From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

Given the following scenarios, is one significantly better than another? why?

1.) Pumpkin in a framed shade/shelter, totally shaded and dry.
2.) Pumpkin under a plasticized white shower curtain which is laid on top. (dry)
3.) Pumpkin under a light colored or white heavy blanket laid on top.
4.) Bedsheet stretched out a foot above pumpkin.

Why I'm asking is because I have had reasonable success with all these methods.
1) 930 and 2 over 850
2) 1060Est, 1059Est
3) 1066, and 5 over 850 pounds
4) 1159, 860Est

The "just lay a blanket over it" was the technique I used this year after a grower said that was all I had to do. It is easiest, fastest and simple..........but I wonder if it is as good as any other method.

What do you think? Is "just lay a blanket over it" detrimental to maximum potential growth?

1/8/2005 12:44:14 AM

Cologne / Germany

I don´t think the blanket laid on top method is very good. Depending on the material it can heat up and burn the pumpkin surface, also at night moisture can build up there which might lead to spots of potential rot. I prefer your point 1, with plastic on top and breathing stuff like garden fleece on the sides.

1/8/2005 7:20:01 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Fruit need to respirate so I don't believe covering them on the surface is the best tactic. Respiration is the process by which plants take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide. Slow and steady is the answer. As temperatures warm respiration increases therefore IMHO 1 an 3 offer the best combination of moderation of warmth and dryness is the answer for you. Light exposure in other fruits has been shown to reduce respiration. Opening the fruit enclosure on moderate sunny days with moderate temperatures could help prolong fruit life.

Another factor is all fruits produce small amounts of ethylene during development. Trapping it in can speed the descent to senesence. A small fan used on the hotest days to continually direct fresh air flow around your progeny will help to reduce concentrations of ethylene on high respiration days, in your best mid to late season fruits.

There are many studies that point us in this direction. Google either plant respiration or fruit respiration.
Understanding the science behind the fruit can shave years off the learning curve.

Good Luck and Good Growing.

1/8/2005 8:30:24 AM

Western Pa.

Cornhusk,

I may have been the one whom suggested "to lay a sheet on the fruit", when you first asked. I have used several different shade "structures" in the past. Several years ago at Niagara Falls, a gentleman grower told me he used the sheet method because he was just too busy to bother with constructing shelters. I have used it since. (His name-Al Eaton.)

1/8/2005 12:08:34 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I used a sheet and other cloths to cover my fruit last year.
One disadvantage to this would be if you got hail. I would think a sheet would do little or nothing to prevent hail damage to the fruit. Fortunately I didn't get hailed on last year, but I don't think I'll take chances this year.

Doug

1/8/2005 12:26:29 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Question. Is shading is necessary? My own experiments continue to point to the answer being no.In past years I have had pumpkins with and without shade on the same plant. This year for example I grew 2 pumpkins on the same 836 carlson plant,one shaded one not.The first one pollinated on a secondary vine was shaded, the next one pollinated 5 days later on the main vine was not. The results 90 days later were a heavily canteloped 421 est. on the secondary and a still shiny 612.5 on the main. I have done this other times with similar results. I will qualify this by saying that it was very cool and not very sunny this year but the facts are that the fruit skin seems to be uneffected by the sun and perhaps sun exposure is needed in more northerly areas.So far the only benefits for shading for me is protection from hail.Any one in a hot area do any experiments? Do we shade just because "they" say we should or is there a reason? I do think it is good to question doctorine from time to time.

Don

1/8/2005 12:32:55 PM

Greencastle, PA

last i just laid a tarp over my 298. I wouldn't use a blanket because it would absorb water and having a wet blanket ontop of your pumpkin 24/7 doesn't sound good to me. Of course i've never tried that so i don;t know how it would work, but just laying a tarp on it has worked just as well as having a shade structure for me.
Tom

1/8/2005 1:15:30 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

I use a filter fleece on top of the pumpkins but soak it every day with calcium and a fungicide. It is always damp, keeps the sun off, keeps the pumpkin from frost damage and has worked well for me without any problems.

I haven't grown anything huge yet but it's not due to the cover...only bad weather and not good enough soil.
Michel

1/13/2005 6:07:10 AM