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Ontario, Canada.

Last year was contacted by several growers about the early August cold front weather that shut down pumpkins all over the great lakes region... Planning early prevention for this right now. Believe two issues are key to prevention. First is heat and second is air flow. Going to begin to secure ways to mitigate cold and increase air flow to boost temperatures. As noted the effects are cumulative and plants almost never recover as first the xylem and then phloem pathways begin to harden off. Anything that can be done to support stability of the plants Climate and thus ultimately its Meristematic Auxin and Transpiration rates maybe considered at this time. Basically fan, heat and cover.

3/25/2023 7:36:32 PM

Grittyville, WA

Just wondering, it seems like if you could keep the soil warmish and the soil well fed, then things might be ok? Is it the vines that shut down, or is it more the vines shut down because the roots shut down? Just curious.

Is the deep subsoil quite cold up there to begin with, so you're relying on a constant input of solar/atmospheric warmth for soil temps. to stay "in balance"?

3/26/2023 3:15:55 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Possibly more to do with low air temperature with low humidity and low air movement. So suddenly dropping demand, affecting canopy transpiration and thus shutting down the pumpkin and flipping the ethylene senescence off switch.

Curious if anyone might try a splash of Auxin a day or so before the event this year?

3/26/2023 7:30:26 AM