A protected hand-pollinated flower
Giant Pumpkin Cultivation with the Grays!
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
Here are the latest developments at the Grays:
"Last evening the winds picked up and gave us a little trouble. Mike went out armed with the solution from our local nursery and you can see the doctor was in and the operation was a success, we hope.
Until next week good luck to all,
Susan"
Necessity is the mother of invention! I am looking forward to hearing and learning if this method of vine repair works. Also, please note how green and healthy their plant looks in the picture taken at 10:16. Nice!
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
In an effort to reduce the amount of upward and downward scrolling on this blog, I thought it makes sense to consolidate growers' experiences.
"Hi Stuart: I hope all is well. All is still going good and as you can see the bandage is working. Mike has started the water trenches. Main vine is out to four feet now. More next week, Mike and Susan"
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Here are the latest pictures from the Grays. As you can see their vines are looking great! I wish that my vines were doing so well.
"Hi, Stuart, Saw the pictures of the little one. I think you are going to be losing her soon to the sunflowers. But since I am a true lover of sunflowers they look great.Were you able to stave off the bugs on your pumpkins? As for us they say we are in for a real hot July so as you can is in the pictures, Mike has set up some the fans and misters.The plants are doing real well even the one the doctor treated. All is well so far. Until next week, everyone keep growing.
Mike and Susan"
July 7, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Here are some great pictures of the Grays' irrigation system in action and the latest news from their patch!
"Hi Stuart,
I'm so glad to see your plants are doing so well. As you can see this week's pictures of the watering systems are all up and running, so far so good. The weather has bee real nice for us also. Until next week everyone keep growing. Mike and Susan"
July 13, 2012
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
Apparently, the Grays are experiencing an Alfred Hitchcock-like attack!
"Hi, Stuart,
Glad to see you won the beetle war. But, you don't know what pumpkin abuse is until the birds get to your blooms before you do. We had to try to pollinate any way we could because of the flower location and high heat. We have been having aborts, but we have our fingers crossed! Hope all is going well with you. Unitl next week, Mike and Susan
P.S. Do you think there is any hope pollination can take take place with the flower petals gone?"
I think it can. If you can repair a vine with tape, then anything is possible! I think your vines are doing great, and the cooler weather should help a lot too.
July 23, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas,
Susan Gray sent me the latest images of her and Mike's patch last Friday, and here is her update:
"Hi, Stuart: So far so good, even with the high heat. As you can see from the pictures the pollination seems to have taken so far. But with the heat, we really didn't think it would. How are yours doing with the heat? Until next week, everyone keep cool, Mike and Susan"
Hopefully, I'll have some pictures up from my patch later this week. I modified the watering system (trans. I punched holes in the soaker hose with a knife.) to increase the flow to all of the vines, so I am hoping that its helped them catch up with Susan and Mike!
July 30, 2012
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
I received this update and the latest pictures from the Grays' patch:
"Hi Stuart, Saw your pumpkin pictures it looks like you are off to a good start too. This week the only thing we are trying to do in the cooler weather is move the pumpkins into a better position so they are not on top of the vine. Also we are using a freezer bag over the stem to keep it dry. So far so good.
Until next week good luck,
Mike and Susan"
August 3, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Well, it looks like the Grays are having a break-out season, in spite of the warm weather!
"Hi Stuart, This week we are still hoping that our pumpkins don't go down. The weather has been very hot, so far so good. Hope your pumpkins are doing well also. Mike and Susan"
August 19, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Big wheel, keeps on turning....
"Hi Stuart, Our unrelenting hot weather continues. But pumpkins and plant are still hanging in there somehow. Mike and Susan"
August 24, 2012
"Hi Stuart, Sad day in the Gray patch, lost one due to high heat. But the other one is still hanging in there.The one we lost was a July-22 pollination. Mike and Susan"
September 14, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
In an effort to reduce the amount of upward and downward scrolling on this blog, I thought it makes sense to consolidate growers' experiences.
