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Dillon Montana 5200 feet high

hello, just checking to see if we have any growers from the rocky mountain states, ie montana, idaho, colorado or even alberta, canada. i'm googleing for any information on high altitude (above 3000 feet/1000m) experiences, can't find a thing....the record for montana is 666 lbs,by jim west of pinesdale which i believe is in the bitterroot valley and therefore below 3000 feet. i am at 5250 feet, 100 frost free days, 45 degree latitude... i think the tree-line in our montains is at about 9500 feet, after that just some grasses, wildflowers and lichens...
we only have about 12 inches of rainfall per year...and this is our 9th year of drought...
i would love to communicate with others who may experience similar conditions....anyone out there...?
thank you and check out my diary entries, i'm having fun over there...at least until may when things should get more "serious" ...and i will start my first 3 AGs.....:))))
petra

3/7/2008 9:30:36 PM

Pinedale, WY

www.coloradopumpkins.com

Joe Sherber grew a 1075 lbs. at the same elevation if not more than where you are at. If you look through the post there are a few guys her in Colorado and Wyoming. Myself, the Wiz and the Biz, Captain Cold Weather, and Ron Hoffman. Check out the website above, there is a forum there and that would be a great place the get specific answers to high altitude questions. Otherwise normal questions, you can't go wrong with the info here.

3/7/2008 10:33:12 PM

Riverton, WY

Petra, My pumpkin patch is at about 5185 ft. I think the daily fluctuating temperatures and low humitity have more affect on the growth of the giants than the elevation.

3/8/2008 7:56:37 AM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Water, Water, Hail protection, I have found soaker hoses help me out alot,I cant use the sprinkler system every half hour.

I spray at nite that way it dosent burn the leaves.

But Co Joe is an expert at high elevation growing. Ask the great and all powerful CO Joe for advice.lol

3/8/2008 2:03:03 PM

Utah

I'm at 4200 feet. here just north of Salt Lake City
--- ditto to what Ron said.

3/8/2008 8:11:10 PM

Pinesdale,mt

Hi,
This is Jim West. It's nice to have another pumpkin enthuseist here in the Big Sky. I grew the 666 pumpkin at 4,000 feet, high above Hamilton on the West side of the Bitterroots. I grew up in Butte, and learned to grow things at a high elevation or not at all. Like you, I'm looking to grow a pumpkin that will grow at high elevation and cool temperatures. We had a killing frost last year on the 26th of June, but I still grew a 510 pumpkin last year and crossed it with the 2005 Alaskan record pumpkin 942 JD. I think it will be very good seed for this climate. It is a 500 Wallace self back to a 500 Wallace. I also grew a 120 pound watermelon here in the Bitterroot. If you would like seed or to talk, e-mail me at jwest350@yahoo.com Hope to hear from you soon,
Jim

3/8/2008 10:58:21 PM

Northern Arizona

I grew up in boz and I cant think of anyone who grew pumkins tell you got to billings. I think the lattitude is a bigger deal. I am in AZ now at 4500ft but way diffrent with lots of warm weather and last frost in may. In fact it was 70 today but still freezing everynight.

3/11/2008 6:17:33 PM

President - GPC

I would like to extend a Welcome from the RMGVG to our Montana and Arizona growers.....Help our club grow big.....Give me a email please....Ill zip you out our latest newsletter, We would love to add a Montana section in our NL.....Jim, Petra...Gimme a shout PleaZe!

3/26/2008 9:24:46 AM

Trout Creek , Montana

Oh thank God there are more of us Rocky Mountain Growers out there. I just started germinating my seeds yesterday in hopes to get them planted the first of May. My only worry is that at over 4,000 ft we're still having iffy wintery weather. We got teased with a couple 70 degree days over the weekend so I figured we were good to go and now there is an inch of snow back on the ground just from this morning. If the weather isn't cooperating... is it okay to stick your little seedling in a pot and give it a few days in a green house? If anyone has some more advice I'm sure open to it. Thanks!

4/16/2008 1:21:52 PM