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Lymington UK

At the moment all of our pumpkins are set and on their way and I wouldn’t mind a few thoughts on whether we should be covering them or not?
I can see why growers in really hot parts of the world would want to cover them during the day.
I can also see why growers would cover pumpkins at night in cool areas to keep them warm.
But for us I’m just not sure.
Has anyone done work on this in the past?

6/28/2009 1:42:33 PM

Adams County

IanP, shading pumpkins helps keep the skin from drying out and cracking open. just use a white sheet over them and you will be fine.

6/28/2009 2:09:26 PM

South East

i,d use atleast a bedsheet Ian, i,m sure you get your share of sun. uv rays and effect on the skin...i,m not shure, but i dont think it can hurt the fruit, so why not.

6/28/2009 7:27:03 PM

Buffalo, New York

does the sheet getting wet a good thing or not?

6/28/2009 11:53:10 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Sheets work for some. Here I have problems with slugs liking to crawl under and munch... so I build a freestanding shade shelter over the fruit of rebar, PVC and blue tarp. I make sure to have plenty of air circulation and try to angle it to allow any sun-to-tarp heating of air be 'spilled' rather than pool near fruit. This also keeps fruit dry and prevents soft spots from puddling of water on the fruit. It is going very hot so fast this year that I might go with silver UV tarp instead for the added ability to keep it from heating up.

In fall I have added a few stitches to some old blankets to make fruit covers that must be removed every morning and put on every night to help fruit weather some of the colder nights... and dried every day in dryer or on the line.

6/29/2009 10:10:17 AM

ordinary,VA

posted few years back hope this helps.


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=208740

6/29/2009 9:30:45 PM

ordinary,VA

I have alaways been told that covering your pumpkin would prevent premature hardening of the outer skin and will allow the pumpkin to reach its full genetic potential in terms of size.
true or false ? not sure I always cover my pumpkin.

6/29/2009 9:36:51 PM

Commack, NY

sheets and tarps both work well to protect the tender skin of the fruit. in the last year or two the tarp has fallen out of fashion in favor of a plain white sheet. i like to keep my fruit dry so i am still using a tarp

6/30/2009 8:47:32 AM

Lymington UK

Thanks for the input and have a great year
Ian

7/1/2009 12:21:35 PM

Fresno, CA

What's the minimum distance between tarp and fruit surface? And is the sheet layed directly on fruit surface?

7/1/2009 3:49:20 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I make it a couple of feet, at least 60cm, so there can be air circulation... of a mature fruit. I can almost stand up under mine, and I am 5'5" (1.6m). I do angle and make sure there's a 'spill area' to allow hot air near the top to vent out naturally. This year I think I'm going to try the silver UV resistant tarps instead of the cheapo blues though...

7/1/2009 5:02:31 PM