 was looking really good given it is less than a month old and in a new part of the garden!
The 250 plant was growing pretty good and there was a female that opened this morning and likely got pollinated by bees. But, that "baby" pumpkin was too close to the base of the plant. I would like it to be at least 10 feet away, but preferably 13 feet. I removed it, so will have to wait for the next in line on the main vine. There is one but it's at least a 5-6 days away from opening. Here was the 250 this morning....
The 1257.5 plant has been a strange one from the start with a flat main vine and a very large secondary vine that started from a split. Regardless, the tips on the main and secondary shriveled and dried up.
Can you see the female flower (left center)? I doubt it will open. But, if it does, I might try to grow that one.
Here is the entire plant (the vine going off to the left is a secondary vine (or a 2nd main vine). Again, it's strange.
There are a couple of females on the tertiary branches off the large secondary. I "might" pollinate one of those, although that is definitely not preferred. It depends on the above mentioned female at the end of the "shriveled" main vine.
If you are interested in keeping up with my attempt to grow a BIG one, here is the main link to the blog: https://jeffsgiantpumpkins.blogspot.com/
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