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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Sunday, July 12, 2026
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Matt D.
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Connecticut
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Entry 21 of 21 |
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Day 30 F: 2154 Sperry (x M: 2587 DeBacco dmg)
OTT = 278.5"
Est. Weight = 478.5 pounds
Avg. over last 10 days = 34.8 lb./day
Looks like peak growth will be just under 35lb per day. This is a bit of a disappointing peak, even for what seems like lower peak growth numbers (compared to other grower's) in favor of a better chance at percent heavy and hopeful sustained growth.
If you look to the left-hand side of the image you will see a leaf with a yellow margin (edge) to it. There are also a few more with this same look down the vine toward the direction of the main vine. Looking at any diagnostics, growers would assume this is a sign of a potassium deficiency, and (based only on the image) they would be correct.
**However,** A potassium deficiency and a toxicity visually look the same. Base on soil test results this is a sign of a toxicity in the plant. This is where grower vigilance and attention to detail come into play. If you now look more carefully at the image you will notice the vine next down the line has the same yellow margin, but to a lessen extend and much past this the leaves are a consistent green. This is a sign that I am playing the line of too much and maximum the plant can handle.
Relating this to a street drag race they would call this pedaling, where you are pushing as much power as possible until the tires break loose and then backing off, but then getting back into the power again, your foot is on and off the pedal. Same concept here, the pumpkin is about to go into potassium sink mode so the goal is to ensure there is plenty there for uptake, but staying just below the excessive amount.
Last year seeing this "fingernail burn" as some have called it is a sign the plant is at the maximum, so the growers needs to recognize this and know to back-off for a period of time. The challenge is the plants needs are changing so the growers needs to make adjustments along the way to stay in the sufficiency range even though it is fluctuating.
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