Re: Hot days, warm nights
on 3/9/04 8:43 PM, Rich Canter at chaselounge@msn.com wrote:
> There was some discussion a few months ago about the effect of temperature
> fluctuations on growth of the fruit and I'd like to make sure I understand. I
> am in central Texas and my local garden supply guy told me that the reason we
> don't grow them BIG down here is because the fruit burns carbs all day and
> needs that temperature drop to "rest". Because our typical summer nights only
> drop to around 80 degrees, they are always working and never get to bulk up.
> Does this make sense?
> If this is correct, is there anything I can do to either help the plant rest,
> ice for example, or would extra feedings help pump it up?
> Has anyone tried growing in the fall, when temperature fluctuations return?
> Please set me straight
> Rich Canter
> Wimberley, Texas
>
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Rich,
Under those conditions and never resting you would imagine they would be
huge and split. As long as it gets dark at night there has to be some kind
of rest. It probably is more like the soil is not amended well. Or over
fertilizing. You might try some shade cloth to keep the plant cooler during
the day or misting as the plant doesn't grow much if its too hot.
Years back we used to just accept that you couldn't grow big ones in Calif
and it turned out we just hadn't learned how to grow them here. That9s all
changed now I think the CA top 10 average is over 1000. So concentrate on
building the ultimate soil and cooling and you'll show the nay sayers
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