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C N Y

hi all----just wanted to hear any or all of your opinions or methods and techniques for stopping the wind from
destroying your plants, and any new ideas for this you may be trying in '07.
i myself am considering using a NATURAL windbreak,
such as a row or block of hedges,
corn or shrubs/pampas grass
around and amongst my 10 or so growing spots.
one patch is 225 feet long X 20 feet wide, half of which
is hammered by 30-50 mph winds on a random basis.
the rest (3) are mostly partially shielded by
1. a garage
2. a slight hill and
3. what i am most interested in, a hedgerow of sorts.
in the past i have constructed nearly-Nesbitt contraptions
that have not really done as well as i had hoped, lol.
there are no wrong answers or ideas to weird here.
the more natural and companion-planting type the better. eric

3/1/2007 7:47:13 PM

Central Oklahoma ( [email protected])

The subject is hilarious, I was thinking "boy this is a long winter" LOL

3/1/2007 8:00:43 PM

Sheridan . NY

snow fence --the wood or orange stuff the plant s need some wind to tuff em up--but yes i under stand you dont want any damage-- even nesibbit has wind problems----ive been at it a long time and slowing it down it best you can do that i know of ----except a dome -- YOU got the syc unn dome ask them to use it---lol-- theres--or NY LOTTO---------

3/1/2007 8:14:13 PM

Sharon, MA

Alan Nesbitt's fence was the 9th Wonder of the World! I'll bet while it was standing it showed up on Satelite pic's. I know I got a pic of it somewhere. I'm going to load a picture of it into the Photo Gallery in a few minutes.

3/1/2007 9:01:29 PM

Rhode Island

breaking wind in your patch?

yes most definately. helps keep the deer away as well.

yours mine ,everyones. whoever you are where ever you may be let the air be free.

other than that any fencing no matter how its put up just needs to be tall and secure for those first couple weeks.

3/1/2007 10:12:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Had to figure pap would come in with the "breakin wind" answer of the week!!!! LOL Does methane promote pkn growth? Peace, Wayne

3/1/2007 10:27:25 PM

Ohio

Eric, I really like the corn stalks as a wind break, I know its saved my plants a number of times. I also use the snow fence like Craig is talking about. I find if you try to block the wind completly I run into more problems.
Seems like when I try to block the wind completly, the thing im using for a wind break ends up in the middle of my patch everytime. You would be surprised how much that snow fence cuts down on the wind even though it has holes in it.

One more thing I will do Eric,
I have some chain link fence that I use in 4 to 8 ft sections, I attach the chain link to the small 4 or 6 ft metal fence post that are used for barb wire or electric fence,(Instead of the big poles that come with the fencing) I find these are easier to drive in the ground and easier to pull if you need to move that section of fence. I will put a section out for each plant, each section about 5 feet away from the plant and postion it to where the wind blows the hardest.Next what I do is wrap plastic wrap around the section of fence long ways 5 or 6 times but leave a little gap in the top of the fence and at the bottom so some wind gets through. The reason I leave the gap is because Id hate for a gust of wind to pick that chain link up and take it through my patch making it look like a large cheese grinder went though it.. But leave the little gaps in the plastic when wrapping, this also cuts down on the wind to almost nothing and its really good for a young plant with just a few secondaries.

Brooks

3/2/2007 1:42:43 AM

Windsor Maine

As per the above referenced 9th Wonder Of The World...
And ALso the oft heard Phrase now heard in the Giant Pumpkin World... "GOin' Nesbitt!"
BreAKing Wind:
http://bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=4877
thks to Steve for posting the pic!

3/2/2007 3:25:00 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Wow! Talk about having money and time!!!!! lol

3/2/2007 3:43:58 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I believe the 10th wonder of the world was has Water holding tank.

3/2/2007 8:50:23 AM

here are a few more of Alan's pics:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=79&gid=18

I've been in awe of the hardwork that he has put in through the years.

Definately deserves a term named in his honor "going Nesbitt"
It keeps me from giving up on some of my hair brained ideas !!

3/2/2007 9:15:54 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Great shots, Nice setups......Thats pumpkin growing!

3/2/2007 9:24:12 AM

Ohio

That looks like the great wall of china. He has enough wood in that fence to build a small house,lol. Dang Alan!! Looks like you get alot of wind right there being so flat, looks like Kansas,lol.

3/2/2007 1:57:00 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Anyone remember the Jerry Rose rule from the seminar in 2005? Every foot high = 8ft of protection down range.

Buckwheat works for me.

3/2/2007 2:47:47 PM

Western Pa.

