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Springfield, MO

Quick & simple tip: Use soap and water to get any dirt off of it, then get a handful of Purell and pull the tape measure through it to get it relatively bacteria and fungus free. Use enough Purell that it stays wet for 20 - 30 seconds at least before it evaporates completely. -- Chris

9/6/2004 4:11:50 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

could also put the tape in a bleach solution. Then if we could fond a way to get the bugs to soak their feet in purell or bleach. hehehe
Jim

9/7/2004 12:42:09 AM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

oops, that should be find, not fond

9/7/2004 12:43:57 AM

Key West, FL

why would you want to sterilize it?

9/7/2004 1:57:31 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Ben, and all whom have replied and created this post, I wonder if powdery mildew spores, and or any other pathogens that one may have in say the leaf tissue or soil that the tape may have come into contact with the previous year could maybe have a slim chance of overwintering indoors protected, and thus contaminating the patch via dirty tape......lol....One never knows, better safe than sorry when it comes to pathogens...JK

9/7/2004 3:43:45 AM

Aldie, VA

Just a thought,

Might be easier to just buy a new tape. I purchased two packages of 5' tapes -- 3 per package -- from my local Dollar store for . . a dollar :) They're not "sewing" quality, but they've been out in the rain for weeks and have been fine. No running ink or anything like that.

I'm growing Big Max and I leave a tape under each pumpkin soon as it gets over softball size. Just pull up the sides and you've got a circumference. Shouldn't be too hard to join two or three tapes together for an AG.

My 2 cents
Roan

9/7/2004 8:09:10 PM

Springfield, MO

Why to sterilize tapes: if you have any gummy stem blight or other stem or fruit disease, you sure don't want to spread that from pumpkin to pumpkin. I would not be concerned about spreading leaf diseases this way.

Bleach solution: would work fine too. Just might get faded spots on clothes, carpet, etc. Might spill. Gotta mix it up. You get the idea...

Use of measuring tape: The circumference for estimating Atlantic Giant weight is taken parallel to the ground. Giant canteloupe (and watermelon, I believe) seem to measured in the way Roan describes, as well as overall length. Don Langevin sells an extra long tape that gives you a rough estimate of weight based on circumference right on the tape. His book series How-to-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins I, II & III shows the measuring technique.

-- Chris

9/7/2004 10:07:43 PM

Whidbey Island

Duct tape, folded on itself lengthwise, marked with the help of a carpenters tape measure, makes a perfectly good tape. Mark 'em with 5 inch units, leave 'em on the ground next to each pkn, throw away at the end of the year. No fuss, no muss, no sterilization, no spores, no cost, no nada.

9/8/2004 12:15:06 AM

Aldie, VA

Chris,

Why is it done that way? I mean, a circumference is generally thought of as the distance around the exterior of an object. Is it taken parallel to the ground because of the flattened shape of the AG and the weight estimates are based on that method rather than a typical circumference measurement?

9/8/2004 4:37:58 AM

Ohio

Whid, Great idea! Thanks
Brooks

9/8/2004 4:51:55 AM

Springfield, MO

Roan,

Don't know how the "parallel to the ground" technique began, but that is the technique that all the weight estimation charts based on circumference use, and that is also the one used in the "triple measurement" technique that gives the best weight estimates from measurements.

I'm sure that a different set of weight estimation tables could be generated if enough pumpkins were measured in some other fashion. Trouble with taking any measurement involving getting under the pumpin is that either the tape is trapped there, or the pumpking just gets so big it can't be slid under the pumpkin any longer.

-- Chris

9/9/2004 10:22:44 PM

oswego, NY

Another sure way to kill critters is to put a cloth or paper tape into a microwave for 20-30 seconds. Just be sure the metal tips have been removed.

9/10/2004 2:50:32 PM