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Arcola, IL, USA

What do people put under the pumpkin when it starts to set. Any info on what and how much etc..... Is there anything else that I would need to know to prepare for the pumpkins growth for where it is going to grow.. I am kind of a newby on these big ones... Just dont want to grow a big one and find out I should have done something a month ago...... Thanks...

7/16/2006 11:33:23 PM

Ca

Plywood, styrofoam, or sand under the pumpkin. Growers make a mound of sand for the pumpkin to grow on. Make sure the pumpkin has room to grow. Have a S-curve in your vine. Cut off the secondary where the pumpkin stem is attached and some leaves when your pumpkin has set. Put a pumpkin tent up to protect your pumpkin from the sun.

7/17/2006 1:46:38 AM

Mocksville, NC

ditto!

7/17/2006 4:57:19 AM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=14&p=165969

7/17/2006 5:16:44 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

What method would be the best. Sand, Styrofoam, or putting the lifting cloth underneath?/ or all of the above? Last year I used grassclippings quite a bit and it seemed to work OK. Im kinda leaning towards sand........Also I have concerns about the S curve. I noticed that in some pics the vine is off the ground. Is the S curve made horizontially on the ground or vertically....I have seen some with the styrofoam pillars supporting the vine. To me if the pumpkin stem is at a 90 angle I would think that the vine needs to have this verticle" S curve......but I m sure nervous wanting to do it......Last year both of my punkins were growing on 1/3 of the vine at the end of the year (see my pics I'm posting as I type) and I didnt know it until I harvested. Im positive this made them go smaller that they could of been. This is # 1 on my list of how to grow bigger and better this year......Please Advise

7/17/2006 9:15:54 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

I've used styrofoam under the fruit, and for the past two years, sand. The sand moves with your fruit and you end up with a rounder bottom.
Wiz, the S curve refers to horizontal curve you put in your vine so that as the fruit grows, it will have some slack to push against. Otherwise the shoulders grow into the vine and cause stress. Also, as the fruit grows vertically, you will have to sever some roots to let the vine come up with it, and you may have to support the vine as you have seen in pictures. This is in addition to the S-curve training of the vine...
Frank

7/17/2006 10:13:33 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

So I take it that the "S Curve" serves two purposes. Get the vine out of the way for the grith growthand when the shoulders grow it allows the vine to move up vertically providing the roots have been severed....I look at it as a string that needs to have slack in it as it moves later on. Correct?

7/17/2006 1:15:45 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Additionally its probaly not a good thing to vertically support the vine at this time......too risky ehh?

7/17/2006 1:16:47 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

basketball usually means its a solid set...not always but usually the vine is wiring it in as a "sink" something the vine condsider as a reasonable place to store the goodies..weather can kill ya here..to much rain..to much sun etc....start thinking the next step..cover the pumpkin with a tarp...keep it dry...keep the stem from stress...(raise the vine to it)..outta the sun..it will dry the skin terribly and cause cracks..these things wanta grow at obscene rates..think a tomato cracks wih a rain..these things blow...keep the soil damp..they put on up to fifty pounds a day..all water..let it dry out and then add water is a sure split..if you got a good plant...over 400 sq ft today...you need to keep watering..if they're still small don't worry. you need to rethink the soil and hoop house..at year's end..but a huge pumpkin is still in there...Good luck everyone...it's not just genetics..it's not just luck...I've seen many a brand new grower to AG's blow me away..they all had soil, sun and skill way beyond my means.. bless em all! Most of all enjoy the experience...you are growing the largest fruit...if the fruit isn't there or the vine...soil prep and sun..GrowEmBig!..Chuck

7/17/2006 4:35:04 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

How do you put S curves in when you haven't even decided on which pumpkin to keep? I now have a relatively straight vine going to the pumpkin and then did a 90 degree turn at the pumpkin so that it is on the outside of a u-turn so to speak. Now you have me worried that I won't have enough slack on the "stump side" to allow the vine to move up with the stem of the pumpkin. Will the stump side "stretch" to allow for some of this assuming I sever the vine roots? I am at 16 days so it is too late to s turn before the fruit so what do I do, if anything, now?

7/17/2006 7:51:07 PM