Tarps and protecting the pumpkins?
Well our season started out so good. Then we had some of the worse heat hit
us that we have had in a long time. They said the heat index was up to 120
some days. Seems when the hot weather hit us our pumpkin slowed down and got
to where they were only putting on 4 or 5 lbs a day at most. The best we done
this year was around 15 lbs a day. Last year we had some mid 20 lb days and
all the ones last year were set very late because of the storm damages we had
that we had to replant late just to be able to have pumpkins. It looks like we
are not going to go over the 500 lb mark this year and if we do it will be a
miracle.
I guess this is geared more to the growers who grow in the hotter regions
in the Southern parts. Now to the questions. The Tarps we are using are the
cheap blue tarps. They are not UV rated. Will this make a difference on the
pumpkins with the Pumpkins not being protected from the UV Rays?? I notice a
lot of the orange tarps that I have been on the net looking at have the UV
protection. What is the general thoughts on Tarp Protection. I know the
pumpkins have to be shaded but to what extent and how much and what kind of
protection.
I have used shade frame systems to set under for protection in the sun. I
have used the blue tarps on a couple occasions. It seems that while under the
blue tarps you can feel the sun and heat coming thru the shade. Whenever I use
the White tarps, or a heavier type tarp that has the UV rating,they seem to
offer a better type of protection from the sun and heat. So does it make a
difference to the pumpkins being protected to keep them growing. Could this be
why our pumpkins slowed down putting on weight?
I will be sending a message soon with questions about Shading over the
Plants using Greenhouse Shade Cloth.
Thomas Hathorn
S.W. Oklahoma
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