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Fairport,NY

What is the general theory of leaving a wet rain soaked sheet on the pumpkin after a rain shower? I figured it will be alright and will just naturally dry out, bought it is getting cooler and and closer to night so it probably won't dry till tommorrow. I really would'nt be so concerned put after just culling a pumpkin grown on stryofoam with black mold on it I am being extra cautious with the 6 remaining pumpkins in my arsenal.
Thanks again
Bumkin

8/7/2007 6:17:07 PM

[email protected]

It shouldnt be a problem, most growers who use calcium soaked sheets/towels/blankets do so in the afternoon, leaving the cover wet all night. I try to keep the wet from the stem, but sometimes, it isnt possible.

8/7/2007 6:43:43 PM

Fairport,NY

that kinda leads to another question I have been meaning to ask... is it alright to "dust" captan around the stem area just for added pre-caution(mold,rot,splits?)I have seen many post that seem to show white powder on the blossom ends and stems of pumpkins?
Thanks Again

8/7/2007 6:52:29 PM

Rhode Island

bumpkin

i dont like a wet sheet on the pumpkins all night. id rather leave them uncovered at night and cover again in the am when they have a chance to dry out.

rather than use captan which will never dry out why not just spray the stem with a 1 to 10 part solution of bleach or perixode ?
you can always have a fan on the stem if at a later time a soft spot on the stem needs to be trimmed off and sprayed

8/7/2007 9:25:16 PM

Fairport,NY

Thanks for the responses. I ended up removing the sheets and threw them in the dryer for the morning. The wifes gonna luv me!!! I think I'm addicted? Picture this your neighbor in the backyard at 9o'clock at night playing in the rain with a flashlight and white bedsheets.....
Bumkin

8/7/2007 10:25:54 PM

Waitakere New Zealand

bumpkini dont se theres a problen when the pumpkin calls nothin else matters

8/8/2007 5:04:53 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Bumpkin:
One of those headlamp flashlights comes in real handy. Keeps your hands free while you are poking around out there at night...

8/8/2007 7:46:19 AM

Washington

We leave the sheets on day and night. We overhead water so they are wet most of the day. Our last watering is in the afternoon so they often will dry out some if the weather is warm. If they stay wet it doesn't seem to hurt the pumpkins. I think that keeping the skin of the pumpkin moist is helpful. It might actually give it more elasticity. When we start sraying with calcium we purposefully want them wet. As our nights get cooler we replace the pumpkins with blankets. We make sure the stem is not covered to keep it dry. The only time the sheets/blankets come off is when measuring and to check for problems.

8/8/2007 11:06:53 AM

Washington

We use pulp mill fabric beneath our pumpkins after making sure the ground under is smooth. The fabric allows the pumpkins to glide smoothly as they grow. There is very little concaving underneath this way. Styrofoam not only traps moisture but it doesn't allow the pumpkin to glide, so often the pumpkin is concave underneath and can split there. We don't use sand like some of the other growers. If we have a pumpkin that is trying to grow blossom down the we adjust the stem end or push dirt under the mill fabric.

We do use captan on injuries with a fan. You can apply it as a dry powder as well. On small injuries like scratches we do like Pap says - spray with a bleach solution.

8/8/2007 11:11:59 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Thanks Sherry, this helps alot when trying to take care of many kins.....

8/8/2007 2:52:01 PM