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Iowa

with all the heat this summer someone has got to ask....what is the hottest temp that anyone has been able to set a fruit? and did you use ice or a fan or maybe just shade? or is it just as simple as, when the plant is ready to set a fruit it will!
we have seen a lot of 90 deg days so far this summer and all have been in the last 2 weeks....yeah...perfect timming!i know there has to be a lot of people out there asking what there odds are trying to get a fruit to set at 92 or even 94 deg's. i thought this might help trying to figure those odds....may be we dont want to know???

7/11/2005 10:39:43 PM

San Diego

here in southern california, we get some hot days. Even in temps close to 100, I have had no problem pollinating with extreme techniques: styrofoam cooler over pumpkin with white trash bag underneath the pumpkin on the ground, a frozen water bottle inside the cooler, shade over the cooler, and ice around the outside that is replaced every 3 hours. This method is extreme, but it works everytime I have done it. Jimmy

7/12/2005 12:03:34 AM

97° here-and still on vine-lost 1 out of 4 it aborted day 11

7/12/2005 12:56:12 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

My pumpkin last year was set on a day it hit the low 90s, I shaded it and put and ice bucket by it. Yesterday I pollinated one and did the same thing, we'll see if it takes(was over 90 degrees).

7/12/2005 9:33:09 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Duster, how long do the extreme techniques need to be kept in place? Peace Wayne

7/12/2005 3:09:05 PM

I have been been putting ice down and thick blankets tucked in over the females. So far they are following the "when the plant is ready to set fruit it will" rule, and they sure ain't ready yet! I'm hoping the latest ones are set (will know in a few days)

7/12/2005 4:19:56 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i freeze jugs of water and then place the jugs next to the flower that will be pollinated then pile hay or straw around it to keep in the cold air.

7/12/2005 4:26:34 PM

San Diego

Wayne, I will pollinate the flower around 7:30 am and I just put some shade over it at this time with a frozen bottle next to the pumpkin. Around 9:30 or so I put the plastic down and cover with the cooler and shade the cooler. Then I start putting one bag of ice around the outside of the cooler maybe at 10:30 am, and replace the ice every 2 and a half hours until maybe 3:00pm. Usually the outside ice will last until about 6pm and then I take everything off but keep the fruit shaded until sunset.

7/12/2005 6:56:32 PM

Montoursville, PA

I've had a couple new leaves cooked on three different days this year. Lost the main, on one plant even when it was shaded. The other plant went through it OK. The main blew up on my second plant but the fruit is set sixteen feet out and a foot or two from the blow out. Vine stress just got taken care of, by mother nature.


Today was over ninety again. I pollinated this morning. There was no leaf burn, on the secondary running around the burned off main. This time I had watered the area of pollination and misted the leaves twice. No shade. Go figure.

7/12/2005 6:58:35 PM

Simi valley, ca

I used the icechest method 4 times this yr , i just wanted to say i think it may be a good idea to put thermometer inside & check < when i first set it up & tryed thermometer it was aprox 68* so i cut holes still only 75 had to raise one end off ground to get up to 80* < ps i also pollinate early as poss 6:30 & put compleat shade over 3 X 4 ft area & 1 gal bottle was enough for all day !!on a 100* DAY

7/12/2005 7:41:27 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

So optimum temp for fruit set is 80 degrees F? Peace Wayne

7/12/2005 10:02:19 PM

San Diego

the temp doesn't make a difference. I had a friend do my method on a 84 degree day, the thermometer read 56 degrees in the box, still pollinated.

7/12/2005 11:13:14 PM

Indiana

I succeeded in high 90s, but its at a lower success rate.

I use ice if its going to be over 90 degrees.

Tom

7/13/2005 1:33:17 AM

San Diego, Ca.

My 905 Ailts will have 2 pumpkins on the main open up in the morning...forcasted high is 100°!
I will be doing the same as Duster...styrofoam cooler, frozen water bottles and a thermometer to keep an eye on the temp inside the cooler.
I believe Duster is refering to me in his above post.
It was actually in the mid 90's on that day. I wouldn't have cooled my pumpkin for a mid 80's day. I did get my micro-climate inside the cooler down in the 50's (by accident because I wasn't watching the temp)and had no problem getting the pumpkin to set. I think I'll shoot for a temp in the 70's tomorrow inside the cooler.
I must be crazy, I am taking the day off work to stay home and make sure my pumpkins stay cool during pollination. The things we do for our pumpkins :-)

7/14/2005 12:52:01 AM