Memorial University's Labrador Campus is Testing a Novel Approach to Frost Protection at Labrador’s Pye Centre

Sarah Papple, the librarian at Memorial University’s Labrador Campus in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, developed an experimental approach to protecting pumpkins from frost by knitting wool sweaters for the growing fruit. The idea emerged through conversations with farmers at the Pye Centre for Northern Boreal Food Systems, a research farm affiliated with the campus, where the short growing season and frequent frost events can limit pumpkin growth and survival.

After learning that farmers had used old coats to protect pumpkins during cold nights, Papple investigated whether knitted wool coverings could provide a practical alternative. Unable to find an existing pattern, she designed her own, incorporating input from farm staff on materials and construction throughout the whole of the project. The final design used natural wool and thick ribbing to accommodate pumpkin growth.

In 2025, Papple produced six sweaters for pumpkins at the Pye Centre to explore their potential for frost protection. By October, all six covered pumpkins remained viable, while neighbouring, unprotected pumpkins had deteriorated following frost exposure. Although the initial results are promising, the small-scale trial does not establish whether they would be effective under different conditions. Further testing could help assess their effectiveness, durability, and potential application to other crops.

“I was out at lunchtime, and pumpkins continue to surprise us by thriving in their sweaters. We had overnight lows of -11 to date. We’re keeping them on the vines as long as we can – let’s see if they make it through the winter.”

The initiative illustrates how practical experimentation and collaboration between campus staff and agricultural researchers can generate locally relevant approaches to growing food in Northern climates, where short growing seasons and variable weather present ongoing challenges.