RE: Pumpkin Lighting

Maybe that's why talking to your plants works, you're actually
just exhaling CO2 all over them...

Cliff
From: "Smithhisler, Paul" <Paul.Smithhisler@dnr.state.oh.us>
Reply-To: pumpkins@hort.net
To: "'pumpkins@hort.net'" <pumpkins@hort.net>
Subject: RE: Pumpkin Lighting
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 08:38:04 -0500

I am considering the CO2 experiment this next growing season. If you
remember Karl Dietz, he used it very successfully this year. His
experimental plants were almost double the size of his control plants. He
only used the system to get the plants started though. I think he produced
in the 700+ range, but I'm not sure which plants. He used two different
systems with little difference between them. I know the cheaper one did not
have much control on how much CO2 was produced.

The cool thing about CO2 is that you can make it by fermenting stuff. So
all you beer and wine makers out there set up your next batch in your patch.
Your pumpkins will appreciate it.

-Gus

-----Original Message-----
From: GPR-hip@t-online.de [G*@t-online.de]
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 6:52 AM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Re: Pumpkin Lighting

Hi,
I would say the limiting factor is the CO2 content in the air rather than
sunlight.
The normal CO2 content in the air is about 0.03 percent. But the highest
photosynthesis rate of a plant occurs at a CO2 concentration of about 0.05
to 0.06 percent.
However, concentrations of more than 0.08 to 0.1 percent are harmful to the
plant.
I know back in spring someone on this list talked about using additional CO2
in the root zone of the plant. What happened to that experiment? Any
results?
Growing the plants in a greenhouse with an additional CO2 supply would be
something to try. Just my two cents...
Best wishes,
Martin

What's left? Sunlight...the one variable
> that most just take for granted as something beyond our control. Why not
> maximize that, too?



"Frank Edwards" <edwardsfam@earthlink.net> schrieb:
> Wayne:
> Thanks for the info. I've been thinking the same thing about using the
extra
> light to stave off the natural dieback of the plant and encourage longer
> fruit growth into September. I think it's an idea that will see its day
> sometime in the next ten years. I mean, everyone's maximizing his/her
soil,
> getting the best seeds/crosses. What's left? Sunlight...the one variable
> that most just take for granted as something beyond our control. Why not
> maximize that, too? But as you've pointed out, I'd be looking at an
initial
> investment of several hundred dollars...(ouch! Not sure I can justify
> spending that much just for an experiment. Especially when others are
> growing well over 1000# along my line of latitude without lights.) Sounds
> like you had a nice set-up. Sorry to hear they got lifted...especially
> before you had any results.
> Frank
> Hudsonville, MI
>
> ----------
> >From: Pumkinguy@aol.com
> >To: pumpkins@hort.net
> >Subject: Re: Pumpkin Lighting
> >Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2003, 3:43 PM
> >
>
> > Frank,
> > Never had any results one way or the other. The lights are extremely
hot
> > as you might imagine. As I recall, I had them about 6 feet away from the
top
> of
> > the leaf canopy. The bulbs were 1,000 watt coated supermetallarc .
Lighting
> > experiments are not for the faint of heart (moneywise). As I recall the
bulbs
> > were 75 dollars each and special fixtures are required (2or 3 hundred
each).
> > One of my wild unproven thoughts was that by altering day length, I
might be
> > able to ward off maturity in the fruit. The lights were fitted with a
> photocell
> > to come on during very dark, cloudy weather and also at night for a few
extra
> > hours.
> > Wayne
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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