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Las Vegas Nv.

Hey everyone first time posting here. I grew a patch last year did not do anything special ended up with about 20 pumpkins only 3-10 lbs this year i have atlantic giants this year started them a few weeks ago and they are going nuts already. I am thinking I should get a few monsters out of it. just wanted to know if anyone else has grown in our climate before and could give any tips to how to help them handle our extreme heats and dryness i now water 3 times a day one early morning mist during the day and a good soak at night. any help would be great!
thanks

6/19/2003 10:02:56 PM

North Ga

What seeds are you growing ed?

6/19/2003 10:27:05 PM

Las Vegas Nv.

Dills atlantic giant I got them from seedman.com I put in a request on bigpumpkins but never got them and these were here fast so thats what I am growing!

6/19/2003 10:28:59 PM

North Ga

Sorry to hear about not getting your seeds from here. That doesn't happen as far as I've heard. Anyway, read through the posts and grower diaries here and use some common sense and you will grow a biggin'. Also buy Don Langevins books and keep them handy for reference. Any emergency questions will be answered by many qualified growers here. Best of luck!! If you need seeds I have plenty, just ask.

6/19/2003 10:40:52 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ednies........welcome. I'm afraid my North Eastern skills do not include challenges like you face. We have Calif. growers here as well as other South Western folks.

Sounds like you have a half decent handle on growing. In your spare time make plans to greatly increase the quality of your patch...including a PH adjustment to 6.5 - 7.2. A soil test is in order and you work from that point.

6/19/2003 11:50:47 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Hey there Lost Wages -
Check out C&R Kolb's diary (I think thats him..)from Chico, CA. They have a shade cloth and misters running throughout the day - when it is hot. Booth has got a nice misting setup too...

There are also a couple of folks from AZ. that are growing and frequent BP.com. They probably have the most similar climate to yours
Check out their diaries too. Azkikn and AZpumpkins shoot them a mail if you have some specific questions.

I think the most important things in your climate are:

1) Heat / drought resistant seed - like the 950 Boyton
2) Misters on a timer
3) Shade cloth
4) Soil quality in your patch
5) Shade for the growth tips

Not necessiarily in that order.
Remember that these are GIANTS and they will need at least 3X the space (if not more)of any regular pumpkin plant.
Also check the NGF board for other hints / suggetions

Good Luck and let us know how your doin'in the heat
Ceis

6/20/2003 12:37:34 AM

Usa

Check out Boily's diary and Robert Kolb's diary.
I have seen the 950 Boyton of AZpumpkins, It is really a fantastic plant.
My Carlson and Boyton are doing the best for me so far.
CEIS has great advice.

6/20/2003 1:51:04 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I am growing a 950 plus four other different plants, and I can also say that it is the most heat resistant of the five so far.
As the air here is very dry I am fighting the terrible heat we are suffering for the last three days with a circular slow movement low flow sprinkler running from 1:00 pm till 7:00 pm, covering almost the full patch; and it's working out pretty well.
I found that, despite temp out of the patch (shadow) was 104 ºF, while watering this way (evaporative cooling), temps under the leaves were 75 ªF!!!. And plants are growing and growing.
I shade the tips as well.
Hope weather become cooler next week for beginning pollination.

6/20/2003 6:25:02 PM

Las Vegas Nv.

hey thanks guys lots off good info there ...I started a little late this year ...should have ordered seeds earlier but i waited. I will be sure to have plenty of seeds for next season ...so far they are doing very well. I used to grow medicinal "herbs" and am using alot of the growing technics and ferts from that hopefully my pumpkins will do as well as I did with my other plants.. hey at least they can not bust me for growing these!
thanks again!

6/21/2003 2:19:47 AM

Sloughhouse, CA

It' can get hot here in the central valley of CA. C&R Kolb are north east of Sacramento. We can get up to 110-115. Put in a misting system and shade cloth. Good luck your first year growing.

6/22/2003 2:45:21 AM