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Lombard, IL

Is it pretty standard for folks put plywood underneath their pumpkins? I also read someone puts sand. Both? Thanks.

7/19/2007 9:39:20 AM

Georgia

Ive always used plywood with sand on top of it. I posted a similar question asking if putting plastic like hoop house plastic over the borad would take place of the sand. Ive never had a pumpkin rot though with just plywood. Another benefit is it keeps the mice from making a home in your fruit.

7/19/2007 9:42:10 AM

Minnesota

I'm a begginer but, I think they do that to keep there prize winning pumpkin from rotting.

7/19/2007 1:21:45 PM

Georgia

I did some searching on this site and Pap said to use a 4*4 sheet of plywood and wrap plastic around it. I have my pumpkins currently set on 4*4 sheets off plywood so im going tonight to get some plastic like I used on my hoop houses and picking up the pumpkins and putting the plastic on it. Ive used sand before but it just got too expensive and I reckon plastic would work just fine.

7/19/2007 1:26:58 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I use plywood or just boards lying beside each other. Then I put two inches of sand on top.....

7/19/2007 2:35:38 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Sand only

7/19/2007 3:28:59 PM

Rhode Island

the sand is good to pack around the bottom of the fruit once it gets over say 800 pounds.( we usually go out about a 1 ft path around the fruit )

we also like to put a 3 ft or so wide covering of sand
( about an inch thick )around the plants base to keep the dirt ,etc from splashing up on the stump when we water or when it rains --- lots of disease is spread by dirt ,etc, splashing up on the pumpkin and /or the base

pap

7/19/2007 8:06:07 PM

Cornell, Wi

Im trying plywood with house wrap, the smoother side is the side on this stuff that water will go through but not up. Im also putting ginseng shade cloth under, then with the wrap on top, the cloth seems to have too much friction. I got a bunch of the shade cloth for free. Its extremely tough stuff, almost like a canvas, Im also gonna use it on the ground to plant tomatoes and stuff in next year. Its perfect.

7/19/2007 11:54:23 PM