Late Start Outdoor Wonder Pie

Sep 8: only 2 C overnight for second time this fall. I kept the plants on the warming table and wrapped the fabric pots in a ‘garden blanket’ (cheap IKEA quilt in some garbage bags). Some lower fan leaves have discoloured due to the cold but the plant seems fine. Watered with warmed (20 C) and pHed water to help wake up after cold night. It’s supposed to be 22 C tomorrow and 24 C the day after so she should make some good progress here soon. Forecast lows for next two weeks are 9-6 C range. If/when we reach frost conditions I’ll bring the plants inside the house but the warming table seems good so far. Sep 9: it was 4 C overnight. WP2 is only 37 inches tall due to being force flowered. WP1 is much taller (62”) but is behind in flowering. Both plants are in 5 gallon pots but WP1 is buried in the ground so that might also be a factor. WP2 was a week behind at the seedling stage due to being accidentally ripped from the Rapid Rooter. I’ll be interested to try this plant again next year with an earlier start...an extra 6-8 weeks would make a huge difference in the final size and yield. Force flowering might still be needed to finish before bad weather. We’ll have to see how they both finish this year. WP2 is looking good but WP1 likely won’t finish before we get some frost. Oh well, just seeing what works and learning as I go. 😎 Sep 10: pollinated a lower branch with Smoothie. Also pollinated a Smoothie with Smoothie to create more Smoothie seeds. I think WPxSmoothie could be an interesting cross to grow out next year. Wonder Pies are both still good with no signs of hermie. Sep 13: trying “supplemental lighting” as they call it in greenhouse biz. Idea is to provide extra light during midday to boost bud formation on low light days in the fall. It was overcast all day and my app light meter would show a significant increase If the light was close enough. App would show, say 2000 to 4000 Lux, and with light it would be About 3000-5000 Lux. Usually about 1000-2000 increase. Direct sunlight now registers as about 22,000 and in June I think it was about 27,000.