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Joliet, IL

Hey all,
Its been a hot season here to say the least and the drought conditions in northern Illinois has devistated the farmers' crops. The heat has taken its toll on many pumpkin growers around the US and Canada, but I am not sure how the European summer has been.

I am writing an article for our Illinois Garden Giant Gazette about the 2005 summer heat wave and how it affected giant pumpkin growers. I myself got maybe a 15 percent successful rate of pollination attempts and had to curve my mains around almost in a circle to keep trying to get them to finally set one on each plant. My friend had to use my driveway for extra room to continue his main out before we finally got one set on his 604 jutras. We put shag carpeting on the driveway and covered with 8" of manure and now he has his pumpkin growing 8' out on my driveway.
Just to get that 15 percent successful pollination in the heat took a lot of hard work with fans and ice jugs and styrofome coolers and early shade tarps over every blossum as soon as they showed.

As painful as it has been on many of you with some having no luck on pollination whatsoever, would you please share a little paragraph or 2 about how the heat has affected your plants this season. I want to use as much info from around the country and world as possible in the article, so the more input the better. If you do not feel like posting it here you can always email me direct at [email protected]

I am looking for info how the heat affected your season as well as any tips or advice people have used to beat the heat. All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jeff Shenoha

8/4/2005 11:18:29 PM

addison Il

it was hot for us but not the plants we watered daily misted only on 90 degree days and covered the sensistive plants with tent like sheet structures we had some burned tips but only after are plants got over the 20 feet mark and all the pumpkins we set even in the heat took we used the ice method on everyone and all of ours where pollinated be hand at around 11 am in the after noon as we where lazy but alas we are growing generics its been and continues to be a learning yr and even though every thing else is dead from the heat the plants our babies survive but thats us and next yr hopefully we have the same kind of luck only with better seeds the only prob we had was tons of cukes millions but we now have them under control have fun all grow big

8/4/2005 11:37:24 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Started a plant real early, for a fair 'kin in mid Aug and thought pollination was a piece o cake. Learned diff. as my patch ran out of room on all other plants b-4 poll keepers by using what was a new method to me. Sty. coolers and ice has me now building shade structures for 4 out of 5 remaining plants. Lost one totally to heat stress early on to extreme heat. Strange thing is that the one that succomed to heat was one from a seed that came from my part of the country. I thought it would be more heat tollerant. Live and learn...nothing is for sure...that is the most important thing that I have learned this year...nothing is the same every time. Peace Wayne

8/5/2005 12:17:05 AM

Glenview, IL

I got nothing going but vines. I think the pests did more damage then the heat. Nothing set. Maybe next year.

8/5/2005 2:11:23 AM

[email protected]

Eight heat related aborts before getting one to stick. The heat here wasn't MORE extreme than some years. But the degree of flux was more drastic & sustaining than ever since I've grown AGs. I now see why the tenured growers here risk Nitrogen related issues to get the vines into "the zone" before the heat comes on. I chose not to push this year. No splits, but not many desirable sets either.

It's a catch 22. Wait & you're late. Rush & the fruit matures too ealry....but at least you have fruit worth worrying about!

8/5/2005 4:53:58 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Heat been a real pain. We haven't had any real rain at my house since May. I've watched storm after storm go by with only a few drops hitting the patch. Yesterday the storms went by again only giving me a few drops. The dirt in the garden is very dry. I water 50 gals per plant per day with buried sprinkler hoses, but it's not the same as a good rain. I haul my water (200 gals per trip) every day from a creek that's about 5 miles away. Some days I haul 2-3 loads. I'm already sick of doing this and it's only the 1st week in Aug. The weatherman is calling for the heat to continue, with below average precipitation for the month of Aug.

Phil (drier then a popcorn fart in Cameron)

8/5/2005 6:34:10 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Jeff:
Heat related issues here in West Michigan involved for me a high number of aborts, and many fried vine tips. Since starting growing in 1993, this is definitely the hottest year in my area, so I was unprepared for heat related issues. I didn't have shade cloth on hand, and I never bothered with keeping my pollinations cool. Never even gave those things a second thought in any previous year, but could have used them this year. I misted many afternoons in an effort to cool the plants. My best plant this year is the one that gets partial shade.
Frank

8/5/2005 7:11:34 AM

Follansbee, Wv

This is my first year growing AG's so what I have observed doesn't really have much merit. I will share it though and let you decide.

