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Rm, Tn

I've look though the How To links and I can't find much about shading.Could someone tell me why and how to use a shade cloth. Our temp don't get very hot here in the mountains,only 84 so far this year,would I still need to do it? I have a shade cloth that covers a greenhouse,would that work?

7/18/2003 6:02:53 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yep, shade it Dottie. The skin can still get rough looking. It's not the temp as much as the direct sun.

Fellow NE Tennessean

7/18/2003 6:39:54 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Like our own skin as we age, a pumpkins skin will lose resiliency. Shading helps prenvent the premature aging of the fruits skin which could also make it more difficult for the fruit to continue expanding. Calcium applications & wraps are rumored to minimize the effects of aging too.

Steve

7/18/2003 6:52:04 PM

Rm, Tn

Ok thanks for the information. Now the next question, How high is the structure above the plant? And do you shade the whole plant or just the pumpkin?

7/18/2003 8:17:51 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Just the pumpkin, and high enough in the middle to let the air moves between the fruit and the the cloth and in the sides to let the air free movements. If you expect the pumpkin to become 3' high I'd build it at least 5'.

Next week I will begin to build mines, each one with 3 pvc pipes 12' long, arched and attached to rebars in the ground. Each pipe 3' apart from the next. To cover it I will look for a good fabric cooler than the tipical blue plastic ones.

Don

7/19/2003 1:25:43 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Dottie...what Don said and you can't go wrong.
Call me and we'll talk.

7/19/2003 6:20:26 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

P.S....you guys would love our NE Tennessee mountain weather, now that it's stopped raining so much!

7/19/2003 6:21:54 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Here's a link to inexpensive tarps of all colors. They're fast with shipping too.
Got mine for about a $1 per...can't beat that at Wal-Mart!
http://www.tarpsonline.com/orange.asp

OK, I'll quit posting now :0)

7/19/2003 6:26:12 AM

Oz

try cane tee pees. i did this with water melons.
i used long grass for more shade.lots of cane round here:)
copper heads and black widdas two!

7/31/2003 12:36:12 PM

Oz

the weather is better in se tenn,,,hehe.

7/31/2003 12:39:14 PM