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Location

Message

Date Posted

Penryn CA

Is it a lack of nutrients or water issue that causes a pumpkin to Nose Dive - Your thoughts are appreciated.

8/11/2021 11:14:39 AM

British Columbia, Canada

Are we talking about a nose dive in its growth rate or is the actual shape of the pumpkin growing blossom down?

8/11/2021 1:24:30 PM

Colorado

Gravity plays a role. It seems like once they start to roll on to their blossom its too late to reverse the situation.You can keep on top of them early with sand and many will behave.

8/11/2021 2:38:27 PM

Grittyville, WA

I think friction could play a role. In some situations the temperature of the underside might be different and this could change the relative growth rates between the top and bottom. There could be other causes too, like random luck.

8/11/2021 3:42:20 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Do you mean nose-dive in terms of daily or weekly gain? If so, there is a natural growth curve that tapers off over time and I guess it all depends on what you determine is a nose-dive.

For example, one of my pumpkins went from 39 lbs a day, to 35 lbs per day, to 31 lbs per day and is now at 27 lbs per day.

Nose-dive?? Nope, for me it’s a natural growth curve and the longer it stays at 27 lbs per day before dropping again to 22 lbs per day would be helpful.

8/12/2021 12:02:23 AM

Penryn CA

Nose Dive - As in shape- growing over the blossom End

8/12/2021 12:22:59 AM

Central Illinois

I had one doing that but it was around dap20 I lifted the pumpkin onto its shoulders for about 10 days and it reversed it a bit

8/12/2021 6:02:36 AM

Bethlehem CT

They tend to grow unevenly, some growers have been able to manage their pumpkin and help prevent the blossom end from growing under. It is important when they are young to try and level the pumpkin so that the blossom and stem end are level with each other. Like Cojoe said this leveling can be done with sand. I don't believe all can be stopped from growing over the blossom end, If you can't stop it, I think it still looks cool and it means you have a decent sized pumpkin that wants to grow.

8/12/2021 7:01:53 AM

Ontario, Canada

Start by picking a good shaped, sound looking young pumpkin to pollinate. Start positioning the pumpkin early (before day 10) & do it often. We do it daily until the pumpkin has shown us the way it wants to grow (usually by day 20-25). Sand helps to keep the fruit level. We found that we lost more pumpkins due to splits because of mis-shaped pumpkins & have worked hard to make sure we don't let them get away on us. They do look cool if they make it to the weigh off.

8/12/2021 9:49:38 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

I agree with much of the above. I can usually tell if there is potential for a nose dive early on if the blossom nub is angled down rather than horizontal. It's not always the case, but use sand as mentioned above. Also make sure the ground you are growing on is level. Ever hear of the old Mafioso Joseph the Chin Gigante? Sometimes you get the opposite...

8/12/2021 10:59:21 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Ok, like baitman, big moon , Jane and Phil, and Luke said.

Look at my 2469 Daletas pumpkin, posted a picture in dairy this morning. Despite the early work of positioning the stem and blossom end equidistant, the butt end is growing more like shoulders.

Yeah, early positioning and sand can help.

8/12/2021 12:39:41 PM