From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Edmonton, Canada

I had hail hit my patch just over a week ago. Many people on this site encouraged me to keep going, and I did. Things started to recover, but I got hit again yesterday. This storm was so bad, there was 8 inches of hail in some spots.

I am totally bummed out, and I think my season is finished.

However.... I'll be back next year, better than ever! I think I'll have to go Nesbit!!!

7/12/2004 12:51:52 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

It's almost like somebody is trying to curse you or something Smitty, so sorry to hear the bad news. Maybe some kind of covering would help or something to repell the hail stones, I don't know.

7/12/2004 1:51:19 PM

Check out FarmerScott's diary. He had some cool stuff rigged up for hail protection.

7/12/2004 4:47:54 PM

San Luis Obispo Ca

What do you have to lose, keep em growing!

7/12/2004 4:59:39 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

I would at least try one last time to work with what I have left seeing next year is a ways off. I had a 300 pound on a ten foot vine last year seeing it was all I could get from that vine. It wasn't much of a vine, and had very few leaves on it, but it gave everything it had. By looking at your pics, it looks like your plant wants to keep going anyway. Stand with it through thick and thin, good and hard times as well, just like a man and woman does when all hell breaks loose in the home. I have borers giving me the shaft, but I found some ways to solve some of the problems they been giving me.

7/12/2004 5:21:37 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Smitty, here is a link to the stuff I am curently using to protect my patch, it works great, as we have had 4 bad hail storms here so far, the last being three days ago in which the snow plows had to be called out to clear quarter size hail...Just a word of advice on a worthwile investment..JK.

http://www.pakunlimited.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=142&mode=thread(

7/12/2004 6:55:55 PM

Eugene, OR

Ouch, talk about kicking a guy when he's down. Let the plants decide if they're out for the count or not. I can't even imagine how tough it would be to see that happen twice in the same year. Once was enough for me. (I hope!)

400 SF, Farmer Scott, and others have really shown the best way to deal with hail damage is to prevent it. Next year, I personally will not have a single plant out of the cold frame before I get some sort of protection up. If mother nature can get you, she will.

I hope it works out for you!

Brian

7/12/2004 7:06:41 PM

[email protected]

Smitty
The Offer still stands, You can have one of mine.
Actually I have 4 plants that are 3 weeks old,(a couple experiments) I could dig one up and you can transplant it into your patch. My son and Brother both live in Edmonton and they both said the whole city really got hammered, Anyway my son is coming home for the weekend, I can have a plant back to you Sunday Night. Let me know, or drive down and pick one!!!

Eddy

7/12/2004 7:40:13 PM

[email protected]

Smitty

I am so sorry. What a year. No one desrves this. But take Eddy up on his offer.

Urea, water, potash & time. What's to lose now? You never know.

And it sounds like Scotts shade/hail cover might be just the thing for 2005.

Chin up & keep at it. Some folks (Mudflap Ken) turn 900 lbs in just 30 days. Give it a shot.

Best wishes!

Steve

7/12/2004 8:52:19 PM

Key West, FL

Its tough when you work hard on your plants and as luck has it, things just keep going wrong.

7/12/2004 9:20:36 PM

WALES, NEW YORK

been there before smitty......i hope you can salvage something..i got hit 3 years ago..i lost everything...all my pumpkins looked like they were hit with buckshot and all the vines were demolished......good luck!!

7/12/2004 9:56:09 PM

Ga.

Smitty,,Hate to hear bro...I understand how ya feel..I'm like you,,next year,,shade cloth is in order,but for a different reason..Heats my enemy..I'd trade ya the heat for the hail any time...I hope your plants can recover,,at least enough for a halloween fruit..Good Luck bro...As Al always says,,always next year..Chin up buddy....
Jeff

7/12/2004 9:58:13 PM

Knopp, Germany

Hang in the Smitty, keep em growing they might surprise ya!

7/13/2004 1:18:26 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Thanks everyone for the support. There are so many good people on this site.

And thanks Eddy for the offer. I'm going to wait a day or 2 to see if things survive, and if not, I may take you up on that offer!

Jeff, Brian, and Tremor, you're right. I'll need some shade cloth or other form of protection. I'm not going to let this happen again.

I'm doing my best to remember, when the going get's tough, the tough get going. I'm going to be back next year. Better than ever!

7/13/2004 1:57:36 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

bird netting!!!!

7/13/2004 4:26:41 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Wow Smitty those are some pics!!!

The mother sure decided to dump on Edmonton.

Hang in there man.

7/13/2004 7:52:31 PM

Ypsilanti Michigan

Yes I seen them too, they look like skeleton leaves or something.

7/13/2004 10:29:13 PM