From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Spooner, WI

What's the best way to use it , do you stil put sand down and do you lay it on top of plywood or something ?

4/13/2023 9:17:32 PM

Diamond, Ohio

I’m sure you’re gonna hear people say they still use sand, but I don’t see any point in it. I put two sheets of mill fabric on top of plywood. When you need to slide the pumpkin back you can just pull on the top sheet of fabric. Moves slick as snot. And you’ll have flat bottoms.

4/13/2023 9:40:04 PM

Merrimack NH

I do exactly what Dibble said. I find if you also use sand it gets wet in the rain, then your pumpkin is sitting in wet sand. The Pumpkin slides nicely on just the mill fabric.

4/14/2023 6:22:39 AM

Elk County, PA

Different types of mill fabric for different processes of paper making forming, pressing, drying etc. I like the black rigid type. I used a thin layer of sand to keep it from getting to hot in the sun. Keeping my eye out for some flimsy white. It's around this town somewhere...

4/14/2023 6:59:50 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

The stuff is indestructible, have had mine for 13 years. Either way will work, I personally like sand to keep it off the saturated ground so it can breathe better.

4/14/2023 8:09:48 AM

Salem Ohio

Dibble gave the best way, no sand.

4/14/2023 9:29:52 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Off topic but its always blown my mind how the Paton brothers can use just sand and not have any rot issues by the end of the season.
One of the questions I forgot to ask you at the convention Ian, so maybe you can post here?
Every time I've just used sand and no plywood I have gotten rot by September.

I do what Dibble does also, you can slide the fruit up to about 1000 pounds with one person. I do use just a little bit of sand though.

Chris

4/14/2023 10:22:37 AM

Western NY

I like sand around the pumpkin as it tells me if any critters are near kin.

4/14/2023 1:03:41 PM

Austin MN

I use just sand around mine. I do a big ring of Cayenne pepper around the fruit once a week and also some bait and traps. Knocking on wood it’s worked so far!

4/14/2023 2:22:58 PM

Spooner, WI

Thanks for everyone's imput. lol 23

4/14/2023 8:56:47 PM