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Creston, Iowa

I know this has been answered before, but could not locate the post. Perhaps I don't even need to worry about it right now since the seeds are just coming up but what should a person put under the pumpkins while growning. Someone suggested placing a plywood sheet on a pallet which makes some sense or is there something better.

Thanks, Frank

4/18/2005 11:05:29 AM

Utah

Here are some links that I dug around and found.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=14&p=110158

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=84972

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=69937

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=44445

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=50622

4/18/2005 3:25:39 PM

Utah

a friend of my recently told me the he puts down wood and then landscape fabric- which is fairly slipperly, so the fruit doesn't get hung up.

4/18/2005 3:29:23 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

A three inch piece of styrofoam. It supports the pumpkins weight while at the same time giving a little, so it doesn't create a perfectly flat bottom. Makes it easier to move.

Cameron

4/19/2005 12:14:33 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Could you use styrafoam packing peanuts in a bag of some sort? Kinda like a beanbag chair, but with better drainage. I would think that would still provide some support but would leave more give for a rounder bottomed pumpkin.

4/19/2005 1:22:48 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

We use Pulp/Paper Mill Belting Fabric on a bed of sand & won't even consider changing for anything else currently in use. It isolates the fruit from our soil which has a history of fruit rot pathogens while allowing the fruit to be moved & the dainage is perfect.

Plastic bags of styrofoam would probably be too soft, would rip if you adjusted the fruit, & would retain water.

4/19/2005 5:00:51 AM

Utah

Pulp/Paper Mill Belting Fabric ... where do you get it ?
about how much does it cost ?

4/19/2005 9:58:21 AM

Cologne / Germany

Depending on what kind of critters like to explore the patch from below, everything is possible. My styrofoam boards looked like highway maps 2 years ago. Only 1 more inch between the critters and the pumpkin bottom. They also eat plastic and other stuff.
For me just styrofoam covered wooden pallets leaving some space between pumpkin and soil. More work but safer results.

4/19/2005 10:12:12 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I've used rigid insulation board with good results but am now switching to pulp mill belting as it seems to have an even better success rate and can be re-used for many, many years. Pretty easy stuff to get if you live in a region with wood processing mills.

4/19/2005 11:02:46 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Landscape fabric

4/19/2005 2:26:04 PM

New Brunswick

i use 1" styrofoom to help hold pumpkin heat we have lots of cold nights starting in august, dont worry about the little critters

4/19/2005 4:44:30 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The most recent offer of Pulp Mill Fabric is here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=2&p=114006

But I got ours a couple years ago from Shellie Cramer here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=2&p=40906

As I recall, the price for 2 huge sections was around $45.00 but the UPS shipping charges were pretty hefty since they traveled nearly coast to coast.

4/20/2005 5:03:00 AM

Long Island,New York

Im going with Mother Natures natural way....I've evaluated my results from 6-8 plants last year and found that my biggest fruit were grown on top of mice. So, that said, I'm going down to Petco and gonna buy some mice.

4/20/2005 10:15:12 AM

Sioux Falls, SD garyboer@dakotalink.com

maybe the extra aeration beneath helps
maybe rats would be better yet?
is there a rat weigh-off anywhere?

4/20/2005 12:15:52 PM

No Place Special

I have used styrofoam in the past but after last yrs mouse problem, I will NEVER use styrofoam again. I think it attracted them. Trying the paper mill belting this yr.

4/20/2005 2:13:26 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

In our patch we put an old piece of dryer duct with one end blocked off. Then place some Decon or One Bite far in the duct. Prevention is the key to this insane hobby.

4/20/2005 3:39:32 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Gordon, you have mail.

Glenn

4/21/2005 12:59:25 AM