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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Sunday, October 13, 2024
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cjb
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Plymouth, MN
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Entry 81 of 86 |
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Wrapped up the season at Stillwater Harvest Fest: 837.5 Bierle 2024. 150 sq ft challenge fruit. Cross was 1585.5 Werner 2014 X 2560 Gienger 2022. Officially 10% heavy. That's probably an overestimate--I was taping her closer to 800 lbs, but the fruit's shape is kind of smashed in a way that made it really hard to tape. Still, 5% heavy by my measure.
In this breeding project, I crossed one of the first seeds to grow a 2000 lb pumpkin with modern genetics. Turned out to be a decent orange X orange cross, too! (the father is the 1485 Bierle 2024). I plan to grow this seed in '26, assuming the seeds are sound.
Total for my season is 3 fruit with a combined weight of 3,764 lbs.
Reflecting on the season, I need to 1) do a better job with early-season heat support, 2) continue to improve with insecticide application (blow more Merit rather than drip), 3) use higher quality drip tape, 4) be more aggressive with early season nitrogen, especially if it's wet, and 5) continue to try and improve poor soil pH situation.
I'm moving to an every-other year growing pattern. Growing in an urban area I don't want to test my luck with pathogen build up, and looking forward to some big vacations with the kiddos in the summer. I am also optimistic that only doing major additions in my off years will help reduce the number of weeds I have to deal with. Winter rye has been applied-we'll see how well it can germinate before it gets cold here. Will do a crop of mustard and possibly add 10 yards of something from Plaisted's and sulfur next spring--waiting to see how the fall soil test comes back.
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