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Commack, NY

just a quick note.....we're getting to the point where pumpkins are going to start growing quick. so, if you haven't already, now would be a good time to get something underneath them to protect them. before you know it they'll be on the heavy side, and getting something under them will be an almost impossible task. be safe.......do it now so you dont' have to look back in october and say, "man,...if i had just put something under my fruit that (insert destructive animal of choice) wouldn't have gotten in. or, it wouldn't have rotted.

scott

7/17/2000 9:21:31 AM

Midway City, California

Good infomation Farmer Scott I had one rot on me last year.
When I cut the stem and rolled over the pumpkin there it was a Big Mushy Hole

7/17/2000 10:01:59 AM

nashville,tennessee,us

What do you suggest is best to put under the pumpkins? I know that ya'll are having a wet summer in some areas but here (tn) we are in the midst of a drout and I am not much worried about the pumpkins getting too wet. I would like to know if there is any way to keep them from getting so flat. I am new at this can you tell?

7/17/2000 1:12:59 PM

Midway City, California

Onlyme, I live in southern California where we do not get any rain from May to October. So the water that my Pumpkins get is from my irragiation system. If the ground near and under your pumpkin Stays moist you will need some protection

WATER = john

7/17/2000 1:26:40 PM

Commack, NY

even though it's dry where you are, you could still get an amimal, ie gopher, mole, what have you, burrow up and underneath, and then IN your pumpkin. Not a pleasant scenario, TRUST ME!!!. some people use styrophoam in 1" thickness, some people use 1/4" plywood. i actually used that last year, with a sheet of plastic on top to keep any moisture absorbed by the wood away from the pumpkin. it worked well. the good thing about the plywood was that i could move the wood to adjust the pumpkin's position to the vine. this year, i am using some material that was left over after some indoor home improvements. its similar to plywood, but its plastic, or vinyl, not sure. to asnwer your other question, a giant pumpkin is always going to be flat on the bottom. think about it......we're talking over a few hundred pounds, sometimes more, sitting on the ground, there's no way it could be round. the thing you don't want is for it to be concave, which i've had also! i've heard that a 2-3" layer of sand under the pumpkin will help the pumpkin "slide" as it grows and hopefully it won't be concave in october. i'm trying that now. but if you're going to do it, do it soon because they only get bigger!!
scott

7/17/2000 2:17:35 PM

Andover Mass

last year i used sand under my pumpkin and i was very happy with the results. if you use enough of it you can scoop a concave shape in to it that help to keep the concave shape from forming on the bottom of the pumpkin.also it drains very well keeping moisture to a minimum.when i harvested my pumpkin last year the bottom was flawless.
don

7/17/2000 10:11:32 PM