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Little-TON - Colorado

This year almost all my fruit have a concave bottom... Used Mill fabric with no sand. Cost PoundZ... Most of my kinZ had the dive over blossom end... and then sucked up the blossom under the pumpkin..

ThoughtZ... Do you think the pumkins are not sliding on the fabric.. or is a genetic trait? Ground too Hot or cold? I only used sheets to cover the fruit... Interesting this year that 5 fruit went this way......

10/4/2013 9:52:55 AM

sag lines on top ..can be grower created as in inconsistent growth- example watering surges from dry or fertilzer shortage then excess. SAME can happen to under neath
ive had concave and nice flat bottoms on sand. mill fabric .plywood .and even just in just plain mud

10/4/2013 10:25:32 AM

Waterville, Ohio

I use cotton to cover my bottom, it's always stayed pretty flat. At least that's what my better half says.
But since your talking about pumpkins, I think Dons right, surges in growth could be part of the problem. Since pumpkins aren't symmetrical, I also think the weight on certain areas cause the bottom to form concave with the sides baring a lot of the load.

10/4/2013 10:59:26 AM

Joliet, IL

I think a reverse arch or concave bottom might be how some of these pumpkins can structurally support themselves without splitting by dispersing the load while adding weight. Mill fabric only here an 2 concave and one flat here this year.

10/4/2013 12:27:56 PM

Circleville, Ohio

I use styrofoam it will break if pressure is too great and prevent this. Happens every year.

10/4/2013 6:17:54 PM

East Jordan, MI

sand, 1 inch Styrofoam, then mill cloth and keep kin level when it is small works for us. Bottom flat as the floor every time and only rollovers is if we don't keep kin level.

10/4/2013 9:47:51 PM

Anchorage Alaska

shazz in 6 years of growing only had 1 concave bottom and that produced a DMG fruit .. I think that shape hurts more than helps .. Wiz I think its a more genetic issue than anything.. but do agree with Don's view as a possible source of developing a concave bottom

10/4/2013 11:09:33 PM

Frankfort Ohio

Seen the bottom on somone of cntryboy no shit u could lay a level on then.

10/5/2013 12:12:07 AM

Frankfort Ohio

some of ^ been a long day

10/5/2013 12:12:55 AM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Concave bottoms equal smaller cavity and fruit that go heavy.

10/5/2013 12:23:40 AM

Slate River,Ont. Canada

Had that problem other years but grew on styrofoam with sand on it this year and bottom was flat.
I think it's a difference it temperature from the ground to the top of kin especially when you start giving them lots of sun in September.

10/5/2013 8:39:12 AM