From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Modesto, CA

I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put a tarp underneath my pumpkin now or do I wait til harvest when it comes time to lift it? Also, I've been told that snails and slugs don't like going across sand because of the texture; should I put that around my pumpkin as well. Has anyone had any problems with birds on their pumpkins? Thanks for any replies

8/9/2000 3:18:03 PM

Commack, NY

i've never used a tarp under my pumpkins when they were growing, but, if you wanted to i guess you could. alan reynolds has a good tarp that would fit the bill for such a task. alot of people use sand, around and under there fruits, i do it also, and have had no problems. the birds..........well, that's a new one for me! but i guess anything's possible
scott

8/9/2000 4:53:27 PM

oxford, ma

I get a lot of small sparrows that like to hang around in the patch and on the leaves but I haven't seen any directly on the pumpkins. In past years, I set up a "bird bell"-an aluminum pan with a round metal ball with string leading into one of the windows of the house. That way, when the birds were in the patch, I could just pull the string from in the house and watch them fly! I also put up a scarecrow one year. Paula

8/9/2000 7:26:34 PM

Modesto, CA

Thanks for the info. I guess another way to keep the birds away would be to tie that shiny tape that people use for fruit trees and tie it around the leaves on the pumpkin plant

8/10/2000 1:10:13 AM

Black Crows pecked a bunch of holes in the top side of some 400 pounders in my patch a year ago. Now i have sheets on the fruit 24/7 in addition to the shade stuctures.
Oh and a Blue Heron took a dump on one too? Looked like someone poured a quart of white paint on the top of the pumpkin. It rinsed off just fine with the hose...Rude birds!
GG

8/10/2000 1:13:33 AM

Connecticut, USA

Gophergirl,

Do you have to worry about the sheets getting wet?

I also saw a lot of growers in NH using burlap right on top of their pumpkins... Anyone else do this?

John D.

8/10/2000 1:44:07 PM

John,
The sheets got wet before the shade structures were up. Now they don't.
The wet sheets dry pretty fast and no signs of any disease so far on the skins. Oh I will mention that I used some terry cloth towels on a few of them in very early stages and they got little marks from the cloth . The sheets are nice and smooth and dry fast. I would think that burlap would be too rough also. smooth is best. this is all a new thing I a doing this year. Experimental. I know others who have used sheets with out any complicatons to the fruit.
Oh has anyone had cats scratch their pumpkins? I haven't YET! Thought that the sheets may stave them off from wanting to sharpen there claws on the fruit like they do on wood!
GG

8/10/2000 2:15:31 PM

PA

I did have a cat scratch my first Atlantic Giant I was horrified,it happened right in front of my eyes but I couldn't get there fast enough. They weren't that deep and the captan paste healed them but left ugly scars. I have also seen a few sleeping on them but no damage was done .
Amy

8/10/2000 5:08:47 PM