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Buffalo, New York

if i keep a t-shirt over my pumpkins 24 hour per day for shading, will it slow the growth of them or not?

7/25/2007 8:43:05 AM

Washington

We keep a small baby blanket or pillow case on them 24 hours when they are small and change to sheets when they are bigger. For us it keeps the pumpkin shaded as well as keeps critters from damaging the skin (cats, birds). We do not use any other shade method unless we are treating an injury and trying to keep it dry. The sheets get wet from rain and sprinklers but we have seen no ill effects. When it gets colder in Sept. and Oct. the sheets are then replaced by blankets. To date since doing this our largest pumpkin was 1420 pounds. Sherry LaRue

7/25/2007 11:32:21 AM

Georgia

Im thinking about going that route this year Sherry. I was just concerened about the moisture. But Ive heard you and Pap say the same thing so yall know what your talking about. What about also putting like 4 mil plastic over the sheet I wonder if this would benefit anything.

7/25/2007 11:42:13 AM

southwest MO

Jason, I would just try a pumpkin or 2... Ive tried it in my climate and was sorry... Although I have no 1,000 lb fruit to date I would becareful useing this method if your south of the 40th paralell. Good luck to you please let us know how it works out. Summer weather can be very different from year to year.

7/25/2007 12:01:03 PM

Georgia

Yeah Boy Genius I was kindoff skeptical about trying it because I really dont like pumpkin pie all that much. I was just worried that the moisture in the sheet would damage the pumpkin. But Sherry says it just the sheet poses no threat. And they grew a 1420 so Im preety sure she knows her stuff.

7/25/2007 12:24:06 PM

Washington

The sheets get wet but also dry out in the heat. We have not seen any harm because of that. Bear in mind we do not get extreme heat. It usually is in the mid 80's sometimes 90's and rarely in the 100's. I know some Oregon growers with hotter temps also just cover with sheets.

7/25/2007 7:34:26 PM

Washington

If we have something like a stem split then we will put a tarp over the pumpkin so that we can keep a fan on it to keep the injury dry.

7/25/2007 7:35:52 PM