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Macomb County

For those covering their fruit with a blanket to help hold in the daytime warmth now, I suggest putting down a layer of aluminum foil first. Where the blanket helps hold in the warmth, foil reflects warmth back into the fruit. It doesn't matter if the shiny or dull side is up or down. I found out they press foil in double sheets, the only reason one side is shiny and one side is dull when they seprate them.

8/24/2005 12:36:05 AM

Chico, Ca

Lets talk chemistry light... aluminum is very easily robbed of electrons. Look at the pan of lasagna you have covered with foil in the fridge. After a few days the acid in the tomato sauce has eaten holes in the foil. Corrosion. Even in the weakest acid or salt solutions aluminum will corrode in minutes....

Do you ever use calcium blankets on your fruit? Most folks use Chelated calcium for this as the calcium is kept soluable by being held in suspension by guess what?

Usually an acid... My bottle says it uses citric acid.
do you normally rinse your fruit after you apply blankets? I don't.

Now apply aluminum foil over the fruit. Heavy corrosion will result in even the lightest amount of moisture or humidity.

if you wipe your fruit down with bleach residual chlorine will attack the foil too. Not to mention the possibility of fungicides that are chemically reactive with aluminum.

Wanna risk your months of hard work on this Idea.

Has anyone tested the effects of corroding foil on the flesh of their pumpkins. Please let me know what you find.

8/24/2005 1:47:21 AM

Rhode Island

i agree
the fruit needs to be kept warm and at the same time needs some fresh air circulation
dick

8/24/2005 5:41:21 AM

Ohio

Well said C&R,you prolly just saved a few newbies fruit.

Brooks

8/24/2005 8:27:37 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I think the idea has possibilities you could always put the foil layer outside the (fabric) blanket.
Checkout foil blankets on ebay if you have an open mind.

8/24/2005 11:03:26 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

What about those silver colored thermal blankets they give out to runners after marathons? I think I have one of those lying around from Boston a few years ago. (O.K. more like 10...) Perhaps it would do a good job of reflecting the fruit's own heat back in at night without any possible hazards of foil? I think I'm going to see if I still have that and give it a try...
Frank

8/24/2005 11:31:39 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Yes thats what I mean,just bought one for 2 quid.

8/24/2005 11:47:15 AM

Ohio

Edwards, that sounds like a good idea,How much are them thermal blankets?

Brooks

8/24/2005 12:40:36 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

This one at Bass Pro is $2.99:

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=60046&hvarTarget=search

There's also this more heavy duty one for $14.99:

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=60429&hvarTarget=search

But, you can get them just about anywhere.

8/24/2005 1:25:08 PM

Ohio

Thanks crammed,I was thinking they was alot more then that,sounds like a plan.

Brooks

8/24/2005 1:35:53 PM

Eugene, OR

Living in cold country, all I do is use sheets and blankets as the nights cool down into the 40's like it is now. I pull the blankets off in the morning to give the fruit some air. Not sure if it makes a difference or not but it sure makes me feel a little better about the cold nights.

As far as foil goes, most of the heat loss in this case will be due to convection and conduction, not radiation so a using a reflective surface to attempt to redirect the heat will be of little use. A thick blanket will take care of both the conduction and convection losses. Highly reflective surfaces work great when insulating for high temperatures and large amounts of radiation but it's just not necessary here.

8/24/2005 1:58:48 PM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

We have had evening lows in the 40's every night for the past three weeks.

Try a sleeping bag to cover the pumpkin.

8/24/2005 3:38:33 PM

San Diego

I know the blanket method is commonly used in colder climates, and I myself have used techniques in the patch that non-growers laugh or smile at that seem "normal" to me now. That being said, even I have to laugh at the "tucking to bed blanket" lol! Can you imagine what the average Joe would say about you if they knew you put a blanket over your pumpket at night? That would be fun to hear. "what's next, a pair of pajamas for it? Gonna bring your bed out to it and sleep with it?" lol, I'm just having fun! Luckily in san diego no blankets are needed so nobody can make fun of me here for using this technique:) Jimmy

8/24/2005 4:56:43 PM

Butler, Ohio

I been getting alot of comments lately while I'm tucking my pumpkns in for the night with their blamkets...lol. Most folks just chuckle and say "see ya at the fair!!" lol

8/24/2005 8:10:25 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

Me too, I've had non-pumpkin growers sort of shake their heads in wonder at seeing me 'tuck the blankets in around the edges' to make sure the pumpkins are kept nice and warm during the night.

Cameron

8/24/2005 8:13:57 PM

HOUSING STYROFOAM! Build a square box of this to fit around your pumpkin. The styrofoam will keep the heat in with a blanket on top. In the winter when I go snowmobiling I put small pieces of styrofoam in my gloves and they help to capture the heat from my fingers and lock it in to prevent me from freezing my fingers off and toes. Same with pumpkins!

8/24/2005 9:39:07 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

If you think neighbors laugh about "tucking your pumpkin in" - what till you hear the riducule when you tell them about rubbing olive oil on the pumpkin to bring out the orange color. Cruel and unusual.

8/25/2005 3:32:46 PM

Oz

binky,bubblewrap,binky,,,

8/26/2005 9:28:31 PM

Illinois

gas and a match that should keep it warm.

8/28/2005 1:16:22 AM

Ohio

how ya think a blanket and old leather bed liner(for truck bed) on top of that would work?

8/28/2005 4:53:34 AM