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Bristol R.I. USA

I will be useing mill fabric this season. I've heard that you should also put sand on top of the fabric so the pumpkin can slide so it will reduce splits. Anyone able to shed any perspective on this?

11/12/2009 11:15:43 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I was using just mill fabric and still had pumpkins 'concave' because they may have hung up. 2010 I'm using 'play sand' (a non sharp washed sand sold at home centers) to give them 'ballbearing sliding'.

Mill fabric helps keep mice and star moles from coming up underneath pumpkin and helping themselves....

11/13/2009 12:24:31 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

You would be wise to use the sand.

11/13/2009 12:55:12 AM

Tinykinville

mill fabric will keep the mice away but big pumpkins do not slide, sorry mark but i believe sand is a waste of time

11/13/2009 3:21:28 AM

St. Thomas Ontario

The blossom end starts 4-5" away from the vine...and ends up 4-5

11/13/2009 7:27:07 AM

St. Thomas Ontario

feet away...something's moving under there. I'll be trying my best to get some mill fabric and some playsand in the 'off season...'just say No to soft spots!';)

11/13/2009 7:32:55 AM

Ohio

I agree with pumpkin Jam.
Kenny, try some of the blue insulation board
(1/2 inch or 3/4) from Lowes, and poke holes in it for water to seep through, the bottoms of my pumpkins are always in great shape come harvest time.

11/13/2009 8:35:44 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

What I like about sand is that it seems to keep the bottom of the fruit more dry, as it does not hold water.

11/13/2009 9:28:36 AM

Greenville,Pa.

I place "barn sand" (cheap at the gravel bank) 3"-4" thick in a circle as big as the world record pumpkin (just in case....). At the end of the season I spread it out on my soil to help loosen up the heavy clay. To date, I do not have a 1000#'er, but I DO have much better soil. Never have had a problem with mice and the bottom of the pumpkins are always solid.

11/13/2009 12:08:57 PM

[email protected]

We can and do move 500 pounders with ease on mill fabric with sand.
We first build a saucer with builders sand for support. Then the Mill fabric with rounder Play sand above & below for ball bearings.
We don't intend to move the fruit much. But we can make stem stress adjustments without damaging the fruit.

11/13/2009 12:42:57 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

This year I used both virgin and non virgin Mill fabric. My virgin MF did not allow the pumpkin to slide and did cause issues. The more experienced MF allowed me to move the pumpkin at 600 lbs slightly by meself...... This year I will use sand sparingly above and below ground to have the best of both worlds.....Ask BiZ how many nests he found under his kins without the MF.

11/13/2009 4:07:21 PM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

I know it's been asked a million times.....where can I get some. It'll be my first time using it.

11/13/2009 7:04:07 PM

Cheshire,Ma

I find the pumpkin can slide just fine on the mill fabric without sand on top of it. I do put 6-8" of sand underneath the pumpkin. I have a thinner mill fabric that I use on top of the thicker mill fabric. It's so slippery that a pumpkin can move easily. I have stepped on the thinner pieces in the past and I went down real quick. It was like stepping on wet ice.
Andy I also sell mill fabric if you need some. $15 for a 5 1/2' x 5 1/2' piece not including shipping. You can contact me at [email protected] Dan

11/13/2009 7:18:23 PM

Whidbey Island

Mill fabric frequently has two textures, smoother on one side than the other. Put the smooth side up.

11/13/2009 8:33:22 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

The white stuff I wiped out on good... :) so is some older very thin blue-grey stuff, even though that stuff is a few seasons abused. Walk on mill fabric with care, period. I also do the edges with a bit of blue painter's masking tape, before sliding it under pumpkin. Less likely to wound self or pumpkin!

11/14/2009 12:02:12 AM