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hamilton,Ontario

A few weeks ago I placed some strafoam under my pumpkin and this morning i noticed that due to the strafoam being slightly raised from the main the pumpkin is growing and the stump is being pressurized by the pumpkin as it grows..It is about 50" measured round.....what can I do now.......dig under the straphoam or raise the vine???......I have seen pics where the stump gets splits because of this.......It is in a very difficult spot . A week ago I cut some ground roots around the main to alleviate the stress on the feeder stump.....any tips for a wanna be pumpkin grower will be greatly appreciated......

7/31/2005 10:26:26 AM

Commack, NY

are you talking stem, or stump? there's a pretty significant difference

7/31/2005 11:00:38 AM

Long Island,New York

Replace the 2inch stro with 1/2 inch plywood now, while you can lift it. 2ft x 3ft is good. That will gain you 1.5 inches lost. At 50 c you can lift it while strattleing it and have someone remove an inch of soil or two then slide wood under. Prop up vine as best as possible while cutting some roots at nodes left and right and on adjacent side vines. Be prepared to jack up the plywood on the blossom end to drop stem down when stresses start up again. Didn't anyone listen when Shanonononon said curve the vines????

7/31/2005 1:52:58 PM