From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sacramento, CA

So, I keep seeing fruit being grown on sand, on carpet or on foam. What seems best for you? Why? I dont have any flowers or fruit yet, so I have time to think about what I will use if I get the chance.

6/27/2006 11:49:25 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I like foam covered with sand.

6/27/2006 12:00:59 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

millwire fabric is the best there is...It keeps the freaking rodent from digging up into the pumpkin.

6/27/2006 1:09:25 PM

Sacramento, CA

Poor Shannon and her gophers.

6/27/2006 1:13:47 PM

Ohio

lol @ Her

6/27/2006 1:40:07 PM

[email protected]

Builders sand to shape. Mill fabric then Play Sand for bearings.

6/27/2006 2:36:02 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

AHHH someone has to explain to Matt about the difference between a male and female...Dont want him ripping off the female to pollinate the male...

Shannon with the male parts....:)

6/27/2006 2:42:44 PM

Sacramento, CA

Poor Shannon and His Gophers?

6/27/2006 3:40:23 PM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

I like plastic sign material. I also practrice magic and levitate AG's till harvest time. It gets me ready for for the spooky season.

6/27/2006 3:50:19 PM

Doylestown, PA

Yeah, I saw the levitating pumpkin on the last Criss Angel episode.

6/27/2006 4:01:29 PM

Ca

Mindfreak! lol I really like sand but it costs way to much this year because of fuel prices. I'm going to try some foam pads this year.

6/27/2006 4:39:19 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

and I thought it was just me complaining about the price of sand! nearly double

6/27/2006 5:25:15 PM

Chico, Ca

2" foam board.

6/27/2006 9:33:55 PM

San Diego

plywood

6/27/2006 10:17:12 PM

Salmon Arm, BC

My first year out...but I'm going with sand all the way. Every pic on this site I've seen of rot comes from a base that's not water permeable.......add moisture and dark and cold and what do you have? ROT any way you cut it. Not me I hope! Anyways, will soak it with sevin and sulfur first. Just my thoughts. Take it for what it's worth. Deb :)

6/28/2006 2:39:46 AM

Nashville, TN

I use those plastic woven bags that 'feed corn' or 'Alfalfa Cubes' come in... Lets the water/rain flow right through - but doesn't seem to let moisture come back UP.. Also holds the sand or stone dust or sawdust (whichever I get my hands on at the time!)...

Just go by most horse/cattle/dairy/goat farms - and they'll have a pile of these bags.. Get them for FREE!

6/28/2006 11:07:46 AM

Our dunes are legendary but a blanket is a must, otherwise satin sheets in the summer and flannel for the winter.

6/28/2006 12:33:54 PM

Montoursville, PA

The Science Teacher has a good point. If that feed bag is on the ground and covered with sand the water will collect on the bottom of the bag and go back to soil. The feed bag split open is large enough for most of us.

I go one step further.............I use two feed bags. One on the ground and one on top of two inches or so of sand. Packing sand into the "V" between the bottom twenty percent of the fruit and the soil may help prevent cupping. This packing stops some downward push. It would be on top of the second bag that the pumpkin is sitting on. The bags are available everywhere but downtown Brooklyn and such other city growing areas.

One thing for sure! If the bottom cups upward that space can not fill with pulp and make weight, for the weighoff scales. That pulp is about 50% water and that figures to about five pounds, for every gallon, of pulp.

I know one pumpkin last year that would have broken 1500 lbs., for one more inch, of pulp over all. Might not have even taken that much more pulp over all.

6/28/2006 3:56:33 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I use mill fabric but have used rigid insulation in the past will a few holes in it for drainage. Both work great but the mill fabric is by far the best.

6/28/2006 6:10:04 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Living in the Chicago area, i wouldnt know where to get mill wire fabric. Looks like i will have to go with something else.

6/28/2006 7:44:02 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

And I got some !!!!
what seeds are you willing to trade for it?

6/28/2006 8:39:54 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Hey Randy,
If you are talking to me, i have no seeds worth trading in that i am a newbie to this. I think i am going to try sand this year. I dont have multiple plants so i think i will be ok as far as the expense goes. Maybe getting some mill fabric will be a winter project.

6/29/2006 7:38:11 AM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

Where do you guys find this mill fabric??

7/3/2006 9:48:05 AM