| |
|
Entry Date
|
Nick Name
|
Location
|
|
Friday, August 09, 2013
|
|
Pumpkin Momma
|
Cummington, MA
|
 |
Entry 25 of 33 |
 |
|
|
|
So 2 out of the 4 patches are empty due to disease. The 585 got a case of what I think was Yellow Vine Virus according to the pictures I saw on Matt D's descriptions. The other weak plant I think was ultimately downy mildew. Both of these are said to be carried by squash bugs. They haven't been a major problem this year, but I know they are there. So that is a lesson to watch out better for them in the future.
The kids prepared a soil sample from where the 585 was and it was sent to UMass today. We are planning to plant a cover crop of mustard. We'll see how that goes and in fall it will be mowed tilled in. Then adjust for potassium, lime, and phosphorous when we get our test results back. I'm being told the patch should rest a few weeks between the mustard being tilled in and planting a cover crop of winter rye so we'll try to do that. In spring, we'll see how crazy it can get with composted manure and all the rest!
It is kind of funny when the diary entries are about what you're planning to do instead of what you've actually been doing. :)
In the meantime, we have 2 fruits on our mystery plant that are growing nicely. There are some smaller plants on the late patch that haven't even set any fruit yet. Maybe we'll get something off them for Halloween, but they are also good to practice growing techniques on that we learned about this year for the kids.
|
|
|
