Re: Yesterday

Out of curiosity, does anyone think that growing
the pumpkin in a "raised" dry bed would help
against rot?

For example, if the plant were well watered, but
the pumpkin *itself* were sitting on a raised, dry
sand bed, maybe with minimum nearby foliage
to keep the local humidity down, would it help
keep the pumpkin from rotting?

I've read about covering the pumpkin against
direct sunlight, and other things to keep the
shell from getting "hard" and splitting, but
maybe a little airflow or *some* sunlight on the
pumpkin itself periodically (like a few hours a
week) would help?

I've not grown a big one, but I'd *like* to ...

My current plan is to hire Ooompa Loompas
to sing, dance, and hold the pumpkin off
the ground while it grows (which should also
help to create a pumpkin with perfect
symmetry).

--charley

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:32 AM,  <rstokes@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> Hello Steve,
>
> Actually, I have done some of those things having grown up on a farm.  The worst is when my father made me hold the pig still while he castrated it.  Still gives me the willies.
>
> I still have one other pumpkin that is very big, hopefully it will be okay and I have some in the 400-500 lb range that are very nice in shape and color.  So not all is lost.  As I was cutting up the pumpkin I accidently nicked myself in the arm, so between the blood and sweat it looked like I had chopped off my arm.  It was all just a very gross experience and I am glad it is not on youtube or somewhere else.  Stillborn calf, yeah that would be a tough one.
>
> Russ Stokes
>
> Thanks for your words of encouragement.
> ---- Steve Haberman <shaberman@insmgt.com> wrote:
>> Sorry Russ! I have been there every year the last 10. I just had a 500
>> pounder come off the vine but she isn't rotten. Cleaning those things up is
>> a terrible chore.
>> We do have some pretty bad chores around here that rival stinky pumpkins
>> though. Have you ever banded a steer calf? How about dehorning a cow? I
>> remember as a boy, removing a stillborn calf from its' mother.....in 2
>> pieces.
>> Do you have any fruits left? I hope you get a giant some day!
>>
>> Steve Haberman
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
>> Russ Stokes
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 6:37 AM
>> To: pumpkins@hort.net
>> Subject: Yesterday
>>
>> Yesterday I had the task of cutting up my 800 lb pumpkin that went soft.  It
>> was more rotten than I thought and it was one big mess.  I had to cut it up
>> little by little in order to haul one piece at a time to throw in the back
>> of
>> my pick-up truck.  Hot sweaty work.  There is nothing quite like the smell
>> of
>> a pumpkin when it goes bad.  Mosquito's were attacking me while I did this
>> chore.  I think I spent an hour in hell.  It made me appreciate the growers
>> that manage to grow a "Big One".  Not sure what I did wrong, but I hope to
>> figure it out.  Because hauling off rotten pumpkins is the worst job in the
>> world!
>>
>> I hope no one has to experience this.
>>
>> Russ Stokes
>>
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