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Montoursville, PA

Look at my diary pix, one of last three, 1097.8 TC or Annie I. Grew another six inches which is good. Is growing towards the stem and straight at the vine which is bad.
Tomorrow AM I am going to sort out ideas and take drastic action based on all input. I'm about out of guesses as to what to do. Last night she grew enough to slightly bend the stem. Presently I have the vine blocked with foam between the vine and the pumpkin. In another day or two she will blow herself right off the vine if no good I ideas appear.

8/6/2003 10:19:07 PM

Utah

if it was in a "normal" position would there be any problem with vine slack ? if the slack is ok...
i would make some triangle wedges out of a fairly hard styrofoam... have a couple of people roll the fruit up and while others stick the wedges in.
good luck

8/6/2003 10:52:33 PM

San Diego

doc, I saw your pic. My unfortunate words are, doesn't look good at all. On the contrary, I have seen a pumpkin grown out to maturity that looked similar and eventually was a "bird bath" with the stem eventually going straight under and then blossom end on top. If your pumpkin is pushing your vine already, it's not good at all in that position. Best of luck,Jim

8/6/2003 11:29:09 PM

Joliet, IL

i severed roots almost 4' in both directions, created slack,
and wrestled the mofo back 7" away from where the stem
meets the vine. risky yes, but once the slack was nice,
i had plenty of room. i would have a partner hold the
vine on both sides of the stem and tell you if tension builds. i did this with a 180 lber.

8/6/2003 11:55:32 PM

Montoursville, PA

One option is wacking off the growth beyond the fruit to free up the vine. The vine is one tuff thick enity.

8/7/2003 12:03:03 AM

Key West, FL

check out the 981 clyde wilson here http://www.pgvg.org/Canby%202002.htm , it was a HUGE bird bath, I think you can grow yours but its gonna be tricky. I would dig down below the stem so the vine is under ground and put sand or whatever your pumpkins are growing on all around the stem.

8/7/2003 10:30:44 AM

Puyallup, WA

What did you decide to do Dwaine?

8/7/2003 10:51:50 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Check in w/ Kilr to see what he did.
I believe that he was in the same situation w/ an 845 this year.


I think I would lean toward the 'clamp and cut' method.
I know that Craig Sandvik has used this technique more than once.

8/7/2003 1:06:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

It is real satisfying to know lots of folks care when one is in a difficult situation. What I did is coming up on the diary.

Thank you all for your two cents worth. I kinda put it all together and punted.

8/7/2003 1:30:54 PM

Western Pa.

Doc,

The fruit on my 845 had a short stem (and brittle vines), that crossed right over top the main. I decided to keep it, since all others after were open pollinated and after July 20th. Not sure yet what you did with yours, but if it's any consolation, those wagon wheels usually "weigh heavy", and when they show up at our weigh-off in Ohio, people consider them wishing wells and fill them up with spare change!

8/7/2003 2:27:44 PM

Utah

nice fix ... looks like you came up with a good solution.
using a jack instead of brute force was a great idea.

8/7/2003 2:59:53 PM

Key West, FL

That was a pretty interesting idea for lifting it up but how are you going to hold it up and give it enough support?

8/7/2003 3:00:07 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey Ben..........That may become a jacked off pumpkin. If I can get just a little better vertical set I may build a fence and brace the fence.

Going to rest with it this way for a day or so to see if my "grow the other way" talk did any good.

I'm taking another little break. Can't stand this engineering drain on my brain. :) Be back here Monday or Tuesday with the saga of Annie I to be continued.

It's to late now but if I had any idea this sucker was going to insist on growing upside down I would have potty trained it to a truck tire or water filled heavy duty tube.

8/7/2003 4:00:26 PM

New Brunswick

Boy am I impressed! I used boards behind one of mine (placed under soil) that was growing down hill....but nothing quite as elaborate as your jack mentod. I just may copy your idea and build up under my vines. Thanks. Great pics!

8/7/2003 4:58:41 PM