From

Location

Message

Date Posted

webster n. y. u.s.a.

last year i used a white sheet directly on the pumpkin and it seemed to work as well as a large tarp overhaed.any opinions on this method?

7/17/2007 1:12:42 PM

Georgia

Ive heard Pap says he does this method and it must work fine. I use white sheets but I just stake five feet bamboo poles around the pumpkin. Which I set the pumpkins on plywood and I put a white sheet on the bamboo stakes and tie them down. That seems to work and If you use cheap sheets the better water actually flows off them and doesnt soak the pumpkin.

7/17/2007 1:17:46 PM

Western NY

white sheet here. much less work than making a tent.

7/17/2007 3:06:56 PM

Georgia

One question I have for yall when it rains real bad do you wash and dry the sheet. I make a tent out of it and sometimes wash and dry it.

7/17/2007 3:36:53 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

You just lay a sheet on top? Is it just the UV that hurts the fruit? I thought keeping it cool is important too. I just made a huge shade structure over my 1068 Bhaskaran.

Check it out at http://anubis.pointclark.net.

It is 8' wide, so the fruit looks fairly small, but its 78" on day 24. Not super huge, but respectable.

7/17/2007 3:48:10 PM

I've switched to just sheets this year,,no shaded leaves,,no tromping in the patch getting setup and keeping it that way. Also no puddles from runoff.

oh,,,,and like Andy said,,less work!

7/17/2007 4:42:30 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Plain white sheets here too....sometimes a large umbrella if the weather is crappy...other than that...white sheet works great.

7/17/2007 8:45:15 PM

Cornell, Wi

Geez guess Ill be using white sheets, Thanks

7/17/2007 9:49:58 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

I switched to white sheets here this year. Much easier than a tarp setup over the fruit

7/17/2007 10:56:48 PM

southwest MO

Im sticking with a shade structure of 85-90%... Up north I guess you could get away with a sheet but in our heat and intense sun I dont want to risk pumpkin pie. I believe (with my vast pumpkin growing knowledge) it would contribute gratly to premature ageing of the friut...

7/17/2007 11:18:56 PM

southwest MO

I put a pic of a shade structure up... Ive got several prototypes!

7/17/2007 11:31:40 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

The sheets are easy to work with but will get you into trouble if you have a stem split, or other stem problems. If that happens you will need to put a tarp to keep that area dry. Learned the hard way. I'm doing it the easy way again this year and hoping for no splits.

7/17/2007 11:59:32 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Bill makes a good point. I had blossom end rot on my pumpkin last year, which I attribute partly to sheet(when it was wet) covering my pumpkin. I think I'll use just sheets again this year, but be more observant.

7/18/2007 1:42:08 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Which detergent do yal wash the sheets in before the shading process, I wonder if Free And clear, tide, wind fresh, arm and hammer, or all the others keep the fruit growing well when the detergent leaches off of the sheet into the fruit. Just a thought ??? You may want to check the whites for stripes and skid marks and otherwise before using as protection for the fruit with harmful possible growth inhibitor laundry products involved...Just A Thought......Happy Growing..

7/18/2007 6:01:45 AM

Rhode Island

another reason we like the sheet instead of the tarp is we dont get any powdery mildew under the shaded area as we did when using a tarp.
if the sheet gets wet jut dry it out. if real heavy rain is forcast just lay a tarp over the sheet and fruit

7/18/2007 6:02:09 AM

Ontario, Canada.

I switched to sheets last year on a couple of fruit. They are so much easier to deal with and I have found they are just as good. I also noticed that PM was a problem under the tarp canopy sections.

7/18/2007 10:44:35 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

Do yall think I could have a problem with my pumpkins getting too hot down here in Georgia if I lay the sheet directly on the fruit. We have very hot temps day after day down here. I have always drove 4 metal fence post in and hung a blue tarp between them.
Thanks,
Doug
Jn. 3:16

7/18/2007 12:21:38 PM

Georgia

Hey Doug how hot are your day temps?? Im in North Georgia and like I said also because of the heat I just drive 4 bamboo stakes in the ground and tie a white sheet to it. It works great I also feel its a little too hot here just to lay a sheet on it. But it being white it shouldnt cook it I think.

7/18/2007 12:44:32 PM

porterville, calif.

I started using sheets 3 years ago, with misters Works great had no problem with PM. Fruits stayed cool.

7/19/2007 1:21:48 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I found some new twin-sized white sheets for $2.50 a piece. I thought I'd have to fork over 10 bucks, or so.

7/19/2007 2:27:46 PM

Cornell, Wi

Is there any problems with laying a sheet over when the fruit is real young say 10 days, I had a white shirt on one today and seems like it may abort, dont know if its connected to this but thought Id ask.

7/19/2007 11:44:01 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

hi jason d,
where do you live in north georgia?
it has been up to 97 here a few days this year. it is around 90 many days.
doug
jn 3:16

7/20/2007 12:26:21 PM