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Grittyville, WA

Its not a terrible thing for plants to get cold at night? I can see there are different approaches by the top growers, and maybe either works.

Different types of fertilizer might promote growth better at different temperature ranges?

There might not be an incorrect temperature range, instead, it might be an issue of having the correct fertilizer for the temperature range your plants are cycling through?

5/11/2024 8:26:26 AM

Grittyville, WA

In other words, a mismatch between temps and the type of fertilizers used could give poorer results? But maybe its possible to get good results... at either high or low temps... if the fertilizers used were a good match for those temps?

Something to think about.

...Growers in warmer climates probably gravitate towards fertilizers that work well in warm temps. Growers in cold climates probably gravitate towards the fertilizers that work in cooler temps?

Maybe its one of subconscious things where the tail wags the dog.

5/11/2024 8:41:03 AM

valtierra/spain

Very good question. A plant that gets stressed on a cold night, stops the growth 4-5 Days. It has happened to me this year, two cold nights, 10 Days late Compared to other years, when I covered them and warmed them at night.

When a plant is stressed by the cold, it must be animated with foliar, it is very important, neptunes, essentials, biostimulants that recover it quickly. That does not mean that a plant that is stressed by the cold, if it is delayed more, will not be able to grow a large pumpkin, there will come a time with good temperatures that will grow quickly. A plant that is not stressed by the cold, you can give it the fertilisers that you want, that everything works… lol

5/11/2024 3:40:34 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

What?

5/12/2024 4:15:01 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

It would be nice to have controlled scientific experiments regarding the effect of night time temperature variations early on in the plant growth cycle, and how these temperature differences ultimately impact final pumpkin weights. If we could tailor our fertilizer applications to what is best at certain temperature ranges, this could be one of the key pieces of information needed to help push the giant pumpkin world record past 3000 lbs.

5/14/2024 4:33:18 AM

Grittyville, WA

Yes Rmen I think the cold isn't as bad for them if all the nutrients they need are still available. I think the amino acid type fertilizers might be good for this, fish/ brewed teas, etc. I also think foliar sprays could be tried in very cold temps, whereas later on in the hot sun its often too easy to burn the plants with foliars.

5/14/2024 5:58:39 PM

Kutztown, PA

Can you guys define "cold night". My thoughts are that a gradual temperature drop has less impact on plants than a quick change. Even going from two weeks of overcast weather in the 70's to a couple of days of sunny and 86 I think can lay down some serious stress and even physical changes, like split vines etc. By the way, none of the adverse temperature and weather conditions cause the plants as much stress as they cause me :). I'm not sure what I would say is optimum temp. change range, but right now 50's are our lows and mid 70's are our highs. My plants seem to do well with that 20-25 degrees differential.

[Last edit: 05/30/24 3:13:54 PM]

5/30/2024 3:12:01 PM

Grittyville, WA

I think I would define 48 or less as cold but my hypothesis is that the exact temperature which is detrimental too the final result may depend on what the plants are being fed. 50 ish slows the growth but I think it doesnt diminish the potential. I would say 60 or higher at night is warm.

5/30/2024 4:47:58 PM

Kutztown, PA

I started about 2 weeks later this year than I have in the past. I didn't see the early start as giving any advantage. Even with heating cables the extra growth achieved in that two week early start is quickly surpassed once it get warmer. I think it has to do with the environment the soil bacteria need to thrive. If they're not thriving equally in the entire soil column it follows that maybe nutrients wont be available at all levels and any myco that might be there won't be performing well at all depths either. So many variables - so little time. :) I added humic granules to my burying regime this year thinking it might speed things up early one. I was thinking maybe the top 2 inches of soil being warm is just as important as the rest since there's a significant amount of root mass there. Even with cables it's tuff to keep that tip layer warm in colder weather.

[Last edit: 05/31/24 9:02:18 AM]

5/31/2024 9:01:08 AM

Grittyville, WA

Interesting, yes the evaporation can have quite a cooling affect. Unless there is something atop the soil reducing the evaporation.

Yes I agree Garwolf that heat alone doesnt seem to convince the soil that it really is time to wake up. The worms are like, "you cant fool us, we're going back to bed."

6/1/2024 7:55:44 PM