Re: Shade and PGA

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Dale E Fisher wrote:

Hi, my name is Dale and I am a pumpkin addict.  LOL

Ok, I am getting excited about next year’s assault…all my pumpkins have stopped growing.  The heat, poor soil and seed with no history…must be the culprits.  Yesterday, it hit official highs between 108 and 116 in my area.  My thermometer does not work, so I just say it was HOT!  Not to mention that I live 20miles from a near 400,000 acre (close to 600 sq mile) forest fire. 

I am going to put up a shade cloth over my entire patch next year, in an effort to keep the heat down.  I hope it works or at least helps.  What I was wondering, is what percentage of shade should use?  I am hoping to just cool the patch, and still allow plenty of needed sun for growth.  I will still completely shade the individual fruit.  I would appreciate at least being pointed in the right direction for information.  I am doing some research in order to find out, but am starting here in an effort to hear from the pumpkin experts.

Next, I cannot locate a Pumpkin Growing Association within my 4,000 square mile area.  In fact, there was only one large pumpkin entered at one of my local county fairs which started yesterday (It is 255 pounds….I just have to beat that next year!).  I am considering starting a PGA in my area, but being completely new to the pumpkin world, I have no idea what one even does…lol.  Any suggestions from you folks I have seen posting about your PGAs?  Where should I start, and what should I plan?

Thanks all, keep on packin’ on….the weight that is!

God Bless,

Dale