From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Southington Ohio

I have a pumpkin 12 days after pollination 32 inches around it is verry shiney and growing. I'm worried about an abort. do I have anything to worry about?

7/22/2003 7:07:16 PM

as long as it stays shiny and growing, it should be fine. just don't give any huge jolts of water or fertilizer.

7/22/2003 7:23:41 PM

porterville,california usa

don`t worry, be happy!

7/23/2003 4:18:44 AM

Montoursville, PA

Aborts come as a natural plant happening as well as from possible grower error. In any event worry of any major concern is wasted thought.

Work to improve your total patch health year in and year out. Work to understand your fertilization and insect controll. Self caused aborts will be fewer as you grow while plant caused aborts are mother nature's business to tend to.

Relax and observe. The personal and basic patch improvement will grow together.

Position of near 90 degrees of fruit stem to vine alignment is todays job. Do slowly, 1/4" a day, whatever movement you have to do to get that vine running straight accross the stem end of your pumpkin. Prop your movements with sand. Cut the stem loose from the soil as much as you have to. If your pumpkin can expand into the vine it can and will likely snap either the stem or the vine in the process. That vine has to be free to rise up to twenty inches.

The shoulders may expand towards the vine nearly as much as the blossom end expands. Up towards the vine is a big part of that expansion.

A "T" 90 degree stem to vine is perfect. Perfect is a seldom seen event but work to that goal. Work in the warmest part of the day you can work this movement.
..."T" fruit sets are not born they are grower made...most of the time.

The earlier you start the easier it will be to achieve.

7/23/2003 6:30:28 AM