Most of my prevailing winds come from the West and South. Several years ago I had a pole building collapse from the weight of snow. I cut the wood siding up into 5'x9' sheets. I like to prevent wind damage, but I also like to watch my plants from the house. I put fenceposts around the patch, and when a storm is approaching, just flip up the 5'x9' sheets. I have also found that in an emergency where a storm is approaching, you can park all your vehicles along the patch to help break wind. Now, what about breaking wind at the convention?

3/2/2007 2:55:26 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Natural windbreaks are nice, but they don't help early in the year when they have no foliage to slow the wind. My windiest month is April, and then it goes down from there (but not much).

One great thing is wood pallets. These are solid, reliable, and cheap. They block some wind while allowing air to pass through, exactly what you want. Just use some steel fence posts to set them up... and then you can move them around as the season progresses.

3/2/2007 3:18:16 PM

Central Pennsylvania [email protected]

If anybody needs to borrow my boyfriend for a while just let me know. He is always breaking wind! PLEASE get him outta here! LOL!

3/2/2007 3:53:21 PM

Rhode Island

if you can keep the wind effects up under the leaves (especially after a couple cans of pork and beans)the odor will help kill vine borers and mites. saves on insecticide costs as well

best if blown out while on your knees pruning or weeding

3/2/2007 4:17:02 PM

huntsburg,ohio

solid structures are not good windbreaks if i remember right you want 25 to 35 percent opening.Jerry

3/2/2007 7:29:56 PM

Windsor Maine

ThAts what i have used in and around the patch the last two years here- was exactly what CLiff brought up- plenty of free wooden pallets stood on end deck-screwed to a coupla' green metal fence posts... close-in surrounding, as the plants were small, they then could be lifted up and out, moved back and re-stabbed back down into the patch and added to as the plants grew bigger...
1rst years even had some heavy-duty cardboard staple-gunned to the inner sides...(heh~heh! reALLy mAde people wonder that 1rst year- "pssst!* whAts he growin in there anywAys!?...w-e-e-d?"...(pumpkins inside also covered with camo-sheets) ha hA!!! worked verra well til' this past years- we had a "downburst" sweep across the state... came home to find many bent 90° or broken right off - metal fence posts snapped! (no cardboard used that yr too- for the free-flowing sieve effect)they did take the brunt of the wind tho! (after that happened i was heard for awhiles thereabouts to be muttering the famous phrase.. "MAn! i'm gonnA have to 'Go Nesbitt!' Next year!"... ha hA!! now, am thinkin perhaps layers... inner movable... outer perimeter fixed... front line of defence and secondary walls...

ALso this year- have been wonderin' how some of the reflective mylar, space blankets and such might do- affixed to the inner sides of the movable windbreaks that are close in to the early plants so as to maybe help with early fast plant growth...extra sunlight reflected etc...

3/2/2007 7:53:02 PM

C N Y

man! i wish i had not been QUITE so busy at work here today!
what a great bunch of responses---some hilarious and some
(also) very helpful! aaargh, could have been laughing all day at this---i had THOUGHT that maybe the title would have
snared a few responses, lol----thanks a lot---eric g
hmmm, pallets...free.
buckwheat...cheap.
corn...free. i am likin' it!
thank you Craig Lembke for the advice and
reminding me to get a Mega-Millions Lottery ticket tonight, lol---eric

3/2/2007 8:02:54 PM

C N Y

yo, Lish!
your reply showed up whilsT i was Typing
ouT my response To everyone else...
great ideas in there and...
GEE, i could almost READ
the lasT parT of your reply! ha ha ha
have a good one, y'all---eric

3/2/2007 8:08:10 PM

Sharon, MA

Type in ... Breaking Wind ... in the Photo Gallery.

3/2/2007 9:30:20 PM

Ohio

I like that pallet idea also, thanks Cliff.

3/3/2007 5:26:56 AM

Montoursville, PA

Back to real wind breaking..........Purple Millett is in nearly all seed catalog listings. It makes up as fast as corn but stops at about four feet in height. Bonus in the deal......While it is a hybred the return from saved seed is nearly 100% purple the first year. Your song birds will love the mega seed production all winter. It is an interesting plant most have not seen so there will be a gee what's that factor for what it's worth.
...Plant four or five seeds in a twelve inch circle. Mix tomato and onions in the row mix with carrots growing under the tomato plants. You will have a dandy wind break. If you need ground cover too add snow peas gingerly. This combo makes a dandy windward side wind break and showplace
planting that is interesting to look at and eat too.
....Why carrots? Tomatos love carrots! They are a well proven growing relationship that benefits the tomato. Try half a dozen carrots per tomato plant in the shade which is OK.
....This planting will not attract deer if you do not use the peas and will not fall down over your pumpkin plants.

3/3/2007 10:20:20 AM

C N Y

here i am a few days later>>>>>thank you all for your help!

3/6/2007 6:24:01 PM