Re: Has anyone tried landscape fabric under the pumpkins?

Are these giant pumpkins good for
anything other than bragging rights and compost?


Hi, Brian!

You may need to start a contest in your neck of the woods.
A good starting point is a county or state fair if you have one held late enough in the season. If not, ask your local farm bureau, garden club or chamber of commerce to sponsor a pumpkin contest.
Share the gold (orange, white, pink, aqua or whatever). Pumpkins can bring smiles to everyone. 
We always take one to a convalescent hospital.
Mr Barenchi generally takes his to a children's hospital.
Others find a veterans hospital.
Bill Garvey in Pennsylvania drove his to Ground Zero in 2001, with the blessing of the American Red Cross. 

But be sure to milk them for all the fun that's in them.
Last year we dug a tunnel through David's 686-pounder and challenged young and old alike to get down on their bellies and slither through (take it from me ... it's not easy!). Hold a neighborhood pumpkin festival and judge best decorated, best carved, best pie, best pumpkin photo, etc. Bowling with pumpkins is great sport, using the small round pumpkins and standard bowling pins. 

Good luck!
Kathie


On Aug 21, 2008, at 8:43 PM, Brian Taylor wrote:


Yeah, I've figured out not to mess with the vine hitting the soil.
Was thinking of just putting a big square under the, well, they look
like great big yellow beach balls right now, pumpkins themselves, not
the whole area.

Yep, we have mellons.  put the miracle grow to them and you get some
nice big ones too.  In the paper last week guy had a 120lb
watermellon.  don't know what it tasted like though... :)

Which brings up another good point.  Are these giant pumpkins good for
anything other than bragging rights and compost?

Brian
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 8:52 PM, Steve Haberman <shaberman@insmgt.com> wrote:
I would't use fabric. You want contact between vines and soil. The vines will send down feeders or secondary roots that can really make a difference with growth. The one great advantage you have is length of season down south. This year in Northern Indiana, we were lucky Summer landed on a weekend. Just curious... Do you grow any melons? I do fair with them, but it 
has been a few years since we have had the heat they need. Take care!


Steve Haberman
Insurance Management
959 E 4th St.
Marion, IN 45952
Cell: (574) 551-5601
Email: shaberman@insmgt.com
Fax: (765) 664-0761

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of 
Brian
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:10 AM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Has anyone tried landscape fabric under the pumpkins?
I've been watching the emails for some time now and have not seen anyone speak about landscape fabric under the pumpkins. Has anyone tried it? It won't catch water, keeps the weeds away. I'm worried about bugs & rot getting in from underneath. This is my first year at this fun endeavor. Our soil in NW Mississippi has extremely high clay content. I'm originally from Iowa where we had good 'ole black dirt. I'm surprised that anything can grow in this stuff down here, but I've got 6 plants growing like crazy. This year I'm not necessarily trying to get any one huge pumpkin. I'm just 
seeing how they will grow and all that.  I planted Atlantic Giants.
Anyway, I do enjoy reading all y'alls posts and appreciate knowledge being 
shared!

Brian

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