Exactly two weeks prior, I ventured around the house to dispose of the garbage—a chore usually entrusted to my husband—and was utterly surprised to discover a 20-foot vine sprouting from an overgrown patch of soil that receives little attention and lacks a sprinkler in the vicinity. It then struck me: I had discarded a pumpkin here to decompose last autumn, imagining it would serve as excellent compost for the shrubs. By sheer chance, I had inadvertently cultivated an impromptu pumpkin field.
A brief search online alerted me to the pitfalls of blossom end rot and regular rot—two prevalent issues when nurturing ground-hugging vines. Thankfully, my pumpkin vine has naturally climbed over the adjacent bushes, but eventually, the gourds will descend and touch the ground. When that time arrives—and it will come sooner than expected, as my first squash is ripening at a pace faster than any other crops I’ve grown—I’ll have the Jashem 10-Pack Pumpkin Cradles to safeguard them from rot.
Currently on sale for under $20, these pumpkin cradles are an ingenious gardening trick that elevates squashes off the ground to ward off moisture accumulation, which can lead to rot. Last year, I lost several watermelons to this common gardening woe, but with my burgeoning pumpkin patch now in need of protection, I’m equipped with these plastic support baskets once more.
Each cradle, measuring 7.87 x 6.3 x 2.36 inches, boasts a sturdy cone stake that can be driven into the ground to provide pumpkins (and other fruits like melons, squash, cantaloupes, and even strawberries) with sturdy support as they grow larger and heavier. The basket’s oval design creates a barrier between the fruit and the ground, keeping it dry and lessening the risk of rot.
These pumpkin cradles not only shield pumpkins from rot but also decrease the chances of devastating infestations. After all, soil harbors not just moisture but also disease-carrying pests such as boring insects and fungi. The cradles offer an additional layer of defense against these intruders. They also enhance air circulation on all sides, which in turn results in more uniform and faster ripening.
Rot can be a fatal issue, but the Jashem 10-Pack Pumpkin Cradles are the perfect remedy. Snatch up the 10-pack that I use at home while it’s on sale for a mere $17, and explore more innovative solutions to common gardening challenges below.
