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Nana asked in her diary if keeping pumpkin warmer makes them grow better. Opinions and observations wanted.

Myself, I have noticed it takes a day or 2 after a cold night for the slowdown to take place and at least as long for the pumpkin to start growing again if it will even pick the pace up to a decent level again.
Question I have is it the roots or both that have to stay warm? If it is both then at least keeping pumpkin warmer should help.

8/19/2020 1:28:22 PM

Centennial Colorado

My personal opinion is when it starts to get cooler the blanket could hinder the potential growth especially when it was wet. The pumpkin itself insulates seeds from the outside varying temperature, so if you keep it warmer it probably will grow more. If that thing that keeps it warmer is wet though, the water will end up cooling the pumpkin further, since it takes much longer to heat water than carbon. The pumpkin outside is mostly carbon, so keeping it dry would actually benefit the most. I think the best option would be putting a blanket on top of the pumpkin for warmth, and the tarp on top of the pumpkin for protection from water.

8/19/2020 1:36:55 PM

Centennial Colorado

The second part would be is just covering the pumpkin going to help it? I think a little, but the main vine would need to be covered for proper growth to continue. I left my greenhouse frame from this spring up to put back on this fall and experiment to see if covering the main vine is more important.

8/19/2020 1:43:07 PM

Grittyville, WA

I think there is stored warmth from the ground at night which helps the vines I think it might help to cover the vines where it goes up to the pumpkin. At the size she is at the pumpkin should not cool off too fast. I think there have been studies where the phloem does get more viscous at cooler temps? Wouldn't want a cold vine to be a choke-point!

8/19/2020 2:19:34 PM

Grittyville, WA

I would say keep the vines at 60 if possible.

8/19/2020 2:21:13 PM

Central NY

Been watching Nana for many years....one of my all-time FaVs..!!...every year is a joy but wow, this year is growing very well. Best of luck the rest of the way NanA!!...we’ll be watching!!!....BIGBIG!!!

8/19/2020 3:29:53 PM

Jericho Vermont

Not an expert, but grow in a very cool/cold climate. I don't put on the quilts for the reason of better growth. Years ago we had many splits in September. Some of these splits could be looked at as the genetic traits of the orange pumpkins we grow, but I found that the temperature changes of cold to warm and then back to cold would increase the odds of blossom end splits. The ground will keep the heat under the pumpkin and the quilts will help to retain the heat in hopes that there will be less constrict and expand with wide temperature fluctuations.

8/19/2020 3:49:22 PM

Boscawen, NH

I think John has it exactly right. Blankets (I use electric)reduce the expansion and contraction that happens on nights that drop down in the 40's or 30's which then reduces late season splits and cracks on the pumpkin surface. I also live in a cold micro climate (49 degrees last night) and have never seen a "growth" benefit from covering the fruit. Track your soil temps and I would predict that once you see them drop below 60 for the entire day you will see fruit and plant growth shut down no matter how many blankets you toss on your pumpkin. Similar to dropping a plant into your patch in the spring with no heat cables and very cold soil, the plant will just sit there until the soil warms up.

8/19/2020 6:34:06 PM

Ontario

I have been growing pumpkins from a great distance from where I live for the past 30 yrs.so I have had a lot of experience with fruit protection while I am away for a week at a time. Keeping a pumpkin warm at night will reduce the threat of splits especially if it is still growing well but if the sheets are wet the purpose is lost and the fruit will become just as cold as the air temperature.
Most seasons I have built structures over them which keep the rain and dew off them and they stayed dry all week while I am away. The structures were covered with clear plastic to allow the sun to warm the pumpkins up on sunny but cool late season days. Before that I put tarps over them but the transpiration from the pumpkins made the sheets underneath wet and also led to stem and blossom rot issues.
There are fabrics which dry out quickly such as commercial tablecloths that can be left on a pumpkin because the sun will dry them out in the morning and you won't have to take them off every morning. That is the situation that I am working with this season although a nice sun bath never hurts.

8/19/2020 8:35:55 PM

President - GPC

Nana RockZ, been one of my fav growers.. and she is locked in this year. Cant wait to see pics of her grand kids sitting on top of those giant fruits.... Grow ON!

8/19/2020 8:52:21 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I also agree with John. Use a fleece type blanket that still insulates if it’s wet. I grow right on top of blue insulation to keep warmth In the fruit away from cold soil. When it gets cooler I put a silver tarp on that adds a little heat to the fruit, but not too much or they will stop in their tracks.

8/19/2020 10:39:07 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Wait you guys don't sleep out there?

8/20/2020 7:29:05 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I think the ground will keep the roots warm and a blanket at night can only help! I'm definitely on Team Nana! Awesome diary pics and pumpkins every year!

8/20/2020 9:39:23 AM

North Of The Border

I think, if you want to get the most warmth out of a blanket, you want a thick dark coloured one. If it's white, it'll probably harm the pumpkin, by reflecting the light, and stopping it from absorbing heat that way.

8/20/2020 11:26:42 AM

Western NY

43 here this morning, that's not good. I'll uncover during the day, try to insulate as best I can during the night. At this point, there's enough mass that you're not going to turn that battleship on a dime. The best strategy is to not let them chill in the first place, as it could take a few days to warm back up.

I've taken the step of building a frame over them to add heat at night on the few special ones that I thought were worth the effort. I'm not sure if it helps, but it probably doesn't hurt much.

8/20/2020 12:00:33 PM

Central NY

“Yer not gonna turn that battleship on a dime”....I’m writing that one down...go nana GO!

8/20/2020 12:32:57 PM

Jericho Vermont

The true question to all of this is: "Is the juice worth the squeeze." (for Porkchop LOL) Playing around with quilts and blankets are a major pain in the butt!

8/20/2020 12:39:42 PM

Westmoreland, KS

94 during the day here...70 at night. I know nothing about blankets!

8/20/2020 3:44:59 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Spudder, I'm glad you brought this topic to the message board, where everyone can benefit from the input of experienced growers. And thanks to the growers offering their knowledge - and humor! I always thought that keeping the pumpkin flesh from getting too cold, may help the daily growth rates from dropping too fast. Didn't know about lowering the chances of splits. For me......the squeeze is on!!

8/20/2020 4:34:01 PM

This is probably the best explanation I have seen. Stuff like this is what makes this site the best.

Nana, I do like following your diary along with every bodies diaries. One never knows when there is going to be a tidbit of info. Your patch of big and orange is sure nice to look at. Good luck on a personal best.

8/20/2020 7:16:36 PM

Bethlehem CT

It is good to see some of the best growers in the world and their responses. It's like the old times on this site. LOL
I am a big fan of Nana, she makes growing look easy! Every year she is growing some of the nicest looking huge pumpkins and her pumpkin patch always looks flawless.

8/21/2020 7:10:03 AM

Western PA

Back in 2010, we had a few very cold nights in July, 47 degrees if I remember. I had lots of blankets over the pumpkin and put a thermometer between the sheet and the blankets. First thing in the morning I checked the temp under the blankets. It was in the low 60's. Thats a pretty good heat savings in my mind, well worth the effort.

8/21/2020 10:24:31 AM

Central NY

Lol John..it’s totally worth it!!... me and Engle use king size blankets...and a pillow...our body heat keeps them warm overnight.

8/21/2020 11:01:44 AM

Grittyville, WA

That explains the shape of your 1800# pumpkin. They aren't dill rings are they... they are hug rings...

8/21/2020 1:03:48 PM

Grittyville, WA

Awww!

8/21/2020 1:09:46 PM

Central NY

(That’s not a hug ring!..wink wink)

8/21/2020 2:19:58 PM