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San Antonio, Texas

I live in San Antonio, zone 8b and I am new to growing pumpkins. I am currently reading Langevin's Vol. 1 book and want to get the next 2 volumes as well. Any thoughts or suggestions for growing down here? I talked with my county extension guy and he said AG's can be grown and that the vine borer is a pest down here. Do you know of any heat tolerant varieties? Temps in the summer average about 95-98F. What type of seed should I get or be looking for or would you share some of your seed? Thanks! Brett

12/30/2005 10:44:53 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Check this link out just copy and paste to address bar:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=19&p=104276

12/30/2005 11:52:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

i HIGHLY recommend getting the
Volume #2 of Don's book, but i would not yet get the
third one until you've read the second one cover-to-cover
about seven times! i gotta get that puppy out and start re-reading it, too! oh, it is such a good book.
if you can get the third one as well, at a discount IF
you get both at the same time or something, then go for it,
but you will be overwhelmed with information if you
hit the third one too soon...at least i would have been! eg

12/30/2005 5:00:56 PM

San Diego

get a good misting/cooling sytem for your plant, it's a must!!! Get a good heat tolerant seed (950 boyton etc), and keep your soil moist and well watered. Not wet, just moist consistantly. My 861 fredricks/george 2005 seed is half 950 and my plant did great in 100 degree weather. I misted too. You are welcome to have some of my seeds if you are interested. Get a soil test as well, and do good soil prep now after your report. Jim

12/30/2005 9:52:42 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the info with the links on the heat tolerant seeds, more research and reading!! I will definately get the next 2 books at a discount if I can combine them. Also, would like to try the seeds from Duster, will email you for your address. Thanks!!! Brett

12/31/2005 11:41:00 AM

Dallas, Oregon

automatic misting system and 50/50 shade cloth

12/31/2005 7:19:14 PM

Chico, Ca

use no more than 30 % shade cloth or the plant will not do well. misting will be needed as long as your humidity is low enough to allow the evaporation process to work.

1/1/2006 6:59:27 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Our humidity levels here in SA average roughly about 50%-70% with the highest level in the morning and the lowest by afternoon.
What type of mister system should I look for, what price range? What about burying a soaker hose about 4" below the surface? Or having a soaker hose wound in a circle around the stump? I saw someone had a picture of this, thought it was a good idea. How about a timer, what type, cost etc. and so on?
On the shade cloth should it be over the fruit only or the entire plant?
Brett

1/1/2006 8:53:08 PM

San Diego

dripworks.com is a great company and you can get a catolog. The times is the expensive part (120 bucks for the good one with unlimited on and off watering each day). the misting system is maybe 20 dollars total ands easy to install. I kept my system simple, 1 micro sprinkler on 3 foot stake in center of 400 sq foot patch, and I had a heavy enough eater output to cool the plant and water the soil so it was all automatic. say 11:00am to 4pm, the timer came on for 4 minutes off 11 minutes, and I adjusted the time for cool or really hot weather. Shade cloth goes over entire plant, in extreme situations people use shade cloth and misting, but I would think you would be ok with just one, but never know until you grow there. Your first year will be a learning experience, experiment and see what works in yoru area. Jim

1/1/2006 9:37:22 PM

San Diego

timer, not times:)

1/1/2006 9:38:21 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the info Duster, will go to dripworks.com and get a catalog. Did you bury your vines, I am worried about the squash vine borer getting to the plant, saw some posts where some people did that.
Brett

1/1/2006 9:51:12 PM

Burt NY

gokan68...
I live in Spring branch. Sounds like your drip system will be a good idea but I would stay away from a misting system. Too much humidity.

good luck... and aint it great that growing season is upon us!!! start your seeds!

1/2/2006 9:32:18 AM

San Antonio, Texas

Mr. McClew RD are you going to plant this season? Have you planted before in Spring Branch? How did you do? Any thoughts as to what you would or would not do this time? Thanks, Brett

1/6/2006 11:03:56 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Brett.
Mr. McClew is in Burt, N.Y.

I was there over Christmas. He is very interested in visiting Texas for deer hunting. He has done quite well over the last several years in Western N.Y. I did a little giant pumpkin growing in Massachusetts before moving to Spring Branch in Aug. of 004.

I have not done giant pumpkin growing here but the hot pepper crop did pretty well.

I just started a seed (it is a tad early) and hope to see it up in about a week. Just for fun!

Do you have seeds? John

1/12/2006 4:02:29 PM

Norton, MA

jrs, where in MA? Norton is near Foxborough. AleX Noel.

1/12/2006 6:18:55 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Hello John,

I actually have received some seeds from some growers who have been nice enough to share; otherwise I would not have any idea where to start. I think you are right about the hot peppers growing well, I had a few plant a couple of years ago I picked up at a local nursery and ended up inundating my friends and mother-in-law with more peppers than I knew what to do with!

I am waiting for my soil test results I sent to Texas A&M soil department, I think they should be back by next week.

What kind of seed are you growing? Do you think you will have a problem with hardening off the plant? What are your thoughts about misting/shade clothe? I know I sound like a broken record about this but my area where I am planting gets hammered by the sun in the summer, the more information I can get the more educated decision I can make regarding how to tackle this issue.

I had to change my user name from gokan68 to Texas Boga because I could not log into the system, so I re-registered. So this is me still.... Thanks, Brett

1/13/2006 12:00:46 PM

Michigan

Hi Brett! I'm also new to growing giant pumpkins, this season will be my first for AG's. I'm growing in Texas also. Maybe we can compare notes thus far.

~Jessica

1/13/2006 3:13:21 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Hello Alex... I was in Northern Worcester county in Mass. I got to know Mr. Woodward from Leominster a little bit. He is an excellent grower with beautiful wide-open fields to hike in and enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.


Hello again Brett. I'm going to grow from my brothers seed. It has good genetics. I'm looking at getting going as early as possible, and providing temporary plastic protection for the couple nights it may look too cold once I put the plant in the open. (early March) If one produces and it goes to reasonable maturity I'm thinking of taking it off the vine before the worst of the summer heat really settles in. I don't trust the real summer heat or a misting system.
I have a little shade on my site so I think I will be ok. If not I am sure you want to use some shade cloth. john

1/14/2006 1:25:31 PM

Norton, MA

Hmmm, think I may have heard of a Woodward, not sure. AleX Noel.

1/14/2006 5:43:27 PM