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Midway, UT

I noticed some early signs of stress on my stem's upper left hand side yesterday and made some adjustments to try to alleviate. Man was that a scary 5 minutes. I think the blossom end was to low and that was what was causing the stress at the top of the stem. I'm growing on sand so adjustments in some ways is a little easier. What tips can you share on how you recognize stem stress early and how do you know what direction to move the pumpkin in to relieve it? Also do you have some techniques you could share on how to keep stem stress from happening?

7/25/2008 10:17:52 AM

Clarence, NY

Make sure your tap roots are cut on the stem node & first and second nodes on either side of the stem node.

7/25/2008 10:22:43 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Take a look at your pumpkin....Does it look like a ballon on a string trying to fly away....cut tap roots on either side of the main vine so it can raise as the pumpkin increases in diameter. If not it may pick it self from the vine........try to keep the stem parallel to the ground and at a right angle to the pumpkin. The S curve is important....draw an imaginary line across the back shoulders of the pumpkin......does it cross over the main vine? IF so move the blossom end 1-1.5 inches a day ( in the warmth of the day,,,,never when its cool).....either direction.....like a clock....the blossom end should be at 6 oclock.....stem at straight up 12 oclock......in relation to the main vine.....that way when the shoulders grow to 2-3' across the back the main vine will be out of the way.....Check out you main vine in relation to the shoulders....should be equal distance on both sides....

Hope this helps.....Call me if not......

WiZ

7/25/2008 11:55:45 AM

Cincinnati,OH

You should be able to move the main vine up and down just a little. If it feels tight like it doesn't want to move at all then there is too much stress. Cut the roots at the leaf nodes as far back as you have to. Sometimes I have to cut the roots on the nearby secodaries as well.

7/25/2008 12:03:44 PM

Midway, UT

The roots where cut a week ago and I have an s curve. I think the problem it was having is that the blossom end had gotten itself a little lower than the stem so it was forcing the stem end up as it was growing. Please keep the tips coming! I appreciate the help.

7/25/2008 1:01:24 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Sand works great for this and allows for draining in case it gets wet.

7/25/2008 2:29:52 PM