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stoughton WI

The last few nights have been about 52,53 degrees. Put the big blue tarp over my plant with a couple of heaters inside in the middle of August uuuggghhh. Mr. Pickles gains have not gone down.staying at a little over 32 lbs a day still. So it seems to be helping. When I measure our other pumpkin in a couple days I'll see for sure if it did any good.

8/13/2017 8:54:03 PM

Whidbey Island

Here in the cool Pacific NW I use small hoop houses with small heaters on a thermostat every single night. In the month of July our average low was 54 degrees, so I have to do something to keep em warm. Good luck.

8/13/2017 10:27:06 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

We have been in the 50's the past 2 weeks here around Anamosa, in town. Our valley usually runs about 5 degrees cooler at the house, a little cooler still down at the creek bottom garden. Growth is slowing to a crawl. Its too far to run electricity, too risky with flood potential, so heaters are out. We are at Mother Nature's mercy, and she isn't being kind.

8/13/2017 10:39:06 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Is it the pumpkin that needs to be kept warm or plant or both?

8/13/2017 11:03:19 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Our night temps have been running in the very low 50s for at least a week now. Our daytime temps have been in the upper 70s to low 80s. I let the pumpkin warm up during the day and blanket them at night. Is that sufficient?

8/13/2017 11:10:47 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

One thing that I do is to avoid putting cold water on the plants in the evening. If it gets dry I will water from the hose in the morning when its cold anyway. Then I fill black plastic garbage cans to let the water warm up in the sun. I water with 5 gallon buckets so the warm water gets right to the root zone. I found that it does make a few pounds difference in the overnight growth.

8/14/2017 6:55:25 AM

Nh

do you just drape the tarp over your whole plant or post it up some how?

8/14/2017 8:19:24 AM

stoughton WI

As I understand, the plant pretty much shuts down under 55 degrees, so I have been covering the whole plant. I will post a pic of how I keep it up off the plant. I use pvc pipe that I have for my hoops and rebar stuck in the ground. Also I use binder clips to help keep it above the plant.

8/14/2017 11:21:41 AM

stoughton WI

Pic ha been posted. If you are covering your plant, place the frames out past your plant.so when dragging tarp or plastic up and over you won't damage the leaves as the plant grows you may have to move the frames. I don't recommend putting it up if it's going to rain.

8/14/2017 11:35:46 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Rick you are so close to a poly tunnel let's just quick build one now that I have more time when you want to build it

8/14/2017 11:48:17 PM

Nh

Rick, I maybe as crazy as you are. I created my own big blue tarp the other day. I attached a braided wire between two trees to create a ridge just high enough to tie parachute cord rafters down to stakes in the ground. one heater and maintained 60 degrees. outside was 55. Pumpkin grew more that night than in the past 3days so im hooked!

8/18/2017 8:28:12 AM