RE: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #38

Steve,
I took your advice and under-cut some the vines that were holding it down.
My son and I then gently lifted the front end up enough to stick some
Styrofoam under the front end. There's now plenty of room between the stem
and the ground.

Thanks for your help.

Philip


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins-digest@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of pumpkins DIGEST
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:01 AM
To: pumpkins-digest@hort.net
Subject: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #38


pumpkins DIGEST       Saturday, August 26 2006       Volume 01 : Number 038



In this issue:

        RE: Help with vine positioning
        Re: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #37
        RE: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #37

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:36:14 -0400
From: Stephen Jepsen <ctpumpkin@optonline.net>
Subject: RE: Help with vine positioning

Don't be afraid of acting. Be afraid of the result of no action! The effect
of leaving the fruit like this is much scarier. The stem will rip itself off
the fruit if no action is taken!

Nearly every ribbon winning Atlantic Giant that ever made it to a weigh-off
had to have its main vine raised. The adventitious roots that grow from the
vine nodes prevent the vine from rising. You may have to under-cut the main
vine as much as 6-8 feet (2-3 nodes) to raise the main.

If using a shovel to undercut the main scares you then use a better tool.

I prefer an old bread knife that I picked up at a yard sale for a quarter.
Slide it through the soil & under the vine a foot or so away from the rooted
node. Then start making a back & forth sawing motion while moving it in the
direction of the node. You'll feel it when the blade edge meets the roots.
Gently cut right through them. Two - three nodes might need under-cutting
but you should notice the tension on the stem going away as you work.

Once a sufficient amount of main has been loosened you may need some help to
pull or roll the fruit so that the stem is high enough to avoid ground
contact. Styrofoam blocks (such as used to package consumer electronics) may
be used to keep the main up higher & in line with the desired stem position
until the plant gets used to the new position.

Make sure to work in the heat of a warm sunny day which is when the vines
will be at their most supple.

Digging a hole under the stem is an often used technique by new growers.
This isn't a very good solution & should be avoided. The hole will fill with
irrigation &/or rain water which presents a new set of possible pumpkin
destroying problems.

Best wishes,

Steve

Stephen Jepsen
CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers Assoc, Pres.
ctpumpkin@optonline.net
 
www.ctpumpkin.com
 
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Philip Cheatham
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:09 PM
To: pumpkins-digest@hort.net
Subject: Help with vine positioning

I have a 150lbs (OTT) pumpkin that is growing with the stem end angling
downward. The vine where the stem meets is now slightly pushing into the
ground, and by next week I'm sure the stem will be pushing into the ground
as well. I don't know how to stop the downward growth or how to raise the
stem end up. I guess I could carefully remove (shovel) some of the dirt
underneath the vine, but the thought of approaching my pumpkin with a shovel
in my hands scares the life out of me. 

Does anyone else have a solution?

 

Thanks much.

P. Cheatham
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:25:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bobs Youruncle <petman2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #37

I had the same issue.  The easiest way is to dig under
the stem/vine to relieve the pressure.  I had a 300
pounder growing as an upside down wheel.  It is not as
scary as it sounds and you really don't need to remove
that much soil.  Use a small trowel or even a soup
spoon to dig it away.  Sounds scary but the
alternative is worse.  Moving the actual pumpkin
seemed much more difficult to me as then you could
crack it, the stem and a whole host of other scary
things.  Wield a soup spoon and have at it.

Petman

- --- pumpkins DIGEST <pumpkins-owner@hort.net> wrote:

> 
> pumpkins DIGEST        Friday, August 25 2006       
> Volume 01 : Number 037
> 
> 
> 
> In this issue:
> 
>         Help with vine positioning
>         Re: Help with vine positioning
> 
>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:08:41 -0400
> From: "Philip Cheatham" <cheatdogg62@comcast.net>
> Subject: Help with vine positioning
> 
> I have a 150lbs (OTT) pumpkin that is growing with
> the stem end angling
> downward. The vine where the stem meets is now
> slightly pushing into the
> ground, and by next week I'm sure the stem will be
> pushing into the ground
> as well. I don't know how to stop the downward
> growth or how to raise the
> stem end up. I guess I could carefully remove
> (shovel) some of the dirt
> underneath the vine, but the thought of approaching
> my pumpkin with a shovel
> in my hands scares the life out of me. 
> 
> Does anyone else have a solution?
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks much.
> 
> P. Cheatham
> 
> -
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:28:43 -0400
From: "Philip Cheatham" <cheatdogg62@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #37

P. C.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins-digest@hort.net [o*@hort.net]
On Behalf Of pumpkins DIGEST
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 4:01 AM
To: pumpkins-digest@hort.net
Subject: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #37


pumpkins DIGEST        Friday, August 25 2006        Volume 01 : Number 037



In this issue:

        Help with vine positioning
        Re: Help with vine positioning

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:08:41 -0400
From: "Philip Cheatham" <cheatdogg62@comcast.net>
Subject: Help with vine positioning

I have a 150lbs (OTT) pumpkin that is growing with the stem end angling
downward. The vine where the stem meets is now slightly pushing into the
ground, and by next week I'm sure the stem will be pushing into the ground
as well. I don't know how to stop the downward growth or how to raise the
stem end up. I guess I could carefully remove (shovel) some of the dirt
underneath the vine, but the thought of approaching my pumpkin with a shovel
in my hands scares the life out of me. 

Does anyone else have a solution?

 

Thanks much.

P. Cheatham
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 03:48:09 EDT
From: MTu4639875@aol.com
Subject: Re: Help with vine positioning

In a message dated 25/08/2006 08:34:29 GMT Daylight Time,  
cheatdogg62@comcast.net writes:

I have a  150lbs (OTT) pumpkin that is growing with the stem end angling
downward.  The vine where the stem meets is now slightly pushing into the
ground, and  by next week I'm sure the stem will be pushing into the ground
as well. I  don't know how to stop the downward growth or how to raise the
stem end up.  I guess I could carefully remove (shovel) some of the dirt
underneath the  vine, but the thought of approaching my pumpkin with a
shovel
in my hands  scares the life out of me. 

Does anyone else have a  solution?



If you don't like the thought of approaching the Pumpkin with  a shovel use 
your hands to remove some of the soil from underneath the  stem/vine.
Another 
idea is to gently excavate some soil from under the blossom  end and allow
the 
Pumpkin to tip back a little but this is not for the  uninitiated of faint 
hearted.
 
Is that 150 Lb est Pumpkin growing quite quickly or is it  just adding on 
about 8 to 10 Lb's a day ?? 
 
Regards
Mike   

- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------

The pumpkins is at day 22 and averaging 6-8lbs a day
End of pumpkins DIGEST V1 #38
*****************************

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