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Ohio

My Pumpkin is about the size of a beach ball now, ITS UNBELIVABLE HOW THESE GROW!! I Am trying to get the 90 degree angle but i cant quit get it there yet, I been moving the pumpkin the last 4 days and im affraid to move it anymore cause the stem is so thick, the stem is alot thicker then the main vine, The angle i have right now is about 60 percent, will this be ok? I would like to get it at a 90 degree but i dont think this is going to happen because of how the stem is coming out of the vine.ALSO,,,,,,, is it ok to prop the main vine up a little at a time so it will be even with the pumpkin, or would you leave it alone and let it come up as the pumpkin grows? It just seems like the stem is pointing down to much. I checked the vine and tap roots and they are all cut off up to 2 to 3 feet on both sides of the pumpkin, I can lift the vine easy where it is attached to the pumpkin. This has been the most nerve racking point of growing so far,ANY information at this stage would be very helpfull to me.

7/4/2004 4:28:49 PM

Indiana

Keep working it, they dont move over night, do it right in the middle of the day. The every day method is done so you can get them moved however much you need to.

If you only want one a few hundred lbs, you dont need to worry, but if you want a 1000 pounder, you had better get it at that 90 degree angle.

Tom Beachy

7/4/2004 5:15:56 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

You definitely should gently elevate the main to keep stress on the stem to a minimum. Use whatever's handy to support the main as that fruit continues to grow...2x4 blocks, styrofoam, crossed bamboo stakes...you get the idea!

7/4/2004 7:24:46 PM

Ohio

Tom, how long does it take you to get one at a 90 degree angel on average time frame? I moved it a smidge more today, maybe im being to careful. But Ill work on it every afternoon till it gets there.

7/4/2004 8:25:38 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

no such thing..to careful!!can also try moving the vine

7/4/2004 11:18:32 PM

valparaiso, in

what do u guys mean by 90 degree angles? im new this year and i just pollinated a fruit about 14 feet out a few days ago. should i be trying to get the angle at 90 degrees?

7/5/2004 6:13:14 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

The pumpkin needs to be perpendicular to the main vine. Like at a 4-way stop sign...the guy to your right would come straight across your forward path when it was his turn to go, he's the main vine.

7/5/2004 6:46:02 AM

Rhode Island

right flank mean anything to ya ?
think of walking out a door ( the main vine ) and taking a sharp right on the sidewalk ( thats the pumpkin angle you want ) sort of an l with the pumpkin being at the tip of the l bottom

7/5/2004 6:49:13 AM

Western Pa.

In other words, if your pumpkin looks like this 0-), it's shoulders will eventually grow onto the vine. You want it to look like this 0-(.

7/5/2004 7:40:42 AM

Ontario

Its explained well in the how to grow books

drew

7/5/2004 8:48:31 AM

valparaiso, in

so basically your guys are talking about to s-curves? if so i understand.

7/6/2004 5:57:00 AM

Ga.

Kilr,,thats a very nice illustration...Never thought of it that way... :-)

7/6/2004 9:08:56 AM