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Joliet, IL

Let's all share or tips how to beat the heat. Last weekend it hit 92 degrees with low humidity and high uv. Inside the hoophouse/temp greenhouse I used shade cloth and heavy misting. I also watered the soil around the plant thoroughly in the am in a 10' radius. I hosed down all surrounding patch soil outside my greenhouse areas of the patch around noon. I used a misting system running more than less. 30 minutes at most between intervals. My air temp at plant level was 5 degrees inside than in the sun at 2 feet above ground outside. Reflective heat from soil can increase patch temp immensely. I luckily had no burned leaves or damage. This weekend is predicted for 100 for those south and 97 here. I would recommend removing greenhouses or hoops and get them acclimated with misting before Sunday in illinois. And that day water them almost all day.

Solutions for those with no misting system....set up sprinklers on a timer or by manual on off shut off. Hit them every hour for 10 minutes or 30 minutes apart for 5 minutes. Use shade cloth if you got it. Get remay if you do not and your misting system doesn't impede with remay and weigh it down on plants. Use small chairs or tables over vines tips. If you have surrounding fences, water them down to tke some heat off them. Do your best.

5/22/2012 11:09:06 PM

Joliet, IL

5 degrees cooler that should read

5/22/2012 11:13:57 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Great info Shazzy. I still have mine in the hoop houses so I will be covering them this week with homemade shade cloth.

5/23/2012 2:05:03 AM

Joliet, IL

Thankfully I see they have down graded the temps from 97 to 92 here on Sunday. Either way, that is still a cooker on rapidly developing plants at this early stage with root systems trying to keep up.

5/23/2012 7:51:33 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

92 went through here yesterday...set a new record....

5/23/2012 9:05:56 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Sunday and Monday, it's supposed to be 99 here. I'm kind of worried too cause my wife will be watching the plants.

5/23/2012 9:22:41 AM

Columbia, Kentucky

shazzy, im also from joliet where did you get your seeds? i bought AG from cotton wood farm.

5/23/2012 12:43:08 PM

canal winchester ohio

Just posted a pic in the photo gallery of my cheap shade structures.

5/23/2012 2:59:17 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Itsvine2me....You should ask ShaZZymaster for some of hiZ seeds for you to grow.....

5/23/2012 3:00:27 PM

Joliet, IL

815 483 5552.....text me itsvinetome....my smart phone speaker went out and text only till I get it replaced or fixed soon. I can give you plenty of my seeds for free and you can come by and see my insanity and talk pumpkins.

5/23/2012 8:10:13 PM

Omaha, Ne.

95 normal crazy ne weather

5/23/2012 9:31:37 PM

South East

shazzy, be carefull with heavy misting and watering to combat the heat. Excess waterering and misting in combination with our souped up soil can spark disease in a hartbeat...

5/24/2012 8:00:49 AM

Joliet, IL

I hear ya tina and frank. I have been using this system for 8 years. Only once did I lose a plant early to a vine rot on the main that bubbled like a foaming stump. That was before I upped the biologicals like rootshield and actinovate. Since then, the misting is nice was no ill effects since. Early on misting seems less prone to disease in my experience. Pm later on with misting will no doubt occur and I will combat that when it shows...it always shows...but I have finally learned how to combat it once it does. For those who do mist, if you have any healing wounds you must keep the water off them with a small table. I use a small draping tarp over a table to prevent water on side angles hitting healing fissures or wounds.

5/24/2012 12:23:11 PM

Columbia, Kentucky

thanks shazzy i'll contact you.

5/24/2012 1:53:33 PM

Columbia, Kentucky

so what is the ideal PH range for growing big pumpkins i have heard several numbers but most are around 6.8 is this true?

5/24/2012 1:57:28 PM

Piqua, Ohio

In the 90's the next 4 days in my neck of the woods and we are 4 inches of rain below average, my grandpa says 90's in may means a wet summer, I kind of hope he's right we had a drought last year!

5/24/2012 5:58:30 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I use remi or sheets on top of hoop house.

5/24/2012 5:59:04 PM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

90 degree temps and 40 MPH winds here today..wicked combo on the young plants

5/24/2012 6:47:09 PM

Taylorsville, California

34 degrees and raining here in Golden California, great growing weather! For reindeer

5/25/2012 11:43:49 AM