From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Berlin, Ma

I have a 200lb pumpkin that is totally upsidedown. I was planning to cull this pumpkin since it was so close to the stump but I was not able to start any others due to the high heat in my area. I am now forced to grow this one and am not sure what I should do. I have dug below the stem and vine to alleviate the pumpkins weight but wonder if I should try to flip this thing? Any suggestions?? Thanks in advance for you help.

8/1/2008 1:25:14 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Flip sounds drastic to me! and will surely split the stem? There must be another way to deal with it, Perhaps if you could post a pic and let some of the experts on here take a look,you may get a better plan?

8/1/2008 2:11:03 PM

Springfield, VT

Leave it upside down and grow it on the stem if you have to. There was one grown that way at Topsfield in 2005 which weighed over 1100lbs

8/1/2008 4:25:11 PM

milford, CT,

Blackdog...you may have to dig out the dirt where the stem and vine are under the pumpkin to keep them from being crushed. Mark

8/1/2008 8:43:58 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Don't let that birdbath fill with water too long.

8/1/2008 9:18:25 PM

Rhode Island

just tunnel under the main where it runs under the fruit so there is no crushing pressure on the main.

reach in and clean out a little from the stem as well ( did another tunnel opposite from the main vine tunnel for this )

this is also good for some air flow under the fruit in the stem area.you also need to reach in once and a while to feel if the stem is ok.

put some mouse food in the tunnel as well.

ditto to ron rahe as well. keep water out of the blossom

8/2/2008 2:59:35 PM

Somers, CT

Mine grew upside down last year. So did several others. All I did was keep stress and dirt off the stem and watch for the main vine as PAP states. Things will be fine.

8/3/2008 10:27:53 AM

Berlin, Ma

Thanks everyone. I tunneled underneath and and everything seems to be fine. Now I have to deal with the birdbath overhead watering issue.

8/3/2008 10:34:43 AM

Long Island,New York

Be extra mindfull of mice and such...they like tunnels and holes....

8/3/2008 12:29:42 PM

San Jose [email protected]

If you have the testicular fortitude you can try what I did, mind you the pumpkin is on the end of the vine that makes a big difference ---take a look starting here http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=91416

8/3/2008 2:09:09 PM

Joliet, IL

joe richards grew an 1139 upside down. tunnel like suggested. that is what joe did. might not be a bad idea to put a fan near the tunnel to have air flow around the stem area. tarp across the whole pumpkin for protection against blossum end rot and ponding water. maybe some mouse traps around the tunnel as well. just ideas.

8/3/2008 11:20:48 PM

maine USA

or moth balls?

8/4/2008 8:23:47 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I have a 1009 Young 'on it's face' right now so I need to start tunneling. I have two yard cats so if I make the relief trench big enough they will take care of mice visiting... I looked at it about rotating and it has flattened such that I have no way of lifting it. It always has to be your best looking one 'other than that' too.

8/4/2008 9:57:24 AM