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Okla

Now I would like to find out how many growers that grew giant pumpkins in hot weather, say around or over 100 degrees for many days used no shade cover over the plants, but used some other system, such as a misting system.

11/1/2008 3:40:14 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Afternoon watering, yes, misting, yes. SERIOUS WINDBREAK and wind control and watering as our day turned to the hottest and sun directly overhead! We had low average humidity so 1.5 to 2 hours of strategic watering both watered and cooled the plant, and dried up enough to prevent powdery mildew. Again, I'm also at altitude so considering some shade cloth on retracting roller for that hot and directly overhead time.

11/1/2008 7:42:45 AM

San Diego

many growers including myself grow in hot weather without shade cloth. Sometimes I will used small amounts of shade cloth on a vine tip on real hot days if the plant burns easily. But over all, just micro sprinklers on a timer system on and off most of the day. The plant will get some leaf burn no matter what, it always happens no matter how careful you are. The amount depends on each plant, they are all different.

11/1/2008 1:21:15 PM

Liberal Kansas, USA

I shade the new growth on all vines when it gets hot enough to burn the leaves, early June this year. After the leaves are a few days old they dont burn, I use 3 foot sq piece of cloth stapeled to stakes 30 or so inches tall and move them as the vines grow. Looks pretty crude but it works for me. This Years vines held up better to the sun than last years. Doug H.

11/3/2008 9:10:31 AM