Watermelons...Yum

[Bird]

The vines in this picture were about 120 days old and still looked pretty good.

How many pies would that pumpkin make?:laughing: And those kids look like they're having a good time, too.

 

[firefighter9208]

How many pies would that pumpkin make?:laughing: And those kids look like they're having a good time, too.

Quite a few. I am the asst. principal in a school and brought it to use with our fall decorations out front. Some people asked if it was a "real" pumpkin.

Abby and Garret love living on a farm.

Chris

 

[ray66v]

We probably grow a lot more than you do, but this would also work for you. We start spraying out pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, watermelon, caneloupes, etc... when they are 2 days out of the ground. We then spray them every 5-7 days. If it rains we respray the day after it rains. Ex: Spray on Monday and rains on Tuesday then we respray on Wednesday. It's important to keep the fungicides on the plant from the time they pop out of the ground until harvest.

With a garden and just a few vines it wouldn't be hard to dedicate a 2 gallon hand sprayer to fungicide. Just make sure that you shake it up good before spraying and coat the plants. You can buy a liquid (mixable) fungicide at the co-op or even WalMart.

On 3 acres of pumpkins I apply 6 pounds of Manzate in a 100 gallon air blast (orchard) sprayer every 5-7 days. It gets kind of expensive at $20.00 (a 6# bag) but you can't harvest the pumpkins, watermelons, etc.... if they don't stay on the vines long enough to make. By the time I add my two pesticides to the sprayer I have $50.00 in spray every 5-7 days ( on 3 acres) from early June until late September.

The key is to keep the powdery mildew out of the vines and keep the vines healthy long enough to let the "fruit" make.

Here is a picture of my two kids with a 215 pounder that was taken last fall (September) right before harvest. The vines in this picture were about 120 days old and still looked pretty good. I planted on May 15 last year and harvested right after this picture was taken on about Sept. 15.

Thanks, for your help. I have used copper dust, and sulfur and copper dust. But not as liquid mixture.

I have also not started from day one. But I do start before the first sign of trouble.

I will try your methods, and hope for better results.

I have also been suggested to add sulfur to the soil, when planting to kill the fungus, while it is in the ground. I will see if anyone else thinks that will work before I try it.

 

[firefighter9208]

Thanks, for your help. I have used copper dust, and sulfur and copper dust. But not as liquid mixture.

I have also not started from day one. But I do start before the first sign of trouble.

I will try your methods, and hope for better results.

I have also been suggested to add sulfur to the soil, when planting to kill the fungus, while it is in the ground. I will see if anyone else thinks that will work before I try it.

Here is a link to liquid fungicides that are readily available at Walmart or Home Depot. http://www.gardenfungicides.com/ .

A link to the fungicides used professionally by farmers: Bravo (brand name) Syngenta > Products & Services > Labels, MSDS, AQIS & EPGs > BRAVO FUNGICIDE
Manzate: Manzate Pro-Stick Fungicide (6 LB) - $43.95 : KeystonePestSolutions.com, ~ Lawn, Garden & Deer Food Plot Pest Control Products
DuPont? Manzateｮ Pro-Stick? Home

There are many others...

When spraying with a fungicide you need to wet the plant to the point of run-off. Top and bottom of leaves. That's why we use an airblast sprayer, but it can be done in the garden with a pump sprayer. I have a 25 gallon atv sprayer that I use at times with small areas. It seems to work pretty well.


Chris

 

[ray66v]

Here is a link to liquid fungicides that are readily available at Walmart or Home Depot. http://www.gardenfungicides.com/ .

A link to the fungicides used professionally by farmers: Bravo (brand name) Syngenta > Products & Services > Labels, MSDS, AQIS & EPGs > BRAVO FUNGICIDE
Manzate: Manzate Pro-Stick Fungicide (6 LB) - $43.95 : KeystonePestSolutions.com, ~ Lawn, Garden & Deer Food Plot Pest Control Products
DuPont? Manzateｮ Pro-Stick? Home

There are many others...

When spraying with a fungicide you need to wet the plant to the point of run-off. Top and bottom of leaves. That's why we use an airblast sprayer, but it can be done in the garden with a pump sprayer. I have a 25 gallon atv sprayer that I use at times with small areas. It seems to work pretty well.


Chris

Thanks, Chris.

 

[firefighter9208]

No problem.

Chris

 

[ray66v]

No problem.

Chris

I just picked up some Ortho liquid fungicide, to use for now.

I tried the pump sprayer, and after reading your posts, I realized that was the problem.

So, I got out the BIG sprayer.

6 gpm at 180 psi. Now I know how to get the spray on the bottom side of the leaves. :thumbsup:

 

[firefighter9208]

Sounds Good!!!

Chris

 

[Duffster]

They are ripe now!

This is some of the best watermelon I have ever eaten. :licking:

 

[jinman]

Wow! Duffster, that is a nice looking melon with very thin rind. I can almost taste it. Yum!:licking: