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Cheyenne,WY

Do pumpkins experience any type of weight gain after the leaves are frosted?

I have a suggestion from Chris S. to cover with poly which I feel I can easily do and attach it to my hail netting poles, but I'm not sure it's worth covering every plant at this point in the season.

Well, it appears that we have a chance (50%+) for frost Friday night where I live. Just after we set a record for temperatures:

"The National Weather Service says Cheyenne's average temperature from June through August was a record 69.9 degrees." That means 67ish at my house.

Thoughts?

9/6/2012 8:35:00 PM

Massachusetts

misters all nite...............

9/6/2012 8:45:46 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

An old timer told me that farmers used to light fires during the early morning hours of an expected frost. Supposedly the smoke creates a barrier over the ground and saves the crop from freezing. If you have ever seen when smoke comes out of a chimney and drops to the ground you will know what I mean. The smoke will travel a long ways like this!!! Has any one else ever heard of this or was this guy bull shi... me??

9/6/2012 8:49:17 PM

West [email protected]

Here are some things that work to bring the temp up a few degrees Fire/charcoal logs, Fans, water, tarps, and actually having boards around the plant keeps the thermal temps directed on your pumpkins it doesn't do much but it might help a little. Another thing to keep in mind are that trees in the middle of a forest are effected very little by frost yet the trees on the out sides get hit hard. If the leaves die your pumpkin will grow very little if any. Hope any of that helps, Good luck

9/6/2012 9:10:19 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

like marley said keep the some water on the plants. In a light frost situation the water on the leaves doesn't freeze and will insulate. you should only need to worry in the last few hours leading up to sunrise though. I wouldn't keep them wet overnight.

9/6/2012 11:03:46 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

Never thought of the misters!! They do that in Florida for the orange trees when they are in blossum. Good call!!!

9/7/2012 4:40:24 AM

Princeton Kentucky

Water is good..These Folks are right.. water heavy just before the freezing temps actually show up. We use to water so heavy in north Texas so that the leaves were incased in Ice which insulated the leaves..its the freezing ambient air that burns the cells in the leaves and stems..good luck

9/7/2012 8:31:38 AM

Cheyenne,WY

Thanks and those are good suggestions. Do you know if once the plant has been frosted, it will still gain weight from the roots?

9/7/2012 10:22:48 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I doubt it. Frost hits a plant like round up, only faster!!

9/8/2012 4:09:05 AM

Rhode Island

yes pumpkins still grow for up to a week after a heavy frost.its been done before.

9/8/2012 10:22:39 AM