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Bowdon, GA

We are expecting night time temps in the 60's this week. Considering night time temps are ussually in the 70's through september here I never thought about it much. I see some kin growers cover their kins. At what temps do you start doing this.

8/11/2012 3:10:43 PM

Sourthern Utah

jake i cover fruits from the time there .. 10 days old ,, every nite,, no matters what the temps,, but i live in a very limited climate so to speak,, just my way.. curt

8/11/2012 3:49:13 PM

Ely Mn

id cover if temps are low 60's and below.it dipped down to 45 here the last two nights!we are lucky if it gets 65 here at night.

8/11/2012 4:03:45 PM

Sourthern Utah

by the way jake i use sheet during the day plus,, shade to keep the fruit covered and warm,, should have explained better ,, hvy quilts at nite,, tarps over them if its going to rain,,,,, getting to the weird part of season,, going to need to start ,, covering plants at nite .. with tarpp thats used fer hay stakes,, just the way its is here ,, thought i better explain a bit more ,, curt

8/11/2012 5:46:48 PM

Central Minnesota

White sheets all year for me. Thicker blankets once we get to September.

8/11/2012 6:59:33 PM

Western PA

I put blankets on pumpkins when temps get below 60. If I had any melons left I would probably cover with heavy blanket at 65 or less.
The blankets make a big difference on a big pumpkin. 2 years ago, I stuck a thermometer under the blanket against the pumpkin in the evening.The air temp was 45 degrees the next morning early am ( July 3rd 2010). I lifted the blanket and it read 60 degrees on the thermometer.

It has to help melons as well since they prefer warmer temps than pumpkins. I would fold several blankets and have a 2 " think layer over your melons. That should hold their heat in .
A lot of pumpkin growers will let their fruits be in direct sun in September to absorb heat in the day, then cover them in the evening to keep that heat in. It works.

8/11/2012 9:17:05 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks Guys, Looking through the wife's scrape pile.

8/12/2012 1:41:05 AM

Griffith, In

HOLLOWAY, if you don't have something at home, try the trift shops.

8/12/2012 5:29:19 AM

Rhode Island

sheet all the time (day and night)when the night time temps drop to below 60? we start using the blankets.(plastic tarp over the blankets on rainy days or nights as well)

its important to keep the fruit at as even a temp as possible .when they cool to much the growth slows, then when the fruit heats up the next day? they ramp up again.-------this up and down in temp does the fruit no good ,expecially when your trying to gain inches late in the season.

also to much hot to cold back to hot? could increase splitting in weak areas.

pap@ron

8/12/2012 8:32:06 AM

Bowdon, GA

I like cheap LOL, so I'll do that. Pap the sharp difference is what I was worried about too. Suppost to be back in the 90's hi 70's low again soon, but gottem covered right now. Thanks Jake

8/13/2012 10:48:37 PM