Re: pumpkin problem
In a message dated 25/07/2006 16:14:00 GMT Daylight Time, twigard@telus.net
writes:
Thank you for you quick reply Mike! Yes, here in Vancouver, for the last 4
or 5 days we have had 90-95 temperatures here. But forcast now says 75-80
temps for the next while. This is why I am watering so often. Once I see
the soil dry, I give them a drink, and lately, its been everyday. I am
growing three plants this year, and all three are aborting. My leaf canopy
area is approx. 15' long, but about 4' wide. Do you think I just need to be
patient with the weather, or is there a way to cool down my "girls"??
Thanks again for all your advice.
Dave
Vancouver, British Columbia
Dave
Right, obviously you will hold off on the Fertilisers for a while now. Keep
the Patch soil moist as much as you can, are you watering just lightly every
day or are you giving the Plants a good drink and allowing it to percolate
into the root zone ? Its good to give the plants a good drench but avoiding the
pooling of water on the surface. Do you have a good level of Organic Matter
in the soil ? Organic Matter will hold moisture for longer than un amended or
low OM soils. Ok, if all Plants are aborting then heat is the most probable
cause and you need to get those girls chilled our ready for the males.
To cool the Females put some water filled, 1 or 2 Litre, plastic bottles
into the freezer to act as giant ice packs. Take note of which Females should be
opening in about 24 hours time and place a 'Ice Bottle' either side of the
Female and then cover both bottles and the Female with a large cool box then a
white cloth covering that. Once that Female has been pollinated, are you
hand pollinating ?, repeat the Ice Bottle/cool box/cloth procedure immediately
and wait 24 hours. With any luck you should have a Female set as a result of
getting he chilled out a little.
Hope that helps a little.
Regards
Mike
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