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Upa Creek, MO

Looking to have a pollination this weekend, but temps are supposed to be around 100. I know many of the basics, but is there anything new people do to the plant besides shade and place ice around the fruit such as hit the plant with a certain drench\spray the day before etc?

I am also posting this for newbies since it seems many haven’t been shading\protecting their mains which are the lifeline of the season. Young females need to be treated the same and need to be shaded and covered from when they first show.

Any input on this and how to prevent females from aborting in the heat is appreciated.

6/8/2016 10:06:18 AM

Winthrop N Y

On hot day after I pollination a pumpkin I place ice around the pumpkin.Cover the pumpkin and ice should kept the pumpkin cool . May have to replace the ice a few times.I cover the pumpkin with those cheap sofa foam ice chest from the dollar store.

6/8/2016 7:47:08 PM

Lloydminster/AB

That was advice from a pro. It works. I freeze a bottle of water and stick that under the cooler. It melts during the day and keeps some warmth in at night too. I just pollinated that way. Theres a pic in my diary.

6/9/2016 12:31:28 AM

Colorado

Luke keep the plant as unstressed as you can the day of pollination by watering it well and shade/ misting etc. Keep the pumpkin shaded for a few days prior also. good luck :)

6/9/2016 7:06:32 PM

2012 i learned something by accident
had misters going every 15 mins for short time all over plant leafs. i also had ice buckets and 2 liters froze next to females i pollinated every week i had 2 five gallon buckets of aborted 5-7 day old dead pumpkins until i had t shirt/ dish towel covered females that were in the mist soaking wet they all took. i then moved misters from just leafs to leafs and females just covered with red solo cup not your average year high humid and temps to 109 that season

6/9/2016 7:46:29 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Thank you all for the input. I've been keeping it stress free with steady water but not oversaturation. Looks like Sunday might be pollination day and should be below 100 and not close to 2012 temps.

Yep Don, 2012 was the year from hell in the Midwest... literally with aborts from heat. The posts below sums it up and my desperation. I didn't have one keep till August cause of 105+ average in July mixed in with humidity.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=184777

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=184528

6/9/2016 8:52:22 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Well I'm 2 for 2 with aborts. We haven't hit 100 yet but 96-99 last couple days. Shade, mist and ice didn't help. Since the heat wasn't that bad I'm attributing it to the plant still in rapid growth stage. About out of room for the main on the 1921 so it might be in a secondary if this next one doesn't take in about 5 days.

6/11/2016 7:46:15 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Spence in that Bama heat and humidity? What's the secret?

6/11/2016 7:57:23 PM

Partlow,Va

I think your plant stress level has a lot to do with aborts too. I have had the same problem with females not ever opening when the plant is growing really fast.
My 90+ degree way ...I have the patch covered with shade netting which helps. then I use 28" tall 4'x4'tables covered w/40% aluminet over the baby female from the day I see it. I drive 2 t-posts near the table so I can tie a piece of extra shade netting at 6' height or so so I will have three layers of shade with air flow in-between them. Also have the ground moist in that area near the baby makes it cooler. I have never used ice or coolers.

6/12/2016 10:04:56 AM

Partlow,Va

Maybe try a shot of P?

6/12/2016 10:06:50 AM

Rhode Island

along with the ice and /or frozen bottles we also have been known to use a fan set on medium breeze . this seems to work very well.(remember how that fan feels on you during a hot spell??)
pap and ron

6/14/2016 8:15:08 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks for the additional input, both plants look really healthy as of now and both have females I hope to pollinate by this weekend.

6/14/2016 8:31:17 AM

Home of happy lil plants

i dont even use ice water bottles and they take, am running mist type light water every 9minutes roughly though so theres that oh and P is roughly 4-600ppm in soil dependant on spot not sure if that helps but only way can keep the leaf burn at bay even with shadecloth is mist type water on those hot days

even if you kick a sprinkler on every 20-30min i did that as the el cheapo method for a while

6/14/2016 10:38:15 AM

Home of happy lil plants

if i were really scared and needed that one for sure id go with frozen 2liter or 2 between the kin and a small fan to keep it cooler in that area

6/14/2016 10:40:56 AM

Rhode Island

thats the key spence----we only get a couple shots at pollinating at the target time. no need taking any chances that we might fail.

6/15/2016 3:57:54 AM