From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Usa

How do you make the frame for the tarps to cover up the pumpkins. I have seen several different ones. What's the least expensive and the easiest to make? I have my tarps already.
Thanks for any information.

7/2/2003 12:10:36 AM

Brillion Wisconsin

Hey there Azkikn, By the way I love the name. When It comes to this topic It seems everybody does it a little differant. Some people build big elaborate structures and other's just whip up a few sticks and an old bed sheet. When it comes right down to it, all that matters is providing shade for your fruit. I personally build a more heavy duty type stucture out of 2x2's and blue tarp. I use dry wall screws to build the frame work out of the 2x2's. Then I use a staple gun to attach the blue tarp. I keep the north side of these enclosures open so I can have access to the pumpkin.
I recently saw a picture of a pumpkin in a old tent that was picked up at a garage sale. I really like that idea. Just about anything will work. Good Luck...Dean o

7/2/2003 1:05:12 AM

porterville,california usa

i use 3/4" pvc pipe. get 4 three way 90 degree elbows and enough pipe to go around the 4 sides of your tarp. glue the pipe into the elbows to form a square (or rectangle) a few inches bigger than the tarp. be sure to have one outlet on each elbow pointing down. cut 4 pieces of pipe to the height you want the shade to be, and glue these into the downward pointing outlets to make the 4 legs. use wire or string to tie the tarp to the frame. if you want it to be collapsable (for winter or whatever) you don`t have to use glue, just push the pipe into the fittings. the string will hold it together. it takes about 5 minutes to build and it only costs about 5 bucks. won`t rust either so it lasts for years! my cornstalk shades didn`t meet up with my wifes standards for the neighborhood so i had to upgrade to something "pretty".

7/2/2003 2:27:08 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

One way I've seen: Concrete Reinforcing Bar (Rebar) can be pounded into the ground on the corners. Then PVC pipe (just slightly larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the rebar) is slid over the one rebar. The arc the pipe skyward while working it over another corner.

The way I'll do it: I have some 1 inch galvanized conduit. Around $2.00 per 10' length at Home Depot. Form a sweep (an arc) with a conduit or hydraulic pipe bender. Slip this right over the rebar in a similar fasion as PVC. I prefer rebar to PVC as it's more rigid. Same price & still doesn't rust. Reuseable too so long as the size similar next year.

NOW> Has anyone checked to see that Walmart is still selling those Orange tarps again this year?

Steve

7/2/2003 5:51:08 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Here's your link for inexpensive orange tarps.....http://www.tarpsonline.com/orange.asp

7/2/2003 6:16:34 AM

ipswich, ma usa

two, two inch PVC pipes 10 feet long
cut in half
two, one inch 10 foot electrical conduit. Dont cut in half
Bang two inch PVC into ground at angle around pumpkin in a box shape.
place electrical conduit in PVC and bend over to other PVC.
Do same with other electrical conduit.
Zip tie the conduit were it crosses over the middle.
Place tarp over top
Use black large paper clip type binder thingies (Technical term) to secure tarp to conduit.

In my neck of the woods 10 foot electrical conduit about one buck.
PVC about 3 bucks.

Hope this helps a little

John (5150)

7/2/2003 9:01:13 AM

South Hill, Virginia

I just hammer in three 18" of 1/2 inch rebar on either side of the pumpkin and then slip 1/2 pvc over them. Kinda like the hoop houses everyone builds. I add a furring strip across the top secured with a little duct tape to give it a bit more rigidity. Put a tarp over and secure with those big binder clips. Not much of an investment and it can be broken down and reused the next season. Got the idea from looking at the "In the Patch with Alan Nesbitt". At least I can say I do one thing like Alan Nesbitt:D

7/2/2003 10:24:44 AM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

On the binder clips...........are those the spring loaded clamps that look like giant clothes pins? I assume they are available at Home Depot.

7/2/2003 10:48:09 AM

The binder clips are ~$2.99/dozen for large ones at Office Depot. ~$.99/doz for the medium size.

I plan on doing the same thing, 1/2 inch PVC over rebar for teh basic frame (I will check out the 1" conduit today).

