Update from the Pumpkin Patch
About the pumpkin….ARGH! The bigger the pumpkin, the bigger the plant (obviously). The vines grow out from the plant and it’s constantly putting down little roots along the way. These are called adventitious roots (now known as ADVENTUROUS roots here) and they’re the plants way of getting some extra nutrition as it grows.
Jon started to measure the pumpkin because that’s the best way to figure out the percentage of growth and estimate the weight. At first we were convinced we were on the path to victory- the pumpkin was gaining 30% a day! That prize money was as good as ours, we envisioned our picture in the East Cobber surround by first place ribbons and our beloved giant pumpkin.
But then…things started to slow down. We were creaking along at 5% then 3%.
Jon couldn’t figure it out. He followed the vine back to the plant to see if maybe the leaves were injured, the vine twisted. But what he found was so much worse.
The plant, was gone. Eaten and destroyed by those rotten freaking vine borers. Jon stood in the patch, rain falling down on his head, clutching what was left of the rotten plant in his hands. He was gutted.
The pumpkin was being kept alive, life support if you will by the adventitious vines.
As the hopes of fame and fortune disintegrated much like the plant, Jon was still holding on to hope. We needed comeback energy- think 2019 Tiger Woods comeback victory at the Masters, miracle on ice, or…as painful as it is, a certain Super Bowl comeback victory that has hung over Atlanta like a black cloud type comeback.
But then, Tuesday brought not only rain but utter devastation.
After we unloaded the truck Jon wanted to peek in the garden and measure the pumpkin. First- he noticed a bunch of gnats buzzing around it. He leaned in closer and and it was covered in ants. He lifted it up…. ROTTEN. It had completely fallen in on itself and had become an edible hotel for many bugs.
The bottom of the pumpkin is covered in sand, which is used to help with drainage.
Is this the end of our journey? No. Jon is going to do some work in the patch this weekend removing damaged vines to see what we are working with. He said the other two plants look good! He let me know there’s still plenty of time to grow a 400 pound pumpkin. Stay tuned!
