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Ohio

my best pumpkin is kinda on top of the main vine. the vine is buried under soil but i was wondering if it will hurt anything? im scared to move it because i might break it.

8/10/2009 5:56:31 PM

Cochecton, NY

If the fruit is sitting on the vine, as it grows it will create more stem stress. It's kind of like placing your hand under your foot and then trying to stand up straight. You can't. The difference between the hand and the pumpkin is that you are smart enough to move your hand to stand up. The pumpkin will just rip the stem out. Once you move the pumpkin off the vine, unburry it and cut the tap roots that are holding it also. I would get this done ASAP. As for moving it, baby steps. You lightly lift and have someone help reposition the vine a little bit. Repeat every day until done. I am out of breath!!

8/11/2009 8:07:19 AM

Midwest

putty: If the pumpkin is too big to move and you feel it's too risky, you can excavate under the main vine as much as necessary so the vine makes no contact with the soil. My best pumpkin is in the same situation, the main is actually being 'planted' into the soil by the pumpkin. Fortunately, I have removed 5in. under the main on either side of the stem and under the stem and attempted to weigh the stem down with bricks on the stump-end of the main so it is actually lower than the surrounding soil. The pumpkin is pushing it down but it won't meet the ground. So far, so good. If the growth continues, I plan to try to excavate under the blossum end on a 10degree slope to bring the blossum end down and the head up. This may give another inch or two clearence. Best wishes! Greg
I will post pics in my diary.

8/11/2009 1:29:27 PM

Sequim, WA

I'm making no recommendations here, but a number of the wagon wheel shaped fruit have grown perfectly well laying down on the stem end. If the fruit is resting on the shoulders and the vine is buried, there is little chance it will pull itself off the vine because all the growth will be directed upward and outward, not down into the earth. I had one like this seven years ago and it had me worried the whole time it grew, but when I went to harvest it I was pleased to find that where the fruit was laying on the vine the vine actually left an indentation in the fruit. I would be more concerned with doing damage by trying to do too much. I still don't understand folks putting things between the fruit and vine other than space. This actually creates more stress.

8/11/2009 2:15:05 PM

Ohio

thanks guys. i plan on cutting the fruit in 3 weeks for our fair. its about beachball size, do you think i can reach 300 or so by then?

8/12/2009 1:43:08 AM

Midwest

Yeah, these pumpkins don't just 'snap' off the stem. They will re-shape around solid objects. But, if there were sideways pressure on the stem, the stem might seperate from either the main or the pumpkin. But, if this pumpkin is pushing the stem away with no sideways force, ok, do nothing. Otherwise, you have to do something.

8/12/2009 1:35:38 PM

Sequim, WA

It's possible, growth rates in your climate are far different from mine so although I think it unlikely, I wouldn't say no.

8/12/2009 2:28:25 PM