Re: Growing AG's Blosson End Down

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----- Original Message -----

From: a*@yahoo.com

To: pumpkins@mallorn.com

Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 9:13 PM

Subject: Growing AG's Blosson End Down

Here is the procedure I used to grow pumpkins on the blossom end:

I set a pumpkin at the very end of a secondary vine or let a tertiary grow and then set a pumpkin out four or five feet from the secondary.

When the pumpkin is about baseball size, I terminate the vine one leaf junction beyond the pumpkin and pull up four to five feet of vine leading to the pumpkin.

I hang the pumpkin down over the opening of a one gallon pot using the vine to support it.  This way, over the next few days the weight of the pumpkin will force it to grow stem up.  I also support the vine in the air with one to five gallon pots and crossed bamboo stakes

When the pumpkin and vine are oriented properly, I remove the pot and place the pumpkin, blossom end down, on a 2" slab of insulation board with a hole cut out for the blossom stub. At this time I usually remove any vine that protrudes past the pumpkin. I then position the pumpkin so that the vine has plenty of slack.

As the pumpkin grows, I reposition it as necessary to prevent the vine from touching the pumpkin.

That's all there is to it.

Here's a shot of iggy growing on my 937 Mombert.  In it you can see how the vine is supported.

Ina hugs Iggy - a 245 pound experimental pumpkin
Iggy is still growing and is expected to turn orange soon.

The shape of the pumpkin usually ends up round and a little stout.  The weight of the crown of the pumpkin to flatten the shape somewhat.

I wouldn't try this with your competition pumpkins, however.  Too much vine and tap roots are lost in the process.

vince