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San Jose [email protected]

I always hear that when it gets cold growth slows way down. would keeping the pumpkin warm with an electric blanket at night help this issue? Our nights are usually in the mid 50's could this be why growth isn't that great?

7/29/2008 12:57:57 AM

Columbus,ohio

I'd be affraid of rot or burning because of how hot it is. Maybe another way could be fresh-from-the-dreyer blankets.

7/29/2008 1:39:00 AM

Rhode Island

gary
we have contempleated the same thing. just never did it because we add extra blankets the colder it gets.plus we have quite a few pumpkins to cover.
yes i believe a electric blanket on low would do well.not sure if you need to protect from dew or getting the blanket wet?
pap

7/29/2008 7:22:54 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Gary

A few frowers in my area have experimented with not electric blankets but electric mattress pads (thiner and easier to work with) the results was not what we expected. It actually seemed to shut down the pumpkins growth. We think by bundling up your pumpkin at night (with just blankets)it holds in its own natural heat, which is a good thing, but when you introduce more heat it triggers some sort of response in the pumpkin to shut down. We experienced this on multiple fruits on multiple plants not just one. The plants that were not covered with the heated pad did not slow down and contunued to put on greater daily gains.

John (5150)

7/29/2008 8:33:28 AM

Western NY

I know someone who tried it - the blanket shorted out and fried the pumpkin.

7/29/2008 8:50:49 AM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

I did it last year with one of mine and had it on low with a timer so that it only came on at night for about 5-7 hours and then it was off during the day. I wished I'd tried it a little earlier on in the growth curve to see if it made a difference. Also if you choose to use one I could only suggest a new blanket and as small as you can. Oh yea just as a safty thing I had a non electric blanket between the pumpkin and the electric blanket just to be extra safe.

7/29/2008 4:28:12 PM

Utah

I know someone who tried it... they had it set on the lowest it would go... and it still "burned" a soft on the top of the pumpkin. and the pumpkin didn't make it to the weigh off.
with that said I think it would work if you could get a blanket with the right settings...
if you try it be very careful.

7/29/2008 8:08:12 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Another alternative?:
Build a greenhouse over the fruit, and run a heater in there at night. You can open it up during the day, so the pumpkin doesn't cook.

7/29/2008 8:34:44 PM

Minnesota

Might try a dark colored thick sleeping bag, I think the dark atracts heat and the thickness will hold on to it.

7/29/2008 9:49:42 PM