Re: segments disorders pollination heat stress

Wayne,

We were talking last year reference this very same problem in my patch. I
was trying to pollinate the first and second week of July here in California
and temps were running 98F to 101F. Pete Glasier had suggested packing Ice
around my fruit!  I built a small pup tent type shelter over my fruit using
white plastic garbage bags (sun & heat reflection) then insulated the fruit
with large white Styrofoam cups from our best Chinese food restaurant. I
then packed a 20 lb. bag of ice around each fruit to keep them cool. Several
hours later I dumped another 20 lb. bag of ice around each fruit as the
first bag placed around each fruit had melted. All fruit I pollinated using
this method took. It is a major pain in the butt, butt (pun intended) seems
to work in high heat regions!

Chris Andersen
Moraga, Calif.
=====================================================

>Stewart,
>   At temperatures of 95, I would be amazed if you get pollination. Try to
>pollinate everything, even side vines. You've got to hope for a spell below
>90. I once did 100 hand pollinations on all different plants, during a
stretch
>of weather like yours.....not one set fruit. The following week it went
down
>to the mid 80's and they all set fruit. Some prefer 5 segment flowers, but
>there have been 4 segment flowers well over 800 pounds. I once put a milk
>crate over a female during a hot spell. On top of the milk crate I put an 8
>pound bag of ice. I put a few pieces of 1 inch styrofoam over the ice like
a
>lose tent so the ice wasn't in the direct sun. Guess what????? I set fruit
at
>95 degrees. The ice didn't last all day but if your around you can put on a
>second bag. Drink your Fosters warm for a couple days and you might get on
to
>set. No promises, but you have a shot.
>                                     pumkinguy@aol.com
>P.S. To Joe Mills........You might kill a few borers by tilling in the off
>season, but they will still be around. Spray the vines once a week or even
>every 5 days during peak times. The first five feet is their favorite
>place...even under the vine.
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
>message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index