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Bloomington, IN

So I have a prizewinner hybrid pumpkin about the size of a volleyball thats blossom end and stem are level with each other. Would it be beneficial to slowly position it to sit on its blossom end or should I just leave the two ends level?

7/21/2008 8:28:01 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Usually we leave them growing on their back.... much less stem-to-vine stress too. You will end up having to reposition as the pumpkin gets bigger and the stem end lifts the vine, to reduce stress and prevent the vine from rubbing the shoulders of your pumpkin. If you haven't already done it, the vine should be arranged to bend away from your pumpkin, and take it easy doing this! Using soil to prop up the vine on both sides (and bury the tap roots) to relieve stem stress is a good idea. Best time to move vines is mid afternoon on a sunny hot day and the sooner the better, when vines are limp-er and more pliable. Also if you need to reposition pumpkin because of angle to the vine, do it daily and take it easy. You do NOT want to crack the stem...or vine, or where the stem attaches to your pumpkin.

7/21/2008 9:10:17 AM

Bloomington, IN

Thanks for the reply. Ya, the vine has been diverted away from the pumpkin about 3 feet and I've been slowly lifting the vine as the pumpkin grows, which for the past five days has been growing 2 inches in circumference per day. The pumpkin is somewhere between 45 and 65 degrees or more in relation to the vine, should I move it towards 90?

7/21/2008 9:27:40 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Yes, gently, a tiny bit every day.

The more perpendicular when it's small the less grief later.

7/21/2008 9:50:29 AM