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Phoenix, AZ

I again, all. I'm in Phoenix where, obviously, it's a lot hotter and dryer than in the northeast. How will using a misting system help me grow the big one, and how often do you recommend I do it? I'm concerned that with all the sunlight I get, that the droplets from the mist will serve as magnifying glasses and burn the leaves as master gardeners out here say happens when you water in the middle of the day. Please advise.

5/18/2011 8:44:16 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

AZ, hopefully another hot/dry weather grower who uses misting will chime in w/ the FACTS...but, as I understand it, the Philosophy behind misting is to cool the area...the mist will be done on a very short but repetitive basis...like 1 minute every 10 minutes during the hottest part of the day!!! Theory is to cool the misting area (pkn. plant). Sorta thinkin w/ AZ heat and short bursts of mist (Proper misters would be a must!) droplets would not collect on yer leaves! Hope this helps? Peace, Wayne

5/18/2011 10:51:07 PM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

The idea is called evaporative cooling, as water evaporates, it cools (the same idea as sweating) so therefore as Wayne said it is to cool the plant. I would agree that misting is likely a must for you but the key is to allow the water to evaporate between mistings in order to allow for the cooling process. I had a sprinkler set up on my plants last year in 90 to near 100 degree heat and didn't notice any leaf burning (and I've heard that my whole life too).

5/19/2011 11:34:54 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

AR, curious as to what "sprinkler set up" you used, and also what difference there is tween sprinkling and misting? Peace, Wayne

5/19/2011 7:51:58 PM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

Wayne, my "set up" was something I rigged up myself. I plant my pumpkins back-to-back so I ran a line of PVC down the middle on wodden stakes at about 5 foot in the air. Then every 20 ft I had what was called a "mini-wobbler" tap into the PVC line and I had a shut-off valve at each mini-wobbler to control the water. It was far from perfect but it kept the plants cool. The difference between sprinkling and misting I'd say that mist is more fine of a water droplet than sprinkling- not sure which works better for cooling though. So far no need for water or cooling in AR. Good luck Wayne and AZ, hope I helped.

5/21/2011 12:53:01 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Kul beans AR...thanks!!! Peace, Wayne

5/22/2011 1:59:07 AM

San Diego, Ca.

AZ, I think you would be better off using shade cloth in that hot Arizona sun. Using both shade cloth and misting would be even better in your kind of heat. We resort to using both on the hottest days here in San Diego.
I used to use misting only but found that the leaves died much sooner than those under shade cloth.

5/25/2011 10:27:03 PM

Wi

you guys are thinking about misting all wrong. if you mist at day break during the first 2 hours when the sun has less intensity. you can use the water droplets as magnifying glasses to increase the sun intensity. from the plants point of view. this is all beneficial because the first few hours of day light is when the respiration response is most efficient. How much? I dont know exactaly, but I think it was along the lines 20% if I recall. as the day goes on the efficiency decreases. leafs wilt because of the less energy ther absorbing, and don't have enough to thrive.

6/2/2011 12:39:13 AM

Sloughhouse, CA

When is gets hot in the Scacramento Valley I use shade cloth and misters. I usually mist in the afternoon when it get above 98+.

6/16/2011 3:24:26 AM