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Indianapolis,In

What's best to put under growing pumpkins? I'm thinking about using 1/2 in styrofoam board with drainage holes and top it with sand. What do you use???

7/4/2001 8:16:17 PM

Commack, NY

i use this stuff (oh yeah that's real descriptive!), it is a flexible plastic type of material. sort of like plywood.......it was left over from when we re-did our bathroom. on top of tha ti put a generous layer of sand. just put something under it, this is not something to be overlooked

7/4/2001 8:28:50 PM

canal winchester ohio

I use sand because it is easier to get a level surface. with boards you might have to put 1 on top of another to get a level surface, then theres always a problem water will set on the boards & cause rot. with sand it drains away. ..........Paul

7/4/2001 8:35:41 PM

Commack, NY

i put SAND on top of the boards

7/4/2001 9:34:35 PM

CT

Yet another method! We use l" styrofoam insulation. We cut the pieces to just fit under the small pumpkin as it lays down and then add pieces to it as it grows. The cracks between the insulation work to drain off any water. If you use small pieces and add them as the pumpkin grows as opposed to a large piece under a small pumpkin, there is less chance that water will pool up under the pumpkin. Just our 2 cents. RVSK

7/5/2001 10:28:01 AM

CT

P.S. -- We also like the play sand as it is so soft and drains well, but it is less likely to protect the pumpkin from underground invaders such as moles. We would use the play sand, but some places in our patch get pools of water when it rains, and the styrofoam really keeps the pumpkins high and dry.

7/5/2001 10:31:25 AM

South Hill, Virginia

I've been doing the same thing as the RVSK...using smaller squares of 1" insulation board and adding more as necessary. I did it because I had a bunch of scraps left over from siding my house but they make a good point about drainage.

7/5/2001 11:15:14 AM

Mid Michigan

I did the same thing. Had some 1" pieces of syrofoam cut in 16 inch sqaures in the shed (cant even remember why i cut 'em that size[ CRS]). I plan to put more pieces down as the fruit grows.
Cuzbiker

7/5/2001 12:08:08 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I used one inch styrofoam last year. I had no bugs or pests in the pumpkin but I did have a concave bottom to the pumpkin. I like the idea of using several smaller pieces as the pumping grows. I'll probably use the stuff again but I would like to hear from some who have used sand in the past.

7/5/2001 10:21:52 PM

Commack, NY

i put a very generous layer of sand under my pumpkin last year......ON TOP OF some flexible plastic type material similar to plywood.......it keep the fruit dry. the sand prevented the bottom from being concave for the most part. there was a slight dimple, but that was it. the sand was bout 2-3 inches thick under the fruit. i will be using this method again as i'm very happy with the results

7/5/2001 10:50:22 PM