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San Jose [email protected]

glad to see you posting again, where have you been?

4/17/2006 3:35:16 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Likewize...and dont't ever take me seriously???...just jokin???!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...glad yer back

4/17/2006 11:12:07 PM

Ohio

Im glad hes back on the board also, and I have to say this about Dwain, I keep in contact with him through emails for the past two years about once or twice a month just to BS with him, and he has known how long I been looking for a 1354 Checkon,guess what showed up in my mail box from Dwain last week??, a 1354 Checkon!!!, This is one of Dwains favorite seeds even,I still cant believe he sent it to me. Thanks again Dwain!

Brooks

4/18/2006 6:58:53 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

doc is the man he is a valuable addition to any punkin growing team,doc i hope soon youand i can have a oppertunity to share another breakfast and some bs time i enjoy youre wisdom and frienshiph! thanks again keith

4/18/2006 3:20:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

There are more than enough good growers working, to build better biological ballances within their soil package today.
The efforts, to use less poison and more biodegradable practices are now possibly, in the majority. I'm growing older and I might say pleased with many solid good answers relative, to good healthy soil growing practices I now see on this board. My nit picking, on the subject is far less needed today. Many are speaking the common direction which is good.

I remember well several years ago when I received a down right harsh criticism from a well known grower. The bottom line was that the healthy soil nuts never end up earning a Green Coat. "SMILE" Well now they do and darn near everyone is scrambling, to haul, the poopers and related organic products, to the patch. The Snake Oil references are now, in the form, of increasing orders, to Craig and his well known AGRO-K foliars. Some have even found out what happens when you cover crop buckwheat.

I am pleased if I may have had a little something along the way that contributed, to the present direction, in common better growing practices.

I believe my patch is back into decent shape. Only one pumpkin will have the honor this year. That will be the big orange (hopefully) the 1233, from Martin Reiss. I may have only a few more, to grow. Emotionally I like that fruit and I like the gentleman grower, of it. I think we shall try to cross pollinate with an Al Berard dandy seed. Those two should make good company.

My cold frame is going up right behind the underground irrigation T-Tapes. We are going,to try and grow a dandy.

I may be somewhat quieter than normal but I flat out get tired, of arguing with donkeys. Shucks even the donkeys are singing a nicer tune, for the most part. Had, to get that barb in. :))

Brooks got my only 1354 because he is a gentleman and friend who last year did a similar favor, for me.

4/19/2006 11:29:37 AM

Midwest

I'm glad you're back on the board Doc! I remember your passion for organics from last year and I agree whole-heartedly with you. It's slowly is catching on and I'm doing the organic thing this year. When I started growing, I read something about making a pit on either side of the seedling filled with composted materials (someone even said fill it will 'almost-composted' materials). It was my first lesson in growing an AG. The more humus you have, the more the AG pumpkin like to grow in it.
Best wishes and gro'um big!
Greg

4/19/2006 1:35:41 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Doc,
Your input is valued by me. I'm glad you're back, and hope to learn from your knowledge and wisdom.

4/19/2006 1:42:59 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Yes, I was wondering about Doc also. Glad to see he is doing well. He has helped many people and is a legend in my book. Guys like him are hard to replace.

4/19/2006 2:18:32 PM

Mocksville, NC

Thanks Dwain got the PDF. And past on to a whole new crop of growers in NC Thank you! Roger Dang if it aint right on the money time wise. lol

4/19/2006 2:39:56 PM

Montoursville, PA

There are a few great growers behind me. My grandfather, my father and then I ran into Tony Ciliberto, Craig Lembke and Larry Checkon. I been touched, by Dan Carlson, Scott Carpenter, Al Berard and Jim Kuhns. Can't miss Jerry Rose and likely more than I can remember that I at least listened to. Then my simple mind pushes and pulls until the common sense stuff surfaces. I never have taken any one gospel as the final book. The healthy patch trend is undeniably strong today. I think the trend is solid and will continue. Rest assured most, of this healthy patch stuff, is as old as old can be. It likely started when the first caveman peed, on a weed, by his cave door. That's because it is sustainable. No one preaching the healthy patch doctrine has anything new or that can not be discovered by anyone. Techniques are always being tweaked and that is fun too.

The cream is rising, to the top, and one who is largely a healthy patch grower looked good, in green this year.

4/19/2006 3:42:38 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Doc, don't forget that you also met me also. haha just kidding. I will never be in that list of great names. I traveled almost 100 miles to shake his hand. I walked through his garden and I sat and talked to him face to face. I have learned a lot from you doc. Now if you could see how well my garden soil is doing this year. We are so happy that we went organic. I could only imagine how well it will be next year. We (especially my son)are looking forward for an invitation again this year. Hope to see you soon.

4/20/2006 11:24:36 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

To be truly organic, one must not use any type of chemical for insect and diseases control.
Just wanted to clarify that because I've met or talked to many guys who said they grew 100% organic soil composition, but used chemicals for bugs and disease.
Can't have it both ways....

4/21/2006 1:30:06 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

On a side note, soil specialists at a recent seminar in Canada, recommend a 10% OM average for pumpkin patches. Apprentley having higher OM levels above that sets up the grower for splits. High OM could cause later season, excessive releases of nitrogen in stages where fruit growth is desired, not plant growth.

4/21/2006 6:48:15 AM

Montoursville, PA

My mode when confronted, by specialists talking is to assume most are just talking. Many have not one day, of experience. Now if Jerry Rose, Larry Checkon,Dan Carson, Tony Ciliberto, Craig Lempke or guys, of that experience speak I will listen. That bunch can get more pumpkin out of a load of poop and a dollop of molasses than Carter has liver pills.

Excessive releases do not occur unless excessive inputs are made, to cause those releases. Then we darn near always come, to realize not a single organic test has been run, to back up the mumbo jumbo coming down. That would be the only intelligent way to establish the proof, in the pudding.

To prove a point...I ask for local help. Three weeks later I did get a phone call to see if I still had the problem or had overcome it. That is the kind of expert help I really appreciate. :) It took three months to get a pathegon report from a testing service. They had to call another office, to find out what forms were needed, to submit. That took a week and I had another area pumpkin grower tell me so I could tell them. Their people were, to busy speaking, on the circuit, to garden clubs. Seems their experts were all undergrads working, for the one person, of record, in that department. Mercy, Lord, of Mercy give me a couple more, of the experts. I just can't live without them. :))

4/23/2006 10:20:54 PM