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Western PA

When is hot to hot?

If you keep your females shaded is the cooler and ice really needed?

In the mid 80s?

In the high 80s?

in the low 90s?

in the mid 90s?

6/22/2009 9:55:52 AM

Rhode Island

eighties should not be a big deal. ninties? id use some shade,possibly some ice? or a fan if you have juice in the patch.

6/22/2009 10:46:11 AM

Denver, CO

Last year I had a hell of a time pollinating in anything above 85 degrees. Lost 5 of 7. Even with ice and shade.

But then fellow grower LongmontPete told me to put a small fan near or underneath the cooler as well. The idea is to get some airflow across the pumpkin for about 2 days.

A 4 inch fan from Walmart ($6.00) works great. If you dont have electricity to the patch, the small plastic "personal" necklace type fans that run on two 'AA' batteries work great as well. The fan will use up batteries in about 15 hours of running time, by which time the pumpkin is probably good to go.

After using this method, I went 6 for 6 in temps in the mid to high 90's! I will use it now regardless of the temps.

Some of the best advice I have ever got, thanks to LongmontPete.

6/22/2009 11:49:41 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

That explains why my shade her three days before pollenating until you cull or make a punkinshade works... we don't have problems with air curculation!!!!!

6/22/2009 5:07:17 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Pap,so will just a fan w/shade, and no added cooling (ice) work as well as a cooler (upsidedown over the top) and ice? Mid 90's here for the past 10 days, and have picked out the pkn on the main, that I will want to pollinate (3 or 4 days away)...14 ft or so on the 1161 Rodonis!!! Also, when to start this cooling process....prior, at, or post pollination? Thanks for all yer help!! Peace, Wayne

6/23/2009 2:26:37 AM

Rhode Island

ice is cheap. if you are hot that long why not go fan, shade and a small container of ice as well? nothings to good for our babies survival.

6/23/2009 6:21:33 AM

Joliet, IL

it is going up to 94 here with heat index over 110. got both my prime pollinations on my prime plants at prime locations on the vine on the hottest day of the summer as soon as the flowers open up, 10 minutes or so. i would love to go 2 for 2, but will take one out of 2 gladly. the fans been running on the blossums 2 days prior and will run 4 to 5 days after pollination as these temps are here to stay. they have been shaded for a week and ice will be used today and also for the next 3 days after pollinations. the 10 day forecast here has 6 out of the next 10 days in the 90s with night time temps in the high 60s and low 70s, so this procedure will be used for every attempt. i agree with pap, nothings to good for the babies survival. this is go time.

6/23/2009 7:29:41 AM