This summer started out slightly cooler than normal. However, by the end of June temps were hitting the 90's and have stayed there for most of the summer. It was 93 yesterday. I was lucky enough to set one of my pollinations in late June, and the other on July 1st. The weather was already hot, but I suffered no abort problems. What I have noticed, however, is an appearant premature aging of the overall plants themselves. Fully one-third of each plants leaves are becomming dry and brittle, regardless of the amount of water they are given. This may be normal a occurance in the life cycle of AG's, but it seems a little more extreme than I would have expected.
The heat has also allowed the insect populations to thrive, especially the cuke beetles, whose larvae have benifited from the hot dry weather and managed to launch a second, and third wave.
Although it hasn't been a problem in my patch, I suspect some growers are having problems with animals chewing on the plants in search of water, due to nearly drought-like conditions in some areas.

(cont...)

8/5/2005 7:39:11 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I have to assume that fruit weights will also be affected from the heat as well. In an effort to keep cool and stay alive, the plants are dumping tremendous amounts of water into the atmosphere through their leaves, which, in my opinion, is taking it away from the fruit. Since the root structures, and pathways through the vines have a limited capacity for water uptake and movement, the fruit will receive less as the leaf stomata open fully for cooling. So regardless of the moisture content of the soil, I believe the plant can only move X-amount of water. If most of it is lost to evaporation, that doesn't leave much for the fruit. I think that may explain the larger fruit weight gains during the night time periods, because the plant is losing less to cooling, and has more water available for fruit growth.

Like I said, I'm a newbie, but those are my observations :)

8/5/2005 7:39:23 AM

Dillsburg, PA

5 for 30 sets. Over 25 aborts on one darn plant. Tried the ice/shading and that didn't work. Went on vacation and came back and both my vine tips were fried at about 25 feet. Lucky I had one set on the main prior to that. Constant temps in the 90's.

8/5/2005 8:00:35 AM

Roanoke Il

the weather has been warm june july with a week during late june early july with was cooler so luckly I got most of the pumpkins set then. Growth wize well above average have noticed that some of the pumpkins are aging faster than last year witch was a ooler than normal year. So I think heat does play a major role in the aging proccess. Some look a week to ten days older than normal...mark

8/5/2005 8:24:26 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I agree with much of what Monty said regarding the water. My experience has been generally similar as well with successful pollinations in late june/early july. Rapid growth and then seemed to hit a wall.

I know watering at night is discouraged because of mildew but it's so hot here that's what I'm doing and having an alright time with it.

8/5/2005 8:36:30 AM

Marion,IN

This is my first year with the ag's so I can only comment on all the leaves that were scalded. Now the number needed to grow a big one is not there. I didn't know to shade all new leaves in this heat and sun.

8/5/2005 9:05:28 AM

Somers, CT

yes.

8/5/2005 10:53:53 AM

Abbotsford, B.C

As I watch the sun peak over the mountain, I get up refreshed and ready for another beautiful 80 degree day. I go to find my tape measure, and see how much my pumpkins have grown today...


Cameron

8/5/2005 10:57:24 AM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Here in Minnesota, it has been very hot, but not as bad as Illinois. Each time I've pollinated, it's been a three/four days stretch of about 93-94 degrees. They all aborted - even after pollination with 5 males each. One has finally made it to Day 15 on a secondary.

8/5/2005 11:28:32 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Cameron:
Go ahead, rub it in! What's the cost of a couple of acres of real estate in B.C.? I'm sure a lot of us midwesterners would like to move up there. No SVB's on your side of Rockies either, I hear...

8/5/2005 12:20:33 PM

Cincinnati,OH

My June pollinations were no problem but I am 1 for 10 on 1 particular plant since the temps started going above 90.

8/5/2005 12:26:19 PM

Midwest

I planted early June and so I missed most of the mid-July heat wave. One of my tips was burnt completely just past a budding female on July 21-22nd. That's the 100+ degree day. I watered the plant twice that day to cool it down and that wasn't effective. Since then, I've pollinated 9 females. It's too early to report statistics since this is day 7 since my first was pollinated. Will follow-up if any either abort or are still going after 20 days.
Greg

8/5/2005 1:07:48 PM

Lexington, Ky

This is my first year with AG's and I guess I just got lucky or good seed or both. My patch weather has been the same as most of the country (hot/humid) and rest assured I invited many, many problems with my initial ignorance.

I put 22 plants down and have lost two. Should have only lost one.....my lack of patience and fear of disease got the better of me. I have three other plants that probably won't make it. Lucky for me, I planted in four separate patches. I did not attempt to control pollination whatsoever. I have too many pumpkins.......

What did I do right?!

About the mid part of July, I was hoping that I'd lose every plant.....way too much work!

8/5/2005 2:20:48 PM

Rockford,il

I have beautiful lush plants,not a pest in sight,no weeds and not a single @#%& pumpkin larger than a basketball.Five plants with great genetics and now I am hoping for Halloween pumpkins.If you hear someone telling you not to start too early ,hit them over the head for me.

