From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rochester

I have the same problem with wilting every year in the heat while my neighbor 5 miles away never has a problem.my patch is plenty wet. Any suggestions?

7/4/2019 1:20:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

I have one spot that wilted last year and again this year. Totally different genetics. I figured it must be attributable to tree roots or soil pathogens specific to that one spot. I figured I would try silica, calcium... maybe even throw some biologicals at it. But these are just guesses. I have only one possibly good suggestion... check your soil ph.

7/4/2019 6:58:50 PM

Bethlehem CT

Is your soil more compacted than his?

7/5/2019 6:56:47 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

When you say plenty wet...how wet? Pumpkins like damp but not wet soil. Your root base is most likely shallow because of this. Is your neighbors in partial shade? Does he have a more loamy soil

7/5/2019 7:25:00 AM

Sharon, MA

Try another drench. This hot spell is a young leaf killer.

7/5/2019 2:10:50 PM

Rochester

None of the above,compacted soil,shade,lack of moisture,ph,I don’t believe to be the problem.i think the leaves that are 24 hours old are just too tender and burn in the hot sun.15 plastic chairs are solving the problem.i was just wondering if many other growers were having the same problem.

7/5/2019 3:13:42 PM

Watlington, UK

I use protective fleece which lets air and some light through but just enough shade and protection from the worst the sun has to offer. It works fine:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=305197

7/5/2019 5:02:43 PM

Colorado

The butter plate sized leaves three in from the tip seem to burn the worst-prob are growing the fastest. The tips will burn/wilt with any warm temps with full sun. If you want to avoid that you need some form of shade cloth,floating row cover and misting or watering on a interval timer.Gardens that get a lot clouds/humidity/buffered temps are usually close to ocean or great lakes(north america) can get by without shade clotThese ares also seem to produce the biggest pumpkins.

7/5/2019 6:44:23 PM

Ontario, Canada

Some plants seem to be able to handle the higher temps & UV numbers. 2018 was a record HOT season, with very little rain in our area. Our 2145 Mcmullen plant (grew our 1959 Hunt) never drooped, wilted or burned any leaves in those record high temps of last season. The extreme temps lasted most of June, July & part of August.
This year we are growing the 1959 Hunt & it's mother, the 2145 Mcmullen. The past 2 days have seen temps reach an unbearable 34 degrees C (93 F) here, with the humidex reading hitting 40 C (104 F). Both plants have not drooped or burnt at all in these extreme temps. Hopefully it's a good sign that this line can handle the extreme temps.
Chris Lyons, who also has a plot on our property, is having issues with drooping & burnt leaves on his pumpkin plants. So that's telling me that the 2145 is a good seed that can handle the higher temps without stressing the plant. It also looks like our 1959 Hunt seed might have picked up that temp trait from it. Lets hope it also picked up the high growth rate trait the 2145 shows too.

7/6/2019 11:54:40 AM

Watlington, UK

Jane & Phil that's an interesting comment, I grow in a polytunnel and have problems with high temps. I will be sure to be looking for some of your heatproof seed come the end of the season!

7/6/2019 3:01:39 PM

Ontario

My 1959 Hunt is the only plant I have with zero scalded leaves this year

7/6/2019 4:21:39 PM

Mn

coppper!!!!!!!

7/12/2019 3:44:36 PM