Re: fast track

Pumpkin Master,

I also have a little experience with the California heat.  I like Brock
have lost a few woppers. My suggestion is mist for long periods during
the day and use some shade cloth.  As for fast growing yes we are fast,
so fast that I will plant my plants  on Wednesday.  I will be setting
pumpkins in the first week of July.  In years past because of the heat I
have had problems setting pumpkins.  When temps are above 90 pumpkins may
not set.  Last year during the first and second week of July we had temps
over 100.  Not one pumpkin set during that time.  Once we had a couple of
 days under 95 I had many pumpkin set.  Within a week all of the fruit
that had set split because the plants were too big and were pushing the
fruit too fast.  I usually place the plants in the ground on the first of
June and have a plant pruned into a 40 X 40 patch by the end of July. 
Brock said us Valley folks will catch him in no time he isn't kidding. 
Only problem is keeping the darn things on the vine.  Keep 'em cool and
you should have something at the end of the season.  

Good Luck,
Jon

   
On Mon, 31 May 1999 14:41:52 -0800 Vickie Brock <brocfarm@pacific.net>
writes:
>Pumpkin master,
>
>For years we have attempted to do that and for years we have been 
>humbled by
>the moderate longer day climates.  Litterly have had our butts kicked. 
> More
>like whomped.  One problem here in Calif is the rapid growth.  You add 
>water
>and heat and you could be on the fast track to splits and holes. Sure 
>we look
>like SUPER STARS early  on  but as time marches on we end up the light 
>weights
>at the scales with great stories  of how awesome everything was going 
>till she
>went down in the patch.   The central valley is one of the toughest 
>places to
>grow an AG.  Hell they could plant tomorrow and there vines would pass 
>both
>yours and mine by  July 15...but is that really that great??..this 
>rapid growth
>matures pumpkins too fast.......you really think its that simple just 
>mist
>??............we must be looking really far into the 
>future.............as we
>only have 2 sound monsters a 977 and a 823 to our Cal name  hell if 
>Canada and
>PNW didn't grow for the next 15-20 year we might match  there
>success............I just don't  see the mecca
>draw..................yet............brock
>
>>      I have a suggestion for everyone.  What do you all think about
>> California becoming the new mecca for Giant pumpkins?  We have 
>longer
>> seasons and warmer weather with no rain.  All we have to do is bring 
>in the
>> water and cool off the enviroment with misters when the temp is too 
>high.  I
>> predict that California will be the mecca for years to come, 
>especially the
>> central valley, which is already the agricultural mecca of the US  
>:)
>>
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