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[email protected]

I've noticed in the grower diaries that folks use many different colors for shading their pumpkins. Blue tarps are cheap & easy to find (I also happen to sell them). Brown & sliver probably shade more effectively, though brown would probably get too hot around here. Orange is being touted in some circles as the best. But where does one find orange tarps & does it really matter at all?
If color does matter, is there a published source or is it just casual observatipons?

Thanks,
Steve Jepsen

11/30/2002 2:20:19 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Steve, You can find some info if you do a search...there is something about how colors promote growth by a plant seeing it as competition for space...there they cite papers about different plants reaction to colors...some promoted growth some didn't...take a look if nothing else it's pretty interesting...if your looking for an edge who knows maybe it works! Chuck

11/30/2002 2:56:15 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I've used blue in the past . I'm switching to the orange because of something I read on the Internet saying orange promoted greater secondary photosynthesis, or something to that effect.
Walmart has lots of both colors.

11/30/2002 3:03:07 PM

[email protected]

I did search this site. I'll try Google.
Thanks Kyle. We have a new Walmart not far from here. I just won't be found anywhere the place for a few more weeks yet. LOL

Prior searches indicate some color sensitivity on certain crops like tomatoes when the color was of a ground covering plastic. I'll have to search more thoroughly.

Steve

11/30/2002 5:19:14 PM

Caceres, Spain

I don't doubt there are many odd things that can influenciate plants and fruit growing, as tarp colour, but the question is, in wich percentage can growth be affected by it. Very very little, would be the expert answer I bet. I am going to put over the tarp a piece of black shade cloth in order to have the fruit cooler, wich in hot days I believe is much more important than the colour the tarp reflects to the pumpkin.
Don

12/1/2002 12:43:55 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

just DON"T use the silver ones that reflect sun light.

12/1/2002 9:17:13 AM

Caceres, Spain

Why, Bryan?

12/1/2002 9:38:00 AM

North Ga

Next season I am going to use blue tarps with white sheets on top of them. If I could find white (inexpensive) waterproof tarps I would use them.

12/1/2002 10:08:12 AM

Kentucky - USA

I'm kind of curious on why not to use a silver tarp as a covering? I can understand not using a silver color tarp as a wall type sun blocker. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks..

12/1/2002 10:31:59 AM

Ga.

by using silver,,pkin gets no light,,will make yourself a squmpkin...LOL

12/1/2002 10:58:07 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Pappy
Half ton fertiliser bags are made of a white woven polythene mesh and lined with a large white polythene bag.
I used the mesh as a tarp for lifting my pumpkin and the bag for shading.They are a bit small but free if you can find someone who uses them.

12/1/2002 12:33:18 PM

[email protected]

AXC,
Funny I didn't think of that. We sell fertilizer in 2000lb woven poly bags. Actually costs more than the more conventional (40) 50lb paper or poly bags. But the weave is a little loose & may not resist water well. Would make a very nice lifting tarp though...hmmm...& if dual use......

Steve

12/1/2002 2:42:07 PM

Long Island,New York

Don...How much % increase is insignificant? Craig Wier lost the world record by 0.15% in 2001.............G

12/1/2002 3:36:47 PM

Ga.

I used the feed sacks made from same thing..Got a Talented wife who sewed them for me,,even helped put them up afterwe finished....Sewed seams so that could use 1/4" pvc pipe....Look in my diary...

12/1/2002 4:07:23 PM

Down Stream

Up here in WV. we use possum skins sewed together for tarps over our pumpkins The smell useally drives off wodchucks and rabbits. This in return means you will have a bigger pumpkin to pick.

12/1/2002 9:20:57 PM

[email protected]

Too many liberal PETA freaks running around loose up here to get away with that. But then maybe a decaying possum carcus would drive away the liberals too? It never fails to amaze me how they LOVE pumpkins. Of course that's until I tell a moderate or consrvative which pesticicdes I use & how often. The libs who hear me skulk off into a group, then leave nattering on about how evil I am. I'm waiting for the picketers to show up at my patch!

On a serious note. Do we know if it's UV light that causes the skin to harden? I have a friend that developed a "sun screen" for plants. I used it 2 years ago, but didn't attempt to control SVB on the plot. I lost the vine early & the test went bust.

Steve

12/2/2002 6:23:04 AM

[email protected]

Hey Jeff, I like those feed bags. That's only 1/4" PVC? Look's bigger. Half maybe 3 quarter? I bought the Mrs a new sewing machine last year for Xmas too. She's talented enough, just needs a little prod. LOL

Steve

12/2/2002 6:39:19 AM

Caceres, Spain

LIpumpkin:
Touched,
Don

12/2/2002 7:46:05 AM