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Cummington, MA

My main vine is out about 10 feet now, so I am burying vines. I was just curious why is the stump not buried if the rest is ok to bury?

7/2/2013 3:49:18 PM

South Hero, VT

When your stump rots from too much moisture, or you have a foaming stump, and you don't know it, and your pumpkin rots from the inside out because of the foaming stump--THEN you will know why you don't bury the stump.
After the nodes have rooted is a good time to uncover the main so you can check it for problems every day.

7/2/2013 6:00:38 PM

South Hero, VT

Sorry if I sounded a little distraught. I spent several years losing pumpkins because I didn't know you were supposed to protect the stump from moisture and not bury the main vine all summer long.

7/2/2013 9:31:10 PM

Rhode Island

especially this year what with all the high humidity and rains in new england steve.the less vine under soil the better.

anyone without a good insect and disease control program is in big trouble this season here in rhode island.
to much moisture and high humidity. crap weather compared to the summer of 2012.great though if your growing mushrooms.

i would not be surprised to hear of many lost pumpkins and plants very soon.

pap

7/3/2013 6:49:20 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Like a sauna down here.id trade 100° dry heat for our 90° with 90%+ humidity any day.

7/3/2013 8:01:26 AM

Winston Salem, NC

piggybacking on what pap said...
do you look at shrooms in the patch as a sign of things being tooo wet and inviting disease?

7/3/2013 8:09:53 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Yard, with the humidity and heat you all get in the deep south, probably be better growing on little stilts along the entire main to keep it dry. lol

7/3/2013 8:12:00 AM

Cummington, MA

Nobody sounds distraught! Thanks for the info. :) There has been rain every day for the last two weeks or more and forecast for more of the same, so it will be a tricky one this season. Good luck, I hope all the pumpkins stay big no matter where they are!

7/3/2013 8:12:37 AM

Winston Salem, NC

I will move this question out to gen discussion as its a bit off topic

7/3/2013 8:41:32 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Lol luke no kidding.but there grown here so it can be done.

7/3/2013 8:58:03 AM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Yardman and I have similar weather- high moisture, high heat, high humidity. I pin my vines down instead of burying, shade cloth (30% shade) over the patch- and spray,spray,spray. lots of spraying, plus I use the drench which is a systemic. Last year in the field pumpkins I fought angular leaf spot like crazy. I also have the main 20x60 part up on a hill. LOTSA sand in it and then the mains grow out into the accessory area.

7/3/2013 11:51:12 AM

Rhode Island

i will say that we may have a crappy summer on occasion her in new england but you guys growing in the south really have your hands full each and every year.
whatever pumpkins you get? you folks earn.

pap

7/5/2013 3:59:05 PM

Omaha, Ne.

sure could use some rain:)

7/5/2013 5:15:06 PM

Winston-Salem, NC

Don't say that, pap. I'm in that southern transitional zone. It will be hot here eventually. Right now it's just another drenching rain.

7/5/2013 7:30:06 PM

Winston Salem, NC

haven't earned one yet...just shows how impressive the Finders and Sambo are year in and year out....by the time I actually get one to the scale I might be up for rookie of the year..(I might be 10 years in by then)

7/6/2013 12:07:31 AM

Partlow,Va

I have lost it seems a crop of plants this year due to stump and vine rot. The last three replacement kins I planted I put a shovelfull of gravel under them and have the stems propped up with soup cans to keep them off the ground.

7/6/2013 12:14:06 AM

Winston Salem, NC

Stake Propping up the main?...funny but interesting...someone else suggested putting sand under the main for drainage...new strategies southerners?

7/6/2013 12:23:33 AM

South Hero, VT

Well drained soil is a must. Do it any way you can.

Start out with Rootshield, Companion, etc., then switch to the heavy stuff when the humidity and moisture get high.

Cover the stump and clear out some leaves for ventilation.

Check the main vine daily for any problems.

This is what I've learned from the heavy hitters.

7/6/2013 7:15:03 AM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

What Steve said- DRAINAGE is a must here in NE NC, last week it rained for 5 days, and the swamp back flooded- everything is saturated. the kidz are high and dry though. I've grown field pumpkins through the years and it's a non stop battle to keep the fungus out. between wet weather and high humidity you have to be on top of them every minute- definitely something you do because you love growing pumpkins!!! I use four different chemicals on rotation for fungus, and three for insects. I have found that 'painting' anything you cut is extremely helpful!! Daconil dries to a nice solid coat and doesn't rinse off readily. Burying cut ends around here isn't too good in my opinion- its just too wet for too long of periods of time.

7/7/2013 10:06:19 AM