"Hi Stuart: I hope all is well. All is still going good and as you can see the bandage is working. Mike has started the water trenches. Main vine is out to four feet now. More next week, Mike and Susan"
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Here are the latest pictures from the Grays. As you can see their vines are looking great! I wish that my vines were doing so well.
"Hi, Stuart, Saw the pictures of the little one. I think you are going to be losing her soon to the sunflowers. But since I am a true lover of sunflowers they look great.Were you able to stave off the bugs on your pumpkins? As for us they say we are in for a real hot July so as you can is in the pictures, Mike has set up some the fans and misters.The plants are doing real well even the one the doctor treated. All is well so far. Until next week, everyone keep growing.
Mike and Susan"
July 7, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Here are some great pictures of the Grays' irrigation system in action and the latest news from their patch!
"Hi Stuart,
I'm so glad to see your plants are doing so well. As you can see this week's pictures of the watering systems are all up and running, so far so good. The weather has bee real nice for us also. Until next week everyone keep growing. Mike and Susan"
July 13, 2012
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
Apparently, the Grays are experiencing an Alfred Hitchcock-like attack!
"Hi, Stuart,
Glad to see you won the beetle war. But, you don't know what pumpkin abuse is until the birds get to your blooms before you do. We had to try to pollinate any way we could because of the flower location and high heat. We have been having aborts, but we have our fingers crossed! Hope all is going well with you. Unitl next week, Mike and Susan
P.S. Do you think there is any hope pollination can take take place with the flower petals gone?"
I think it can. If you can repair a vine with tape, then anything is possible! I think your vines are doing great, and the cooler weather should help a lot too.
July 23, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas,
Susan Gray sent me the latest images of her and Mike's patch last Friday, and here is her update:
"Hi, Stuart: So far so good, even with the high heat. As you can see from the pictures the pollination seems to have taken so far. But with the heat, we really didn't think it would. How are yours doing with the heat? Until next week, everyone keep cool, Mike and Susan"
Hopefully, I'll have some pictures up from my patch later this week. I modified the watering system (trans. I punched holes in the soaker hose with a knife.) to increase the flow to all of the vines, so I am hoping that its helped them catch up with Susan and Mike!
July 30, 2012
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
I received this update and the latest pictures from the Grays' patch:
"Hi Stuart, Saw your pumpkin pictures it looks like you are off to a good start too. This week the only thing we are trying to do in the cooler weather is move the pumpkins into a better position so they are not on top of the vine. Also we are using a freezer bag over the stem to keep it dry. So far so good.
Until next week good luck,
Mike and Susan"
August 3, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Well, it looks like the Grays are having a break-out season, in spite of the warm weather!
"Hi Stuart, This week we are still hoping that our pumpkins don't go down. The weather has been very hot, so far so good. Hope your pumpkins are doing well also. Mike and Susan"
August 19, 2012
Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
Big wheel, keeps on turning....
"Hi Stuart, Our unrelenting hot weather continues. But pumpkins and plant are still hanging in there somehow. Mike and Susan"
August 24, 2012
"Hi Stuart, Sad day in the Gray patch, lost one due to high heat. But the other one is still hanging in there.The one we lost was a July-22 pollination. Mike and Susan"
September 14, 2012
"Hi Stuart: As you can see in the picture we received a little break in the weather, 89 instead of 95. Wow, pumpkin has slowed down some but this is the one the birds pecked the petals off of. Plant is still hanging in there somehow.
Mike and Susan"
September 28, 2012
"Hi Stuart: Well, the plant is finally starting to lose leaves. The pumpkins are still growing but a lot slower. Until next week,
Mike and Susan"
October 11, 2012
"Hi Stuart: A little late with pictures, been doing Halloween decorations. As you can tell in last picture/the close up, it's cantalouping but looking better after trying some vitamin E oil on it.The plant is looking worse but is still growing.Until next time. Mike and Susan"
