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Las Cruces NM

OK another nagging question, two in one day might be too much but if I don't ask it will remain a nagging question! So have any of you charted your growth with weather? Data like temp, humidity, time in direct sunlight, lumens, etc. I would that that really pertainant data! Yet, while I find huge amounts of data on soil and growing, there seems to be lack of specific environmental growing data. The Orange belt includes extreams like glacers and deserts -- surly there is more specific data!

10/6/2009 11:06:16 PM

Macomb County

That's a really interesting question and one I don't think a lot of growers have thought of. The most I can tell you is, pumpkins need relatively cooler nights or they won't achieve the density and hence the weight. If it's 90 degrees during the day, 60-70 degrees at night.

Next, 8 hours of direct sun on average. But as far as things like humidity and actual lumens per season, I don't know that anyone has done any studies on them per se. Let us know if you discover anything.

10/7/2009 2:05:06 PM

Las Cruces NM

Thanks for the insight! I can't imagine a grower hasn't thought of it, but then I find no data either! Perhaps something I have to put togeather myself. The only delta I see in the orange belt over some southern areas is length of day and sun intensity ... nothern areas is temp. Althugh it is a bit cooler in some areas up north, I wouldn't call the ohio valley cool! I also know first hand pumpkins don't like 100+ direct NM sun ... but is it the heat? the intensity? Perhaps both? There are things a southern grower can do to fix environmental factors but they have to know what needs fixing -- that is where this data comes in. I apreaciate your responce!

10/7/2009 9:53:12 PM