Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Whitehall Montana

How much does humidity play a role in growing pumpkins.Here in southwest montany,during the summer months,we get only 1-2 inches of rainfall and the humidity stays from 10-20 percent.I only foliar spray,and yery little rain touches the leaves.I do not let water touch the leaves when I water to prevent mildew because our temp go from 90 degree daytime to anywhere from 45-55 at night.Was wondering if misting during the day might be something they need to intake more small amounts of moisture.

12/18/2013 2:11:58 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Afects allot but low as yours is ,were looking at 85+ humidity here most the time.

12/18/2013 6:06:48 PM

Whitehall Montana

YARDMAN Yes,I spent a number or years in Missouri,and mind you,the humidity was terrible there too,really was wondering how much moisture is supplied through the leaves to the plant itself as we don't get much moist air here.

12/18/2013 7:09:04 PM

Whitehall Montana

12/18/2013 7:09:04 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Slim, you might wish to take a trip up the Calcium highway. Your plants most certainly would need misting. Hot days with low humidity are the absolute worst for your plants. Under such conditions the plant can transpire up to 100% of what it is taking in from the roots out through the leaves stomata.

Young developing blossoms and mature fruit suffer during periods of high canopy evaporative transpiration or Calcium uptake stress. When compared with hot humid days the warm sunny, low humid and windy days play an uncertain havoc with plants internal moisture regulation systems.

12/18/2013 8:13:54 PM

Whitehall Montana

Thank you Big Kahuna,I shade my plants up here during the summer heat,and the sun bleaches out materials and anything in store front windows.I have to water everyday,because the soil cracks and drys out 4-5 hours after I water.I should invest in a couple of fans and a misster,as there is many many times the leaves wilt on a daily basis.

12/18/2013 9:12:15 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Aww ok wasnt thinking bout that aspect. Seems the fruit itself doesnt like it.

12/18/2013 10:37:11 PM

Ludwig Ammer

Eurasia

I can show you pictures of wilting plants outside but nicely looking and much better growing AGs inside the 10´ to 12´ high anti-hail-net cover (open at the sides, so wind can sweep through the foliage).

12/19/2013 9:09:49 AM

Ontario, Canada.

The fruit really does not care it just continues on with its job of procreation and further protects the developing seeds inside by sealing them off form Natures harsh effects.
However what happens in water stress induced environmental heating is often a host of problems.

1. the phloem or the two way rivers water pressure essentially drops in the leaves so that export we refer to as source & sink relationship stops or is greatly reduced.

2. the xylem or the up river in the plant which consists of a hydraulic connection between shoot and fruits builds a flow resistance barrier in the peduncle or fruits stem.

The affects are cumulative and non reversible. Hence fruit yield is forever altered and senescence or maturity of the plant and fruit sped up.

12/19/2013 9:14:17 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

So basically humidity better for foliage than dry air cause it atleast keeps moistore around.but the fruit will mature faster due to the fact of heat stress on the plant?

12/19/2013 3:24:59 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Yardman, basically YES. Higher humidity slows transpiration out of the leaves. As long as the plants vascular system can keep up with the water demands of the stress event growth of the sink continues. When demand exceeds supply growth of the sinks stops and additional trouble begins. For an AGP sink this could be Dill rings, BES or worse including a foaming stump and or hastened maturity leading to senescence. Stressors such as these are cumulative and build upon each other. Some events are more severe inducing sudden damage like a foamer or a splitter and some are incremental reducing the fruits potential size. You can never reverse the damage done to a fruits peduncle from excess evaporative stress. The growth rate will always be in decline after each stress event.

12/20/2013 2:04:00 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Thank you for the tid bit kahuna

12/20/2013 8:19:55 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

So what is this barrier built out of i wonder?

12/20/2013 1:15:38 PM

Whitehall Montana

I will start using a mist during the hot part of the day,and use a fan to help move gases produced by the plant and soil to reduce stagnated air as well.I was able to grow a 400 lber on 250 sq ft last year,and have bought better nutients for the soil and plants for next year.I really hope that will improve on growth.

12/20/2013 2:42:03 PM

dguyh

Quincy, CA

Hey Slim, I have almost identical weather as you; highs in the 90s and lows in the 40s all summer with extremely low humidity. And virtually no rain. My pumpkins took a real beating this summer when the thermometer went over 100 so next year I'm going to try shade cloth and misters.

12/20/2013 2:55:07 PM

Whitehall Montana

dguyh I was going to use a fan last year,but have between 25-50 people stop by everyday all summer long to watch progress of growth on my pumpkins,and running a fan outside would get some head scratches and I think he is losing his mind looks.They just don't know I already lost my mind.

12/20/2013 5:20:27 PM

Ontario, Canada.

You can also spray Calcarb from RTI just before the the stress events.

12/21/2013 1:50:08 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Kahuna have you ever read on salicylic acid.everthing i can google seems to be new research thats just being linked to the defense system

12/21/2013 5:35:10 PM

Whitehall Montana

I am also going to use Harpin protiens next year.

12/21/2013 6:44:31 PM

Griz

Polson, Montana

Slim, I put my patch on misters with a timer to go off several times during the heat of the day. They are timed at for 10 minutes. It really seems to help.

12/22/2013 12:01:30 PM