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Grittyville, WA

I dont know why this didnt occur to me before, but the wind blew a heavy piece of polycarbonate onto the leaves of one of the plants and they held it up without breaking. So then I thought, 'well if the leaves can hold that, then they should be able to hold a piece of 4 to 6 mil plastic. So I tried that and they can. I also tried a piece of 1.5 or 2 mil plastic and of course that was no problem... so first, why lose a plant to frost when it can easily hold up a piece of plastic without any additional structure needed, and second... would laying plastic atop the leaves at night boost the plant/ fruit growth, even on nights when there was no chance of frost?

I do realize wind or rain would spell disaster with a loose piece of plastic but most nights here are calm with no chance of precipitation. The coldest nights tend to be the nights where there is low humidity and no breeze, so it seems to me like a way to gain some pounds.

...With the only real risk being: forgetting to take the plastic off in the morning.

[Last edit: 08/06/24 1:35:43 AM]

8/6/2024 1:32:47 AM

Syracuse, NY

Anything touching anything that the cold can be transmitted through will freeze, so if plastic is touching the fruit and 31*F hits, right there, it's as if it's not there, lol.
This is where Floating Row Cover (FRC) is advisable and yet needs to be suspended a few inches above the plant/fruit and Joel Holland showed his method of using it for a few degrees of frost protection in one+ of his videos, butt I don't know the year of it.
Later---eg

8/6/2024 4:04:30 AM

Syracuse, NY

I'll tell ye what would be 'cool as Hell', lol---
A 'bounce house' of said plastic with a heater fan as its air/heat source on one corner and secured/sealed around the entire perimeter like a Tupperware large container, lol.
I'm sure it'd need 2b be figured out since the air would be outside-based, but what about in that sealed environment, the heater fan(s, now, lol) would simply be blowing upward from ground level...
Yeeessshhh...Bed Time for me, now! eric g

8/6/2024 4:13:33 AM

Grittyville, WA

A floating row cover is air-permeable. It will trap less heat at night, but then also not overheat during the day? Its a bit different than a solid sheet of plastic? I've never heard of anyone using a solid sheet of plastic laid directly on the leaves. Maybe because its a terrible idea, but maybe there are instances where it could gain lbs. My original thinking was to keep the gourds and pumpkins at an even temperature overnight to prevent splitting.

But maybe it could add pounds and lengthen the growing season also??

8/6/2024 5:48:05 AM

Grittyville, WA

You might be smarter than me on this one pumpkinpal.

8/6/2024 5:52:05 AM

Syracuse, NY

MIGHT BE??
Ha ha ha ha ha ha haha...cough, lol---
Butt serious, Lee, I've been using FRC for like 15 years or more and I LOVE it. It is very cheap butt the shipping is what gets me, although I had a good amount left for this year from years past. Did not use it/FRC GHs last year and I regretted it! Do a Site Search of Floating Row Cover and even you will be amazed. I don't think I'll sleep tonight! Mine of choice I guess is 'Pro-19' as I recall which is .55 ounces per square yard in weight. DO not G.A.S. about the light transmissivity, as it does what it's made for;
You know, you could break outta jail and it would be a twisted getaway rope, butt do not tear it just right!
Was good to see the ol' 'pal2 diary again---eric g

[Last edit: 08/07/24 1:35:17 AM]

8/7/2024 1:34:09 AM