From

Location

Message

Date Posted

norway , maine

When in September do you start letting your pumpkins get sun ? and for how long ? and is there a better time ? like morning, mid-day or afternoon ? Thanks - Mitch

8/27/2015 8:42:36 PM

Western NY

Yep. If for other reason than to warm up the fruit and hold in some heat overnight. I usually still protect the top of the fruit at mid-day if the sin is pretty intense.

8/27/2015 8:47:37 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Shade doesnt stop the orange, but genes do. I used to never cover my pumpkins thinking the Orange was most important. I realized after a few years that the sun wasn't making them more orange but it sure was making them weigh less. I have a pumpkin that has rarely seen the sun this year but I guarantee it is the craziest orange pumpkin you ever saw.

8/27/2015 11:12:41 PM

Muddy Waters

Me too I have the oranges pumpkin of my life it hasn't son ounces son I don't think the sun has anything to do with it if you are you might want to try some beta-carotene LOL just kidding but I don't know maybe that would work that works at people these plants are a lot like people good idea to warm the pumpkins up Maybe let them have like an hour or two so the sun in the morning but that would be it just to warm them up and put the sheets back on keep them soft

8/28/2015 6:35:07 AM

Muddy Waters

I'm getting lazy in my old age voice text LOL I think the point was taken if confused shoot me a question

8/28/2015 6:36:22 AM

bottom of every pumpkin I ever seen is never orange
I disagree

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=121600

8/28/2015 7:30:48 AM

Bethlehem CT

I never remove the sheets they stay on until the end.

8/28/2015 7:46:01 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I understand the point about the bottom of the pumpkin but I am talking about direct sunlight. When covered with a tarp or even a sheet, some light passes thru there. So there is def some relationship between color and light in general. But I'm saying if your pumpkins gonna be orange then it's gonna be orange, covered or not.

8/28/2015 10:57:54 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I'm going to say genetics does all the work in coloring too. This red one below was covered the entire season under a sheet. It was dark orange as they come.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=209680

8/28/2015 12:41:24 PM

norway , maine

Thankyou for the feed back everybody

8/28/2015 6:57:22 PM

Upa Creek, MO

On a tangent, how are your Red Sox? lmao.

8/28/2015 10:47:38 PM

norway , maine

I like where my Sox are heading with Dombrowski ...it was time for Lucchino and Cherrington to go...The Don Orcillo firing is a head scratcher...He is going to get a good gig somewhere probably a major network ....The day to day product is unwatchable...early on it wasn't a team it was a bunch I and Meez but since they have called up the farm kids it has gotten better...still sucks

8/29/2015 8:33:13 AM

norway , maine

Your Cardinals are definitely the model of sustained competitive baseball year in year out...

8/29/2015 8:45:01 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I was just waiting till the season transpired a bit to reflect on the call out you did to Saint Louis months ago. But anything can happen in October like a quick sweep that closes the season down in a week.

Best of luck with the orange

8/29/2015 9:31:56 AM

norway , maine

My call out of the Cards was not a true reflection of my real thoughts on the espionage matter at the time...it was to poke at the folks who spin,twist and make up their own facts about my Patriots....I really do like the cards...Molina is the best catcher/leader in baseball

8/29/2015 11:08:26 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I let the pumpkin get the sun on days that are warmer than 70 degrees, soon as I come home from work they get the blanket. I also wash my pumpkins, and wipe them down prior to putting their blankets back on them. If they are smooth skin they will polish like an apple.

8/29/2015 11:46:04 AM

West Paris Me.

Smallmouth that pumpkin is gorgeous!

8/29/2015 12:53:00 PM

New England

I let them get sun from when I leave for work to when I come home. The sun makes them develop that deep, dark vibrant orange color. Also make sure you trim away any leaves that are shading your pumpkin. The area that is left shaded will not turn a true orange ( I am having that problem). if you don't want to uncover, use a thin sheet so sunlight gets through. I keep mine covered in blankets/towels and it doesn't allow the sun to get to the skin

8/31/2015 8:12:25 AM