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Location

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Date Posted

Southeast

Any dead growers out there in the patches ?

7/21/2011 12:58:01 PM

Rhode Island

my spirit for the hobby started faltering several years ago.
(just like my season ending best weights )
at present im on life support and may throw in the towel after this season.
would like to go out winning somewhere? anywhere? hell ill even hold my own weigh-off and buy myself a large trophy and kings crown ---lol

7/21/2011 1:37:51 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

No fatalities, but I tend to leave a couple wounded soldiers around after I have one too many beers while working out in the patch.

7/21/2011 1:46:59 PM

South East

LOL...Welcome to Growing Down South 101...First class lesson is How To Cope With 90+ Heat While In The Patch.....(Todays temp here in SC will be 103)

1. Cooler full of drinks.
2. Misters to stick under your shirt when you get too hot.
3. Spare towel to wipe away the sweat.
4. Lights on the patch, so you can work at night.(if your not used to working in this heat)
5. Chair to sit down in(in that patch) cause after burying vines, you stand up and get light headed.
6. Use the hose every now and then and wet your head.

Now if any other Southern Growers have any tips please feel free to help out our Northern buddies out by posting them here....LOL..:)

7/21/2011 2:27:20 PM

Corbin, KY

Run drip line up breeche leg around neck down and out other breeche leg. Lay down under shade tarp and put fan on your head. Be sure your gut is pointed up. After that its sweet corn time, then you can hide out in outhouse. It shore is hot in these hollers!

7/21/2011 3:00:31 PM

Lexington,IN

Tip #6 is a good one. As long as I have a 5 gal bucket full of water to stick my head in I can deal with the heat. A few years back was even better when my uncle's pool was about 100 yards from my patch. Work in patch, jump in pool. Work in patch, jump in pool...Repeat as needed.

7/21/2011 3:38:30 PM

Wisconsin

Pap is sandbagging!

7/21/2011 4:11:33 PM

Indiana

I utilize #4

7/21/2011 4:46:59 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

My pirit for the hobby has gone up. This years heat is just another lesson for me to learn in this hobby. We had tough weather a few years ago with the constant raining yet we learned and adapted to the climate. This season has been marked with high heat and humidity. Another climate change that will allow me to adapt. If ypu trully love the hobby you'll take these opportunities to learn. I know I have.

7/21/2011 6:31:51 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

As I said a couple of years ago when it was so rainy, cloudy etc. You can always water but you can't produce sunlight. I'll take sun over rain any day! And Pap probably is sandbagging!

7/21/2011 8:18:28 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

Use shade cloth over patch and turn on the misters before you go out to work.

7/21/2011 8:22:46 PM

East Jordan, MI

In addition to everything Tina uses, I add a fan in front of the chair. Wipe sweat, Douse head, sit in front of fan and have a drink and yes working by floodlight in the dark works well.

7/21/2011 10:50:02 PM

San Diego, Ca.

You guys have the southern growing tips all covered. Working after dark is my favorite. If you have to work in the patch during the heat of the day working under the shade cloth provides some relief.

7/21/2011 11:48:05 PM

South East

Yup you'll out West get pretty hot too. Sometimes hotter then us down here. Seems like this season the heat is being shared by all. Now we all can have a bit of fun..LOL... Shade cloth has really helped us this season. We are able to keep the misting down some because of it. Keep the tips coming. :)

7/22/2011 12:14:42 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I've instructed my girls to compost me if I croak in the patch. I would think the alcohol would help the pile heat up pretty quickly.

7/22/2011 5:27:28 AM

Muddy Waters

I told my family to bury me next to garden with just my buttocks sticking out of the ground,so they can park there bicycle there!

7/22/2011 6:35:17 AM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA ([email protected])

Pap better be sandbaggin!!

7/22/2011 8:00:27 AM

Wi

Go out for a nice long run. Or better yet bike first then run. That will harden you off a bit. Makes patch work much more bearable.

7/22/2011 9:16:11 AM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

It could be worse. Try only :48 mins of over 80 deg temps. so far for the NW area this winter...oops summer. We would be happy to take some of the heat back our way.

7/22/2011 9:49:22 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Sucky weather for sure. One month its very cool and 14 inches of rain, next month killer heat wave and almost no rain. Frustrating, but if the Cooks and others can make it work in the south, I'll "buck up" and keep on watering.

7/22/2011 10:24:40 AM

milford, CT,

Any of you guys finding that the fruit still gets pretty hot even with a sheet over it. I was a little concerned today when I took off the sheets at 6:00 pm and the fruit was VERY WARM..I am thinking of setting up a tarp structure to totally block the suns heat..Any thoughts???

7/22/2011 11:18:28 PM

South East

Put up a tarp. We have found out that the silver ones reflect the heat a bit more then the reg ones. But do not let it near or touch the Pumpkin. If you get 6ft post then attach it to the top notch. :)

7/22/2011 11:52:14 PM

Rhode Island

im the one whos desire for the hobby is on life support ---not the plants and pumpkins.my three plants/pumpkins are doing well.
i dont sandbag anyone.growings not that big a deal to me.
been at it to many years
pap

7/23/2011 5:28:25 AM

Middle TN

hang on Pap!! we need you around here!

7/23/2011 9:51:17 AM

Wisconsin

Thats a fact Tammy!! I miss Paps wisdom and advice on here!

7/23/2011 10:31:13 AM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

Pap......sounds like a good stiff single malt with a friend is in order so we can anal...yze the subject...Dave

7/23/2011 11:03:04 AM

Pinetops,n.c.

being raised on a farm in the south, i can add another tip for dealing with the heat, get up early and be in patch about sun up, coolest time of day and also your body is rested.but it still can feel like you are wearing a sweatsuit with the high humidity, also having a shop fan setting in patch blowing on you will help. stay cool and have fun.

7/23/2011 3:02:43 PM