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Rhode Island

MURPHYS LAW - SOONER OR LATER IT GETS YA.
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY AND AVOID THEM PROBLEMS CAN AND WILL BE EXPERIENCED BY ALL LEVELS OF GROWERS.BAD LUCK KNOWS NO BOUNDRIES.
HERE IS A LIST OF SOME PROBLEMS RON AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS.HOPEFULLY YOU WILL NOT ENCOUNTER THEM HOWEVER, IF YOU DO? HOPEFULLY THIS Q AND A LIST WILL HELP YOU.

Q-TIP OF MAIN BREAKS DUE TO NEGLECT OR WIND DAMAGE (AKA "SHE BROKE WIND DAD"
A-FOLLOW VINE BACK FROM BREAK-CUT MAIN CLEAN JUST BEFORE THE NEXT SIDE VINE YOU FIND. THIS IS YOUR NEW MAIN.PROPER STAKING AND PROTECTION FROM WIND IN MOST CASES WILL PREVENT THIS PROBLEM..

Q-A 4 TO 6 INCH SPLIT DEVELOPS LENGTH WISE 6 TO 8 FT DOWN THE MAIN
A-FIRST THING IS TO DISINFECT THE AREA,COVER THE OPENING OR BETTER YET WRAP IT OR COVER THE SPLI IN SOMETHING TO PREVENT AN ENTRY POINT FOR INSECTS AND BUGS. WILL HEAL ITSELF IN TIME. NOT TO WORRY.

Q-TIPS OF MAIN AND SIDES ARE ALWAYS ERECT (POINTING TO THE HEAVENS-NO THEY ARE NOT PRAYING)
A-MOST TIMES THIS IS CAUSE BY HAVING TO MUCH FERTALIZERS IN YOUR PATCH. (MOSTLY NITROGEN DOES THIS )YOU MAY ALSO NOTICE THIS THE NEXT DAY AFTER A HEAVY HANDED APPLICATION.
BACK OFF ON THE FERTS FOR A WEEK IF NOT,VINE TIPS BECOME BRITTLE AND WILL NE SNAPPING AT THE SLIGHTEST BREEZE.REMEMBER THIS "PIGS GET FAT ,HOGS GET SLAUGHTERED"

Q-MY YOUNG 50-75 LB PUMPKIN IS LEANING TOWARD. THE STEM END LOOKS LIKE IT WILL EVENTUALLY FALL TO FAR FORWARD CAUSING PROBLEMS.
A-I WOULD GRADE THE SOIL UNDER THE FRUIT SO THAT ITS NATURAL POSITION AS IT GROWS WILL CAUSE THE FRUIT TO CHANGE ITS SHOULDER/STEM POSITIONING.(GRADE SO THAT THE SOIL IS PITCHED LOWER AT THE BLOSSOM ) IT WILL CORRECT ITSELF.

MORE IN MURPHYS LAW 2 IN NEXT CHAPTER

1/8/2012 8:51:32 AM

Newfoundland

great stuff pap

1/8/2012 10:03:32 AM

Saskatchewan Fosston Canada

PAP
Thank you very much for great stuff.

1/8/2012 11:22:46 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Your info is priceless Pap!When disinfecting,whats the best product to use,,,,,I keep hearing many different things?

Thanks so much for spending the time Pap!

1/8/2012 11:38:57 AM

Rhode Island

we like to use a product called zero tolerance. but for cleaning equipment,etc? any disinfectant or even bleach/water mixed 50-50 will do.
all your trying to do is kill any germs on that blade before moving on to another plant.
any of the above mixed in a spray bottle will do.keep it in your bucket beside you when working on the plant.

1/8/2012 9:11:04 PM