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New Brunswick

I have a pumpkin weighing over 300 pounds with a few weeks left to grow. I have tarps but they do not seem all that heavy. How do you go about using them....put ropes in the grommets or what do you hang onto??? I was wondering about using Mill felt. What are most of you using to load these heavy punkins on a truck?

8/24/2003 9:45:40 PM

Utah

don't know what Mill Felt is ? so i don't know how it would work...
most of the tarps are folded in half or 4ths... or 8ths... you can add more grommets (Walmart has a kit) or tie the rope to the tarp around a golf ball or a rock or whatever.. you can put a 6 inch piece of pvc pipe through the rope to use as a handle

8/25/2003 10:59:03 AM

derry n.h u.s.a.

A blue tarp 20x20 folded in quarters works well ,if that s to small use a 30x30 folded in quarters,get the tarp under the pumpkin by tilting it on its side getting most of the tarp under it ,then tilt it to the other side and pull the tarp through,scrunch up and are for a hand hold 4 people should be able to lift a 400lb pumpkin and so on 6 for a 600lb one,place the fruit on a pallet with some cushining under it ,like maybe 3" insulation,eggshell works well or any kind of foam rubber to absorb the road jults on the way to the weighoff.Then again a lifting tarp works well also! p and p seeds sells them also Alun Renolds sells them,and Howard dill .com sells them,there around 70 to 90 $ depending on the size.Hope this helped.John

8/25/2003 12:30:11 PM

syracuse, ny

www.pgpga.com/
$100 and join the organization for like 15 more....
you'll get a pumpkin lifter, very professionally made, and you get a bunch of great seeds so you can really put it to work next year as well!!!

8/25/2003 12:39:56 PM

syracuse, ny

ohh, that's right, you might have to know someone with a
tractor or something to lift the ring with....they'll usually do it for a 12-pack or a 100-pound pumpkin. either!

8/25/2003 12:41:36 PM

Montoursville, PA

My friend with the tractor, fork lift equipped, has become one of my regular patch fans. He will be here to pick that sucker up and load it for me.

I put his five year old granddaughter into a pumpkin picture, made a couple full sheets of pix like a school package. That did it! Happy scouts, pleased grower!

8/25/2003 1:35:41 PM

Desert Storm I'll send you a pic of what we use thank's to Al Eaton. It's home made with old seat belts & works great if you have a tractor or a friend around with one that has a front end loader. I will also send you a pic of a lifting winch I have on back of my 1/2 ton that I have used in the past with the sling mentioned above and loaded 800 lb fruit without assistance. The lifting sling costs about $30 depending on where you get your old seat belts, cost of sewing loops in them & a welder to make top ring. Bill Van

8/26/2003 9:12:46 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Hey Bill, could you post those pictures in the Photo Gallery?

Thanks...........Carlos

8/27/2003 12:59:26 AM

Oz

$100 dollars for membership? i can afford it(some cant),,but that is excessive. is that per year?
i think ill just buy some bigpumpkin t-shirts.
i wonder if the "fee" will go up.
,,,,,,,,,has anybody made a "pumpkin dolly"?

8/27/2003 11:00:51 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

$100 is for the Pumpkin Lifter. Membership is $15. I will post in my diary my Pumpkin Lifter.

8/27/2003 12:26:34 PM