This will be my first year doing this... thanks for the tips!

7/2/2003 12:23:30 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Brent is right. I get mine at Staples. They are the big ones that you clip a big stack of papers with. I'm sure clamps would work too but would probably cost more.

I think the key is to use something that can be easily removed so you can keep an eye on the fruit.

7/2/2003 12:34:03 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Walmart also has a bag of clamps for 5 bucks. There is an assortment of about 5 different sizes. But for the money you can get 10 or so usefull ones out of it. The clamps are made of plastic (black with orange tips). I used them to hold the ends of my hoop houses together and they worked great.

John (5150)

7/2/2003 1:23:42 PM

Rm, Tn

How high should these structures be? and how wide?

7/2/2003 2:26:58 PM

Usa

Wow, I just got back from home depot and need to go back. What great ideas. I bought two 8'6" X 11'6" AV protection, water, mildew, weather protection tarp. It is silver on one side and brown on the other. I also got the regular blue tarps. Is that big enough.
I love the old tent idea that would be easy but I don't have any.
I really appreciate all of the help. I'll get supplies tomorrow and put them together.
GREAT IDEAS.
Thanks guys/gals!

7/2/2003 6:10:05 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Isn't this the part where we all start debating the benefits of different colored tarps? Last year it seems the majority favored Orange.

Steve

7/2/2003 9:52:51 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Last year Dave Stelts put up a post asking where he could buy orange tarps. That started a run on them....I can imagine what tarpsonline.com thought when the orange tarps they've had forever started flying off the shelves:) I don't know all the arguments for them but if Stelts wants orange tarps then it's good enough for me....I got mine.

7/2/2003 10:55:23 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I remember reading online someone's professional opinion that the color orange helped with "secondary photosynthesis"(whatever the heck that is?) and contributed somehow to the final color and skin integrity of the pumpkin.
Who knows?
I'll be using orange and blue to see if there is a noticeable difference....which I doubt there will be.

Either way, tarpsonline.com sells 'em cheap, and mine arrived very promptly after ordering.

7/3/2003 6:17:12 AM

Cologne / Germany

I heard that people use red tarps with tomato crops (on the soil, to cover). The reason is that reflecting red light is simulating a massive contention between competing plants which forces them to put all their energy into fruit production. Decide for yourself if you like that theory or not.
However, I have some orange umbrellas...

7/3/2003 6:46:33 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

floh is correct. Different colored ground covers have proven to alter some crop performance. If all it took was DStelts inquiry to start the fad, I wouldn't suggest that alone proves the value. Has there been any valid field test data collected?

I thought the concept of competition was being bantered about. Don't recall if it was theoretical or actual.

Neat concept though.

Steve

7/3/2003 8:55:11 AM

Montoursville, PA

I bought mine last year. My technical reason is it shows the pumpkin size and color to mimic. ]:o) The real reason was it looks good in the patch.

7/3/2003 9:31:57 PM

Joliet, IL

i just pound rebar in the ground, with the n.w. corner
the highest and the south corners low and the n.e
corner somewhat in between. this gives good pitch for
water run off. then use duct tape at the point you need to
make a hole in the plastic tarp. wrap the piece of duct
tape from one side to the other and make a hole through
both sides of tape and tarp. this will prevent the tarp
from tearing at the points of attachment. then use wire
tie to connect the tarp to your rebar points. the ripples
in the rebar will prevent any sliding of the wire. when
you pound in your rebar do not pound it in too deep at
first. give yourself plenty of room for pumpkin to
expand. set your stakes and tie up the tarp. monitor it
through the day to make sure the shading is set up right.
if everything is cool, then pound in stakes a little more
to make sure they are anchored, but not too deep that you
can't remove them if necessary. if you do accidently pound
one into far and can't pull it out, use an old flat head
shovel with a rock or brick with leverage in the grooves of
the rebar. i had to do that this morning. leave the rebar
sticking out of the ground longer than you need in case
you need to adjust your connection points higher as the pumpkin grows. i am no expert, but this works for me.

7/4/2003 11:28:58 PM