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Today is July 15th, I consider this to be the half way point, two and half months down, two and a half to go. Its also about the time we and the plants are switching modes from growing salad to growing fruits. And its a good time to reflect on how your season has gone, what you've done(good or bad) and what you want to do in the second half. Most of the duds and weaklings have been sorted out and we can put most of our efforts into our top plants. In my experience, from my previous seasons, its rather easy to have a strong July and early August. Its after that where it gets tricky to keep the fruits growing and the plants healthy. Its still early enough for you to do things that will have major impact on fruit growth, but that time is fading.

Do you have any regrets from the first half of the season or things you'll do differntly next season in the first half?

What are you going to do to have a strong second half of the season?

Are there any mistakes you've made in past seasons that you want to avoid doing again this season in the second half?

Is there anything new you're going to try in the second half this season?

What do you believe are the biggest threats to your plants in the second half that could prevent you from getting the kind of pumpkin you want?

7/15/2008 12:20:04 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

Next season I will borrow my friends Bobcat and take down the Neighbors garage and fence, that should give me another two hours of morning sun and another 500 sq ft of patch.

7/15/2008 1:25:41 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Regrets: making the mistake of planting seed too early,
not plowing a much bigger patch, and shade cloth! For second half is a vatload of vine work and praying I'm nearing the end of the weed invasion... we still have our hot season to come. Which came early. Sigh. And threats? Vermin and buggies, and maurading vandals.

7/15/2008 6:14:19 AM

[email protected]

Mistake - We used to set several fruits on a plant and try to cut back one a day to create a big sink by the time you got down to one.

Correct - Set 2 fruit, watch for 10 days and assess which fruit you will go with by tracking the day ten number, length out on main, angle from vine, etc.. Cut to one after day 10-15 and go for it.

Mistake - We used to go in and try to cut all weeds from center patch.

Correct - STAY OUT OF PATCH! Use walk boards to get to fruit, but the rest of patch should be off limits to eliminate compacted soil. If you can reach the weeds with a tool of some sort, lightly try to eliminate, but do not disturb the root system the AG is putting out.

Mistake - Stop burying side vines and main vines because your back hurts.

Correct - Ensure you bury ALL side vines and the main, do not stop or get lazy, the benefits from proper burying is priceless. If you do bury, I highly want you to consider using the mychorizzae fungi, humic acid, and fish/kelp additives to the trench. The roots are amazing if you do it.

7/15/2008 10:22:52 AM

Buffalo, New York

i regret not keeping up with weeding early in the season, now weeds are everywhere.

also regret not using any inpesticides from when plant started vining

7/17/2008 11:42:43 PM