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Antwerp, Belgium

Last night we had a real hailstorm over here, plants are all
messed up, I hope I can save at least one....

It was like they were throwing golf balls from the sky. Lots of cars were seriously damaged.

I already removed some leaves, they were full of holes and torn apart.

Now I noticed on the biggest plant there are two holes in the main vine.... :(
You can see into the hollow middle of the vine.
Is this plant lost even if the holes "heal"?

I have a backup plant but that one is much smaller.

6/9/2014 11:04:33 AM

Hermitage, PA

Knightfish,

Even though the leaves look bad, the hail holes really don't seem to hurt much. The vine also does not need to be whole, to grow a big pumpkin. A little Captan dust on the wound should warrant off disease, the vine should heal as long as the vineis not completely cut off. Hope this helps! kilr

6/9/2014 11:18:50 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

If the main is not hurt too bad they will heal over. Keep it dry. Hit it with daconil now as the leaf holes are susceptable, plus the cold from the hail storm a factor too..... Then give it a shot of fish and seaweed....
Good Luck...from the Hail Capitol of the world...we have had 5 storms already and its only June

6/9/2014 12:52:19 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You will be amazed how these plants recover..if given some fungicide, and fish and kelp

6/9/2014 1:54:32 PM

Central Minnesota

Start at the stump and follow the main and treat any damaged spots with Fungicide. Then check the secondaries for the same. You can always grow more leaves and the damaged ones will still continue to work. Things will look much better in about 3 days. If you lose your main, then you have issues.

6/9/2014 1:59:28 PM

East Jordan, MI

Shannon is right, the plant will respond and grow like crazy for the next few days. You will be amazed how well it will recover.

Look at this diary from here to the end.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=182764

Chris Stevens grew the WR 1810 in 2010 on a hail damaged plant, not sure the extent of the damage, but I recall they said it had some pretty heavy damage and there were holes in the main vine.

6/9/2014 8:00:52 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

Thanks for all the reassuring comments and advice!

6/10/2014 3:15:05 AM

Upa Creek, MO

All pumpkin plants seems to be resilient once well rooted. In 2009 I had some field pumpkins get hailed on and there was only a nub left where the main had come out of the ground. It looked like someone had put the 4 foot plant in a blender. I thought the year was over and within a few days a new vine had started. That was my first garden and I grew 10 little pumpkins.

6/10/2014 7:35:52 AM

Lakewood, Colorado

Wizzy got off easy! I am about 5-10 miles from him, and we had 9 hail events in 16 days. The last one on Sunday. Nothing too big, but hail none the less.

The plants are quite resilient and will recover. Unless you got blasted like ArvadaBoy did about 5 years ago. That was bad, check his old diary. All leaves were completely gone.

6/10/2014 9:20:48 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I waZ only counting the oneZ so far in June...

6/10/2014 9:50:04 AM

Midway, UT

A good study for those who have had hail damaged plants and fear the season is over:

http://www.cropinfo.net/AnnualReports/1995/hailexp.htm

Unless your plants look like mine a few years back and you didn't lose the main you will probably be okay.

http://denverpumpkins.com/2009/07/pumpkin-season-is-done-for-me.html

6/10/2014 6:14:00 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I saw hail on storm chasers once.

6/10/2014 8:55:15 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

I put some fungicide on, which I had to spray on the entire plants, just as a precaution. Hoping for the best...

How can I post a photo on the board?

6/11/2014 6:10:54 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=208167

We love our hail dont we Jamie...

6/11/2014 12:39:52 PM

Midway, UT

Wiz, I still weak up with night sweats after the last one. Sorry to see those holes in yours.

6/11/2014 6:40:36 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

Should I try to close the holes in the main vine to prevent insects getting in? Some of the holes os more than 1 cm(about 1/2inch) big.

The wounds are dry. I suppose I can't use a little piece of duct tape?

What would you suggest?

6/12/2014 1:44:07 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Leave them, give hem a good coating of sulfur or fungicide. They will scar over.

6/12/2014 7:23:31 AM

East Jordan, MI

don't close or bury, you want to be able to see it if it has a problem. set a chair or stool, or make a cover with legs and a top to keep the rain off. I like the sun on it so I use plexiglass in a frame with legs, http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=207270 I have seen people use old windows. don't get too close so it don't generate heat.

6/12/2014 9:22:34 PM