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Sask, Canada

Well things took a turn for the worst, went to the fair with the kids tonight and two large storms rolled through the area. The last one had 6 funnel clouds form not sure if any touched down and hail. Ran or drove like a maniac home and sure enough all four of our plants got hit, with about 6 - 12 holes per leaf and maybe a hand full were shredded. Pitch dark out and will see better in the morning.

a) Does this affect the plants alot.
b) Do I have to do anything
c) Should I anticapate leaves dying early and try to set fruit further out on the main than planned.
d) Is there hope the plants will still produce good size fruit

The plants are between 9 - 14 feet main vines and first secondary's are about a week from being dead headed.

Please any and all help is appreciated...

Thanks
TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/21/2003 1:32:37 AM

Walton N.y.

ernie,
i think on bob matthews pumpkinnook site joe pukos has a post on what he did to overcome hail damage in late season at this stage of the season i don't think your chances on the big one are over just set back a week or so and if you fertilize a bit heavier with a high"N" fert.you can get your growth back pretty quick good luck!

6/21/2003 1:48:23 AM

Ga.

Ernie,,,plants will recover,,will take a while,,but will recover..I was hit early in season this year and my plant recovered..Good Luck..
J

6/21/2003 6:39:42 AM

Indiana

Holes in the leaves don't do a huge amount of damage. Shredded or broken off leaves are much worse. Just allow the plants a little more square footage and they will be fine.I seem to get hail nearly every year...last year was the first year since I started growing that we haven't had hail.

Tom Beachy

6/21/2003 7:48:48 AM

Joliet, IL

i have some hail damaged leaves from about 3 weeks ago
that are still fine, they are just holey.

6/21/2003 8:27:05 AM

[email protected]

I would check with Joe P. But it seems that the High N for new vegetative growth would work well at this time of year. But I'd plan on a later than normal fruit set.
I hope this works out OK!

Steve

6/21/2003 8:42:56 AM

Long Island,New York

In five years of reading posts on hail damage,what to do, andwhat not to do I have learned that the successful recoveries revolved around the following techniques:
1.) Don't panic
2.) Hit them with a fungiside to prevent any fungus's taking advantage of a temporarily weakened and vulnerable plants
3.) Kelp will help
4.) Prune the really shredded ones--better to have one cut that heals over than a bunch that psycologically reminds you everyday.
5.) Very often this event just pisses the plants off and they kick into a full speed ahead mode...seen quite a few do this.
6.) I think you should be very happy that it hit you at this stage....it tends to wake the plants up....its tougher when the fruits get hammered. Good luck..........G

6/21/2003 8:49:06 AM

Leicester, NY

Ernie,
Hail, along with high winds are a growers worst nightmare. Glenn and all the others make very good points and I don't know that there is much to add. The plant should regenerate itself in a very short time with new growth. Take a look at:

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/commune/featpic3.htm

when you get a chance. Bob Matthews did a very nice story about my 1999 hail damage. It shows what these plants are capable of doing, simply amazing..Joe P.

6/21/2003 9:09:59 AM

Sask, Canada

Thanks all:

After checking my plants and then veiwing the pic Joe mentioned I feel alot better. I did search the threads here last night and found some info so first thing this morning I hit the plants with lots of N. I uploaded some pics in my Diary. Doesn't look as Bad as Joes did.

Busy day today since me and the wife are starting homesteading we've got all our regular choirs, weekly baking etc. So I'll feel alot better go about doing this and cleaning up the flooded basement, downed tree limbs, displaced soil on the sidewalks etc. etc.

Thanks again all for the help...

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/21/2003 12:26:51 PM

Maine

When I put up a wind shelter around one of my plants made with plastic, a storm blew through and ripped up my plastic. The plastic flapping in the wind beat up one of my plants pretty badly and several of the leaves were shredded. It bounced back in no time though. Good luck Ernie.

6/21/2003 9:43:49 PM

Utah ([email protected])

I am also glad to hear this advise. My plants took some serious wind damage this week.

...G...#4 sounds good. I will trim my leaves back. I stare in disbelief everytime I go near my 840 plant. I posted one pic of that plant from out Mon-Tues wind storm(s).

Good luck Ernie!!!
Brent W.

6/22/2003 1:32:37 AM

WALES, NEW YORK

Ernie...the first year i got serious about this stuff i thought i was doing great...then the hail storm hit...it was in mid july, i believe, and most of my pumpkins were set....i lost every pumpkin...it looked like someone had shot them with a pelletgun..the vines were broken in pieces...so it sounds like you are much better off if only your leaves have damage...good luck and let's hope the hail stays away!!!

6/23/2003 11:27:01 PM

Cologne / Germany

That´s why I use umbrellas all over the patch. Just the simple and cheap ones you take to the garden or the beach. Fast setup, easy to change positions, sun and hail protection at the same time. Seems to be almost impossible to do a complete patch protection, but at least you can save the fruits, the stump etc.

6/24/2003 3:51:09 AM