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Danville, CA ([email protected])

Quick question that has had me wondering. It seems that many people go to the trouble of setting up a hoop house with heaters in the early spring to keep everything warm and growing quickly. Why then don't they also put up a hoop house with a heater around the pumpkin in the later part of the season? I hear talk of trying to keep in the warmth and if it was indeed this important, why aren't more people doing more to keep them warm? Am I just not seeing it?

9/3/2008 4:29:05 PM

Pataskala,OH

The pumpkin is done growing by the time it gets cold.

9/3/2008 4:35:13 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

Then why the blankets?

9/3/2008 6:29:27 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Petman,

I can't speak for the growers in Ohio, but I like blankets and sheets on the pumpkins under the tarps. Yesterday it was about 95 degrees at 4 pm in Santa Rosa and the temperature right next to the covered pumpkin was 74 degrees.

Our evening temperatures can dip to around 50 degrees. On a really hot day (100 degrees) there can be a big swing in temperatures. I don't like a big swing in temps. Some growers take covers off during the day and let the pumpkin absorb the heat and then put a blanket on at night to keep it warm.

The blankets also protect the fruit from animal scratches, like cats.

Chuck

9/3/2008 7:18:35 PM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

I too use blankets mainly at night and a light sheet during the day. at about 6-7 pm I put the blankets on to try and retain warmth from that day in to the night.

9/3/2008 10:41:29 PM

Midwest

Maybe when the pumpkin is done growing then warmer don't help. But, we're putting one up tomorrow morn to keep the ground heat and CO2 close to the leaves. Our pumpkin is 46 days old today and might still have some growing to do! HOPING!

9/3/2008 10:56:58 PM

Whidbey Island

I put up a small hoop house and a heater because we get cool temps at night, even in the summer. Blue tarp keeps the sun off the 'kin, small fan keeps it cool in the daytime. Some of my pumpkins have never felt the rain.

9/4/2008 12:19:18 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Hoophouse in spring is easier to protect entire plant, smaller plant. I did have an enclosure over one vine. In fall trying to build around and in the grown vine is harder to give just the pumpkin some protection! I am using blankets just to keep temperatures more stable until I harvest in a few days, I would die to have a split now.

9/4/2008 1:20:14 AM

South Finland

I use both... blanket and hoop. We have had very cold summer, so all extra warmth is wellcome. Hoop gets easily warm when sun shines even a bit. Only way to make fruit even a bit warmer than without hoop.. Also keeps pumpkin and blankets dry;)

9/4/2008 8:13:28 AM