Hi all - Thanks again for following this journal & the robust discussion.
Still alive makes an important point in a roundabout way. He said & I'll quote, "the point was that it's impossible to get the plant everything it needs, when it needs it". Stillalive is correct and also incorrect in that statement. IF the soil is lacking microbial life and/or is depleted of or lacking the nutrient the plant is seeking, then he is correct, it is impossible. Therefore the grower must be paying attention. However, if the microbial life is robust & the soil is nutrient rich, the plant receives all it needs, therefore it is not "impossible", and therefore Stillalive is incorrect. The Pumpkin serves as a perfect example. It didn't get to 450+ lbs because it isn't getting what it needs from my organic method.
Herein lies the rub for many 'No Till' or organic growers. The vast majority of gardeners/farmers don't comprehend the complexity of Mother Nature's system, nor do they set themselves up for success. Because our level of understanding is lacking is the reason many people fail when they first begin to try to grow organic. I went ALL IN on organic No Till vegetable production in the spring of 2014. There were many trials & errors along the way. This grow doesn't utilize that 'No Till' system. I am only performing a portion of that complete methodology. As you follow this journal you will come to comprehend some of the soil management that has to occur to set yourself up for success.
I recently wrote some content for another site under a different moniker. I wrote, there's no reason to be an organic hard head. If you experience nutrient depletion mid grow and your plants are telling you, "Hey Jackwagon, I need more magnesium," you would be stupid crazy not to apply something to fix that immediately, while noting in your journal to work in extra olivine dust which carries 48% mag.
I believe Stillalives's point is a valid point but it's not impossible. As growers we have to tune into the frequency of our plant & make adjustments on the fly when the plant is talking to you. It's exactly what I did this week, on this plant, when I figured out how I phucked up. I'll cover it in this week's update. Stay Tuned.
I'm planning on launching a YouTube channel with a portion of the content based around the debate taking place here. It's an interesting debate and will make for interesting content. When the YouTube effort is launched, (I'm hoping this fall or 1st of the year) I will circle back to inform this journal.
Onto Blazin's question. Giant Pumpkins are a gas. The side walls are very thick on the fruit, plus the shape itself supports the weight. To prevent rot; A) Calcium. I mean loads of it. I have a seafood monger connection & I get all the oyster shells I want. I pulverize literally twenty pounds of shells & work that into the soil the pumpkin feeds from. 2) I put the pumpkin up on a mound and cover the mounded soil with a large piece of cardboard. Rain runs off the mound away from the pumpkin & the cardboard acts as a barrier.
Lastly, I kindly ask everyone to please check your Ego at the door of my Journal. Let's continue the discussion without the snippiness. Stillalive, I sincerely appreciate your comments. You come across passionately in favor of synthetics. I get that. You also come across however, as if you have a stake in this plant or Fertilome's products. Brother, it doesn't matter. Go obtain the genetics yourself and knock it out of the park with those nutes. They seem like cool people. I have watched Cody's videos. That is what prompted me to obtain the genetics.
Love ~ Light ~ Peace ALL
