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Small town in California heart land

put up a shade for the pumpkin? I have looked at a ton of pics and it seems like they all have one.

Are there any pros and cons for doing this? If I dont put one up will my pumpkin get sunburnt or harden too fast? Im sure this is such a newbie question but I was wanting to know.

7/19/2004 12:21:23 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Answer is yes!..These will out grow the natural leaf sun protection and you have to keep the sun off to avoid hardening of the outer shell. Unless you like big splits when it has a growth spurt...Grow em Big! Chuck

7/19/2004 7:17:00 AM

Small town in California heart land

OH well shoot I'd better get my booty on a shade for it. Is a shade screen OK or should I use a tarp? we have soem shade screen already probablly a tarp too.

7/19/2004 10:48:50 AM

Saegertown Pa.

for now put a sheet over the pumpklin to keep the sun off.

7/19/2004 11:53:20 AM

Canada

What Ive been doing is everytime a new female arrives i put a small end table ( out door patio table) over the pumpking it measures 2ft square and stands about 2 ft high on legs,
i just place that over the female and keep it there till it has outgrown it..

dave

7/19/2004 2:46:43 PM

Small town in California heart land

thats great about the table. I would have never thought about it. I have one promicing looking pumpkin I want to protect. so I moved it out away form the fence into the open. I think Ill use the table Idea!! Thanks a ton.

7/20/2004 12:27:13 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Don't for get to remove the nearby leaves that might sratch & scar the pumpkins skin as the wind blows them around.

7/20/2004 7:07:38 AM

Small town in California heart land

I noticed that the skin was very tender. the vine got a scratch on it and I was suprised...I wont hurt the vine by cutting on it? should I cut the vine after it grows a little bit from the pumpkin? Or just make sure there is no more pumpkins??

7/20/2004 10:59:38 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Cut the vine? I would only cut the leaf stalks & then only where they interfere with the fruit. A sharp knife will cut the leaf stalk cleanly. Opinions vary as to how much "stub" should remain. I try to get as close as possible without causing damage to the vine itself. Do take care not to tear the leafstalk away since this can harm the vine.

7/20/2004 11:51:49 AM