Sand Under Pumpkins?

[mydogdory]

Hi! My pumpkin plants are in a bed that vines out into the grass. I read that pumpkins can rot from the ground being moist and by bugs. What can I put under the pumpkins to keep them from doing that? I read you can put sand and I have a lot of it but wanted to ask other peoples advice on sand under pumpkins. Thanks!!

 

[so lucky]

I don't know why sand wouldn't work, but I am not a pumpkin grower, so take that for what it's worth. I have heard of people setting their prize pumpkins on a board or something similar to keep them from rotting, etc. slugs, snails....If your lawn doesn't mind having sand dumped on it, go for it!

 

[digitS']

I think sand may work.

So Lucky's idea of a board - I've done that. It might deter the mice, also. They have chewed holes right thru the bottom of a pumpkin so as to carry off the seeds.

It's mostly the melons and rot that I've been concerned about.

Steve

 

[mydogdory]

Thanks! I will see if I got some boards. Maybe I will put boards under some of them and sand under some as well. I plan on growing pumpkins up a vine next year.

 

[baymule]

@MontyJ told us a little about his pumpkin contest days and he put a good pad of sand under his pumpkins to help keep the bugs out and the sand acted as a slide as the pumpkins grew.

 

[so lucky]

Woohoo! a pumpkin slide! May as well let them have a little fun while they are growing.

 

[catjac1975]

I put my melons on top of an inverted plastic plant pot and have done the same for pumpkins. If you have a large pumpkin it would have to be a pretty strong. By placing them on the blossom end and squarely on the pot or normally on the ground, you will get a nice shaped pumpkin.

 

[mydogdory]

How do you get the pumpkins to stand up straight?

 

[Jared77]

A pumpkin slides a nice idea because they might be a little small for the monkey bars.

 

[catjac1975]

How do you get the pumpkins to stand up straight?

When they are pretty large you carefully turn them to sit on the blossom end. Gravity will make them beautifully round.