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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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Iowegian
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Anamosa, IA [email protected]
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Entry 81 of 91 |
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I learned some hard lessons this year. The pumpkins have to stay on the highest part of the patch, and that is getting raised up. And the drainage ditches are being enlarged. Hopefully we won't get flooded out again. Since money is tight, the work is getting done with shovel, wheelbarrow and tiller. I sure wish I could afford to hire a skid loader or back hoe for a few hours!
I also learned that I need to keep the fertility up better. My plants were on a 1200+ growth rate for 25 days, but then the rains hit. The nitrogen must have leached out, and the growth slowed way down. So far on one spot for 2 plants I have tilled in 11 wheelbarrow loads of grass clippings along with the sweet corn stalks and weeds that grew on it. Around 20 wheelbarrow loads of good black topsoil have been added along with the soil that is coming out of the ditches. I should have a very thick layer of black soil. It will get some fertilizer added and a whole bunch of cow manure. Hopefully there will be enough nutrients to finish the season next year.
I did learn that my insect control program is working. No vine borer damage and I only saw 6 or 8 cucumber beetles all season. My disease control efforts are working, with only slight signs of the root rot problem after 6 weeks of rain. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that we have something to show on October 3. Jacob has a chance at beating his personal best if his 1275.5 heeps growing and adding weight. I know mine will be at least 200# less than less year, if it survives. Good luck to everyone at the upcoming weighoffs. I plan to post a few photos from the Anamosa Pumpkinfest. Hopefully we will get that world record that our growers have worked so hard for.
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