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Northern Arizona

So this is my first year with the giants and I was looking for ideas for starting date. My problem is our last frost date is early may but by June we are for the most part 90+ degrees everyday with many above a hundred. Last year I started my field pumpkins to late and had major aborting problems with the heat so I really want to have my fruit set by june but not sure what to do with the late frost.

1/30/2008 11:37:42 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

DB, not sure if it is possible, but a small enclosed hoop house might help...I got inventive a couple years back, and built em with pvc pipe, lots of corners and angles to figure out, but then cover them with plastic (cheap stuff), add a $10 elec heater, and/or a heat lamp, and start em early. Be very, very, very careful on sunny days, as the temp inside the hoophouse gets way warm, way quick...make the ends openable ( is that a word)!!!, to allow some airflow. The search function on this site might help ya also...lots of diff ideas have been presented in the past, on how to build em!!Might need to try a lot of different ideas into the search function...hoop house, coldframe, green house, etc...? Hope this helps!! Peace, Wayne

1/30/2008 5:10:21 PM

Northern Arizona

Thanks, It looks like the hoop house with someheat might be the only option for those early may frost as I think I need it in the ground in april

1/31/2008 12:26:40 PM