From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bay City Michigan

I seen Ron W. put something about this and thought it sounded genius. How close to the stump can you do this to help breakup soil.

7/30/2016 11:11:17 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

On a growing pumpkin? That I think would destroy and damage a lot of your precious roots.

7/31/2016 8:34:44 AM

Germany

You are probably talking about this diary entry here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=255980

Ron is pitchforking around the plant, and that means being ahead of the plant. The longest roots can be a bit longer than the longest vines, thus you should always be pitchforking, tilling or whatever you do in a distance from the stump which is at least 2 or 3 ft longer than the longest vine at that time (will probably be the main vine).

7/31/2016 8:42:08 AM

Ohio

Remember reading old garden books where root pruning was a method used to ripen-up green tomatoes fast, so a grower shouldn't be disturbing roots deeply. The diary entry was from May, and the pitchfork was a good distance from the stump.

7/31/2016 11:24:45 AM

Rhode Island

pitch forking around outside growing area of the plants several times early on really helps get much needed oxygen and any needed moisture deeper into the soil.

as noted above ---- outer edges of plant a few ft in front of vine tips is the key.
Pap

8/1/2016 5:28:38 PM