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Location

Message

Date Posted

Harrisville, Pa

does have to get to put blankets on your pumpkins? I thought I saw some where 60 degrees.

7/26/2010 6:46:52 PM

Farrell, PA

I believe growers are putting the blankets on their fruits for sun protection mostly and not for the cold weather. I may be wrong on this though. I started covering my fruit the day I pollenated them. Small chair at first for shade, now I'm using a white bed sheet. GROW EM BIG!!!

7/27/2010 6:10:56 AM

Western PA

Subway, I read in one of the ovgpg news letters that Bob Ligget puts blankets on at night when temps get below 60 degrees. You are 100% correct. I have been doing it and I am seeing NO slow down in growth at all. He believes that keeping extreme temperature swings away is what helps keep the fruit from splitting open. It makes sense to me.

A few weeks ago we got down into the mid forties at night. I put a thermometer between the pumpkin and the blanket and in the morning it was 45 degrees outside and under the blanket it was 65 degrees. The blankets definatly help to keep heat in. Even more important in Sept.

7/27/2010 4:09:13 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

panther1, the white sheets over the pkns, this time of year, are to shade the pkn skin from direct sunlight, which ages it quicker, which restricts the skin from growing easily. Some build shade structures over the top of the pkn, some just cover w/ white sheets. The blankets are for cold nights!!! Hope this helps!!! Peace, Wayne

7/29/2010 12:12:51 AM