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Deer Park WA

I have noticed many different stem to blossem angles in the posts from my fellow growers. I am curious as to what angle is the best? Some have the stems jacked way up, which tilts the blossem end down, and seems to cause the pumpkin/squash to grow over the blossem end, this also seems to cause shorter pumpkins with stem stress issues. Others have the pumpkins blossem end sticking up in the air which seems to cause the main growth to occure in the shoulders, and grow over the stem. Is there a balance point between stem and blossom that is ideal? I like mine perfectly level but maybe I,m wrong? Any input with past experence would be greatly appreciated.

8/6/2001 2:43:30 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

I think you have posed the best question of all time! The answer is actually pretty easy now that I think about.

8/6/2001 3:05:30 AM

Commack, NY

excellent question.....well, there are lots of things involved in this. i would say one of the biggest determining factors is stem length. if the stem is short, its probably best to have it grow with the stem down. and alot of times it will do that on its own. if you have a longer stem, and its tilted down on the stem end, you can alter it slightly when they are young to bring the stem up. either shape can yield a fruit that weighs heavy or light. the main objective is to do what is necessary to keep your fruit stem stress free so that it goes the distance. ideal is making it to the weighoff!!

good luck
scott

8/6/2001 9:08:45 AM

Utah

I don't think the stem location/postion has an effect on the shoulders or blossem end being bigger or smaller. your "flat spot" is just in a different location. i think that the pumpkin shape is all in the genetics.

8/6/2001 10:31:19 AM

Herndon, VA

Is there a trick to growing them stem down? I tried growing Godzilla that way by tipping the pumpkin foreward on the stem. It worked until about about 200 lbs. then it tipped back up. --Bruiser

8/6/2001 12:53:43 PM

Utah

Bruiser-
if you really wanted to grow on stem down then could
put sand under the blossom end to keep it up.
if it tipped back over you could just lift it up again
and put more sand under it as needed.
A piece of ply would under you pumpkin would work too-
but it might defeat what you are trying to do.
If you are just trying to reduce stem stress then it would
work fine- if you were trying to get the shoulders to
grow bigger like was mentioned above, then i don't think
it would help much.
Last year i had ply wood under my pumpkin and i lifted
the blossom end up a couple of inches..
with sand underneath. just to try to
help with the stem stress. after the pumpkin was a couple
hundred pounds i didn't dare mess with it any more and
did what everyone else does- supported the vine as the
stem rose with the pumpkin.
i think that most growers just go with whatever there
plant throws at them.
i have heard a few AG's grown with the pumpkin
right over the vine... with the stem straight down. \
(over 600 lbs)
if pumpkin positioning helped forced your pumpkin to
grow larger at the side that was on the ground -
then that would be the ideal way to get the biggest
possible shoulders.
right ?

gordon

8/6/2001 6:23:36 PM

Greencastle, PA

tipping it down is probably better because the flesh is thicker near the stem so it would wiegh more. that is the angle that the 1061 zher was grown on.
Tom

P.S. anyone ith info on where to find a couple of 900.5 Lyons can you please e-mail me. Thanks,
Tom

8/8/2001 10:54:20 AM

Commack, NY

i dont think either is better. i had one last year that tipped down, and it weighed heavy. but ron wallace had one last year that tipped down that weighed light. so you never know.

scott

8/8/2001 11:30:48 AM