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GULFPORT,MISSISSIPPI

I noticed that the northeastern part of the country had to deal with above average temps for most of the summer. I was curious to how it effected all of you growers up there? Did you find slower growth than usual?More aborts? What all did you guys(and gals) do to combat this problem? This is the usual for us down here on the Mississippi gulf coast, and i was hoping you may have some helpful advice for me next year. Well, i better go check the tropical update and make sure Hurricane Isidore hasn't turned northward. I don't think my windbreak will do much good! Ya'll have a good weekend.

9/21/2002 5:27:14 PM

Plattsburgh, Ny

There was just a story on the news about the bad season. I am in upstate NY and we had a wet spring which made alot of seeds and plants rot. So they had to replant late and with lack of rain and all the heat the pumpkins are real small this year.
I just started growing big max a few years back to have for the kids in the neighborhood. Mine have done really well this year average around 65 pounds ( one at 93..most around 50 ) Other then water everyother day I plant and walk away. I will say this...we do have a well that is fed steady with ecoli from cows ( which is why I only grow pumpkins :( ) so I guess the pumpkins get fertilized whenever I water.
Next year I hope to try my hand at an AG. I'll probably have a nervous breakdown as even now with my "babies" I hate to lose any.
Annette

9/21/2002 7:21:39 PM

Herndon, VA

I have heard of many growers in PA who are pumpkinless and some who normally have 3-4 now only have 1. I think the biggest problem with heat in the northeast is the humidity which helps breed disease. Fungus just love warm weather and moisture. In my patch, if anything has saved me this year (the year's not over yet!), it has been to have multiple plants. Of the 3 I planted, I lost two to disease.

In regards to aborts, here's something to think about. I pollinated the 1st two weeks of July, and temps were in the 90's. I tried to cool the females by shading them, and placing frozen water bottles & ice packs nearby...meanwhile some pollinations I just left to "tough it out". In the end the frozen water bottle's didn't appear to make much difference; some aborted and others did not. However the best success rate for pollinations that took were on established secondaries that were terminated and buried. The majority of my aborts were on the main, which in most cases had at least some minor wilt due to the heat, the secondaries were not wilting as bad (some not at all) so now I am wondering if it's not so much the temps, but the plant's ability to provide enough "juice" to support them. Just a thought, and if you're not burying your vinces, BURY THEM!

9/21/2002 9:52:25 PM

Herndon, VA

Sorry, I meant "vines" not "vinces". (doh!)

9/21/2002 9:53:04 PM