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Woburn, Ma

It very common to read on the boards about how the heat and humidity cause so many aborts to many growers. I'm also finding that during this heat and humidity anything extra (in reference to big pumpkins) I try to pollinate ends up aborting. My Connecticuts pumpkins have absolutely no problem at all! If I pollinate 6 on the worst day I will have 6 still alive and growing a week later. I have so many baby ones and nothing seems to bother them. Why do they have such a resistance to the heat and humidity. I don't bother trying to cover them but they will still be fine. The only problem they seem to ever have is the tips can burn when really hot out.

8/10/2005 8:55:53 PM

Montoursville, PA

First they are genetically a different plant. However if a few hundred growers now up to possibly several thousand worked with those genes, to the same extent that AG's have been worked with, we likely would have monster field pumpkins too. It is utterly amazing what the growers have done with the AG. As a result some bad things happen that sometimes we don't have the slightest idea why. The AG's are a delight, to grow, but hey...sometimes they can be something else.

8/10/2005 9:23:49 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

field pumpkins have the same heat issue as atlantic giants. When the temp gets above a certain degree. The process stops. It is very common with tomatoes also.

8/10/2005 9:35:37 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Many aborts here on my field pumpkins. Less than half the viable fruit to sell compared to last year.....Tom

8/10/2005 9:59:13 PM

[email protected]

We've seen heat related aborts on field pepos. I always had more fruit rot problems with them too. Perhaps it's all just relative to the numbers. You can get an awful lot of Howdens out of the same area we get 1 Atlantic Giant.

8/10/2005 10:10:26 PM

mcminnville oregon

mother nature knows best//////

8/11/2005 1:16:31 AM

New Jersey

I think Tremor has a good point, field pumpkin growers probably don't care as much if a fruit aborts...

8/11/2005 11:46:50 AM