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South Dakota

We had a bad wind and hail storm yesterday. Pretty much all the leaves are gone or badly destroyed. The pumpkins were covered and OK. The South Dakota State Fair is about a week and a half away. South Dakota's weighoff is Oct 1st. Should I pick them and take them to the fair? Will they make it without leaves for almost 6 weeks? Disease is likely with all the open wounds. There will be no new growth because I terminated all vines already. Any input will be greatly apretiated! A picture of one of the damaged pumpkins is on my grower diary. Thank you! Kevin

8/19/2006 4:40:16 PM

Simi valley, ca

even without leaves they will still grow some iv herd from other growers , id leave it on vine and clean up area compleatly brogen leaves removed , BUT be aware that even broken stalk of leaves can still grow ! also new shoots should emerge in some places ( i cant even keep up with new growth after termanated vines every copple days theres new vines & pumpkins formed in 3-4 days time just salvage any leaves youcan , keep broken stalk leaves , up right them & 2 in tape them to sm bambo sticks ! good luck !

8/19/2006 5:06:44 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Kevin, you are having one hell of a time this year, but I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet. Wait a few days, see which ones still are showing some signs of life and still growing and then decide which ones to take to the state fair. In a week I bet a couple will recover enough to make it worthwhile to let them limp along to the weighoff.

You still have a root system and some green stuff left to push some growth. I cut a secondary off the main vine with a pumpkin on it two years ago and with with only eight feet of leaves and their roots, the pumpkin continued to grow for three weeks. Hang in there!

8/19/2006 7:09:15 PM

Western NY

measure every 3 days, see if/how much it's still growing. I would be willing to bet you'll get another week or two of visible (even if it is slow) growth.

if you think you have a shot at the weighoff once the growth has stopped, you might want to consider cold storage. i held one for 4 weeks once and it only lost 9 pounds during that time.

8/19/2006 8:50:31 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

I agree
Check who's growing and who's not
I think the root system will stilladd weight
What is the fair entry deadline?
Do they judge just on weight?
Its nice to take a "pretty" one to the fair
and a heavy one to the weighoff.
I've got nothing to beat you with at either

8/20/2006 1:11:15 AM

Roanoke Il

fungicide today heavly if you have any side vines that come upgrow them back into the plant romove the old damaged leaves as the vine near the old ones. burry the new vines, with in 2 weeks if you have enought new growth you wouldn't even notice you had hail. Did it last year had hail twice not this late though and had my biggest pumpkin ive ever grown. Also when the leaves that are damage start turning brown remove them. I even am triing it this year with leaves that are getting old have replaced the first third of the plant with new growth. seams to be work great. Ive always wondered why some people get 90 days of growth and normally i only get 55-60 day i think the key is leaf health..mark
ps best of luck hope this helps...

8/20/2006 9:54:42 AM

Indiana

They will grow for a week almost like nothing is wrong from my experience. Until the plant runs out of reserves in the roots from my experience.

Tom

8/20/2006 10:06:09 AM