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Ga.

I have my pumpkin elevated bout 6 inches off the ground on a platform,,,my question is,,,the stem is kinda bowing,,,should I take it off and put on the ground?And will this cause the stem to break when I move it???And,,,,,,is this causing stress on the stem causing it to not grow faster than it is???It has out grown the platform 2 times,,,had a circumferance of 59" Sunday.....

8/20/2001 8:43:20 PM

Poulsbo, WA

I would be careful if you decide to move it. The stems tend to bend well over time, and will break if forced to quickly. The key is to move it over time, and make sure that the base roots about three feet in each direction from the pumpkin are cut and that will allow the vine to rise as the circumference of the pumpkin grows. I have my pumpkin growing on a piece of foam. It is extremely thin and so my pumpkin is as good as sitting on the ground. My stem seems to be doing fine even though my pumpkin has a circumference of about 86 inches. Take a look at my pictures in my diary.
(BigAtlantic)

8/21/2001 1:18:51 AM

Poulsbo, WA

By the way, if you decide to move your pumpkin, I would move it soon though, because it will soon become un-manageable by weight. Just be careful.

8/21/2001 1:23:06 AM

Utah

you either need to lower your pumpkin or support
the vine - to relief the stress on the stem.

if you don't he pumpkin could pick itself or
the stem could split. so do something ! !!!!

also at each leaf node the plant will put down
a root. you will probably need to cut some
of those to raise up your vine. it is a typical
thing growers do. some try to carefully dig up
the roots and mound soil up to keep them in soil.

good luck -
gordon

8/21/2001 5:00:06 PM

Ga.

thanks all,,,took it of platform today,,didnt snap it,,so hope it takes off.....It is starting to get a pinkish orange color in the ribs,,,is this a sign of it stopping to grow,,or just goes thru the color changes???

8/21/2001 7:21:15 PM

Utah

jeff352-
i hope you still have something under it -
wood, styrofoam, sand, something.. it will help to
keep it dry- ( keep it from rotting ) and protect
it from the critters... (mice, rats, etc... )

color change... generally means that it is getting
ripe and at the end of the growth cycle. but don't give
up on it... i didn't say it stops growing... the way to
tell if it has stopped growing it to measure it. then
measure it again in a few days.

8/22/2001 11:21:17 AM

Ga.

still got styrofoam under it,,,its still growing,,but I can only measure circumferance only now,,,it has out grown the styrofoam under it,,,it's no monster,,only round 75-80 pounds,,,hope I can at least break 100... ^_^

8/22/2001 12:26:39 PM