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Denver, CO

Freak storm here in Denver,CO area on Sunday night 9/10/06. 5 minutes of pea to dime size hail destroyed about 80 to 90 precent of all leaves on 4 different plants. From what I can remember, it has not hailed in September in these parts in well over 7 to maybe even 10 years.

Any adivice on getting that last few pounds out of pumpkins that now have only 10 to 20 % of thier food factory left? I am within 50 poounds or so of getting a personal best. Any tricks gadets, magic potions or someone who has suffreed the same and come out OK, please let me know. Heavy fertilizer? Light fertilizer? Water? I am at a lost as to the best approach?

Thanks in advance.

9/12/2006 10:21:30 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

I'm thinking give the wounds a day to dry, then back to watering and fertilizing. . .I'd say maybe some fungicide if it wasn't for your usual 3% humidity you have up there:)

9/12/2006 11:31:44 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Greg,sounds like you need to invest in some hail protection as I advised you months ago. Sorry to hear the bad news. We here in the Springs got hail both Sunday and Monday, and as you said we are not supposed to be getting the stuff this late in the season. Especially when the high temp for the day is only in the high 60s here in the Springs two days in a row with cold low 40s at night. Strange screwed up season it has been.Keep them on the vine at all cost the next few days are supposed to be warmer.Do not give up until the hard freeze ..JK

9/13/2006 4:55:59 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Greg,
James is right, dont give up, you will still gain lbs. I didnt get any last night but it sure made me nervous. Got a lot of wind and rain......Damn weather, I have never seen such screwed up stuff.......Hail in September.....
Clean up any leaves on the ground to prevent PM and rot. This may kick up your plant to higher gains as it freaks out and kicks in reserves so dont fertilize it, it may pop. These plants are freaks and they have too much energy. See folks comments on how they pull them up and see a flury of growth and blossoming......Hang in there dog....still got 30 days before we can rest......What a year!!!.....see if you can get pics of the leaves for the site.....Mayb I come by this week end.

9/13/2006 9:25:46 AM

Colorado

Greg,
This weather is wacked. Snow predicted for the High Country
to night. Sorry to hear about the hail damage.
Checked my 'kin last night and found a major
split on the main vine about a foot behind the fruit.
May have been caused by the postion of the fruit or
may have been caused by the weather. Keep them going.
See you at the weigh off. -----LB

9/13/2006 11:10:01 AM

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Sorry to here that. Please bring you pumpkin to either weigh off so I can see that behemoth of yours. Good luck the rest of the season.
Behemoth

9/13/2006 11:24:50 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Behemoth,
Ill be bring mine too,gonna need help though.... but Ill have to ask you to stand back a bit to see the whole pumpkin...........now LB's.....I dunno..........lol

C You at the weighoff

9/13/2006 3:14:33 PM

Colorado

WIZ remember- "The BS stops when the tailgates drop" ----LB

9/13/2006 3:29:13 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Wiz, if you ever perfect that strain of hail proof AG's...you will be "Da Man"...LOL Peace, Wayne

9/13/2006 10:29:21 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Attention all you Colorado growers I for sure will not be attending the Colorado Springs weigh-off due to personal reasons, but as far as I know it is still scheduled for the 7th of Oct. I hope to attend the site in Littelton, weather permitting we do not have a hard freeze and I have to get them weighed on a certified scale at an earlier time. Remember Colorado Springs is almost at 1000ft. higher elevation than Denver with colder nights most of the growing season Happy growing...JK

9/14/2006 1:19:54 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

James,
Scale at Jareds has been certified within the last two months. If you get a freeze let me know we can get it weighed earlier if you want to bring it up 60 miles. Im hoping it dont, who knows what Colorado has in store, snow scheduled for this weekend at higher elevations hope its not you. Good Luck.

Yo LB......Yup I know....thats why Im still a rookie....Dont think things are going to change this year for me......we are just going to have to put up hail netting.
Grow'em BIG

9/14/2006 9:41:22 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Hey Wayne,
Im looking forward to weighing that hail proof kin next year....Im thinkin it will go "heavy to the charts".....lol

9/14/2006 11:57:13 AM