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Bristol, ME ([email protected])

I'm gonna try using play sand under one of my fruit this year. I would really appreciate some insight as to when you start putting the sand down, how deep of a bed to start, how big of an area to start and how you add sand as the fruit grows. I have an idea but then I don't want to screw it up. The fruit I'm looking at has not touched the ground yet. Thanx gang.

7/13/2003 7:46:27 PM

canal winchester ohio

I've always used sand & I always will. I put it down before the fruit hits the ground in a 1' circle about 1" deep. I enlarge the circle as the pumpkin grows & make the sand deeper as I go 2-3". I also mound the sand up on the sides of the pumpkin to try to get to grow upwards instead of flat. It may sound crazy but every pumpkin ( and squash) I've grown has had a good shape this way..............Paul

7/13/2003 8:15:46 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I put 6' long boards down then i put sand on top of this at about two inches deep. Works very,very well

7/13/2003 8:48:18 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Why the boards Brat?

7/13/2003 9:32:10 PM

[email protected]

To keep the sand from washing away as in the sides of a sand box?

7/13/2003 10:17:27 PM

Western Pa.

When I have chosen which fruits to keep and they are about basketball size, I gently lift the pumpkin while someone else works sand evenly under and around pumpkin. I use 1 50# bag per pumpkin, and make a 3 foot circle. It's never been necessary to add more later on.

7/14/2003 7:27:44 AM

Utah

board keep critters from getting at your pumpkin from
underneath. I use boards also.

7/14/2003 9:21:35 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Thanks...I'm using sand this year too, very helpful.

7/14/2003 9:02:09 PM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

I've got some of that paper mill felt, not the smooth stuff everyone uses but the felt...Its tough as hell and will leach water through it..Do you suppose it would work to put that down then put sand on top of it..to keep critters from burrowing up from the bottom or will it retain too much moisture even with the sand...Would think that would work better than boards that can hold water.
Thoughts?

7/14/2003 9:03:45 PM

Western Pa.

By using sand and a complete insecticide program, as well as, Ro-dex for rodents, I have never in six years(knock on wood) had a problem with critters burrowing up from underneath. I've known many growers that have lost 800#+ pumpkins to rodents. A preventive program will stop them in the early stages. Paper mill fabric works well too, sand is cheaper and helps break up my clay soil the next year.

7/14/2003 9:41:19 PM

[email protected]

I got the paper mill stuff from Shellie Cramer. I plan to use sand under it to cause a saucer shape.

But now I have my eye on some left over pieces of the rubberized play material used under kid's play ground equipment. Like the stuff applied to tracks, but about 4" thick. Porous for drainage yet soft for "pumpkin comfort". Anyone ever tried this stuff before?

Steve

7/14/2003 9:42:53 PM

Cologne / Germany

Steve, that´s what I´m using this year. Seems to work okay. As the pumpkin gains more weight everything is hard one day, even a pillow under it. So in my opinion it´s essential to support the fruit with a "sand belt" around it.

7/15/2003 3:45:58 AM