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addison Il

bad thunderstorms and high winds will come around eventually and my plants are all vining out and recently we have had severe thunderstorm watches but im worried about my plants when one of these storms becomes reality what to do how to i protect them any advice

6/4/2005 3:18:01 PM

Long Island,New York

Every circumstance is different as is every growth stage and patch orientation....BUT....some of the things I do when a fronts coming through or a storm etc are :
Certainly make sure vines are burried for stability and rooting. I use crossed bamboo sticks at the tips of the vines to pin them to the ground and move them with the growth every day. I use silt fence for windbreaks and move them with the growth as neccessary. . I have in the past covered the entire patch with a hoop structure and used windscreen for hail protection (since 1999 but not this year). I have had a 42inch high picket fence around the entire patch since 1998 and I have been known to run plastic sheeting against it for additional wind protection.(but not this year) I have tarped the entire patch with plastic when those 3 inch rains come and fruits on the vine..like a hurricane. Then Ive used the windscreen fabric and rope to hold it down in the wind. At times, on terminated vine ends, Ive used zip-ties and bamboo on those last leaves so they'll better handle the brunt of the winds. There's more Im sure but these tactics are what come to mind now. Oh yeah...ya might wanna stake down the hoophouses...lol........G

6/4/2005 3:50:35 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If its just a baby. A big storage container up side down with something heavy holding it down works well. For those Summer hail storms we have a 50 x 75 cheap blue tarp. If all else fails use yourself as a shield :)

6/4/2005 4:43:11 PM

addison Il

plats are almost 2mts old vining and have male and small female flowers but winds came like i knew they would but amazing that with high winds only one plant suffered one broken leaf all others were okay mabye its cause im trying to train the vines and used aluminum bendy thin wire ties to hold the plant in place got them at menards they are used for cattle fencing i guess dont rust easy to bend in shapes and strong enough to hold plants still so thanks but i will bury vines and will be ready for the next storm thanks all

6/4/2005 11:30:22 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I like the plastic hangers myself..cut they make excellent U hooks..also show up well in the soil and don't get wrapped up in the tiller. I use burlap for the wind blocks have to replace it every year but it also rots away and doesn't cause the tiller any problem. once out of the hoops the plant are circled close and expand out the burlap as growth continues.

6/5/2005 6:56:44 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Hey Chuck,

Do you just us the top of the hanger that is "U" shaped?

I saw a diary post here once where the grower was trying to us the 2 lower corners but they seemed too "V" shaped to be of any real use.

6/5/2005 7:18:05 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

I buy metal landscape anchor pins at Lowe's...rounded tops and last for many, many years if you keep them up over Winter.

6/5/2005 7:41:38 AM

Long Island,New York

Steve...12 for a buck at .99 cent stores. They are a rigid yet flexible plastic that snaps when bent too far (good for making the "U"s easily) but do flex plenty enough to pin the vines down when squeezed. They don't kill the tiller like stuff like grid ceiling hanger wire or insulation retainers do. Some do get brittle after exposure to sunlight and I'm going through that now. I can't keep up with the vining and once in a while they snap on me, some pieces can fly !

6/5/2005 8:41:58 AM

Long Island,New York

12 for a buck and you get two out of each...each hanger corner.

6/5/2005 8:42:58 AM

I use the two corners of the hangers, and throw out the actually hang part at top...they work well for me. The taller straight stakes I use for newer growth when it's still up the in the air and not laid down yet.

Chuck... my hangers are white, but I always seem to come across a few in the early spring that I didn't pick up the previous fall. :-)

6/5/2005 11:32:31 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Exactly what I do ..But occassionally will custom a hook ..meaning keep the top hook on a long edge for training purposes...mine are old but haven't had the problem of them degrading yet..G must have bought his at Lowes..HD's last longer! LOL ..cut the hook part out...the wide plastic is less abrasive to the plant doesn't get hot in the sun...cut off all the tendrils and let the plant run...I use white to brig..throw em in a bucket at years end and I always find a few more come spring..but they ain't wrap around my tiller!

6/5/2005 9:26:05 PM