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Florida

Hi. Going to try some giants in Central Florida. After much reading on them I have two questions I did not readily find ideas on.

First, I am planting them at the ponds edge and training the vines out from it. I had some field pumpkins out there last summer and the ones closest to the ponds edge went crazy. Lots of foliage and less pouting mid-day. Any concerns I should have planting at the waters edge?

Second, I have to create shade for the plants without losing air circulation. I am planting 'three sisters' for the field pumpkins but do not want to 'assume' that is an okay plan for giants. What I am thinking for them is planting corn rows north-south and having the vines pass through them east-west, basically creating shade walls. The corn rows will be widely spaced and I will plant a tall variety. I have a shady section I could plant in but I really want to be at the pond. Any thoughts on the corn walls?
Thanks!

6/27/2013 9:07:42 AM

Muddy Waters

I would try and position your corn to your corn to shade about 50% of the area not all of it.So the plant will get some sun.If you could I dont know if its possible.The plant could get the morning & evening sun,not the sun from 11 to 5pm.I think the ground heating up is 75% of the problem,as ground temps can heat up to 160 degrees in the south.Cooling the soil with water at the heat off the day would be great.

6/28/2013 8:09:30 AM

Muddy Waters

I would be careful at waters edge on a wet year could be a disaster

6/28/2013 8:10:13 AM

Florida

The scary truth is that a wet year would be a disaster for the whole field. It does not take much to get standing water for a few days at a time in some spots. Everything is being trained onto high mounds. The good news is that the deep furrows will serve us well for irrigation when it gets too dry.
The corn walls are going to be 4-wide at 8 ft spacing. You have me thinking, though ... if cooler soil is the aim as opposed to actually shading the plants themselves, I wonder if a companion plant that grows lower than the pumpkin leaves might be a better choice. I was thinking morning glory, as it grows fast and is a companion plant for pumpkins, but I have visions of them climbing all over the foliage! (they are robust little growers!) Okay then, off to research more companions and temp issues. Thanks for the input!

6/28/2013 12:27:14 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

No to the morning glory..they will strangle the plant. Sunflowers might me your better choice

6/28/2013 1:51:14 PM

Florida

Yes, it was one of those fleeting thoughts that fleeted right on out of my head. As for companions I seem to be circling marigolds and nasturtium. At least they wont try to take over. :P
So, sunflowers ... are you saying then that I should stick to shading from taller plants and skip the ground cover notion?
I am planting sunflowers in the border areas and possibly in the corn.

6/28/2013 2:41:36 PM

N.c.

A word to the wise Hope Station. As you read thru these discussion boards, if Linus Van Pelt gives advice, you should try to follow that advice as closely as possible.

7/1/2013 11:20:42 AM

N.c.

I can not believe I have started naming names. There are many great growers giving advice on these boards. Like Handyhomegrown, Pumpking, Matt D. and others. I just think my growing methods are closer to some than others. You will have to figure out what works best for you. There is a great wealth of information on these pages.

7/1/2013 11:30:43 AM

Florida

:) I am jealous of Linus. I grew up in northern Wisconsin. He has special soil. As for advice, I am reading everyone's posts and leaning toward the more frequent successful methods. I about lost it reading about a peroxide soak. 50/50, 1/10, 1/3, ... 2% or 3% ... 4 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 36 hrs, 4 hrs and then 18 in damp paper towels ... presently taking 'majority rules' approach and adjusting for Florida. I am ahead of our second season by a month, but aiming for October so have to start seeds now. Might keep them in starter pots as long as possible but if they take off like my field pumpkins did last year I might not have that choice. We'll see. :P

7/1/2013 1:45:54 PM