Re: Cold weather
Advice on Cold Weather (ok. list you wanted some "tricks" :-)
Yes, cold weather is a tough thing as we all try to get the pollination done
ASAP up in the cold climates where it can hard freeze (and did 3 years ago)
on Aug 21st.
Anyways, I find the best way (if you can) to use 30-40 ft of soil
heaters....it is the roots that really need the warmth to grow...if the soil is cold
and you hit a 70 degree day....I'm guessing you're NOT going to get much
growth. I have found over the years that as I switched to more powerful heater
coils...the faster my plants grew....last week we had 2 days that the high was
42 and 43....yes...HIGH. The next step after the roots is the plant...lots
of cheap ways to do this...I like using cheap window over the plant with the
8" deep soil greenhouse...I use 4x4 boards on top of this as they grow...then
once they come through this...switch to a 95% remay with 9 gauge wire....on
cold stretches and the plants are too big...then I throw over all that a very
thick remay and that seems to handle some very cold weather. Anyways, I
have plants with 12-16" main vines and nice sized leaves...which hopefully will
keep me on track for pollination June 20-June27th. (Note....I pick off all
the blooms below the 12 ft mark...otherwise the plants are ready at about
6-8ft around June 10-16th...but I like 12-16ft to set a pumpkin)
Note: I did have to start over one year, when we had thunder snow late and
it caved in my remay and squashed some plants. Otherwise this early approach
seems to be working. :-)
Wishing everyone a great year.
David Bhaskaran
Rochester, MN
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing archives: http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
