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Lombard, IL

My pumpkin's (3 on 3 different plants) growth has slowed to a crawl. I am trying to check off one by one what might be wrong. Evening temp is on my list and I would like the expert opinion. I live in the Chicago burbs and we have been having a pretty mild summer so far. Most days it is in the low to mid 80's. But the last week or so have been even colder. We barely reach 80 degrees. Most nights it is down in the 50's. Assuming I would be able to check everything else off the list (water, nutrition, disease, etc.) can that play a role? It seems to me that the cooler temps came around the time the slow growth. Should I start putting blankets on them at night? Any other Chicago growers notice growth slowing a bit the last few days?

7/22/2007 5:40:59 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

I live in the burbs also. My growth has not seemed to slow. However, I am not measuring everyday. I have one big one on one plant and two one another plant. This is my first year growing bigguns so I don't measure as much as others. I just want to grow a couple of nice ones with my kids.

Again, that being said, the growth doesn't seem to have slowed. this week will warm up nice.

7/22/2007 6:11:59 PM

canal winchester ohio

Covering at night is always a good idea except if you are only getting down to high 60's to low 70's at night. You want to keep a even temp, remember they grow a lot at night & cooling the fruit down when it's ready to go isn't good. When it's 55-65 degrees at night I will cover them up with towels at sunset & uncover when the air starts to warm up.

7/22/2007 7:44:04 PM

Lombard, IL

I am glad I covered them last night because it is 7 a.m. and only 62 degrees. TONS of morning dew outside. I figure 60 degrees and wet does not make for good pumpkin growing. On my growth charts the only thing I did not keep track of was the weather temps.

7/23/2007 7:53:56 AM