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Dorval,Quebec

Interested to know your observations on what minimal night temp makes a difference in continued daily growth...What night temp shuts down growth....

8/19/2017 9:44:32 AM

Jericho Vermont

Interesting question Mike and wish we would have talked more at patch tour. Studies have shown that photosynthesis needs a temp of 50 minimal to be effective but I have not seen studies on fruit temp requirements to trigger the plant to send food its way. I do believe in our cooler climates fruit temps are very important. I would like to do a warming hut study as I don't believe the fruits demands on the plant are very high when the fruit is below a certain temp regardless if the plant is at 50 degrees and photosynthesis is happening. I believe if we could do a better job keeping the fruit itself at a constant temp we would get better growth regardless of the outside temps. This is especially true seeing we get the most fruit growth at night well after photosynthesis has occurred. I am not suggesting an insulated hut around the pumpkin would be equal to a greenhouse but it could be a more economical way to increase nighttime growth in cooler climates.

8/19/2017 11:30:58 AM

Midway, UT

Having moved to a cool climate, I can tell you I've almost completed a year long study of how low night time temps affect the pumpkin and it wasn't by choice.

My average night time temp is around 52-54 degrees in July and August. Day time temps are in the 90s. I would hazard a guess that I lose about 3-5 pounds a day in growth on average because of it. That adds up to a lot of weight in the end. Even though my daytime temps are "normal" I don't have a descent daytime temp until 11:00 until noon because it takes time to warm up. Right now it is 72 degrees at 11:11am. High today will be 88.

I have a temperature gauge by my patch. It hit a low of 47 last night. At 2:30am I was below 54 degrees were it is too cool for the pumpkin to grow. About 9:30am I got above 54 degrees. By 12:30 today the pumpkin will finally be at an optimal growing temp 80 degrees.

1/3 of my day today the pumpkin couldn't grow and nearly half of the day it will be below optimal temps. Biggest pumpkin has an outside shot of over 1,000 by the end of the year. It would be interesting to see how that same seed would have done in a better climate.

8/19/2017 1:20:21 PM

Bethlehem CT

In my opinion a night in the 70's is best for growth, but the problem is if you have a night in the 70's, chances are your daytime high was way too high.

8/19/2017 7:37:12 PM

Dorval,Quebec

Thank you for the replies....I am going to wrap with old quilts under 60F....at least I can do that...I do remember years ago getting an extra 10 lbs one week wrapping at 35F nights,45F days

8/20/2017 12:04:52 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

When we are going to get cold nights, I like to uncover them in the day to get some solar heating. Then blankets to hold it in. But I wonder how much that helps when the vines get cold. I worry that cold vines slow water and nutrient transfer to the fruit,

8/20/2017 12:25:43 AM

west central IN/East central IL

I've noticed anything below 58 significantly reduces growth. That's for several hrs at night. 65-70 seems the best.

8/20/2017 7:47:55 AM