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Postscript, Growing Pumpkins on the Blossom End

This post is a follow-up to earlier posts about my experiment with growing pumpkins on the blossom end.  The object is to get a better shape from a large  pumpkin.

My first post detailed the procedure I used to grow them:

http://www.hort.net/lists//pumpkins/sep01/msg00192.html

A second post gave the status as of Sept.:

http://www.hort.net/lists//pumpkins/sep01/msg00580.html

By growing on the blossom end I ended up with some very nicely shaped pumpkins.  About half my crop of eight tended to be a  flattened round shape. (see photo below) The other half had outstanding heavily ribbed barrel and apple shapes.  The weights ranged from 200 to 400+ pounds.  However, I made a major mistake in leaving them sitting on their blossom ends too long and lost two of the nicest ones to blossom end rot.


Ina and the twins pose with Iggy, 300 pounds of orange fun.
The shape is that of a flattened sphere with light ribbing.

Conclusion:  Growing an AG on the blossom end can result is some eye pleasing symmetrical shapes.  Special care must be taken to guard against blossom end rot.  The blossom stub is very delicate and subject to rot if it is not kept dry. Next year I will grow the pumpkins on a short platform with a cut-out for the blossom stub which will allow air to circulate around the blossom end and hopefully keep it dry and healthy.

vince
best 831, 2001
zone 9, the pumpkin zone

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