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Syracuse, NY

IanP - below soil surface of the totem pole speaking here, butt how do you feel about the pics of the 2020's leaves? If it were anyone else...well, here, I'm talking to IanP, lol---I'd say the leaves look 'Nitrogen-bloated' or something, butt I've never had that, myself, butt how might it affect the pumpkin's growth if it has any effect at all, rhetorically? Just watching out! Great pic of the Jacobus and simply astonished at 1050# in 35 days! eric g

7/9/2024 5:50:03 PM

Nęstved

Dear Ian - It is such an inspiration to follow your ambitious strivings to go for the WR !
Do you get tissue-analysis done or plant sap test?
I would be happy to see some data, current and/or historical :)
Best regards Peter Holst Olsen

7/10/2024 2:00:02 AM

Lymington UK

Hi Peter and Eric.
We have hade to use a chemical called Systhane (Myclobutanil) for powdery mildew. This puckers up the leaves which does look a little like high nitrogen.
We only do soil samples that you can find in my diaries.
There are two reasons for this.
If you ever get a leaf analysis you will find that they nearly always come back saying high nitrogen.
Secondly we used to get leaf samples to find out how the calcium was going. Up until the pumpkins are the size of a beach ball the calcium was always great. After this stage they always came back saying that the calcium was low.
We used to pull our hair out trying to improve this until we worked out that it was the pumpkins using all of the calcium to feed the pumpkins with water.
Soil samples are much better because you really want to be keeping that nice balance before you see a problem with the plants.
Ps our boron is typically between 4 & 7ppm and the labs really can’t get their heads around this.
Go careful it can be a great weed killer.
The one time a leaf sample really works is when you do have a problem and you perhaps know the answer, it just confirms the problem which is a great way of learning.
I hope this helps Ian

7/10/2024 6:22:16 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

For those of us in the States, Systhane is widely known by the brand name Eagle. Same ingredient.

7/10/2024 12:04:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

I'd be an 'advisement nightmare' on a hospital night crew, lol...Thanks---eric g

7/10/2024 1:50:38 PM

Lymington UK

Photos are a absolute nightmare, second guessing without a full picture. I have to do it all the time when I get sent photos and it’s not easy to be honest.

7/10/2024 2:03:38 PM

Syracuse, NY

There is a song that says that:
"It's so hard
to be unkind
so easy just to say
that everything is just...the way it seems..."
Boston - A Man I'll Never Be - 20 seconds:
https://youtu.be/gZxP3bMn0as?t=17
ANYone - watch this excerpt or it all -
It takes me back to when I first
was old enough to love ROCK! eg

7/10/2024 3:48:46 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

Ian,
you've convinced me to switch from tissue samples to soil samples.
Can you give us a brief tutorial about taking in-season soil tests? How many areas per plant do you sample? How deep do you go? Seems like it's impossible to avoid some degree of root damage.

7/10/2024 9:03:25 PM

Lymington UK

I’ll put something together in my diary tomorrow for everyone

7/11/2024 5:54:43 PM

Colorado

Hi Ian, Which 2020dmg seed is this.The 1885werner or the 2365wolf mother.

7/13/2024 12:33:01 PM