Sun Standing Still

I’ve realized the importance of fertilizing my plants despite the fact that I added ten cubic yards of compost to my patch. While the compost I purchased was good, it wasn’t great. It was a bit premature and it seems as if a lot of the organic matter hasn’t completely broken down. Adding compost to the patch will help with water drainage and root growth this year, but it won’t really add much to the nutrient content of my soil. So far I’ve only used a gallon of fish emulsion fertilizer ($20 at the local garden center) and the results are phenomenal! The leaves are growing VERY well and they have a nice rich green color which is an indication of good nitrogen content in the soil and the plants!

As we approach the Summer Solstice, the days are starting to grow longer and longer and the plants know it. They are getting plenty of sun, plenty of water and plenty of food. During this stage of the growing process, nitrogen is important for the production of leaves which will aid in the production of pumpkins. My goal for the next 3 weeks or so is to fertilize and water to ensure maximum leaf coverage. The larger the plant, the more pumpkins I can anticipate.

The cucumber beetle population is not out of control. The leaves have a few bite marks here and there, but nothing serious. The Neem Oil seems to be safe after testing on two plants so I’ve got a natural pesticide and fungicide ready to go!