Slow Going, But Going

 The plants have held tight with the insect damage - at least the damage does not appear to be getting worse.  The 1257 pumpkin and the 1713 pumpkin are gaining wait but in reality the daily gain is pathetic compared to what should be occurring.  

This morning the 1257 pumpkin taped at 355 pounds at DAP41.  


BTW, I had to move the t-post that can be seen in the upper left hand corner of the image. The pumpkin is encroaching on it (within an inch).

The 1713 pumpkin taped at 310 pounds at DAP35  (heavier than the 1257 at DAP35).



If you read the previous post a week ago (you can read that by clicking here), I discussed the two hail impacts that broke through the skin and causing "leaking".  I rednecked it by attaching pieces of latex band with glue, not knowing if it would help or hurt the issue.  Well, it looks like it worked!  The two hail impact spots are noted by the arrows on the image above.  Both spots "healed". 

BTW, here is a side-by-side comparison - a week apart.











I'll have to move that upper left t-post on this one too.  I guess I didn't think far enough ahead when I installed it.

The 250 Wallace pumpkin pollinated on 21 July - it's toast.  I have no idea what has happened, but it quit growing and is rotting on the ground.  The plant itself is gigantic! But all the pumpkins pollinated on it have been no-goes.  The last one I pollinated on the 8 Aug is growing really slowly but it has a nice round shape.  I really doubt it will make it.  I did find another couple of pumpkins within the mass of vines that are growing (bee pollinated - probably by pollen from the 250 itself).  Maybe I can get a 100 pounder.  The 250 Wallace has tremendous potential (allegedly).  Maybe it's the soil in this part of the garden.  I've never really had bigger than a 200 pounder from this area.

For the remainder of the season, I'm hoping the 1713 will make 600 pounds.  I think the 1257 will probably settle in at around 500 pounds.  To some, those numbers are great!  But, I'm disappointed as I really want that 1000 pounder. At the end of the season I'm going to sow in rye (field, not grass) if I can find the seed.  I'll check with the local CO-OP.  I will grow that during the fall, winter and early spring and then till it in for a "green manure" and to add organic matter to loosen the soil a bit.  I always get a soil sample tested by Western laboratories in Idaho that has a specific test for Atlantic Giant pumpkins. So, with the soil nutrients where they should be, with added organic matter, and with hopefully an earlier start (I've got an idea on how to do that successfully), maybe I can break that 1/2 ton barrier next year.  

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