From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Southeast

My 854 Bobier is up to 207 lbs and the shoulder is already touching the vine. I was barely able to pass bubble wrap underneath it. I freed up 4 ft of vine after that point but this provided no relief. I suspect this short stemmed pumpkin will rip itself off the vine shortly. Anyone have any ideas at all to solve this problem. Worried. Thanks David

7/23/2002 5:24:12 PM

Commack, NY

well David, i see two options, you can (A) cull this one, or (B) cut the growing side of the main off, and start turning the pumpkin away from the stump side. if you really want to keep it, and dont want it to rip itself off of the vine, that would be what i would do. anyone else?
scott

7/23/2002 6:43:56 PM

Indiana

Most extreme scenario would be to cut the top half of the plant completely off. There have been a few large pumpkins grown without any plant after the fruit.....814 Armstrong, 1049 Holland.

Tom Beachy

7/23/2002 6:45:57 PM

Southeast

Ps I only have about 300 sq ft of foliage before the pumpkin and no back ups at this time, I had previously culled one with even worser vine position. David

7/23/2002 7:00:36 PM

Commack, NY

David.....my 814 had 416 square feet of plant behind it, and nothing in front of it

scott

7/23/2002 7:04:07 PM

Choctaw, OK

my 527.5 was on 250 sq feet of plant....the 703* smith was on an even smaller plant.....have of the plant growing on the lawn too if i recall correctly.

case

sounds like you will have to hack off the plant in front of hte fruit or just wing it and see how far it can go before it tears itself off.

7/23/2002 7:59:58 PM

Puyallup, WA

David,
Last year, my Emmons 996.5 pumpkin had a one inch stem!
It grew to 875(Est) before it went down to rot. In my opinion, I would slowly move the pumpkin away from the vine attachment. The main vine will begin to take a "V" shape with the pumpkin attached at the point. You better start soon or you'll be in deep "doo-doo"!

7/24/2002 12:42:08 AM

prairie du sac wi

I agree with stan.make shure the closest 6 nodes to the pumkin are free(no tap roots)Or whatever it takes for the vine to have some play in it.then get a helper and slide your fruit away from the vine(a little each day)If you want to make one large move then it should be done at the hottest time of the day.It's best if the sun has been hitting the vine .It's worked wonders with one of my fruits with a 4 inch stem and big shoulders.Good luck!!

7/24/2002 2:38:33 AM

Southeast

I think Im gonna try moving the pumpkin away as suggested by Stan and previously Glenn, Im very scarred with this procedure. Keep you posted. David

7/24/2002 7:58:32 AM

Southeast

Anybody know how much to try and move this thing a day. Im gonna give it a whirl around 5 pm Eastern time if the vines are soft. David

7/24/2002 10:50:53 AM

ipswich, ma usa

David G

I live up in Mass with the same problem. I'm only moving it about one half inch a day. This may be slow but I don't want to hear POP.

7/24/2002 1:42:41 PM

Riverton, WY

I had to move a 150 lb fruit last year. For me it was a 3 person operation. 2 people moving the fruit, & one person holding the vine to make sure that "snap" sound didn't happen. I felt like the most important person was the one holding the vine.

7/24/2002 7:21:17 PM