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Grittyville, WA

Anyone have ideas? I noticed on one I just culled that the underside is already thinner than the rest of the pumpkin... and it was only DAP 12. Is this because of lack of transpiration, which slows the inflow of calcium, etc...? Or is it because the ground acts as a heat sink and doesnt allow the pumpkin to warm up? (But then at night I would think the ground temp. would be warmer than the night air.)

6/27/2023 1:15:19 AM

Syracuse, NY

I dunno about that butt might you gonna be doing anything about the blossom on your blossom-downer? I have looked at rubber donuts and 'rubber coupling pad discs' for way too long butt thought I'd mention anyway rather than emailing about it.
No wrong answer - I guess the other option is to simply snap it off or make about a 2" hole in the plywood.
Concerning Pumpkin Bottoms, (A remake of the Queen song just for AG growers, lol) I've always felt that a big deal is made about getting them to be flat rather than concave, which to me is a weaker solution because a flat surface is probably more prone to damage and cracking in transport and moving than an arched, concave, inward and upward one. I use RIGID housing insulation or whatever is cost effective at Home Depot in a 4 X 8 sheet that can be bought and cut into smaller sizes on the spot;
It depends most times on what you can fit into your car or truck.
Just adjusting the pumpkin's position right on the material occasionally gives ME enough movement in it for it to not become 'too anything'.
eg

6/27/2023 1:53:18 AM

Grittyville, WA

Well, I have two remaining pumpkins and one is blossom down the other isnt. The third one I just culled. When I examined it, it was perfect except for already being thinner on the ground side. I know this happens to a lot of growers, probably the majority. Whether the bottom is flat or concave up doesnt concern me at the moment, just the thickness. I think the time has come to solve this. Maybe the melon growers already know the answer, maybe they grow on those perforated surfaces for a reason. Are the bottoms of those melons grown on a mesh grate thing still thinner?

Ps Yeah maybe I shoulda popped the blossom nub off when it was a baby but the pallet does have a mouse proof hole drilled in it for that purpose. I might pile some clean dirt under it also because that has worked for me in the past.

6/27/2023 3:13:48 AM

Grittyville, WA

I have been happy with the bottom thickness of the blossom down pumpkins I've grown, but generally I have excavated under them to monitor the underside for rot, which then gives some airflow under the pumpkin... which may be a key factor in getting a thicker pumpkin. The transpiration of water out of the pumpkin is really the only thing that will bring calcium and other critical non-mobile nutrients into the pumpkin.

I think I'm onto something here.

6/27/2023 3:25:05 AM

Grittyville, WA

I'm already down to just one!!!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=339114

So its no longer relevant to me, but still think its a good question.

6/27/2023 4:32:43 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I've never worried about it and always seem to have a nice, flat, thick bottom. I surly don't pile up sand like I use to and get a concaved fruit come weigh off time.

Sorry about the critter attack.:(

6/27/2023 4:41:11 PM

Grittyville, WA

Keep those baby's bottoms dry I guess.

6/27/2023 6:21:11 PM

Syracuse, NY

Yeah, sorry about the Midnight Nibbler.
It'd be different if it was ALL gone!
eg

6/27/2023 8:43:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

I ought to be eating elk steak tonight. They took time out of their busy schedule to step on my watermelon plant also.

6/28/2023 12:46:01 AM

Syracuse, NY

No, No, No---don't kill an animal for it eating what you and others put out there unprotected-enough: There's a lot of that going on lately and it's becoming tiresome, like "Hey, you lookin' at my girl? I'll kill you!"...Like 'Whhhaaattt?' eg

6/28/2023 4:27:54 AM

Grittyville, WA

But I gotta eat something. My neighbors steers got the leftovers.
Well, post title should be "How to get underside to grow thicker".

Please share your thoughts... if your pumpkins are thin on the bottomside, then let's figure this out, so your pumpkin will weigh more!
I think its gotta be the transpiration rate. Which is affected by temperature and humidity.

6/28/2023 5:30:49 AM

Grittyville, WA

Pumpkins for Eliminating the Threat of Animals. P.E.T.A.

6/28/2023 5:36:48 AM

Grittyville, WA

^ This group approves of my warning to the the elk.

6/28/2023 5:38:14 AM

Bethlehem CT

I just googled this... a mature elk weighs 700-1100 pounds. That is huge. At 1100 pounds you are talking the size of a mature jersey cow! Lots of meat Gritty LOL

6/28/2023 8:05:52 AM

Bethlehem CT

Griity you ship me some elk meat and i will ship you some black bear! LOL :)

6/28/2023 8:08:16 AM

Grittyville, WA

They are tall too, if you hit an elk at 60 mph then you are roadkill too. The main mass of their body is the same height as a sedan windshield. And when it comes to fruit trees they are like Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Well, I will live and let live, but on the other hand I know as soon as I empty out one of my chest freezers I will never see them again, lol. God may not play dice with the universe, but I can, ha ha.

6/28/2023 10:31:56 AM

Syracuse, NY

I was looking at an overhang on a building that I've looked at before that is what appears to be not securely attached and if it were to give weigh, it'd probably decapitate the wrong place/wrong time guy - dangers are everywhere at all times.
It has always been hard for me to acknowledge before speaking that there's no or not much difference between killing cucumber beetles and squash bugs on my plants as they are also critters just trying to survive and an animal that is doing the same. So be it and Gritty, I laffed quite well at your well-placed upward arrow, lol.

Are you proposing or considering yet to place the pumpkin in a large metal tray that can have a germicidal/disinfecting, recirculating solution to keep the baby's bottom moist? Lol---If you want a shapely, uniform pumpkin, grow it in a giant, water-or-otherwise-filled TUB if you'd like. Or, in space. Won't be long 'til it happens, now. I thought 'they' had done experiments growing plants, if not AGs, anyway, 'up there'.
Well, tuna subs await me - Bye for now---eg

6/28/2023 11:26:24 AM