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Lebanon, TN 37087

I live in Tennessee and and a first time grower of Giant Pumpkins. Having problem with fruit setting in this very hot weather, above 90 degrees. I have ordered a small 50% shade screen to try to reduce the heat from the sun on the pumpkins. Does anyone have an opinion or experience on trying this idea.

8/16/2005 4:18:50 PM

Ohio

Leon,

Try pollinating like a hour before the sun comes up,when its still dark outside.Female flower will be just starting to open,you might have to pry the flower open a little for pollination but it has worked for me great the past 2 years.I would pollinate before I go to work at 5:00 am. Also make sure the sun isnt beating down on the pumpkin,usually the leaves would shade the newly set fruit so you shouldnt have to worry about using that shade cloth untill your pumpkin gets a little bigger,If your leaves dont shade it then use the cloth.

Brooks

8/16/2005 4:57:00 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

First the shameless plug, we sell 30% knitted shade cloth at PumpkinSupply.com. With three weeks over 95F, the shade cloth saved my patch. I still had trouble germinating, but I didn't have the plant lying down on me, which I believe allows more energy to get to the pumpkin(assuming you get one set). We carry the 30% because from talking to people, this was the concensus range that most people felt was beneficial. I think 50% may be too much, but I will be curious to see how it works for you.

8/16/2005 4:58:25 PM

San Diego, Ca.

Check out my diary. It shows what I do on days over 90° to make sure the pumpkin pollinates. Works every time!

8/16/2005 7:25:07 PM

Fairfield, California

Yea i have the same problem. Would a mister help?

8/16/2005 8:22:04 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

GPIII suggests surrounding the pollenated female with frozen bottles of water. I might have to try the same thing soon, only about 75 days left!

8/16/2005 9:31:22 PM

So. Maine

Freeze a few 1 gallon milk jugs filled with water & have them ready. When the flower opens unbag it & the male flowers & pollinate . Put a frozen milk jug right next to the female and slowly set a 5 gallon bucket, (white if possible) upside down over the flower & the jug. If it's 90 + change out jug in the afternoon . Repeat the next day. Works for me.

Al

8/17/2005 12:49:42 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I tried icing down this year, but that didn't help me either.

8/17/2005 9:06:56 AM

Utah

Leon,
I think 50% shade is a great idea for you. how big is the piece that you are getting ? I would make sure that it is not right next to the leaves or pumpkin. but installed at least a couple of feet above them so that you get good air flow. I'd also place it such that it kept the female shaded most of the day- especially in the afternoon. I think a hoop house or lean-to set up would work.
the other post-ers have given you some good ideas too. pollinate early before it gets hot and ice inside a cooler over the female.
hope you get something set soon.
gordon

pumpkin lover- misting won't help much unless you live in an area with low humidity. I don't think it would be worth while in Miss. or Tenn.

8/17/2005 10:27:40 AM

Montoursville, PA

One grower I know who made it through the hot days here in the Northeast and high extremly high humidity did so by overhead watering fifteen or twenty seconds every half hour.
He had 100% pollination and only the usual small percentage of aborts. Today one of his patches is sporting two pumpkins with super great high end potential.

In my patch, in Northcentral Pennsylvania counting now about thirty five days of 90 degree plus and 80 -95% relative humidity...without the assist of evaporating water done with regular application I had all kinds, of heat stress much like many, of my area fellow growers.

I only got into misting trouble my first year three years ago because I did not back off with the timing, of milldew appearance. Up to that point my leaf zone was reduced some 20 degrees average, by evaporation, of misted water.

That is what grew my 710. Misunderstanding and lack of experience was my excuse for losing that dandy pumpkin.

8/17/2005 10:55:53 AM