Question
I have a pumkin plant in the back yard, grown from seed.  I live in the mountains of Southern California at about 6700 feet.  The pumkin has a half dozen or so pumkins growing on it, the largest of which is better than basketball size.  

It got down below 32 several weeks ago for a couple nights and the pumkin lost a dozen or so leaves and a couple small pumkins.  Then things warmed back up again and it continued growing.  But for the last two nights it's dipped just below freezing and I think it's just going to get colder from here on in this year.  So far all the pumkins have survived, but another dozen leaves have wilted.  The pumkins are obviously not ripe by the color and size of them.  I fear any kind of covering wouldn't work to keep them warm at night for very much longer.  The days are still plenty warm.

Will pumkins ripen off the vine?  Would covering them at night buy me another few weeks for them to ripen?  It's spread out over such a larger area it would be tough, but I'm willing to try.  Or should I just throw in the towel?  We just don't seem to have a long enough growing season up here between frosts.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer
Dear Peggy,
Since I do not garden in your zone, this is an amateur guess rather than expert advice, so I apologize up front.  Don't just throw in the towel.  Try covering just the part of the plant that is "supporting" the pumpkin and the pumpkin, itself.  My other thought is:  yes things will ripen off the vine.  Most of the produce in our grocery stores are starkly green when harvested.  So, if you decide to not cover the plant, pick the ones that are basketball size and at least let them sit in the window.  I would suggest for next year, that you either start them early, indoors and transplant outdoors later, to maximize the growing season or plant items that mature more quickly.
I think you stand a chance at one or two pumpkins from all your effort.
I wish you well.
Kind Regards,
Kindred
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