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Canada

After a long hard past spring and summer of work, the towl has been tossed in, Just never had a good growing season what so ever first it was cold weather, animals , cuke beetles, more cuke bettles more cold weather then fruit set, fruit rot then plant death, Well was out in the patch today all the leafs that had wilted are now still currently wilted and yellowish brown, the fruit has stoped growing.

P.S cuke beetles are STILL in the frigging patch eatting away at my rotten fruits LOL.

All I have to say is "Maybe Next Year" I had allot of fun this year and plan for a better year in 2005, Patch is being expanded trees are being cut down to let more sun into the yard and allot of patch work will be done to better the soil for "05"

Thanks goes out to everyone that has helped me out this year
and good luck to everyone at the weaigh off's in Oct :-)

Later

DaveM

9/2/2004 1:55:17 PM

[email protected]

I'm sorry to hear this Dave. It sounds by your description like Bacterial Wilt was vectored into the patch by those Cuke Beetles.

On a positive note, you can now begin amending your soil for next year & have plenty of time to establish a cover crop.

Spend the winter planning your pset control strategy for 2005. You WILL have a better year next year what with all you have learned.

9/2/2004 2:15:28 PM

Puyallup, WA

OK Dave...now is the time to improve your soil by bringing manures and leaves into your patch. It takes time to improve ones soil, so start now while you're still mad and determined!

9/2/2004 4:09:26 PM

No Place Special

Sorry to hear that. Tremor and Stan are right, take that energy and get an early start on soil prep and cover crop.

Best of luck to you next year!!!

9/2/2004 4:27:00 PM

Independence, MO

Dave

This was my first year, and I had my own struggles.
I know from reading your diary entries and forum posts
that you tried really hard.

I have a handful of problems I still need to post about and figure out.

I cut a leaf that was turning yellow and inside I
discovered a long bug that was black in color and looked
like a catepillar. What is it? Hell, I dont know... lol

My stump rotted (excuse the term *stump* ... rookie here
speaking...) but I can only assume that it was caused by
borers. I also had nests of little red eggs that appeared
after that on many leafs. ???

On top of that, I had a lot of gray beetles all over.
These guys really grouped together! They had big gray
beetle parties and invited each other over from leaf to
leaf.

Why did I let this go on so long? Well, I determined that
after it was too late due the the (*stump*) rotting, that
it was over. I know, tap root growth. I hand pollinated
a lot of females, but none of them ever got larger than
a softball.

Also about mid July, I noticed mosiac in the patch.

Next year I am certainly taking the precautions that I
failed to take this year.

Once again, sorry to hear that it ended this way.
Maybe you and I will have a better 2005!

9/2/2004 5:58:05 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Sorry to hear of the bad luck and best of luck next year Dave.With everyones help here your bound to do better next year.

9/2/2004 6:35:39 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Dave, You have had a great year. You learned a lot about growing these fruit in the worst weather possible. Next year you will easily breakout with a big one. Get your soil in top shape and huge results are around the corner.

Russ Landry

9/2/2004 7:04:13 PM

yup yup. you have allll winter to plan out how you're going to kick butt next year. hopefully the weather is a little better next year, for everyone's sake.

9/2/2004 7:05:59 PM

Wv

its never over!- john rambo

like they said above. turn your angst into improving your soil while the weather is still decent.

9/3/2004 11:40:44 AM