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Waterloo, Nebraska

My pumpkin was pollinated 9 days ago. It has a circumference of 22 inches. If it continues to be successful, lifting it at the end of the season will be difficult. I do have access to a forklift. Is it wise to put a pallet (with a piece of plywood on top) under it now? I am afraid that doing so at this point would disturb the plant too much. I do not want to break any vines. Is it better to just put styrofoam under it and hope that I can convince the local high school football team to come lift it? Maybe I am just being too optimistic!
Thanks,
Jody

7/10/2006 10:34:23 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

No pallets...plenty of adjustment to make once the start growing...repositioning the pumpkin and vine adjustments are tough enough on smooth sand..your going to learn how to rock and roll...rock the pumpkin up..place the lifting tarp hakf way....roll it back pull the other half of the tarp through....rock and roll party....now put it in the truck on the pallet..good Luck...GrowEmBig! Chuck

7/10/2006 1:08:27 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Jody
There are lots of suitable materials to put under them. I supose the most widly used material is sand. Some use only a bag or two others use 8 to 10 per pumpkin. Styrofome has been used for years and more recently, paper mill fabric has been in vogue. I have used plastic corigated sign board (used real estate signs, election signs, etc) Stay away from plywood. It is very important for the pumpkin to slide over the material easily. rough surfaced material like plywood will cause grief.

7/10/2006 9:21:50 PM

Waterloo, Nebraska

Where does a person get paper mill fabric?
Thanks,
Jody

7/11/2006 3:08:53 PM

San Diego

plywood is fine to use, done it for 6 years with not one problem. I use a 4 by 4 foot piece, it's surface is basically smooth. You want something hard under the pumpkin somewhere, even under sand to protect varmints from coming up into your fruit.

7/11/2006 3:50:48 PM