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formerly RGG

Some of you top growers have experienced a watermelon or pumpkin bursting open from growing too fast. From what I have read this is always after a good rainfall. Has anyone ever experienced this phenomenon after simply watering a plant heavily? If not, then perhaps it isn't the water alone that is causing the fruit to grow so fast that it bursts open. There is one major difference between tap water or well or spring water and rain water. Rain falls from high in the sky and picks up a little ozone as it falls. When this ozone (O3) soaks into soil it will give up the extra oxygen atom to the soil as it reverts to simple O2. So I am wondering if the addition of extra oxygen to the soil is partially responsible for the burst of growth seen in fruit after a good rain.Plant roots need oxygen to grow and perhaps the more the better.I am fairly sure that lack of oxygen from plastic ground cover was a big part of why my plants were so very unhealthy last year. I am saying all this because there is a simple and not too terribly expensive way of adding extra oxygen to the soil. That is be including H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) to your water.Hydrogen peroxide is also a very unstable compound. When it comes in contact with soil it breaks down into H2O and an atom of oxygen which is then available to your plant roots. If you will google hydrogen peroxide you will find that there are others who steadfastly support this theory. So what do you think?

3/22/2011 8:38:17 PM

formerly RGG

What I am getting at is does anyone besides myself think it is possible to increase fruit growth by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to your watering regimen?

3/22/2011 8:50:21 PM

Watervalley Ms

TD i dont about the peroxide but with more oxgen the plant takes in more ferts.

3/23/2011 8:27:02 AM

Watervalley Ms

with the top reply i dont know but would like to.

3/23/2011 8:31:01 AM

formerly RGG

As long as H2O2 is not used in too strong a strength at the very least it will be harmless. I think at the very best it will help to grow larger melons and pumpkins.Hydrogen peroxide is also an insecticide as it will kill insect eggs when sprayed onto leaves at proper strength.At least that is what I have read.

3/23/2011 8:45:27 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Calcium peroxide......

3/23/2011 9:02:19 PM

formerly RGG

What do you mean Linus?

3/23/2011 10:14:54 PM

formerly RGG

I found this in Wikipedia:Calcium peroxide (CaO2) is a solid peroxide with a white or yellowish color. For all practical purposes calcium peroxide is insoluble in water but will dissolve in acid to form hydrogen peroxide. When in contact with water it will immediately begin to decompose releasing oxygen.
[edit] Applications

Calcium peroxide is manufactured to varying specifications and purity and can be used in different areas of industry and agriculture. In agriculture it is used as an oxygen fertilizer, and is also used in the presowing treatments of rice seed. Also, calcium peroxide has found use in the aquaculture industry as it is used to oxygenate and disinfect water, and in the ecological restoration industry as it is used in the treatment of soils. Calcium Peroxide is used in a similar manner to magnesium peroxide for environmental restoration programs. It is used to restore soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons by stimulating aerobic microbial degradation of the contaminants in a process known as Enhanced In-Situ Bioremediation.

As a food additive it has the E number E930 and is used as flour bleaching agent and improving agent.

3/23/2011 10:17:39 PM

formerly RGG

It sounds interesting. It this something that is readily available?

3/23/2011 10:18:15 PM

formerly RGG

I don't think this would help with the particular growing technique I will be using. It is insoluble in water and would not pass through the landscaping fabric I will be using to cut down on weeds. It I incorporated it into the soil before I put the fabric down I believe it would be used up with the first good rain.H2O2 on the other hand would have no trouble soaking through landscaping fabric to release it's oxygen.

3/23/2011 10:23:12 PM

formerly RGG

I found this from Solvay Chemicals:"Calcium Peroxide products are sparingly soluble in water, releasing oxygen over a long period of time which can exceed one year, depending upon formulation, pH, particle size, etc." Now if I can just figure out where to purchase some.Can you help with this Linus?

3/23/2011 10:38:20 PM

formerly RGG

I found this stuff on the web under the name oxycal. It is pricey and used mostly for growing marijuana it looks like.I would love to try it on melons though; if it weren't so expensive.

3/23/2011 11:01:18 PM

Muddy Waters

What about all the Nitrogen the rain brings is that a factor in this??

3/24/2011 7:43:52 AM

Southeast Texas

i saw that oxy-cal stuff where i bought my grow lights at..dammit ..a head shop in houston...lol

3/24/2011 2:20:46 PM

formerly RGG

I think we may need some scientists working on these things. Maybe the plants are just happy to have the extra water and that causes them to grow.Or could it be the negative ions in the air created by rainfall? Or maybe the worms work harder to make better soil when there is a good rainfall. All that extra nitrogen; yes I think that is probably a really big deal. LOL :)I think it just may possibly be a good thing if we can recreate whatever condition it is that causes cucurbits to have a growth spurt whenever there is a good rainfall. Perhaps if we could give them more of whatever it is on a regular basis they would continuously grow at a faster rate instead of having spurts. I just want my melons to grow pink and fat like Superman's.LOL

3/24/2011 2:31:31 PM

Adams County

I ask this ? to one of the best growers out their, and I was told this ( I would not do it becouse it would kill all the good stuff in my soil ) use it to clean a wounded area of vine or fruit but that is all. so if you try this TD. post how it goes, very interested.. Bill

3/24/2011 7:20:49 PM

formerly RGG

Well Bill, so far I have been watering some seedlings with H2O2 and they seem very healthy. Of course I have no way of seeing any effect on micro organisms in the soil.

3/24/2011 10:40:13 PM

Muddy Waters

Hey TD if your on clay you may need the oxygen,I would be careful,I think with all the organic growing methods we are using,If we are not careful we will blow them up left & right,to much energy for 1 fruit,I think thats kinda whats going on with alot of the kins.Theres 10 blown up for every one that makes it to the scale.He who dont split wins the race!

3/25/2011 7:14:07 AM

Muddy Waters

he who dont blow, glows!!

3/25/2011 7:15:37 AM

formerly RGG

Thanks Mark. My garden started as hard clay. I have been amending it heavily and it is much better this year.

3/25/2011 8:22:20 AM

Muddy Waters

Me to TD Mostly Clay,Had 400 yds delivered at 1 time clay based,given by to me by a customer for free.I must look preetty needy people always giving me stuff,Anybody got any 239 lenos!!!lol God is Good!!

3/25/2011 8:36:33 AM

Watervalley Ms

Yes he is.

3/25/2011 9:31:48 AM

Garner, NC

"All the Time"

3/25/2011 9:46:17 AM

Western PA

TD, interesting post. If any on is planning on experimenting, I would recommend only doing it on 1 plant, so you don't lose everything, in case it turns out bad.

I will agree that nothing compares to rain water.

TD, this may be a good post to move to the general discussion board . You may get some pumpkin growers to chime in.
Lee

3/25/2011 10:46:35 AM