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Acton

Im sure its been done - but has anyone tried using heating blankets on these cool nights? Here in Southern Ontario the nights are beginning to dip pretty low with some 5C forecasts for overnight lows in the next day(s) soon.

I have a small tent / lean-to structure I have created around 2 of my larger pumpkins. I was wondering if a very mild heating blanket thrown over the pumpkin or at the very least on top of a blanket that is covering the pumpkin so that the heating blanket is not DIRECTLY touching the skin of the pumpkin??

Any thoughts?? Is it a bad idea??

I don't have any serious contenders being my first time growing AG's this year but would like to extend the growing season for the kins as long as possible...

9/9/2014 1:58:45 PM

Acton

I just read a thread from a few years ago saying not to do it...
Has anyone tried putting a blanket between the heating blanket and the pumpkin for minimal warmth and seen any success?

9/9/2014 3:03:04 PM

British Columbia, Canada

My grandpa tried putting a heating blanket on one of his pumpkins a few years ago & when he checked on the pumpkin in the morning it had pretty much turned to mush, lol.

He must've had the temp set to high or something.

9/9/2014 3:32:39 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Better use a ground fault isolator...or you might get fried..

9/9/2014 4:08:25 PM

Midway, UT

I've seen two posts that said growth slowed down when an electric blanket was used on the pumpkin.

9/9/2014 4:46:29 PM

Mtn. Green, Utah

We had a member of our club try it and it caused a serious soft spot. I'm not saying it couldn't be done...I would bet someone has pulled it off. Just sayin' be careful!

9/9/2014 5:47:45 PM

Muddy Waters

yes too much heat in my opinion.Bad idea Heat equals disease,Plus If the plant shuts down warm fruit wont help,

9/9/2014 6:07:30 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

Hey Dune I'm growing in Goodwood just down the road. I purchased a Toronto Maple Leafs heating blanket but the pigeons kept crapping on it. lol But seriously, I had some trouble this year with a black piece of cloth cooking the top of one of my pumpkins. I would test a heating blanket carefully because the heat might not be constant across the whole blanket. I use a big comforter on the pumpkin and remay cloth over the leaves in the patch. I'm told it keeps the patch a little warmer and prevents frost damage.

9/9/2014 6:29:22 PM

Hanson Ma

Just my 2 cents. Heating blankets are not made to be used outdoors. ie not used with moisture. I would think very unsafe. I have a small dark tarp over a make shift green house which keeps heat in pretty well. How ever I was considering next year getting heating cable in the ground around the chosen pumpkin to keep the soil warm from underneath the pumpkin. Just what I'm considering doing.

9/9/2014 7:56:09 PM

Central Illinois

If you try it ,maybe use a digital thermostat, use a ground-fault circuit interrupter( GFCI) and have a connection you can unplug before entering near the blanket.

Maybe laying gutter cables on the ground near the pumpkin would work to raise the temp a few degrees(with a thermostat)

9/10/2014 8:28:43 AM

Rhode Island

dune 26

a std or quilted blanket is good to protect the pumpkins exterior during cool and cold nights.
a heating blanket is not necessary as the blanket itself is just to insolate the fruit from frost-etc.
.
the plant itself is what needs protecting from frost ( if the fruit is still growing ) because the plant is the sink for the pumpkin.

pap

9/10/2014 9:24:55 AM

Acton

Ok thx guys.

Pburdon where did you pick up some remay cloth for the plants? I amy try that.

Currently I have a couple of small shelters around the kin - I could add a comforter or quilt on the actual kin underneath the shelter for the cold nights. And for the frost warning nights it sounds like remay cloth may be the trick on the plants?

9/10/2014 10:57:44 AM

Tinykinville

dune ive three times used a tent structure over kins during cooler sept weather, i then also cover kin with blankets to keep heat even and finally i put heater on low on top of kin blowing away from fruit. first two have made weighoff last one is under tent now. you will not see some awesome growth but should remain about constant with normal curve in decent weather.

9/11/2014 2:39:30 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

Dune26 this is the closest place near us to get the Reemay type row cover. http://www.damseeds.ca/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=2881

9/11/2014 3:18:54 PM

Acton

Thx Shep. I will be going down to pick something up this week I hope!

9/11/2014 3:49:05 PM