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Salem, OR

Hi all, thanks for all the great advice this past year. I have a "wheel/bird bath" pumpkin but I am not sure how I can safely get it onto a pallet for the weigh off this weekend. It is growing upside down (dug a hole for the stem, shoulders resting on styrofoam blocks) with the blossom end up. It is "hopefully" 750+ lbs. We will be using a lifting device, but once we lift the pumpkin it will still be stem down, and I need it blossom down in order to get it on the pallet without breaking off the stem. Any ideas? We could try "rolling" it onto a tarp, but can the sides of a wheel shaped pumpkin withstand the weight? Has anyone had any lucked getting these successfully loaded? I would hate to crack this beauty in the loading process. Thanks everyone.

10/2/2007 3:56:54 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Get a gang and gently roll it over and on to the blossom end before hooking up your lifting device. Sounds like a good idea for a party to me.

10/2/2007 4:27:18 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Sandy, send me a picture of it tonight ([email protected]) I'm sure we can get a couple pumpkin wranglers in the area to help out.

Jim Sherwood

10/2/2007 5:09:38 PM

sevierville, Tn

mine last year was like that, you can just put styrofoam blocks under it on the pallet just like in the garden.

10/2/2007 8:16:05 PM

Ohio

Id do what Ned is talking about if it was me, flip er over real easy, if she is solid you wont have a problem at all. You wouldn't need this but if it worries you a little,have something like a couch cushion on the other side of the pumpkin when you flip it, use the one off your good living room couch or chair, the ones that your wife only lets you use for only when company is over, make double sure you use them after a good solid rain, after all our pumpkins deserve the very best and I'm sure your wife wont mind,,,,LOL!!

If Jim comes over he will know what to do so you shouldn't have no problems. Good luck with that JJeffers.

Brooks

10/3/2007 3:36:54 AM

Salem, OR

BB-since I am "the wife" I will most likely not use the sofa cushions but possibly use the boat cushions from "the husbands" boat. Those appear to be nice and soft!! LOL

Thanks all for the advice, we'll see which way we go tomorrow. Only my second time to the scales, so I won't get much sleep tonight and tomorrow :)

10/4/2007 3:59:47 PM

Il

I am the "Wife" also and I don't know if you have a Joann fabrics around you but when Joe grew the 1139 up side down, we bought a bunch of HIGH Density foam and created its own "
couch" for the pumpkin to sit on. We did not attempt to turn it, you don't know how thick the walls are esp at the blossem end. Get a tarp, coshion the top of the pallet, use some serane wrap all away around it to keep it nice and tight and put her on there the same way it was grown. It will hold just fine if it is nice and sound. Strap that baby in and she will ride smoother than you. We transport all our pumpkins that way now, on the foam that is. Good luck with 20 different pices of advice. Tracy Richards

10/4/2007 9:40:36 PM

Salem, OR

Thanks Tracy. I do have a Joann's near me, so will stop by on my way home. It sounds like most people are saying to leave it as is (stem down) so I think that is what we'll attempt. Not sure how it will get situated on the scale, but I know Jim will be directing the weigh-off, so it will be in good hands.
Thanks all for the great advice and humorous emails. You folks make my day.

10/5/2007 12:45:05 PM