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Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I had a mill fabric like material under the pumpkin. Been growing gang busters (at least to me) and now at about 250 pounds I noticed that it has been pushing the material out from under itself. Now there is just a small corner under it. Should I attempt to have me and a friend lift it and slide the material back under it or just leave it?

8/5/2006 10:40:37 PM

ENGLAND

Did you put a 2 to 3 inch layer of sand between the Mill Fabric and base of the Pumpkin ?

8/6/2006 5:45:31 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I would try to get eveything repositioned while you still can. I'd say that if you can't get the fabric worked back under, then start adding more sand. Is the fruit on bare ground where it slipped? That would be very bad here in our patch since we often see various soil borne fruit diseases like Alternaria & Fusaria.

8/6/2006 8:48:34 AM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

No, I didn't put sand under the pumpkin. Pumpkin is just sitting on the bare soil where it slipped out. I don't know if I can lift the pumpkin high enough to get much under it now but I guess I can try.

The soil under the pumpkin is just a bit moist due to the clay soil I grow on. Have grown lots of regular pumpkins in the past straight on the ground with no issues, but then they weren't this BIG!

I will try to get the fabric back under them with some help and see if I can add some sand as well. I guess I can rock it back and forth a bit like trying to get the lifting tarp under it and see how it goes. Cross your fingers I don't split the vine or stem! Will wait until about 2pm today so it is nice and warm.

8/6/2006 1:32:56 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Get lots of strong help or don't bother. Rocking it around is probably worse than leaving it on the ground. If several people can all help lift just a little bit then you're probably safe to make the move. Otherwise.....

8/6/2006 10:32:23 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I was able to lift it a bit side to side and slide the material back under it. Then also lifted it an inch or so on each side and put a bunch of sand under it. Wheel shape helped in this regard.

Tough positioning but worked. Having my young son put the sand under it helped too as we could both fit in the tight quarters. No apparent harm to the stem or vine and we will see what the weight gain brings in a few days. Also put sand under the other pumpkins.

So in the future, do I put fabric then sand or vice versa? I saw in one diary a pallet, then plywood, then fabric, then sand. I have one late setting plant pollinated a week ago so need to figure that one out now!

Thanks for the suggestions.

8/7/2006 5:56:28 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good job....I that fruit makes it to a scale & you 2 guys are high-fiving a new personal best together.

I prefer to start with a 3-4" layer of builder's sand for a stable base that resist moving but still drains. Onto this goes 1-2" of play sand which is rounder & not very stable but permits movement of the fabric hence the fruit can be more easily moved by a lone individual. Then the mill fabric with a few handfuls of additional play-sand on top. This final thin layer is like ball bearings so the pumpkin can slide on the fabric rather than rolling as it grows. Rolling often favors rib & blossom end splits though not all shapes are prone to this.

8/7/2006 11:32:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good job....I *HOPE* that fruit makes it to a scale & you 2 guys are high-fiving a new personal best together.

8/7/2006 11:32:40 PM