Re: air pressure to inflate a pumpkin

Kerry wrote:
> 
> Here is an idea that my inventive non-pumpkin growing brother suggested to
> me.
> He wants me to grow a giant pumpkin with a needle stuck into it and an air
> line
> attached to it. He seems to think that if the pumpkin is kept inflated at a
> low pressure
> that it will grow larger (not heavier) and it will have a nice round shape.
> He has seen so many flat looking giant pumpkins. I think it will cause the
> pumpkin
> to pop. What do you think? Is it worth a try?
> Kerry

Kerry,

While it sounds like a fun idea, I wouldn't advise this procedure for a
number of reasons.  First and foremost the hole into the pumpkin would
not only disqualify it for any sort of competition, but would serve as a
focus for fungal infection that would destroy your pumpkin.  

An Atlantic Giant pumpkin would not "pop" due to the extremely thick
walls, although they can explode due to overwatering and over-rapid
growth.  

I doubt that you could come up with a practical way to generate and
maitain a steady internal air pressure within the seed cavity since it
would presumably "slow leak" even if you could make a good seal around
your hole.  

Finally, if it DID work as he presumes, then the pumpkin would likely
collapse under its own weight when you tried to move it (if not sooner)
due to the thinned walls (presuming that it would not be possible to
really maintain a significant positive internal pressure once harvested
even if you had maintained such pressure before).

Now, all that being said, you could certainly try it and prove me wrong
by growing the prettiest, roundest pumpkin ever and reporting back to us
:-)
-- 
Regards,

Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD
---------------------------------------------------------------------
n*@ideasign.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index