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North Carolina

Hi Folks -

I am a newbie at this, but I was speaking with a seasoned grower yesterday, who happens not to have internet access. I was telling him about bigpumpkins.com. He wanted me to ask a question of everyone as to what seed genetics you might recommend that would do well for the extended growing seasons and high heat/humidity like we have in the South. He and I both live in N.C.

Thanks so much!

10/2/2005 9:36:28 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Without getting too technical, overall you should have better luck with seeds from AG pumpkins that have themselves been grown here in the south. I know some growers, southern and other, have specific crosses or strains they believe show increased heat tolerance while others have seen opposite results from the same stock. The real answer is none of us have found/developed one, yet.
Also, I understand what you are speaking of when you refer to our "extended growing seasons". However, this may more accurately be described as an "extended planting window" since we have among the very shortest days of fruit growth here in the south do mainly to the reasons behind your questions in the first place; heat, humidity, etc.(amplified plant stress).
I for one, and I doubt I'm alone here, feel the key to the South rising again(pumpkin weights that is), is the "overall" lowering of the plant's stress throughout the growing season, whenever you decide to plant. I hope this helps to some degree(pun intended) BF
PS. You are more than welcome to some of my seeds, should you want them. Just shoot me an email...<:^)>

10/2/2005 11:23:52 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Might I chime in....we may have an "extended growing season" in that our Winters begin later and end sooner, as a general rule, BUT we actually have a shorter growing period due to the Southern heat causing earlier maturation, and the decreased hours of sunlight per day as compared to growers much further North.
With those thoughts in mind, we are at a disadvantage as compared to our Northern brethren. The "extended growing season" notion for the South is actually a myth.
I agree with Brian on seeds....choose those grown "locally".

10/3/2005 1:29:48 AM

Hayes, Virginia

So should we start seeds earlier in the year?(last year April 10th)
Started Later this year(May 10th).
My pumpkins were twice as large last year.
I know it was really hot and dry this summer but my soil was in better shape this year than last year.
I noticed at the State Fair this year most growers were 150-200 light. most of them blamed it on the heat.
So question is should we start early to beat the heat?
Ed

10/3/2005 1:08:01 PM

Knopp, Germany

California gets pretty hot too. What do they do different, or am I missing something? Interesting topic.

10/3/2005 1:17:04 PM

North Carolina

I'm not an expert on California weather, but I would guess that it is more arid there, while in the South, we deal with high humidity + high heat.

10/3/2005 2:50:10 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

As is the case with most other topics(as they relate to Cali), California is just different! Seriously though, I feel qualified to answer you Owen as I have spent many years living in California with several trips to the "melting pot" known as Las Vegas, NV. 120s out there IS hot, no doubt. However(and I don't say this as a "woe is me") I would much rather live and plant in that climate than the STIFLING heat that the South and other locations are known for.
Put it this way. When meteoroligists have to come up with a separate word/words to describe the heat felt in the South("Heat Index"), you know something's up. In layman's terms, the "Heat Index" is the measure of how hot the temperature actually feels. This measure takes into account the actual air temperature plus the relative humidity.
Case in point...at just 85 degrees, with the relative humidity of 80%(unfortunately a very normal humidity level for us), our plants are attempting to function in heat which feels over 95 degrees. How I wish it was only 85 degrees in the South. As you probably know a more common temperature for us is say 95 degrees. At a modest 95 degrees(over 100 is very common), with that same 80% humidity, our plants are completely stressing in what feels like over 130 degrees! More stress equals shorter life cycle. I haven't found an AG that likes 130 degrees yet. Still looking...
And don't even get me started with what kinds of cucurbita demons thrive in a hot wet climate like ours...
I better end it here. I feel my blood pressure rising again, BF <:^)>

10/3/2005 3:08:04 PM

Sioux Falls, SD garyboer@dakotalink.com

Whoa! Relax there Snake!
Sounds like you need a good SD winter
Kills the demons in the air and your pores

10/3/2005 10:28:43 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Ed,
Good question on when to start seeds.
I've done early, done later. I used to think that starting earlier was not as advantageous as one might think because my plants would basically stop growing around September 10, just to sit on the vine for 3 weeks asking for some type of trouble. This year I went later, but they still seemed to stop early...just not as early. BUT, we had the dryest September on record here so I think that may have been the culprit. after all. I think in the end, for me, I'll start around May 1-5 from now on, at least until I see why I shouldn't.

10/4/2005 12:15:24 AM

Hayes, Virginia

Thanks Kyle.
was a bad year thats for sure.

10/4/2005 4:49:20 PM