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Location

Message

Date Posted

Tennessee

Curious on what percent shade cloth most use? What is to much or to little?

6/16/2015 10:16:04 PM

valparaiso, in

I use 50%, but I just use it to cover the vine tips and the pumpkins.

6/16/2015 11:53:35 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

I use 22%.

6/17/2015 12:04:16 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Like Kevin 22% or 31% works great here.

6/17/2015 12:15:28 AM

San Diego

I use 22% but is a little light in my heat. I would recommend 30 to 40 in high heat areas. I would use 40% if I had to choose again when buying

6/17/2015 12:56:57 AM

BC, Canada

Gritch
Can you explain the covering of the vine tips. Is that to stop sun, wind or physical damage. ?
Thanks

6/17/2015 3:09:23 AM

Rhode Island

shading the main vine tip is to prevent the young growth from getting cooked on especially hot sunny days.
for this same reason we shade new polinations for several days as well.
we cover our pumpkins all year with a white sheet. uncover only on cloudy days or in late sept/thru october when the sun is less strong.
pap

6/17/2015 5:48:15 AM

Home of happy lil plants

30% here

its 100 again today.

this is not a very easy year at all weather wise!
Im with pap though keep that new growth cool at all costs in this heat and you may can get away with 6th leaf or so back unshaded(maybe)

6/17/2015 3:07:49 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I would use what ever spence is using,,,, have you seen those leaves!!!

6/17/2015 4:57:46 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

This year I will both shade and mist. I think an added benefit of the shade cloth is it should help the soil retain its surface moisture.

6/17/2015 5:52:58 PM

Home of happy lil plants

good plan kevin

6/17/2015 6:32:30 PM

Colorado

Hey kevin,I've been shading and misting for 18 seasons. Its the way to go when you have hot,sunny ,low humidity conditions.

6/17/2015 7:03:07 PM

Colorado

Kirk mombert was the originator of misting pumpkin plants. I didnt invent it I just copied

6/17/2015 7:08:41 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That's some good copy cater right there Joe!

6/17/2015 7:20:26 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Or catter, or katter.

6/17/2015 7:21:02 PM

valparaiso, in

cavitysearch,
Like pap said I do it so they do not get burnt. A few years back it was very hot, and I had a lot of tips get burnt. It set me back a bit. I had some leftover shade cloth so I sewed them into little pouches to put onto the tips. I will try to get a few pictures tomorrow if the weather permits. If not it will be a few days.

6/17/2015 10:40:06 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

That's my weather pattern Cojoe. It will be 90 degrees here for the next 3-4 days. Humidity is usually low until late July to Early August when we get monsoon like conditions.

I've got my tornado misters set up to run for one minute every 10 minutes, from 10 am to 4pm. For now....

6/18/2015 12:39:43 AM

valparaiso, in

I finally got a chance to get out into the patch. Here are the pictures that I was talking about:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=239829

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=239830

6/20/2015 1:16:30 AM