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New Hampshire

Several NH growers are having problem with our females developing before they get pollinated. I wonder is anyone else in the Northeast is having the same problem. I am not talking about one here our there but the vast majority of them. Thanks Jim

7/3/2005 6:34:33 PM

Johnston, R.I.

I have one plant where the females are the size of a pencil lead and don't grow from there only had one male on the plant. Norm G

7/3/2005 6:42:12 PM

Ontario

Same problem Jim and tyhe ones that develop and bloom don't pollinate. I'm 25 ft out and nothing first 3 dryed up, two didn't bloom and three were the size of a pea when they bloom just to abort two days later. Other plant same thing but have one pollinated on the 30th that is the size of a large lemon but still could abort. Too much heat 102 under the shade cloth and back over ninety tommorrow, should be rototilling the whole patch under in about ten days if I get nothing to take. Bryan Dueck having the same luck

drew

7/3/2005 11:21:02 PM

Indiana

Try some high phosphorus fertilizer. I dont know what the problem would be, but if there are many having that problem in the region, its probably a nutrient availability problem caused by the temperatures. I would guess phosphorus, I hope you guys have some luck this next week and get them to go.

Tom Beachy

7/4/2005 1:24:43 AM

Indiana

also use ice on the blossoms, and shade them for a day, Try to keep the temp under 85 for sure, and under 80 if at all possible

7/4/2005 1:25:28 AM

Deer Park WA

Sounds like a problem bears, we have pollinated in 100 degtee heat on a regular basis (years and years) I doubt all you fine growers have to be schooled on N-P-K issues, so I would say if it has been really hot then do the work and cool the plant, ice the blossum or whatever. Can you provide us with more climatological (sP) info? God news for us inland N.W growers if you Hitters back east give it up! LOL and just kidden, we like the competition. Seriously though it has been a very unusual year so far with cold temps, 78 MPH winds and a frost that was 3 weeks past the last average date. Good luck

7/4/2005 1:56:27 AM

New Hampshire

A note of clarification: the "vast majority" referred to in my original post is the blossoms in our patches not growers. I know of 2 other growers whose season is in jeopardy because of this. I think it is the cold snaps we have had this season that is to blame. Two weeks ago we had a 48-hour period that didn't get over 53. That can't be good for developing females. Out of 20 plants in our patch only 3 of them are producing healthy females and my 8 is not one of them. I'll try some high P Water-soluble fert today but I think it is too late. Might be planting a cover crop soon and will be enjoying the rest of the summer like other normal people who don't live in a pumpkin patch for 4 months. This "normal" is going to be weird and depressing. Now, where did I put that fishing pole?

7/4/2005 6:24:24 AM

[email protected]

I have two plants this year, and both are suffering from this same phenomenon. I have never dealt with this in my 8 years of growing AG's, so it is an unkown to me also. I have not altered anything in my program, so the only conclusion I can come up with is the extreme heat which we have endured. I have watered extensively to keep the plant cool, but do not operate a misting system over the plants like some growers do.

With all the obstacles I have endured this year, this could be my swan song also if it doesnt straighten up. My watermelon plant is now vining, so it will be interesting to see if this takes the same course as the AG's, as it is in the same soil as the AG's.

7/4/2005 1:14:11 PM

Joliet, IL

jim,
try the 5-30-5 schultz's bloom enhancer, as it has worked here for me and a friend with similar problems 2 weeks ago. i applied it as a root drench and a foliar. do not mix any calcium with liquid phosphorus or you might get some burn like i did. my friend just used it as a root drench and pulled out 3 nicely developing females at the end of his 1225 and 604 jutras plants in the nick of time as he was running out of room. we also put lawn chairs or shade cloths over all developing females as soon as visable on the mains. we continued with the ice bottles next to but not touching the females for 5 days after setting. it was a lot of work but we got or percentages way up with developing females and pollinations since, even in the high heat.

we even had to extend and area out on to my driveway to give the main more room to grow on his 604 plants. we placed old carpet down first and put 8 inches of manure and soil on it and the vine is now out on the driveway and still doing fine with an extra 8' to get one set. maybe even curve the mains back around from the edges of your patch to give them more room. the weather is getting more consistant across the whole nation this next week, so keep trying your best jim and i wish you well and good luck.
shazzy

7/4/2005 6:05:56 PM

Leamington, Ont.

Wow am I glad I found this post... Same thing here!
These things are aborting before they open.I may try pinching off some secondaries to hopefully shift the plant into fruit production...? Not sure what else to do.
On the same note I have a plant with only a main vine that runs along the edge of my patch, and this thing has no problem setting fruit, already have three on. Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but this plant shows no heat stress whats so ever!

It's been really hot and HUMID here.

Sav

7/4/2005 6:16:25 PM

Montoursville, PA

Well mother really threw me a curve. She carterized my main.
I will be attempting, to grow, on a secondary right behind the job she did, on me. Likewise the one female behind the damage did not pollinate.

Folks that plant is one nice patch of lettuce at this moment. My other plant is behaving in a normal fashon.
Go figure????

7/4/2005 10:20:20 PM

Rhode Island

rhode island growers are experiencing the same problems as discussed here

gotta be the high heat and humidity from early last week
how else can you explain these situations happening in so many areas of the country ? all these patches cant be defecient in the same ingredient

any pollinations we did early last week did not take, any we did a couple days ago or before the heat burst look to be in good shape ( we hope)
i guess this is one of those things we dont have any control over
just keep pollinating and get creative with your vine training

dick

7/4/2005 11:48:33 PM

Deer Park WA

Bears, if you give it a rest this season come spend some time here with us in Gods Country and we will do some Fly Fishing! Naw stay ther and grow a World Record!!!

Gerry

7/5/2005 2:03:19 AM

Indiana

Bears and the others having problems,

Let me know if the phosphorus works.

I havent really studied things much, but it sounds like something is lacking to develop the females. Dick is right that our soils cant all be deficient.

I thought it is perhaps an uptake problem. Such as Nitrogen not being available when the soil is cold. Perhaps something isnt available when the soil is warm. I know that it has been really hot, so MOST have been watering their plants much more than normal. Bringing the majority of their root mass to the top of the soil. The same part of the soil that gets really hot during the day.

Perhaps someone researching nutrient availibility at certain soil temps could come up with the fix.

Tom

7/5/2005 2:07:40 AM

[email protected]

Nitrogen is liberated by bacteria at higher temps but soils don't warm very quickly so 3 hot days is unlikely to cause widespread N related aborts. Lightning increases soil N a LOT. Did everyone posting here get the lightning we did here in CT? See related thread above.

7/5/2005 5:16:28 AM

Goffstown,nh

Things are not looking great at my end of town either. I'm growing six of the nicest looking plants I've ever produced. Main vines are all 12'-20' in leghnth and I haven't had a succesful pollination yet. Female blossums won't open, and when i force pollinate them they abort in days. Most are aborting before the flower even matures. I'm not giving up easily, but I may be doing some fishing with Jim Ford!

7/5/2005 7:36:02 AM

[email protected]

Save room in the boat for me Jim... And please.. Dont rock the boat.. dont tip the boat over..

7/5/2005 4:51:00 PM