8/5/2005 9:14:17 PM

Hayes, Virginia

Crazy year here for sure.
3 out 4 plants were lost to late frost(April 10 last frost date)In early May.
By the time my backup plants were coming along the heat set in and has not let go...
2 of 4 pants have had no sets.
The other two plants are doing fine but no record beakers .
I have found a new hobbie.Trying to teach squash bugs to swim.not much luck with this hobbie either so far all of them have just sank to bottom of the bucket.
Happy Growing to All.
Ed

8/5/2005 10:31:23 PM

Streator ,Illinois

Jeff,
Pollination was good , took dick wallace's advice with the ice jugs and fan and took it a step farther . started 3 days before and 3 days after during the day and had every thing pollinated I tried with his method. Leafs seem to be the big thing for me,I think they are ageing faster this year, plants get full sun and all this heat and sun and rain 1 1/2 since early may. Been doing alotttttttttt of watering , plants look good and are going but there is nothing like rain to kick things into gear, had some leaf burnt but that was expected with this heat.I have tried watering at night since mid June and I do think it has help the plants from being to stressed , every other day for awhile, anywhere from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am, I know that is not the norm but this is not a normal year, PM not a factor Yet but there is 7 weeks left
O and them White Sox are kicking my but , Congrats I owe you a case or 1 jackson and I am ready to pay up
See ya soon
Gene McMullen

8/5/2005 11:27:20 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

the heat caused too many aborts to count in my patch. i managed to get some around the 7th of july before it got real hot and a managed to get a couple set using ice during the heat. most of the main vine pumkins aborted so i am going with some on secondaries on most of my plants.

8/6/2005 7:43:30 AM

Joliet, IL

thank you all for the responses. together with more information we will all be able to battle the hot conditions better in the future. we can not control the temps mother nature throws at us, but we can try to microclimatize our patches to help limit the stress the heat damage can do. i would think that abort related problems is the number one issue for all of us to consider working on the most. a white outdoor patio chair is easy and effective for shading the female blossums as soon as they show all the way until they set. like gene mcmullen said, the ice bottles used 3 days prior and 3 days after pollination with a fan blowing the cool air across the female worked to increase my pollination odds when i was running out of room on the mains. all this year i am looking on garbage day to keep an eye open for those cheap white plastic outdoor chairs that many people throw away if the arm rest cracks or slightly defective. they come in handy. a whole patch shade cloth is not cheap, and takes some time to set up the support system it rests on, but it is very effective at keeping the plants young leaves from burning on hot days in the vegetative stage. with the amount of work many put in their patches, to use some cash to make sure to have a shade cloth on hand incase of hot temps is worth the weight in gold. if we all put our info together, maybe we can find the cheapest shade cloth out there, and then have people pool their money together and buy it in a larger bulk quantity directly from a manufaturer to even lower the prices more. a misting system is cheap and easy to set up, the timer is the most costly item and maybe could be found on ebay for those with a tight budget.

8/6/2005 4:08:09 PM

Joliet, IL

some preliminary research i have done on line has lead me towards the possibility of stigma death in hot temps as the reason for so many aborts. on prolonged nights that stay above 75 degrees, the possibility of stigma death increases greatly in commercial squash and pumpkins, so the ice trick used only during the day may not be enough to help stop aborts. ice bottles may have to be used both day and night on prime females on the main between the 12' and 25' zone along with a fan. if that is the case, then have the extension cords ready and stock up on as many cheap fans that are on sale at the end the summer and are on clearance before the fall merchandise arrives. if someone you know has a freezer they are giving away, take it off their hands and put it in the garage and use it soley for having the largest plastic laundry bottles with frozen water in them stored up prior to pollination time. any advice that people can share that has worked is critical, and being prepared prior to pollination time is critical. with knowledge and preparation, all we can ultimately do is increase our odds at fighting aborts and keeping the stress levels to a minimum on the plants themselves.
thanks again
shazzy

8/6/2005 4:08:37 PM

Joliet, IL

here is a site that mentions the stigma death possibilities at night time temps above 65 for commercial pumpkins and squash.

http://oregonstate.edu/Dept/NWREC/pumpkin.html

here is the paragraph that it mentions stigma death in.




STIGMA DEATH


In addition to pollination, development of female flowers may be affected by temperature. Recent experience in the Middle Atlantic states and in New England indicates that high night temperatures (above 65 F) are associated with failure of female flowers to open and develop properly. The ovaries turn yellow and then shrivel and the stigma of the unopened flower exhibits black streaks into the ovary. 'Howden' is particularly susceptible.

8/6/2005 4:37:46 PM