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Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Last night we had a forecasted frost, the trouble was I didn't hear the forecast. This morning all my plants are dead, just limp black leaves left. The question I have is, do I leave the pumpkins on the vines or do I cut them now and start with patch prep for next year?

9/10/2009 7:19:55 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

When is your weighoff? Unless the vines are totally mush, there is still some roots to add a little....

9/10/2009 7:23:38 PM

[email protected]

Leave them on the vine. The vine might still be capable of water transport.

9/10/2009 7:25:46 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Sorry to hear that Phil.

9/10/2009 7:39:25 PM

Nova Scotia

leave her on but check daily for any possible soft spots

9/11/2009 8:07:36 AM

cold storage

9/11/2009 8:12:10 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Leave it on the vine!

Well, depends on the extent of the frost. But usually, leaves can turn black but the vines are fine. I've had plants last three or four weeks after the leaves are dead. Then when the main vine is finally cut from the fruit, it's still pumping juice. This is weeks after the leaves have gone black. Actually, your leaves will start to regenerate... fresh new green growth will come back to the plant. It's a new lease on life!

Like I say, I've had main vines that were still pumping juice, drip-drip-drip, weeks after frost.

9/11/2009 11:03:57 AM

Indiana

I agree with Don with one slight modification. Wait a day or 2 and see if you are still measuring growth. If you are, give it until you slow down and cant measure any growth.

9/11/2009 11:17:34 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Great advice Tom.

9/11/2009 12:38:10 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Actually, that brings up a topic... why do we always assume that the fruit has to gain in volume to add weight? I don't have time at the moment to go through all my reasonings, but I think we're looking at this in the wrong way. If more juice is flowing in than is evaporating through the fruit, then it's gaining weight. If you cut it, it's sure to lose weight.

9/11/2009 1:44:22 PM