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Rhode Island

mounding soil on the tight side (side of pumpkin closest to main) of a soft ball size young fruit will push the fruit gently to the proper angle off the main. also eliminates breaking of the stem which many new growers have a problem with.

you should never work on your plants vine buring or pumpkin positioning until the air temp warms in late morning
nevrr let the plants soil completely dry out. if you do and a heavy rain storm occurs the pumpkin could split

dont fertalize (water soluable) during pollination time starting late june thru july 10 th. it causes baby pumpkins to abort

always condition young plants before setting out into a cool spring soil. harden off for several days before planting by putting seedlings in the sun for a couple hrs in the day time and inside in a cool area at night.

if you dont stake the ends of vines early on then expect after a wind storm to find many if not all of the sides and end of main to be either snapped or twisted on the ground.

water with caution. the soil needs to be wet but nevrer flooded. excess top water causes hardpan and could promote
mid to late season disease.plus it also kills all the good microbes in the top layer of your soil.

plants and pumpkins are most likely to contact stump foaming and disease during peak growing periods because thats when the plant/pumpkin are under a lot of stress to produce.

milk is only good if you drink a glass of it before going to work in the morning

once your pumpkin gets to a couple hundred pounds be sure additional tap roots on each side of the the main and sides across from the fruit are cut ,then pull the pumpkin back from the main a little each day. if all else fails and you have a lot of pressure from the main rubbing against the pumpkins shoulders? cut the main off where it connects to the stem after the fruit.

2/11/2009 8:08:53 AM

Coventry R.I.

Great Stuff Pap,,,, Thank,s

2/11/2009 12:17:38 PM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

I second that! I am going to save these off to a special spot! Thanks Pap! What do you put under the pumpkin when it is growing? When do you put it there and how do you add sand with out breaking the stem?

2/11/2009 4:04:38 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

now i know why i lost so many babies last year. no miracle grow for me this year.

thank you pap

2/12/2009 5:20:12 AM

Rhode Island

some growers use thin styrofoam under the pumpkin, some use a piece of plywood covered with a piece of plastic,some grow right on th ground and some like ron and i have switched in the last couple yers to using a 4ft x 5ft piece of mill fabrick under the pumpkin.
we put it under the pumpkin when its around 75 pounds and feel reasonably sure its the going to be the keeper.
(if you wait to long ya cant lift the pumpkin to put the fabric under)
mill fabric is a very strong belting fabric that wont tear and is breathable. the fabric allows for water ,etc, to pass through.
most times we put sand around the bottom edges of the fruit in the area where the fruit meets the ground. its possible on a big fruit this helps support the lower edges of the pumpkin.this is done whne the pumpkin gets really big late season
most of the belting material comes from factories and textile mills,etc, and if you know any growers in the southern states on the east coast you may be able to get some.

2/12/2009 7:46:56 AM

maine USA

Hi Paps, is it better to use coarse or fine sand? thanks Kathy

2/12/2009 11:56:46 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I echo on drink the milk so you're healthy enough to do patchwork... and I use mill fabric... but I will put it under at basketball size to make it easier... it's a lot easier to remove fabric from under an abort/amputation than to put it under when the pumpkin is heavier....just remember to get it far enough UNDER, that pumpkin is going to travel stemwards as well when it grows!

2/12/2009 3:10:08 PM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

Thank you for the info Pap! That is exactly what I wanted to know.

2/12/2009 5:43:18 PM

Rhode Island

kathy if its a little coarse its easier to sand. either way it will do the job

2/12/2009 6:29:47 PM

maine USA

thanks Pap, Kathy

2/13/2009 11:06:23 AM