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Here's a handy tip for ya when you have a 30 lbs pumpkin. Don't put a skid under it, this late! In a dumbass move I put 1'1/2 thick styrofoam on a skid. I slid the skid under my pumpkin, and had to cut 2 runners on either side of the pumpkin to make room for the wide skid, totalling three cut runners in a row. I also cut a numerous amount of tap roots 4 and up on the main, so the main could rise up to the height. From the bottom of the stem to the ground is probably 5 inches, which is now going to put a lot of stress on the main, and entire plant, meaning that pumpkin growth will slow way down. Ohh I feel so stupid, and now I might get a storm tonight, so if there is high winds the leaves attached to the dangaling main will catch the wind and twist the main, or even worse break on me. Hopefully this doesn't happen. So lesson of the season don't put a skid under the pumpkin unless you bury it under, because its not worth having a dangaling vulnerable main.

7/18/2005 10:04:43 PM

Canada

Sorry to hear it, Things will probably turn out ok for you.

I already have my styrofoam under my un opened females along with vine raised via 355 Ml bottle of watter along with tap roots snipped I did this when the females started to show this way it would all be done with and female would be ready to go when pollination time comes.

Dave

7/19/2005 3:40:33 AM

Long Island,New York

Start digging under the pallet to lower it.

7/19/2005 5:44:30 PM

Well after some measurements, I got a little to stressed out. Fortunetly the plant seemed to be little effected by the hack job I did, as my pumpkin grew on its 7 lbs average. Yesterday it grew 7.2 lbs, today 6.8 lbs. There was a consistent strong wind, which could have dropped the average a little, but other than that things are on schedule.

7/19/2005 9:31:42 PM

Ontario

That really doesn't sound unusual really Kyle. Don't Panic! I always have to cut off several side vines to fitthe foam board as well as several on the other side of the main vine to relieve stem stress. You'll find that you'll have to cut off more and more as the main gets lifted off the ground. You should uses something to put under the main vine (blocks of wood?) Check this daily as it get lifted a bit more every day. If you don't the main will pull too much on the pumpkin stem and rip the stem from the pumpkin. You may have to cut three feet of rooting off the main on both sides of the stem to relieve stem stress. It's a nice problem to have.

7/21/2005 11:26:34 AM