CraZy-Growers.de

[oweno]

Another day, another challenge, good thing I am growing just for fun.

Came home yesterday from work and this is what I found, the 1421 Checkon 10 at 16:37.



I wanted to cry, it was not that hot, I couldn't understand what I was seeing. After some investigation I found out what had happened, overnight a wühlmaus had eaten my stump, the whole stump was gone.

I am a fighter though, most people would say "game over", not me. I like the challenge of growing a pumpkin without a stump, never give up.

So after a special treatment of extra water this is what it looked like at 18:49



After that I decided I needed a beer or 10 and left mother nature to decide the plants future.

This morning at 07:38 this is what I found.



I do not think I will be able to grow a new PB with this plant, but I am going to give it my best. I must keep my head up and never give up.

[Jan]

Üble Sache, trotzdem bin ich optimistisch, dass da noch was großes dran kommen kann. Es gab auch schon genug Pflanzen, die ohne Stumpf nen > 1000er produziert haben.

Bei mir machen sich die Wühlmäuse zur Zeit über die Sonnenblumen her...hoffe sie bleiben auch dort....

[oweno]

This afternoon when it got a little warm the leaves wilted again just like the first picture.

This is going to be a tough nut to crack.

[oweno]

When all is said and done one needs a place to sit back and let the world do its thing.

Here is my place to relax.

[Giant194]

Hi Owen,
vielleicht hilf es der Pflanze was, wenn du sie beschattest?
Die Verdunstung von Wasser wird so doch sicher reduziert und sie kann neue Kraft tanken...

Von deinen positiven Vibrations hätt ich gern was ab!

Good luck

[benny_p]

Sven kann anscheinend Gedanken lesen !
Schattieren hilft der Pflanze sicher, neben intensiv wässern ( Der Patient muss an den Tropf ) vieleicht kann man sogar einfach ein Netz/Tuch übers Gewächshaus ziehen. Wobei ich sicher bin das Owen das selber weiss und schon alles in Bewegung gesetzt hat.
Wenn man der Wirkungsweise von Lithovit glaubt, wäre eine vorsichtige Behandlung mit Lithovit einen Versuch wert. Die Pflanze könnte bei geschlossenen Blattöffnungen weiter Photosynthese betreiben und Stoffe produzieren die sie zur Regeneration braucht und weniger Wasser über die Blätter verlieren.

[oweno]

Both suggestions are very good. Thanks.

One thing I have changed is my watering, instead of getting one good watering a day I am giving that plant 2-3 smaller waterings per day.

[oweno]

1421 Checkon 10 x 1381 Checkon 10, 18 feet out, 5 Lobes




The pollination from 20 June is not looking good, I am guessing a side effect of the stress from not having a proper water supply after the stump was eaten and the disastrous wilting of the entire plant.



The good news is that I made it through Sunday without any wilting.

Today the forecast is for moderate temps, but the rest of the week summer is roaring back like a lion, the battle continues.

* Letter from the editor, just realized I posted 4 lobes when it has 5 lobes, easy enough to see in the picture.

BTW, survived another day without wilting, of course it was a mild day.

Editted at 16:43

[oweno]

This evening I removed all leaves that have shown no sign of recovery.

I am hoping that will give the leaves and rest of the plant more support.

This plant is turning out to be more fun then I ever thought I would have from a "stumpless" plant. The mainvine is over 6 meter now, if only it would support a AG.

[oweno]

1381 Checkon 10 x Self, 5 Lobes, 4th Side Vine Left

[oweno]

The 1421 appears to be making a come back.

I do not think it will grow a new PB, but with the suggestions I have gotten and my new watering technique it is surviving.

Today we had about 28 degrees in the shade, in the poly tunnel much hotter, and it survived, some minor wilting, but it is living off its own secondary root system now.

Thanks Sven and Benny for your help, this community rocks.

[oweno]

1381 Checkon 10 x Self, 5 Lobes, 6th Side Vine Left

The 1421 survived another day, this time over 30 degrees outside, I am only guessing but I think 35-40 in the poly tunnel.

The AGs I pollinated on it are growing very slow, but still growing.

The 1421 x 1381 cross is something I want very much, I do not care if the pumpkin is real heavy, I love these heavy genetics and will grow that cross next year.

[oweno]

Happy 4th of July

[Charly]

Sehr schön

[Jan]

Wunderbar erfect10

[Turijan]

owen das sieht wirklich klasse aus :-)

lg aus brandenburg

[Wegerich]

Definetely I need one of those, too. My Truck is not so shiny and clean but nevertheless everybody will stare only at that sighn.

Thanks for showing (your ?) nice pick up.

Christian

[oweno]

I have not been posting lately because there is nothing special to see or learn from my patch. I will not post measurements as they are the worst I have ever had.

1263 - Aggresive plant that I could not control. The main vine broke after the first pollination, unfortunately that one died.

I trained a secondary vine to be the main vine and it broke over night because the plant is very aggresive.

I have one set on another side vine, nice color and shape.



1381 - Another aggresive plant that I can not control.

The main vine broke and 4 secondary vines as well over night.

I have one set that is already showing signs of a stem split.



1421 - This is a very nice plant, not very aggresive, but easy to train into a pattern.

As you may have read the stump is completely gone due to a varmit. The plant has recovered, but the pumpkin is growing incredibly slow.



I guess I should be happy to have anything growing at all.

It is a hard thing to admit, but my best days as a giant pumpkin grower are behind me.

I wish everyone, and I mean each and every one of you the best, I hope you all grow a new PB this year.

[Giant194]

It is a hard thing to admit, but my best days as a giant pumpkin grower are behind me.

Oft kommt es ganz anders wie man es sich vorgestellt hat...
Ich hoffe du hast dich bei diesem Satz unterschätzt und es kommen noch
sehr schöne und erfolgreiche Jahre mit Riesenkürbis.

Kopf hoch Owen!!!

If this is just for fun how come I am not laughing?

Das lachen kommt schon wieder zurück und klar ist man erst mal down.

[oweno]

Not much happening here, but to document this year so I can compare it to past years here are some pictures and numbers.

1421 - 31 July - 237 lbs EST - Stumpless



1381 - 31 July - 139 lbs EST - I am going to allow 3 to grow so I will at least have some decoration for Halloween



1263 - 31 July - 3 pollinations have all died - letting the bees do it now, not looking good