Re: Light for Pumpkins
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Light for Pumpkins
- From: J* F*
- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 01:50:05 -0500
> I live in Columbus, OH. The 40th parallel passes directly through the
>middle of the city. I was wondering about day length and heat having an
>effect on pumpkin size. It seems that the really big pumpkins are grown at
>least 41 degrees and 30 min N.
>
> There is a major difference on how many hours of sunlight I get compared
>with growers in Canada and the New England states, especially when you look
>at it from a per season perspective. Have there been any growers who use
>artificial light on their best plant for to mimic light conditions in the
>northern growing areas fool the plant into thinking the day is longer? It
>might work if you only used the artificial light for a short period at the
>beginning and end of each day. Any thoughts?
>
> Also, I know pumpkins are heat lovers. Does the growth slow
>dramatically at a certain temperature? If it does, this might be another
>area to look. Because in Ohio we can get some brutally hot days in the mid
>to upper 90's that may last 2 weeks.
>
>John J. Pritchard
>
>
John,
Not sure about the light factors but pumpkins don't really like
heat over 90 degrees. The hotter the faster the plants mature and this
usaully results in smaller pumpkins. Pumpkins like a long warm season,but
not hot. The heat seems to speed up their biological clocks making them
live shorter lives. Also temps above 90 hinder pollination. Although in the
past 2 years here in Ohio I haven't seen much trouble from heat and
pollination. Although on really hot days I have seen scorched leaves but
timely misting call help with this. It is also important to shade or cover
the pumpkins from the sun during most of their growing season.
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