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Addison IL.

Its tomboy again with another silly question.I have been warming the soil with black plastic for about 4 weeks now and its coming up to planting date which I hope to occur on or around may 3 if the weather holds.My question is I am in the process of making my own green house/cold caps for my pumpkins as weather is between 50 to 65 degress and warming slowly. They are being made of 5 gallon bukets with the bottom cut away and replaced with clear plastic for roofs when they go on the mounds my question is are they adequete shelter and do I need air holes so as to not bake the plants also what temp do I take the bukets/greenhouses of the plants as mid days can get in the 70's and sunny this is going to be one new experience for me and I figured turn to peaple who have knowledge in AG's thaks for the advice
new grower and probably a pain to some tomboy111

4/27/2005 11:34:04 AM

Bristol, ME (stunner906@roadrunner.com)

Any protection is better than none in the early season. However, temps inside any kind of encloseure with plastic on top will skyrocket to over 100 degrees or more very quickly even on a 50 degree day outside when the strong spring sun hits it. You will definately need to provide some ventilation. This could mean folding back the plastic on top in the morning on nice days, then replacing the full cover at night, or some other method. Whatever is done, you will need to monitor the temps closely as it will not take much to fry your tender seedling. My other concern is that your bucket enclosure will not provide protection long as your plants will most likely outgrow the buckets by the third week in May. You may consider a different, larger enclosure that will provide ventilation while keeping temps up while also giving your plant room to get bigger and establish itself in a somewhat controled environment. A classic hoophouse or coldframe may be the way to go.

4/27/2005 12:00:21 PM

Deer Park, WI

I personnally wouldnt use 5 gallon buckets with the bottom cut out. THis is a stage of development where sunlight is very important. A 5 gallon bucket will not allow adequant amounts of sunlight to reach the photoreceptors on the growing leaves.

If this is your only option, use them at night as frost protection only. Peel them off during the day so they can soak up that wonderful sunlight.

4/27/2005 12:14:03 PM

Addison IL.

the temps around here change fast one day its 50-60's the next day its 40's I heard cold stunts there growth and will only be using the bukets at night thanks for the advice but how to build a hoophouse that is within a budjet as I am a part timer with a son single and money is important but my pumpkins are precious I did buy some seedling covers light weight from a nurseriy there like light blankets can I use those for the pumpkins I am afraid of the cold changes the frost is gone but the temps are still not rising above 70 degreess also any advice on harding them off is helpful thanks for the help so far good advice and Im listening to you guys because you know what your doing thaks tomboy

4/27/2005 5:40:42 PM

Addison IL.

I for once think buckets are a great idea every one needs to learn from there own experiences try it if not then you knoe or go with someone elses idea but dont follow everything you read after all it is just gardening.

4/27/2005 11:55:03 PM