RE: zones 3 and 4
Cliff/Ron:
I live in Denver at an altitude greater than 5300 feet - this last year we
set an all time record with 61 days > 90 degrees, very low (i.e. no)
humidity, almost no rain, and the kind of temperature swings you talk about
- the average low in July was 53, in August 60, and in September 47. I grew
a 827.6 in this climate and Joe Scherber grew a 1009 and a 860 (UOW). I
think you are selling yourself short shooting for 500+ pumpkins.
Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Hoffman [r*@trib.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 6:32 PM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: zones 3 and 4
Cliff
I live in central WY at an elev of 5000' in zone 3-4 & have roughly the
same
the same temp swings & lots of wind with low humidity on 90+ deg days.
Without proper early shelter on direct seeded plants that germinated
around June 1, & without sufficient composted manure in a 75% virgin
patch without
optimum tilling, one of my plants was still able to produce a 372 lber
on a secondary
vine. I believe the key is to get good seeds from the good people on
this list, follow
Langevins book as best you can, and keep reading the posts from this
list. Last
summer, just when I would start to wonder about what to do in a
situation, my question
would already be answered by someone on the list who's plants were 2 or
3 weeks
ahead of mine. I think we can consistently grow 500+ lb pumpkins in this
area.
Who knows, maybe heavier if we have the time & means to construct proper
early
season & wind shelters, etc.
Ron Hoffman
Riverton WY
372 in 2000
Cliff Warren wrote:
> Someone wrote to the group about growing conditions in zone 3and 4.
> I have to admit, this is a concern of mine. I live nearPocatello,
> Idaho in a zone 4 (which once in a decade or so actslike a zone 3...
> and kills the fruit trees). We get huge temperature swings between day
> and night. In thesummer our days can be in the 90's, while the nights
> still drop intothe 50's. A 40 degree swing is not uncommon. This daily
> swing isa concern of mine... although this coming year will be my
> secondand I don't have a lot of experience in this. After living here
> for 10 years, I have a theory as to why potatoesare grown here. Its
> because with potatoes, your product isprotected underground! The wind
> and temperature swings don'thurt them down there. That, and apparently
> potatoes don't mindour alkaline soils. On the plus side, we get almost
> constant sun between May andOctober. The climate is too harsh for many
> of the bugs, and I don'teven think about the diseases that you in the
> humid areas haveto worry about. And I'm about as far north as Buffalo,
> NY. I'd welcome a discussion about climatic and geographical
> concerns.Anyone else out there have these dry conditions and large
> temperatureswings? Cliff in IdahoBest: 125 lb.- 2000 Rookie year,using
> store bought seed,in soil with the alkalinity of a bar of soap...
>
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