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Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

I am having a problem with one pumpkin with a short stem. The shoulders of the pumpkin keep rubbing up against the main and I cannot back it off anymore. What have others used to put between the main vine and the pumpkin. Thanks.....Ray

7/27/2005 9:10:30 AM

ipswich, ma usa

I use a small piece cut off of a cheap old sponge. Dont want styrofoam rubbin' on the baby. The sponge is more forgiving.

John (5150)

7/27/2005 9:48:21 AM

Northeast

Loosen up the main vine on both sides and pull her back with some help from another grower holding the stem and checking for stress. I pulled a short stem one back 8 inches this year. I also did it in 2002 with suggestions from Stan Pugh and Glenn Andrews. Dave

7/27/2005 10:20:30 AM

Commack, NY

Dave has the right idea, however i have put styrofoam in between the pumpkin and the vine, and it wont hurt the fruit any.

7/27/2005 12:17:15 PM

Joliet, IL

foam beer coolies work good. cut the bottom off, slice it on one side then cut the piece in 2 and bingo, no more abrasion and it is not going to stay wet if it gets wet and the sponge against the pumpkin flesh doesn't harm it at all.

7/27/2005 2:29:40 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Anyone ever try bubble-wrap?

7/27/2005 3:46:25 PM

Long Island,New York

Ruin a foam beer coolie? NEVER !!

7/27/2005 5:36:10 PM

Rhode Island

ray

if you ramp the ass end up around eight inches it will (or should) drop the main below the shoulders and remove the stress

you can accomplish this with a 4 x 4 sheet of plywood tucked halfway under the fruit
lift the ass end up and pack soil or sand under the ramp

worked well for me on a couple occasions

dick

7/27/2005 9:27:05 PM

Ri

try some styro pipe insulation the type that may be used around the hot water heater - slice,wrap, stays put, and doesn't scrape the fruit. either a leave or a stem peter

7/27/2005 9:52:00 PM

Whidbey Island

Folded over Naugahyde strips, grommets in both ends. Wrap two strips around the vine, one upstream and one downstream of the stem. Tie off each to very deeply planted posts. Then take a stake or piece of wood and slowly twirl between the two ropes it until it starts to pull the vine. Go slowly! One or two twists per day in the evening, once the vine is warmed up. You'll need to free up the secondaries on both sides near the pumpkin to allow the vine to slowly move away from the fruit. If you do this too soon it will just pull the fruit, but once it is big enough, the fruit will stay put and the vine will slowly pull away from the fruit. But remember, do a little bit every day, otherwise you'll rip the vine. This saved my bacon last year and I'm doing it again this year.

7/28/2005 12:08:22 AM

[email protected]

Ray,

Sticking "stuff" between the fruit & vine doesn't relieve stem stress. It only adds more. Dave & Dick have the right idea.

7/28/2005 5:13:15 AM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. David came over last night and the problem is solved. Thanks again Dave

7/28/2005 2:19:08 PM

Commack, NY

well what did you end up doing?

7/28/2005 3:34:56 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

We actually loosened up more vines and he helped me push the pumpkin away from the vine.

7/28/2005 4:18:07 PM

C N Y

whidbey:

from what i could gather, that's a neat idea, and i will
keep it in mind for if i need an old-fashioned,
ingenious, slow method of moving a vine or similar---eric

7/28/2005 6:07:53 PM