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Central Missouri

Ok, I have 3 pumpkin plants, 1-plant has 2 pumpkins on it and the other 2 plants have 1 pumpkin each. The stem on one of the plants is starting to tear. I have been rotating the pumpkins once a day and I guess the rotating on this plant has caused the stem to tear. The pumpkin is only about the size of a volley ball, maybe a little smaller. It is still growing but I am concerned with the stem. Should I do something with the stem to repair it? Please e-mail me @ [email protected] if you can help me out. Thanks!

Lindsay

7/10/2003 9:25:27 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Rotating the pumpkins??? Not sure what ya mean by that. If it's adjusting the vine angle a little each day should be okay....but don't move em if they don't have to be adjusted.

7/10/2003 9:36:25 AM

Deer Park, WI

ahhh! dont rotate your pumpkins! Its not going to help them grow round. Its only going to help them not grow. The only reason you need to move a pumpkin is to relieve stem stress. When you do this, try not to move the pumpkin more than 1/2" to an inch at a time.

7/10/2003 10:00:38 AM

Central Missouri

I thought you were suppose to rotate them so they don't get flat on one side? I also do it so not just one side sits on the ground and rots. How do you prevent them from growing odly if you don't rotate them?

Lindsay

7/10/2003 10:06:24 AM

Utah

Lindsay -
you don't ... the are all "odd" shaped... but we don't care because this ain't no beauty pageant is a weight only competition. :) If you want pretty pumpkins then you need to grow a different varity beside Dill's Atlantic Giants.

7/10/2003 2:25:52 PM

Western Pa.

Rotating pumpkins so they're nice and round,hmmmmm,Lucky, are you feeding them pumpkins lotsa milk?

7/10/2003 3:29:11 PM

Central Missouri

Actually, I am not growing giant pumpkins. The variety is Jack-o'-lantern, so that is why I want them to be a nice shape. No need for sarcasim Western Pa.

7/11/2003 9:56:31 AM

Cologne / Germany

Just give your fruits a bed of fine sand and fill up with new sand around the bottom margins as they grow. Should prevent them from flattening too much on the bottom side.

7/11/2003 10:08:49 AM

Utah

if you've got jack-o-lantern type pumkins don't you just
place them blossem end down to get a good shape ?

7/11/2003 10:29:22 AM

Central Missouri

Thank you! Some where in Utah- I would try to stand them up but the vine has already grown roots past the pumpkin and has gone into the ground and I don't want to pull the roots up to stand the pumpkin up. Good idea though!

Lindsay

7/11/2003 11:57:03 AM