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Usa

It was 116 today in some areas of Phoenix which is a record heat. Our Dew point is up so we are now in our Monsoon season. So we have humidity also. My plants seem to be taking the heat good.
But I am having a problem with females not taking and turning yellow and falling off. I am watering the same as before. Do you think it is the heat that is causing them to fall off? I also am fertilizing the same. Should I not fertilize during the hottest days. We have a lot of really hot days and I fertilze at night. I only have 3 set fruit out of 5 plants. I want more. I tried ice that didn't work. Any suggestions.

7/15/2003 2:20:28 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Hold off from fertilizing atleast 10 days before you want to set a pumpkin. Then resume fertilizing when it reaches basketball size. 116 is awfully hot, that is probably your main problem.

7/15/2003 2:28:50 AM

Cranston, Rhode Island

What some growers will do when it's extremely hot is put bags of ice close to the female flower when they think it's
about ready to open soon. You need to find a way to insulate
the ice a bit so it doesn't melt to fast.

Will

7/15/2003 8:30:56 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

straw works well to insulate the ice do not allow the ice to touch the plant and keep the ice in it's container so you don not have ice water flowing onto your plant.
Glenn

7/15/2003 9:21:17 AM

Ga.

After your milk jugs get empty,(if ya drink milk),I use clorox jugs as well,fill'em up with water and freeze them.Will save ya money,,and you'll have a solid chunk of ice which should last a tad longer than ice cubes.
J

7/15/2003 11:21:10 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I'd take a look @ C&R Kolb's diary for pollenation in hot temps. (ice and insulation)

Create a micro climate for the females. Probably need to keep them cool for a bit longer (4 or 5 days) since the heat is so extreme there.

7/15/2003 12:17:15 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

116!!!!!!! ANd I thought that Spanish summers were hot...

7/15/2003 12:29:20 PM

Joliet, IL

i did like jeff said with the laundry detergent bottles
that make good solid long lasting chunks of ice. i set them
about 3" or 4" from the pollinated female blossum and
placed a styrofome cooler over the top with a few 1" holes
punched in on all sides. then a rock on top for the wind.
i went 10 out of 11 pollinations this year, almost all
done in 90 degree or hotter temps.

if 116, i would do the same for prime female blossums
(like on mains at the right length out) through out the
entire 7-10 day female blossum growth cycle. and maybe
don't punch anyholes in the styrofome cooler. it's easy
to just throw a new ice bottle out there every morning,
and takes 2 minutes. you might have to replace a bottle
at about 3 o'clock pm like i did on a 96 degree pollination.
so ask some neighbors if they have empty laundry detergent
or milk jugs and fill up 6 or 8 of them if you got room,
and every night you throw them in the freezer again
after they have melted. it sounds like a pain in the ass,
but when you go through so much hard work to get to this
point, it is worth it.

7/15/2003 12:59:28 PM

Chico, Ca

Ya, remember your buddy Robert?

7/15/2003 1:46:56 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Hey Robert - I seem to keep giving you the plug when it comes to hot weather trouble shooting.

Ceis

7/15/2003 8:13:38 PM

Usa

I will ck out Robert's diary, Freeze up some ice, use a cooler. Not fertilize. I'll have to put up some more screening. Thanks for all the GREAT INFO.
Diane

7/15/2003 11:11:18 PM

Chico, Ca

Thanks CEIS! We only know what works for us. People should take a look and use whatever segments they feel will help them... Your mileage will vary.

Robert and Cindy Kolb

P.B. 758.5 lb in 2002(our first year)

7/16/2003 12:57:59 AM

Phoenix Az

Hey diane Ive ben using two liter soda bottles. I put them in a foam ice chest and there frozen most of the day.

7/16/2003 8:43:17 PM