From

Location

Message

Date Posted

North Ga

At what low temp do most of you cover your fruit with blankets and such?

9/22/2003 6:42:28 AM

Knopp, Germany

Brian, I did mine when the temps were predicted below 60 degrees, ....owen

9/22/2003 8:16:06 AM

[email protected]

I'm thinking it's more the difference between the high & the low that matters. Pumpkins prefer when the high & low don't differ by more than 15*F. Splits are thought to be more of an issue when the range is greater.

Temps below freezing would be the obvious exception though.

9/22/2003 8:27:41 AM

Tacoma, WA

We can go from 90° in the afternoon to 54° by morning. I am thinking that 40°+ changes day after day puts additional stress on the fruit. Going passed 600 pounds seems to be a critical stage in a pumpkins life as that is when it is gaining weight at maximum rate. Perhaps its mass has increased so much that the temperature difference from skin to inside core allows the inside to keep on growing while the cooler skin cannot grow as fast.
This has been our warmest summer in many years...it also has produced the most splits!
What say you fellow growers?

Stan

9/22/2003 3:47:46 PM

Key West, FL

I know when I opened my 880 up, the outside touch of the skin was probably around 60 or so, but the inside felt like 80 to 90 degrees! I think we may have something here...

9/22/2003 4:41:51 PM

North Ga

I remember when I was a kid doing bridge construction we would wrap freshly formed concrete with burlap and then cover that in heavy polyethylene to prevent it from freezing. Maybe it would help keep the entire fruit at a more consistant temp when cooler weather spills in. Any comments?

9/22/2003 5:02:45 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Ben, it was beginning to ferment.

9/23/2003 12:57:26 AM

Key West, FL

That could be Carlos!! You probably are right.

9/23/2003 1:07:16 AM