Still behind last year but last year the growth was too fast. I'm ahead of two years ago. My main vines are at about 8 feet. They are just about to go out the doors of the greenhouses. I tilled around the greenhouses today as once the vines are outside it is difficult to get the tractor near the plants. I have females showing on all plants. I have cut most of them off as they are too early.
Some of the vines are going all crazy and loopy on me. I think I know the problem. I have been spraying for musk thistle and I may have had some of the spray on either my gloves or clothes and they may be enough to cause the problem. They seem to grow out of it just fine.
June 15th,
Rain, Rain, Go Away.... 12 of the last 14 days we have had rain over 2 inches in June so far. Along with the rain comes cold temps, wind, hail and other things that are bad for pumpkins. The greenhouses are still up but the plants are growing under the sides and out the doors. They need to come down this week.
June 19th,
The greenhouses are down. Had my first female open yesterday- I hadn't even noticed it till last night. It is too early anyway so I'm not worried about it. One plant is severly messed up (904 Stelts)- I am assuming it is the herbicide issue but I don't know. 4 plants have some damage and 1 plant is unscathed (1347 Wallace). I'm just handicapping myself to let someone else beat me this fall. (it could be my kids as both of the their plants are fine).
If I can get a few nice days and let the soil dry out I need to till the outside edges of the patch. The Barley planted on the south side is beginning to head out and needs to be cut down. I have more Sudangrass seed ordered- it should be here Monday.
2.51" of rain in June so far.
June 25th,
First pollinations were today on the 1385 and the 930. It will be several more days before the next ones are ready to go. I didn't measure but it looks like they are about 13' out the main vine.
I mowed the Barley down on Monday. It was forming nice heads and was about 3 1/2 feet tall. I tilled and planted the Sudan grass today.
June 26th,
Officially over 3" of rain this month at my house (3.11 to be exact). That's a first in 6 years of my weather station. It may not seem like much for some areas but in the high deserts of Idaho where our annual rainfall is about 12" that is a bunch!