Re: Big Jon Hunt
Chris,
As I mentioned in another reply my plants were in full sun except for the
early morning hours. I will play with a little more shade cloth this year
on one plant to see if I can come up with a happy medium between heat, sun,
shade, and mist. My biggest problem has been reflective heat on the new
growth so maybe concentrating on new growing tips needs to be looked at.
After visiting our growers to the north this year, I only saw one grower
using shade cloth. This grower realized it wasn't going to be necessary
because of the cool summer and removed it. I think the northern growers
have more light but they also have cooler days so more direct sunlight
probably doesn't hurt the plant. Just a thought but seems like it might
make sense. I have struggled with the sunlight/heat issue for years. I
have a hard time with the thought that we need to shade a plant that
requires full sun.
Jon
At 02:59 AM 12/17/99 -0800, you wrote:
>Mike & Jon,
>Yes the 1006 plant which grew the 977 was close to 1,200 sq ft. I did not
>prune any side branches. Reading Jon' thoughts on pruning every other side
>vine and having seen other heavy hitters use this technique of pruning with
>consistent success I would venture to say there is definitely some merit to
>this theory and method. I am going to concentrate on this next season.
>Another question for Jon, how much sun exposure did you have on your patch?
>Full sun all day or was the plant in partial shade during certain times of
>the day? I am wondering if in hot climates, shade while cutting some
>photosynthesis down might not be harmful but actually beneficial? I bring
>this up as the 977 was grown on a plant which received only partial sun. In
>the morning the North 1/2 side of the plant received full sun until about 1
>PM. By this time the North half was in the shade and the South 1/3 of the
>plant was in the full sun until about 4 PM, then filtered light the
>remainder of the afternoon. This blew the theory for me of full sun, all
>day, and the farther North you are the more sun light you have which is also
>believed to be the reason more large pumpkins come from Latitudes farther
>North.
>Chris
>==============================================================
>
>>Jon,
>>
>>Here's the dilima, what I have seen in my patch is I had tried huge plants
>>for a three years with results in the 650 range. Then i tried the X-mas
>>tree style terminating secondary vines at 10 feet. Hit my personal best
>>744. Then this year took them down even further to 7ft. Hit near 700 with
>>rough weather conditions. I felt that cutting them down to 7 would be the
>>equivalent to cutting out every other secondary. I believe that there is a
>>level to which plants are EFFICIENT and then theres a point where its
>>EXCESS and not really helping much? Was this your first year taking out
>>every other secondary?? Now I am not sure but i think big Chris A. had a
>>huge plant and didn't take out secondaries. 2 ...900+ different pruning
>>tech. I think determining the number of leaves may depend on your
>>climate or daylight hours so different growers have different experiences.
>>I also wonder as long as there is some pruning and control of the plant the
>>technique or style of pruning may not be as crucial as we think?? any
>>thoughts from your experiences??...........Brock
>>
>>
>>
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>
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