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Pumpkin Headstand -- HELP!


Dear All,

Please bear with the following paragraph as I try to explain my dilemma:

I went out to loosen up the vine for several feet on either side of my
biggest (80.5" circumference) pumpkin today and discovered that due to
its very short stem it is literally standing on its head!  It IS at
somewhat of an angle, but the pumpkin's profile is like a squished
parallellogram with the stem on the side angling down toward the
ground.  I went ahead and loosened the vine up and tried (carefully) to
roll the pumpkin backward away from the stem.  The shape of the pumpkin
is not allowing it to roll at all.  Believe it or not I still have about
a centimeter before I get any significant shoulder stress on the vine,
but the pumpkin's weight pressing down on the stem has slightly
angulated the vine and there is the start of a crease and almost a crack
at the crease.  The growth rate in diameter has slowed lately but it is
still a better prospect than the other pumpkin on this plant.  I wedged
a couple of soft foam blocks from my canoe carrier under the front end
of the pumpkin and this is taking some of the pressure off the vine, but
it won't be helpful for more than a day or two.  

So please help, WHAT CAN I DO TO SAVE MY BIG (for me) "BABY"?

All suggestions appreciated,
Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD


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