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Rocky-r@stny.rr.com

My fruit is headed for some nice numbers, I just wanted to know if anyone is using calcium soaked blankets on thier fruits yet? My fruits are 450 and 370 pounds on day 31, bu I do see some surface cracks right now going on from aggressive growing techniques. I do not want to blow the fruit up, but I do want to ensure the walls can withstand the push of weight. With cracks on the the shell (which is normal most of the time) would you start using calcium soaked blankets/towels to toughen up the fruits walls at the stage my fruit are in (370 and 450 pounds)?

If so, what is your rate for app to the blankets (nutrical to water)?

8/7/2006 12:29:48 AM

Rocky-r@stny.rr.com

Oh yeah, and also, how long do you leave the blankets/towels on the fruits and how often would you re-apply/resoak the blankets/towels?

8/7/2006 12:31:10 AM

Montoursville, PA

Spraying your calcium foliar product twice a day eliminates anything negative that may come from keeping them damp for long periods of time with reduced ventilation on the skin of the fruit. If the use of calcium, in fact helps, the spraying twice a day will provide what the plant can take up, by absorbtion.

You can use the foliar mix reduced 50% with water. Still enough calcium, on the fruit using the same amount, of calcium, you would in foliar feeding, in one application.

8/7/2006 7:44:51 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Now...better in the evening...the "Got Stelts?" calcium wrap originator applies 1% soaked towels or blankets to the fruit & leaves them on until he feels like resoaking them.

8/7/2006 10:47:43 PM

Deer Park WA

Shoot, we have been keeping calcium soaked towels on ours since they poked out from under the canopy.... And leave them on day and night... resoaking them every day or so...+

8/8/2006 1:00:16 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

That sound's about right.

8/8/2006 12:10:59 PM

Doylestown, PA

I noticed, that near the stem of my pumpkin, a funny pattern of small parallel 'cracks.' It looks like someone took a razor and made hundreds of small shallow cuts in a circular pattern. Is this similar to what you are seeing on your pumpkin Rock?

It's also starting to split at the stem and its weeping a little (which sucks b/c it is my fastest growing pumpkin). I'll start putting the Nutrical on tonight and see how it goes....

8/10/2006 9:58:17 AM

Montoursville, PA

That weeping is natural as are the cracks during maximun safe growth. You may see jelly or gum appear. Leave it on. It is the self healing attempt to stop the weeping. You want to be very near to this condition. A little to much and this becomes the evidence. Some fruit do it more than others so it may also be partly genetic.

If it becomes wet get out a fan and increace air circulation until it heals. I have always used Agro-K Vigor Cal as a spray on healing element. Twice daily giving it time, to self heal and/or dry up between applications.

8/10/2006 10:33:39 AM