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Long Beach, CA

It seems that shading is preventing my AG from acquiring a full orange color (that's given away by the fact that the best shaded part of the pumpkin is also the palest in color). If I remove the shading cloth once the fruit stops growing, will it become a darker orange? Or, is it better to stop shading now in order to let the sun have its effect? Or again, is it too late to do anything about this? I'd really appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Oliver

7/22/2005 12:08:47 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

From what I have learned from this site in the last 9 months, color comes from genetics...not from the sun. Sun will prematurely age the fruit...shading all growing season is a good thing. Hopefully some more exp. growers will help both of us cause I also am looking for ORANGE!!! The most exposed...to the sun...part of my early 'kin is starting to...cantelope...or grow a sort of veins on the surface...I am thinking this is a sign of ageing...sort of like cantelopes do when they approach ripeness. Hope this helps. Peace Wayne

7/22/2005 3:12:53 AM

Montoursville, PA

Don't think Peace's answer can be improved upon. I like, to do, what has, to be done, to bring, the covers down, to just above, the canopy. I think this provides maximum air circulation. Make room, for the swinging and blowing about, of the near by leaves. They will rip themselves up smashing, on the cover, if given the chance, to compete with your shade covers.

7/22/2005 9:21:46 AM

Nashville, TN

Of the nine or so pumpkins growing...

some went neon orange,
some stayed pale,
most were 'born yellow',
a few were 'born green'...

Some of us got knobby..
some of us stayed smooth...
some of us got ribs..
one of us are just weird..

Some of us are watermelons..
some of us are balls..
one of us is an 'almond'
one of us a torpedo....

We are all kept covered.. by white 'breathable' shades.. Don't think it really matters.. We are all just our genes..

7/22/2005 10:50:07 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I am on day 26. I didn't have the pumpkins under cover until day 20. The leaves did the job for a little while but then I got lazy right before I went on vacation for a week. I came back to find a monster but it was right out in the sun!

The big one is turning a little orange. Should I be concerned that I stunted it's growth or can I assume that this is just a more orange variety? It is putting on several inches per day in circ. Day 24 was at 82". it's my 1st year with AG. If there is anyone else who's done this in the past, could you please let me know how it turned out?

7/22/2005 1:11:30 PM

Massillon, Ohio

to address this comment: "It seems that shading is preventing my AG from acquiring a full orange color"...


i had a sheet on mine last year and a tarp over that. whole year, no sun ever. darkest orange i've ever seen !!

also, if you have a white fruit that is shaded all year, dont take the cover off 2 weeks before weighoff. bad things can happen in the turning green department !!!

7/22/2005 3:03:29 PM

South Western Pa

I use reflective mylar for my shade structure. It reflects >98% of the light and I have grown some very orange fruit.

Mark

7/22/2005 3:33:08 PM

San Luis Obispo Ca

So far I have only grown yellow AG's. They "Orange" up once they are harvested.

7/22/2005 4:40:37 PM

Long Beach, CA

I'm getting a bit confused about this sunlight/color relashionship. I've seen pictures of AGs where the pumpkin/squah has a dark color (green, for the pictures I've seen) but the underside is almost white. But, others here have had different experiences, so maybe it just depends.

I guess I will simply wait and see. The pumpkin is on my 495 Reiss (801.5 Stelts X self) so as expected it has a very smooth skin and excellent color. It's only an area at the top of the fruit that's paler; I'll just hope it darkens as the fruit matures.

7/22/2005 5:52:06 PM

Lloydminster/AB

A lot of cream coloured pumpkins may turn slightly green when they are shaded by a leaf or a tarp that is to close. They all seem to behave differently though.

7/22/2005 7:09:18 PM

Long Island,New York

It doesn't matter anymore does it.....heaviest wins !!!

7/22/2005 8:53:11 PM

C N Y

i believe Joe Ailts and/or Nic Welty have
done extensive experimentation concerning fruit shading and
any of their articles may shed some light, lol, on this topic. probably type-in "fruit shading" in the search window and look for their names. i know i had an 845 Bobier growing in '02 and didn't get a structure over the fruit (632.5 final weight) until it was estimating like 500 pounds. it was pinkish/cream colored. about four days after putting a 4' X 4' piece of
plywood up on a post at each corner, two of them hinged and the other two with screws into the posts, for easy access,
the fruit started turning green. i immediately removed the structure! no further greening, and, no problem at the weighoff, but i was worried. .i think there needs to be a happy medium. in my case, i just worry about the sun that is mainly directly overhead, and maybe the morning sun, too.... eric

7/25/2005 6:00:44 PM