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What DOES “Level Up” Actually Mean?
Reflective Essay by a Horticulturalist and Aspiring Plant Scientist. I have a habit to confess. I’ve gotten in the habit of “running away” from home once a month this past year (2023) and spending the morning or afternoon, whichever is free, visiting different gardens, parks, or art galleries where I did my first degrees in…
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Pumpkin Pollinator Power
Field Study and Observations on the Impact of Flowers on Pumpkin Pollination and Fruit Set … including 2023 data and updates. Pumpkins (Cucurbitaceae, specifically c. pepo, c. maxima, and c. moschata) are a monoecious plant that requires transfer of pollen from male to female flowers for pollination and successful fruit set and yield. Due to…
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Autumn Fades into Something New
Autumn Greetings! There are 5 weeks until I graduate with my B.S. in Horticulture, 15 days until Thanksgiving, 47 days until Christmas, and 53 days until we celebrate the New Year of 2024. This year has been fast… but overall a productive one! It has also been slightly life changing and rearranging for me. Just…
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Micronutrient Deficiencies in Tomato
An illustrated blog series 1. Boron Deficiency in Tomato 2. Manganese Deficiency in Tomato 3. Iron Deficiency in Tomato 4. Zinc Deficiency in Tomato 5. Zinc Deficiency Progression in Tomato 6. Copper Deficiency in Tomato 7. Nickel Deficiency in Tomato 8. Molybdenum Deficiency in Tomato 9. Chloride Deficiency in Tomato 10. Cobalt Deficiency in Tomato…
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Effects of Soil Texture on Cucurbit Fruit Quality
This comparative study examined the effects of sand-loam soil versus sphagnum peat moss soilless substrate on cucurbit fruit production, specifically ripeness and BRIX index. This study spanned four (4) growing seasons beginning in 2019 and culminating in 2023. Four different popular cucurbit cultivars were seeded in early May, transplanted Memorial Day weekend in either 15-gallon…
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Pumpkin Pollinator Power
Field Study and Observations on the Impact of Flowers on Pumpkin Pollination and Fruit Set The following is an excerpt from a research project that I began in 2019 and am finalizing this growing season. Pumpkins (Cucurbitaceae, specially c. pepo, c. maxima, and c. moschata) are a monoecious plant that requires transfer of pollen from…
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August Reflections
Welcome to August 2023! The start of this month (and Leo season!) has gifted us some beautiful weather here in the Philadelphia region and I am all for blue skies, sunshine, low humidity, and temperatures in the mid-80s (Fahrenheit). This month marks the beginning of my final semester of my bachelor’s in horticulture. It has…
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Oh, Snap! Even the Pollinators Love Snapdragons!
Happy summer in the Northern Hemisphere and hello end of June! It’s felt more like early May weather here in the Philadelphia area. Temperatures in the 70s and rainy isn’t normal for the end of June, but hey whatever the weather we in the horticultural industry deal with it and adapt as best we can!…
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Plant Nutrition
June and almost summer greetings! Back in late April/early May, I wrapped up my plant macronutrient blog series. Before I do pencil and colored pencil illustrations of micronutrients, I thought we should review the differences between plant nutrients a bit and discuss why I will be including cobalt in my illustrations in the coming weeks…
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Taking Stock of the Flowers
Comparative trial of “Katz Mix” versus “Iron Mix” stock, aka Matthiola. Happy June to all of you! It certainly feels like June with recent high temperatures 90+ Fahrenheit here in the Philadelphia region. Time to say goodby to spring and hello to summer! Before I get into my summer research projects (comparative trials on cultivars…