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New Richmond Wi

Will A pumpkin put on any gains after the plant dies back after a heavy overnight freeze? How many days might the remaining main vines and side vines with no leaves feed the Pumpkin?

9/27/2022 12:44:01 PM

Kutztown, PA

That sounds like maybe a question for Andy Wolf. My guess is once the leaves go down the factory shuts down. I say that since capillary action that facilitates fluid movement is dependent on the respiration of the leaves. The freeze likely burst every plant cell that dropped below 32 degrees rendering the pathways for transport busted. Even if the roots didn't freeze and unburied section of vine is shot. Especially the main at the pumpkin since it's likely exposed. I'm not sure if there's a such thing as "momentum" in plant growth but doubt it.

9/27/2022 1:53:58 PM

Kutztown, PA

"any" unburied section

9/27/2022 1:55:01 PM

Grittyville, WA

Thats an interesting question for someone using a scale. The it seems like the pumpkin could possibly still pull 100 lbs of nutrients out of the vines if the chemistry was right for it to do so.

9/27/2022 3:18:01 PM

Western NY

I haven't had to deal with it in recent years, but I remember in this thread they will still grow a bit after frost: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=267602

9/27/2022 3:50:56 PM

Kutztown, PA

Gritty - didn't I see you at a Flyers game:
https://www.google.com/search?q=gritty+mascot&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1014US1014&oq=Gritty+mascot&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0i512l9.5106j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

9/27/2022 4:03:39 PM

Muddy Waters

Next time turn on your sprinklers at 5 am and leave them running till sun up. It will reduce the damage a lot

9/28/2022 8:24:22 AM

Grittyville, WA

That Gritty mascot looks like he might represent the tortured soul of a pumpkin grower, yup!

9/28/2022 12:43:34 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I recall several years ago I pulled up a large amount of vines from giant pumpkin plant(it may have been the whole plant) and set it out on the lawn. Small newly pollinated pumpkins(they may have been pollinated after I pulled it), grew significantly in size, living off the energy of an uprooted plant. The leaves weren't frost damaged though.

9/29/2022 12:07:59 AM

Deer Park WA

In our expierence if the plant freezes hard (all growth is black) its game over and the burnt plant foilage will actually become predatory on the pumpkins stored water. We cover the pumpmin with tarps and water the remaining plant to saturation and try to hold on untill the next weigh off.

9/29/2022 12:20:56 AM