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Knopp, Germany

i am just a couple of days away from giving up. it is 45 degrees f today, and has not been much better the last week. the only one i had set split on me. i pollinated 2 squash a couple of days ago, and zero growth. what is up with this weather? frustrated, sick of 45 degrees on 8 July and fed up, yours truly owen

7/8/2005 12:33:28 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Owen, I guess we are all in the same boat.
I pollinated (sibb) a female on my second 801.5 plant on July 4th and took a picture right after pollination. Today, 4 days later, I again took a picture and the fruit shows no obvious gain in size. The 4 day old fruit is maybe 6" around and the tied-close blossom is showing no signs of wilting. Normally it is completely dried two days after pollination and I can remove it.
Also, I pollinated a female on my 869.5 Calai plant on July 7th and it is absolutely the same size as the three days older one also with a very fresh looking flower on top...
It seems like the very young fruits can take absolutely no cold weather. The slightly older ones cut back in growth considerably, too but are still growing and not looking like they will abort.
We didn’t get over 60°F since last Monday with nights in the 40 to 45°F range and almost no sun but impressive amounts of rain.
Sometimes our hobby is very challenging but I believe there is still hope for this season. The forecast says next week the summer will return. Keep your faith!

7/8/2005 5:12:11 PM

Knopp, Germany

I needed to vent Martin, thanks for listening. It is just very frustrating. Your work the entire off season preparing your patch, selecting your seeds, dreaming of what might be, and then you get a week of 45 degrees in July, go figure.

7/9/2005 1:28:29 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

Hi, Owen and Martin,I'm so sorry for this, the weather is crazy. Also in italy,only a week before, we had 37° 38°and now,only 18° 19°and 13°14°in night, but fortunately I have
pumpkin in all my plant, them grow slowly cause the low temp.
I hope for all european growers, that the weather will change soon and the summer back
best wishes to all
Sergio

7/9/2005 10:45:54 AM

Austria

Hi there,

Owen, you are not the only one. I caught myself getting angry because of the weather being so cold in July and even the forecast won`t give you much hope, but I agree with Martin, the summer is about to return in the next two days. I`ve also 2 young pollinated fruits, which I can`t tell, if they took, because they just won`t react save for my seven lober on the 826 which slowly grew almost the size of a tennisball, also pollinated the 628 Olsen on a six lober.

7/11/2005 2:07:23 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Just wanted to let you know Owen that I feel your frustration...

Right now I only have a slow growing open pollinated 869.5 Calai about soccer ball size and about the same size on my 894 Glasier.

I do have my first pollinated squash on the 552 Sherwood about softball size but I don't expect anything big this year. We had a bad drought so far here unlike by Martin and only today got about 8 liters of rain.

My foot broke 3 days ago so I'm at the weather's mercy for the time being.

Best of luck to all of you!
Michel

7/25/2005 4:09:52 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Michel,

I wish you a very speedy recovery! I think it's quite handy for you that Isabel will be on vacation in a week so that she can care for you! :-) Let your pumpkins do their thing, with that kind of weather we can't do much for them anyways.
No.1 priority should be that you recover very soon!

7/25/2005 4:26:10 AM

Austria

@Michel: First of all, get well soon! I know all of us here feel with you and hope the best that you are on the mend as soon as possible.

7/25/2005 8:18:49 AM

Itzetown City

Michel,
I hope you feel better soon.
It must be a darn hadicap at thoose days with all the things to do like pruning, watering etc.
Greetings from the cold and wet north
Werner

7/25/2005 4:58:45 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Nice nickname Martin!

Thanks to all for your best wishes.
I am starting to be able to get around a bit again
so it's not too bad. 6 years ago I broke the other
foot so now I'll at least have a matching pair...LOL!

7/26/2005 1:47:52 AM