Re: A Question from a first time grower


Hi Dan and Bob,
Thank you for the reply and all the great information.  I am a tad bit leery 
of doing anything else that would require me to lift any of my pumpkins 
again.  Out of the 4 that are left, one of them have slowed down to just 1/4 
inch growth in the last 2 days.  Who is to say if that would have still 
happened even if I would not have lifted them to place the Styrofoam?  Maybe 
I am just being paranoid?  I have decided to go ahead and poke holes in the 
Styrofoam to aide in the drainage, and perhaps make my tarp out of a white 
{not see through} plastic that could work "double duty" in protecting my 
pumpkins.  And Dan, yes, I would love to see a picture of your tarp so I can 
get a better idea on how to build them.  
Sincerely,
Karri

Peneilope@aol.com


In a message dated 8/14/99 1:47:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
tarandan@together.net writes:

<< Karri,
 
 I place plywood underneath my styrofoam so it will not
 break, then I can put a 2x4 under the plywood so the 
 whole thing slopes slightly, this way the water runs off 
 naturally without having to wipe it down.   
 
 I also used a plastic tarp for my shade structure this year
 and that keeps the rain off the styrofoam almost 100%.
 
 If you want to see a picture let me know, I would be glad
 to send you one.  
 
 Good luck,
 
 Dan in Vermont
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In a message dated 8/14/99 6:32:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rptroy@earthlink.net writes:

<< There are many ways to do this and will depend on your sprinkler system, 
etc.
 What I did last year is sloped the styrofoam toward the blossom end so if 
water
 did land on the pumpkin, most of it would run off. I also poked a few holes 
in
 the ones that I thought might be a problem.
 As the pumpkin grew, I did add pieces as you described. It's ok to put the
 styrofoam under the vines. You don't want tap roots that close to the pumpkin
 anyway and you should cut any side vines that close also. You want plenty of
 slack in the vine, no tension at all.
 You should erect a tarp or some plastic over the pumpkin to keep the water 
from
 hitting the pumpkin. Just make sure it's high enough off the pumpkin so air 
can
 flow around and over the pumpkin. Avoid moving the pumpkin at all except to 
get a
 Ninety degree angel to the vine. Even then, do it during the heat of the day 
and
 only slightly each day.
 The Plywood or Sand as someone else mentioned are also excellent ways to go.
 Growers try a variety of methods and are limited only by our imagination and
 checking account.
 
 Bob.
 
 Peneilope@aol.com wrote:
 
 > In a message dated 8/14/99 12:19:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
 > rptroy@earthlink.net writes:
 >
 > << Make sure the water runs off and
 >  doesn't puddle under the pumpkin. >>
 > >>

 

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