Re: segments disorders pollination heat stress

John,

I last fertilised on Sunday using Miricle Gro I tried not to get any on the
leaves just the soil. The growing vines seem worse now very sad looking,
leaves are curled down with pieces missing and now the heat is coming.
I pollinated two flowers today but the temperature is about 35C (95F) so
fertilisation may not take place.

What is the expert opinion of temperature effects on fertilisation?
Does fertilisation cease at high temperatures and if so how long after the
cooler weather can it recommence?
I assume that the pollin gets attached to the female parts but does not
continue to grow can anyone advise the exact process? If flowers open during
the hot weather are they gonners?

I have noticed that the vines are producing one female at every 5th node on
most runners but on some I am getting one every node and one has two on one
node. Is this any indication of the health or vigor of the individual vines?

I have now had two consecutive four segment flowers on one main vine and
have been awaiting for a five segment. Is it best to go with the four or use
a secondary vine or just see how the fruit develop and select one from that?
Considering the weather and the fact that I am running out of time perhaps I
had better run with what I have now.


Stewart ACT Aust
sdeans@pcug.org.au
-----Original Message-----

>>I live in Canberra the National Capital which is located in the Australian
>>Capital Territory (hence ACT). Unlike Washington DC the ACT is a self
>>governing territory surrounded by, but not part of NSW, about 200 km south
>>west of Sydney.
>Stewart
>
>I think cutting off extra pumpkins is the hardest part of growing AG's.
>Trying to decide which must go is a tough one. I've tended to let them on
>longer than I should. But, I think pollination is affected even when
>pollination occurs at night. The heat of the next day may not allow the
>pollination to "set". You may want to contact George Brooks concerning
>heat/pollination, he has alot of information regarding this.
> As long as the vines are going good it doesn't seem to be a virus
>your plants have. Is there any possbility it may be suffering from a
>fertilizer excess? I over dosed one of my plants with miracle gro once and
>it showed some symptons similar to yours. mainly leaf edge dying. It was
>made worse by higher temperaturesI backed off the fert for awile and
>watered a little more and It came out of it ok.
>
>Later,
>John


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