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Delaware, Ohio

Last year we made a make-shift "pumpkin fort". What is the best shelter for the pumpkin, not only during the hail storm season but all summer long? PVC and Tarp? A 200$ house from a catalog? Would love your ideas and blueprints. Thanks for your help!

4/8/2007 3:31:06 AM

Ohio

pAP,Im gonna try something real simple this year,and use what Al Eaton has protected his pumpkins with for years with out a hitch, and thats 'carpet padding'. He just throws it over top of the pumpkin. It protects well and dries out real quick after a rain.

Brooks

4/8/2007 4:39:05 AM

Ohio

sorry Citygirl, didnt mean to call you Pap, Im sure your alot prettier then he is,LOL!!

4/8/2007 4:40:52 AM

Delaware, Ohio

Books, no problem, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,I mean come on, look at some of the pumpkins we grow...lol!

4/8/2007 8:19:47 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Chris,

I posted an entry in this year's diary showing a simple hoop and hut frame constructed of 1/2" pvc pipe. During the chillt spring, it's covered with 6 mil plastic and during the warmer months, it's covered with 6' x 8' tarp over the fruit.

I do not have the dimensions readily available, but we spread out the tarp and measured dimensions that way. The tarp is held to the frame by plastic zip ties through the tarp eyelets.

Frame is secured to the ground with 2' lengths of 1/2" rebar driven into the ground approx. 1'. Pipe is then slipped over the rebar.

When shielding the fruit, we always position the structure to block the sun from east to west.

Hope this helps.

4/8/2007 9:38:58 AM

Delaware, Ohio

Thanks Joe! Printing this off, and checking your diary.

4/9/2007 8:01:00 AM