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Carrollton, Ga.

HI,
I am using ice chest and ice for the first time to try and get one set on my 834 gadberry. How long to you guys keep ice chest and ice on them? Highs the next several days are predicted 91 to 95 degrees.
Thank you,
Doug Adams
Carrollton, Gal

John 3:16

8/19/2007 9:53:16 AM

Simi valley, ca

Iv done several hot weather pollenations, Ill tell you what iv done! I think its good idea to keep the area before pumpkin & shortly after shaded, I use a made up cover thats aprox 3x5 & 3.5 tall , Iv noticed that some females that are left-to mature in full sun dont look so good !(depending on how hot) but 91-95 not so bad! , Then Important to pollenate early,but warmed up to 60* or above, then wait to put cooler over female when its warmed a bit (maybe 85*-it wont be that hot under shade yet) put gallon size or atleast 64oz size frozed ice in plastic under cooler ,I think its important not to let it get to cold also-As iv done tests & it can get down to 65* again ,eather use thermometer or i cut out ea end of cooler & raise one end up a bit ! I dont think if its real hot & under cooler is cold -is good, im guessing 75-80* would be ldeal! dont put ice to close to female eather try to keep 6 inchs away, Sometimes on the really hot days ill let a frozen bottel sit close to main before female ,like 18 inchs or so - but not to close eather, maybe 6 inchs aways , & ill use maybe 2 in different spots , Hope this helps good luck ,

8/19/2007 12:29:14 PM

Simi valley, ca

Last paragraph i mean up vine 18 inchs away from pumpkin & aprox 6 inchs from vine

8/19/2007 12:36:30 PM

Colorado

I pollinated one successfully on a 98 degree day this year. I had ice surrounding the female in about a 2 foot diameter circle. Kept ice one it from early morning until 5 PM. shaded it as well.

8/19/2007 1:44:09 PM

southwest MO

You just have to hold your mouth right!! Just kidding... Youve got good info here. Now keep it cool!! Keep those little females shaded a few days before pollenation also.

8/19/2007 3:39:32 PM

ordinary,VA

I would keep her covered until the heat breaks.
I had to pollinated in heat over 100 this year.
do like fissssh says you wil be fine.

8/19/2007 5:32:03 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

I checked temp a few minutes ago. It is 65 degrees. I only put 2- 20oz drink bottles of ice in there this morning. There is still a little ice in it now. will add another bottle when I get home from church. I think the reason my ice lasted so long is I took the top of the styrofoam ice chest and laid it on the ground under the main vine and then I notched the ice chest and put it over the vine and bloom. I think it made the ice last alot longer since it was not on the ground. I hope it is not too cool.

8/19/2007 6:41:40 PM