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Bristol R.I. USA

Okay here it is.....this year has been wet cooler then normal. I've suffered with wet flooded patch, nitrogen locked ups, cold soil, wind storms ripping through the patch, vine splits...ahhhhh i'm sure everyone has had the same thing happen to i'm no different. I started my plants earlier this year to get a decent jump on the season. I made one polination about 9 to 10 feet out. Maybe a little more or less. Normally my polinations are at july 2nd to 5th. This season has been lagging to say the least. Spending the time in the patch in the mud has been discouraging. Ha anyone felt the same way I do. And does starting early like I have helped or hurt my season given our current weather patterns? I understand that our friends in Ohio are and have been s uffering from the same fate as us growers in Southern New England.

6/25/2011 2:20:59 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Kenny, I recently sent out an email to hundreds of ppl addressing the issues related to the harsh weather this season and a few solutions. Didn't you receive it?
I thoughtn that you werwe on our mailing list?
Tom

6/25/2011 3:07:56 PM

Western PA

Kenny, I got 2 plants out early this season, right before the April monsoon started. Hoops and heaters and plants put out by mid April.It was raining as I was planting them.
I would say that growth was very slow in the hoops compaired to last April. My soil temp hovered around the mid to upper 50's for almost the first month in the hoops.

I posted a kind of related ? a few below yours. I have two fruits that are at day 21 and 19 as of today.I was very dissapointed when I compaired my measurments to last years early one, nearly twice as small.

My plants are on track with last years, maybe a tad smaller,and they look very healthy, but the fruits are small for day 20.

I was thinking about the weather difference from last year. June this season was similar to last year for me, very nice. But I am thinking that the cold and wet April and May this year have held back the root system possibly, and maybe that is causing the lower fruit growth.

Another thought is maybe all the rain leached out the nutrients for fruit growth, allthough my plants do look great. I just dont know. I am hoping that they take off soon, but I feel like I am way behind trying to catch up now. Just my thoughts, best of luck to you.

6/25/2011 8:15:39 PM

South Hero, VT

Thank God you posted this, Kenny! I thought I was the only loser around, and I find out more than one person has the same kind of problems I have this year. This weather has been a real pain for me, too. Hopefully the weather will change so I can grow something resembling a giant pumpkin for the fall weigh off here in Vermont.

Maybe Tom will start carrying 25 x 30 foot grow lights and 200 foot(or longer) heater cables. lol

6/25/2011 8:37:19 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

200 ft cables...no problem, but you would need a generator to run them...lol

6/25/2011 10:36:31 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Trust me when I say the season is a long one. I have an issue with stress as it is never mind the growing season. Each year we wanna out ourselves and claim the prize but onlya few get it. Not everybody gets a ribbon. The weather, soil and genetics take charge after all the planning and prep. I love growing but the stress does get you..lol... My attitude this season is , if it happens we'll learn from it. It seems every year I get more knowledge to pass on to family concerning these things.

6/26/2011 1:52:56 PM

South Hero, VT

One more post on this topic: I had to mow the lawn next to the patch today to find tools in the grass. I took a lunch break, came back out, and it started to downpour. I worked for 30 minutes in the rain weeding the garden(no burying the vines with wet soil today), clothes totally soaked. Staked main vines that didn't get buried, Pinched numerous baby females on secondaries, found camera to post pics, took pics, and went into town to get prepared food because I'm too tired to cook anything myself.

People are starting to drive by my house to see the crazy guy who works in his garden all the time.

6/26/2011 5:30:36 PM