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Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Would there be any effect on plant growth if it received 8 hours of morning sun (then mostly shade) vs. 8 hours of afternoon sun (with mostly morning shade). I ask because I may completely switch planting sites. Nothing available for all day sun.

8/12/2010 10:12:23 AM

[email protected]

They're both a compromise. Horizon to horizon sun is ideal.

I'd be curious to know if there is any good AS vs PM solar data on record.

8/12/2010 11:26:37 AM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

I'm convinced that sunlight (at least total sunlight hours) is an issue in not getting a pumpkin over 400 pounds. I've done everything else possible - soil analysis, amendments, fungal/insectical spray programs, burying the vine, myco, foliar feeds, fish/seaweed ferts, etc... Only thing I haven't done is calcium; but folks were growing 900# pumpkins long before calcium became mainstream.

8/12/2010 12:16:11 PM

Colorado

I like the morning sun spot better if you have a choice

8/12/2010 12:31:25 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Might as well get morning sun before the heat of the day burns you up in the afternoon.

8/12/2010 1:01:25 PM

Fresno, CA

So your total # of sunlight hours is about 8? That's about how much I get in my patch. Nothing I can do about it at my current house unfortunately.

8/12/2010 2:14:50 PM

Soldiers Grove, WI

Morning sun

8/12/2010 6:21:26 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Endless, what is your biggest pumpkin with a patch getting only 8 hours of sun??

8/12/2010 8:08:50 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

Morning sun. Starch production follows light intensity with a peak at solar noon. If your daylight in July/August was from 6am to 6pm then the best 4 hours of light would be 10am-12pm.

Another consideration is enzyme activity peaking at a certain temperatue (~85°F). The earlier in the day your plant reaches that mark, the better.

8/12/2010 11:03:34 PM

Fresno, CA

Right now about 183 lbs still growing is PB. Keep in mind I don't know what I'm doing and dealing with typical highs of 95-105F too.

8/13/2010 1:26:24 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Andy, I'd prefer 8 hours of (say 7am - 3pm) morning/afternoon sun than the blazing mid day and afternoon sun that happens.

Here is a sunrise/sunset calendar that you can use to find exact times and dates for your area;

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/Minnesota.asp

Cheers/Glenn

8/13/2010 11:32:19 AM

Montgomery, IL

I have both setups and they both grow great,but i would say the one with afternoon shade and AM sun is the bigger/stronger plant

8/13/2010 12:44:26 PM

Midway, UT

Morning sun is better. Pete Mohr grows with morning sun and his plant is shaded in the afternoon and he grows some big ones. Afternoon sun is often to hot and the plants ability to photosynthise is compromised. No issues with that in the morning.

8/14/2010 11:14:52 AM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

there is not 8 hours of morning or afternoon sun.lol I like this post. I was thinking at first of afternoon being best. I was just thinking that the later the plant gets sun before sundown, the more radiant heat the plants would get at night for increased pumpkin growth

8/15/2010 7:54:21 PM