Re: Heat and AG plants
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Heat and AG plants
- From: C*@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 10:02:08 EST
Group:
I'd like to add something to this dialog on heat and its affect on pumpkin
plants. It was my experience that extreme heat had little, if any affect on
the plant itself. My plants grew beautifully lush from March to August, and
were still growing and blooming when they were pulled. I will add that they
had plenty of water.
AGs will set fruit in the heat, but abort them after about a week or so.
Pumpkins set on the vine before the temps get in the mid 90's ripen before
they get a chance to reach full growth potential. To get a 400 pounder here is
a real accomplishment. (Accolades to Tim Canniff).
It's also important to add that the weather here in FL is unique. Our daytime
temps can reach high 80's and peak in the 90's in Jan and Feb, but overnight
temps in the 50's and 60's allow us to safely plant early with great results.
By June, our daytime temps are mostly 90's, but the overnight lows don't drop
more than 5-10 degrees.
We certainly have plenty of sunshine here, but we're closer to the Equator,
and the rays are stronger, even in the winter and spring. This is the
key...growers in northern latitudes have the benefit of more moderate summer
heat with longer, softer rays of sunshine. Overnight temps are also cooler,
which plants favor.
The FL weather does not hamper our desire to grow a big one. In fact, it's a
greater challenge for us in many ways.
Barb
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