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Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Massive winds here, my plants are taking a monumental beating, by the looks of things...I dont know if all the kings horses and all the kings men will be able to put humpty back together again, this sucks, the best start of a season in 8 years.....

5/29/2012 7:14:00 PM

Housatonic MA

Sorry to hear that Tom. With all your help this year I am off to a very good start too but as I am typing this I have a major river running through my patch. We can control just about everything but the weather. I am just going to have to wait and see what the morning brings.

5/29/2012 7:47:33 PM

Chicago Illinois

same here tom windy as hell told girlfriend to go outside and block the wind,,lol

5/29/2012 8:56:34 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

should be here within the hour crossing fingers!

5/29/2012 9:34:27 PM

Indiana

Tom,
15 years of experience tells me that this will only be a minor hiccup. If the plants survive, they will thrive after they begin to regenerate. Very little of your plant is grown out yet.

Get a good dose of fungicide on to prevent disease in any wounds.

5/29/2012 9:47:00 PM

Connecticut

I will see what it looks like in the AM.

5/29/2012 9:50:00 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Tom, I agree, it was murphys law, things were going a bit too well, we will see what it looks like in the am.

5/29/2012 11:30:01 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Hope your plants survive without too much damage. Seems like the New England area has had way more tornadoes than normal in the last couple of years.

5/29/2012 11:47:36 PM

Torrance, Ca.

You sure were happy this morning, sorry them winds had to come through :( Hope everything is ok in the morning Tom!

That must be so painful to watch :(

5/30/2012 12:08:18 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Tom, I know your feeling and it sucks for sure. Like Tom B said, they can survive. Had hail damage a few years ago, and they recovered. Keep us posted.

5/30/2012 7:25:15 AM

Arden, NC

Geez I'm all too familiar with hail damage, Hope the plants are better than you think. Whatever the situation just work the problem and we'll all keep our fingers crossed for you.

5/30/2012 10:38:40 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Your leaving us hanging over here Tom, how are all the plants?

5/30/2012 11:58:32 AM

South Hero, VT

Tom, I'm waiting for an update, too. Hopefully the patch didn't get too seriously damaged last nite.

5/30/2012 8:19:46 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Update: The plants survived, there was damage to leaves and secondaries, but we will survive it.
I have to tell you, in 8 years, I havent seen the plant literally flapping in the wind like I did, it then rained until well after dark, so having to wait until this morning to do damage control really added to the overall suckage!

5/30/2012 11:08:40 PM

Joliet, IL

Tom, once their feathers get ruffled in a good toss up, you will be surprised how they come back fighting mean. It as if they produce hormones to combat the damage and strengthen themselves in preparation for more of the same. Beachy hit it on the head. Some seaweed and fungicide and a fulvic foliar cocktail and maybe some humic drenches will also help in the recovery process. snapped secondaries can be angled back and future secondaries around to grow and spider back or use some terts to fill in gaps. Snapped leaves get pruned here if at base of stalk. Middle benders get propped up temporarily for recovery then whacked. The surrounding leaves around gaps will grow larger and move the extra room. These plants are amazing recoverers. It never stops sucking when you get hit, but I have peersonally watched from my windows leaves getting whipped where the are completely bent and touching the ground one way...then back the other....and then back again and so on in microbursts with swirling downdrafts of 75 to 80 mph. Somehow 2 or 3 days later all you see is a couple gaps or holes but vigorous plants wanting to eat it up. Best of luck Bud.

5/31/2012 11:25:20 AM

South Hero, VT

Tom, let us know what you use to help the plant recover, and how fast it works.

I've read more than once seedlings should have a fan on them while growing for the first week to ten days to help grow a stockier plant with sturdier leaves, and I believe Don Young recommends getting the hoops off early to expose the plant to wind for sturdy leaves and vines.

Hope the vodka and 7-up are holding up.

Glad the damage was minimal.

5/31/2012 5:25:49 PM

Piqua, Ohio

Tom
Maybe that TKO helps make 'em wind resistant!

5/31/2012 8:44:36 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Steve, much Vodka & 7 up...lol!
I actually had my hoops off early, they were fairly sturdy...I am greatful for that!
I used 3-18-18 recover RX, followed by kelp and fulvic the following day. The plants look like beasts again.

6/1/2012 9:21:48 AM

South Hero, VT

Thanks, Tom. Something for growers to keep in their first aid kits--3-18-18 recover rx, kelp and fulvic.

6/1/2012 5:29:55 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Thanks for the support guys, I can tell you that I havent felt that sick to my stomach in years...lol...but they've recovered 100%!

6/1/2012 8:26:49 PM

Torrance, Ca.

fantastic news Tom!

6/1/2012 8:57:52 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Chris, just read your diary, glad to hear that the pkns responded well! I love artichokes, if you lived near, I'd raid your garden...LOL

6/1/2012 11:03:43 PM