Hi Gourdo - Sorry, never raised pumpkins so can't help you there. I would trim vines to encourage vigor going to fruit on the vines rather than producing longer vines. Don't believe moisture on plastic on which your gourds or pumpkins set on will promote mold or rot. I had a gourd growing in an old bucket last year. The bottom half of the gourd was in water for several months before I discovered it and when I pulled it out there wasn't a sign of damage. Snails and other creepy/crawly critters which come in contact with your gourds/pumpkins setting on the ground can do a lot more damage than a little dew. Gene

thanks, i have noticed that my gourds seem to be pretty tough, but i did lose one to some type of little grub. I have noticed a few slugs and snails too, but i read that if you put sand around your gourds this will stop them, is this true???? thanks for the advice.

Hi Gourdo - I doubt if the sand would work. I'm not much for using "natural" things for defeating bugs and disease. I've lost too much in the past using them. There is a pelleted snail/slug killer available that is effective. You just sprinkle it around and when snails/slugs come in contact with it - goodbye snails/slugs. I had terrible problems with them in my garden for two years. Ate my radishes, tomatoes, cukes and peppers. Don't have problems with them any more. They will eat into the skin of gourds just far enough for disease and other bugs to finish off the gourds. If you don't get rid of them they keep coming back year after year. Good luck. Gene