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Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Heavy hailstorm today probably ended my season. Pochmarked my fruit (44" circ.). Lost 20% of leaves, and the rest are shreaded. Many secondary and the main vine were snapped off. My season is either over, or at least GREATLY diminished. But anyone know if there's anything I can do to doctor the leaves / fruit? So far I put Captan on my fruit. Any advice appreciated.
Frank

7/20/2003 3:06:24 PM

Liverpool , England

Its not over yet man...let some more vines grow..even terteries to get some leaf on the plant.

Alun

7/20/2003 7:42:52 PM

Puyallup, WA

You might be surprised at how quickly the plant will replace the damaged leaves. :>)

7/20/2003 9:31:26 PM

Joliet, IL

edwards, i have been hit 3 times, the last time golf ball
size hail too. blown over leaves beyond saving were cut down
close to the vine to avoid pooling water in leaf stalk
bases. they were dried and captan applied. one stone
hit my main vine tip on the 620 boyton luckily way past the
pumpkin. it cracked and had a small indentation. i
applied captan and covered with dirt and it still growing
fine. 2 secondary vine tips were lost due to bad hail
damage. all other vines were protected by dirt covering.
one pumpkin on a secondary vine had hail stones slide side
ways under tarp and put a 1/4" gash in one spot and a golf
ball size bruise that didn't split byt had small stress
lines. it has since healed fine. i now adjusted all tarps
with side protection too. the leaves are swiss cheese but
many new ones growing and the old ones are still fine,
just holey. i also gave the plants a solid dose of
seaweed/ fish to help them get through the shock.
keep on keepin bro, i feel your pain but in 2 days you will
be handling it a lot better and let some tertiaries grow
and fill in some leaves if needed too. shazzy.

7/20/2003 11:20:23 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Hold on Frank. Add more high nitrogen fertilizers. Is a long time till October yet.

Don

7/20/2003 11:55:57 PM

Indiana

It can be done! I have had hail 3 years in a row...knock on wood this year hasnt come yet. Hail hit my genetics patch, but missed the competition patch a half mile away so far this year. The plants can still recover. Dont look for a 1000 lber, but I had 837 in 2000 with hail, and 694 in 2001. You can do it.

Tom Beachy

7/21/2003 1:55:12 AM

porterville,california usa

Frank, this is not an "experts" opinion, just mine. remember that you still have a functioning root system below ground. don`t remove any torn, broken, or damaged leaves that have even the smallest bit on stalk attached yet. the plant needs every photosynthesis-capable tiny piece of green it can get right now. wait awhile until more new growth appears. then start by removing the leaves that are obviously dead. but no more than 5 per day until the plant has at least a few new vines started.

7/21/2003 3:17:19 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Thanks all for the advice! So at least there's hope! My first reaction when seeing the damage was to just pull up and wait til next year. Already, a day later, the leaves though still shredded, are perked up. This is my first experience with severe hail...It's a real kick in the seat of the pants to have mother nature undo in 30 seconds what I've been building for months.
Frank

7/21/2003 8:37:25 AM