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Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

I have been reading about other growers getting hit by hail and today it was my turn. Each full leave has 15 to 20 holes in them and some fruit less then 10 days have a few hits. I would like to hear from some growers that have grown huge pumpkins after hail damage and how they did it. Did you let the vines grow out further, quit prunning etc?

Thanks Bill

6/28/2005 12:14:48 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Bill we removed the broken beyond hope leaves. Kept the Holey ones and sprayed a good fungicide. The plants still look rough. If they young growth did not get to badley beaten. It is still early enough in the season for a come back. We were keeping a close eye on that storm last night. April had every lawn chair in the Garage protecting her babies. Looked like she was setting up for a picnic in the patch.

6/28/2005 10:02:15 AM

Eugene, OR

Hi Bill, I was hit pretty hard last year on June 28(wow, that's today....yikes). Plants were around 12-13 feet at the time and it didn't look good. Thanks to the support of a few great growers, I sucked it up and stuck with it. Despite my best efforts to mess things up all year, the plants still managed to grow me a couple of nice pumpkins.

I let a few tertiaries grow to fill in the real bad spots and removed the shredded leaves after things started filling back in. The mains stalled for a few days as the plants recovered but in the long run, I think the hail just ticked the plant off and made it get into high gear. The plants were growing again in no time and I ended up pollinating at 15-16 feet by July 8th.

I thought my damage was bad until I saw pictures of Joe Pukos' plants after a major storm. He still managed to grow a new personal best that year! I don't have the link anymore but he'll probably chime in. These plants are just amazing so hang in there!! Brian

6/28/2005 3:08:20 PM

Eugene, OR

Forgot to include the link to pictures of the plants. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=21928

6/28/2005 3:10:06 PM

Clinton, Iowa

hey Bill..been there done that..
2003 I was hit 3 times..about a couple weeks apart each time..the first 2 netted sooooome damaged but not enough to really scare you..the final time (july 7th) it was nasty..had hail for about 2 to 3 minutes....seemed like eternity when it is happening.and some things were literally shreaded....the 1230 plant actually had a hole bored right thru the main vine about 6 foot back from the fruit....which was about mid way from the stump...the fruit was 5 days old and it also took a hit...right on top....Anyways...making a long story short..the hail damage on the fruit caused no grief...the hail damage to the plant was extensive to say the least...and th edamage on th email was terminal...when the fruit reached 100# the main was totally mushy all th eway thru. I cleaned it out and covered it with sand...and never looked again as I knew it was done....what that left me with was 6 side vines before the fruit and 2 after...results was my first 4 digit monster at 1028.8#. I think th estress really caused the plant to panic and produce. just my thought
DAN

6/29/2005 12:51:53 PM