Organic gardening 2025

[akroberts]

My first of many pumpkin cradles. It's about 16 1/2 inches tall and 17 1/2 inches long

 

[Dirtmechanic]

Why must you cradle your pumpkins? Are they sad?

Do you have a twisted intent?

 

[akroberts]

Why must you cradle your pumpkins? Are they sad?View attachment 79570

Do you have a twisted intent?

They take too long to ripen on the ground so I am doing an experiment with the cradles.

 

[Alasgun]

Ive grown them on a trellis before however it takes a little doing. The vines dont make tendrils that would help them “hold on” so some tying and weaving was necessary to keep them up. The fruit was easily suspended in panty hose legs or other loose stretchy netting, “Hammock style”.

But like many “Good Ideas” that was abandoned due to the extra effort with little gain over traditional methods.

 

[akroberts]

I'm actually thinking that after I get enough of the cradles made I can make a trellis for the vines and just try to make sure that the pumpkins sit on the cradle. I'm just basically experimenting with the cradles and maybe the trellis could be for a different variety. I grew a pumpkin that was almost 21 pounds so I don't think that a trellis would work for the weight.

 

[Alasgun]

Cattle panels, i use them for everything including trellis but also for fencing, and on end they make a great mini greenhouse. In the spring i’ll butt a couple up against the greenhouse and cover it with poly. With some saw horses to hold up some long boards it becomes a “hardening off” shelter. Both of my indoor vertical gardens grow on cut down panels too.

but like i said, pumpkins are back on the ground now.

Mike