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Ohio

my pumpkin is almost the size of a bowling ball, and is sticking straight out and still off the ground, should i put something under it to guide it to the ground or will it lay down by it self?, the stem is 6 inches, straight and thick, its about 5 to 6 inches off the ground still.

6/26/2004 5:04:19 AM

Ypsilanti Michigan

Get some clean sand, and place it under your pumpkin. Carfully lift your vine gently with the pumpkin not to break it. You may have to get another person to help you. Some folks use boards, but I myself use sand.

6/26/2004 5:17:45 AM

Western Pa.

Sly,

Where the stem meets the vine, and at the leaf nodes there are tap roots. If you haven't already,carefully sever these and gently ease the fruit down, preferably in the heat of the day. You will eventually want to cut all of these "vine roots" at least 3' in both directions to avoid stem stress.

6/26/2004 5:56:32 AM

Ohio

Ok thanks alot, will do.

Brooks

6/26/2004 2:40:45 PM

[email protected]

Brooks,

Check this stuff out:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=2766&gid=-21025

and this:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=12537

Shelly Cramer & a guy from Canada both sell this stuff. It's called Paper Mill Belting. Remnants of huge belts that sre used in the processing of wood pulp somehow. When the huge & very expensive belts are replaced, pieces are sold off & we can use them under our fruit. I placed 4'x4' sections on top of a thick bed of builder's sand (for drainage & stability). Then a few coffee cans of play or bewech sand on top of the fabric (rounder samd that "rolls" for lubrication). This way the fruit can slide easily to accomodate growth while minimizing vine stress. Combined with the sand, we have perfect drainage. The fabric keeps worms, voles, moles, & mice from tunneling up into the fruit. Slugs avoid the sharp sand.

You're almost half way to the left coast. So shipping for you won't be as painful as it was for me. ($40 UPS Yikes!)

Here's ther last link I saw her selling them from:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=2&p=40906

Steve

6/26/2004 3:10:09 PM

Ohio

That stuff would work great, thanks steve

6/27/2004 4:21:24 AM

Ohio

I did have this under it, its super light and really thin



http://www.snowspeeders.com/38000.html


What you think about this? (3 or 4 of theses together)

6/27/2004 4:52:31 AM

Cologne / Germany

Whatever is directly under the pumpkin, it should have drainage function. A puddle of water under the fruit would be pretty bad.
I´m going to use that stuff again:
http://www.srp-products.de/fallschutzplatte_30_mm,_safety_slab.htm

6/27/2004 7:23:46 AM

[email protected]

They sure look like fun! If you pour a cup of water into one that is bowl shaped does it drain through or just sit there? Could a Mouse chew through it?

6/27/2004 8:58:39 AM

Ohio

yea, water drains through it real slow, and mice could chew through it real fast,lol, its about as thin as,ummmmmmm like a door mat.(really thin)

6/29/2004 8:06:38 PM