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long Island

I have been taking very good care of my plant. It seems very healthy and is growing faster than any plant I have ever had.
Today I noticed that the main vine is split in three places.
All of the splits are in the same area. They are about 12 feet out from the stump.
The main vine has continued to grow beyond the splits and seems to have no intention of slowing down.
So, this is my question:
I cleaned the splits off with water and they show no signs of any rot, whatsoever.
Then I painted them with Daconil. I noticed, after doing a search on "main splits", that the preferred method of repair is Captan Powder. What should I do now? Should I wash the daconil off, and dust the spilt up with Captan?
OR, should I just leave the daconil on there, and dust the Captan powder on top of the Daconil?
Like I said, I`m in trouble again.

7/17/2011 8:40:18 PM

long Island

I would also like to add another question.
Two of the splits are on the bottom of the main.
This does make them very difficult to get to, and treat.
Any tips on how to handle a split on the bottom of the main?
The other spilt is on the top of the main. Very easy to get to, and treat, however, It looks like it will want to fill up with water as soon as it rains. This can`t be a good thing. Any tips on how to keep water out of a top split that literally looks like a catch basin for rain?

7/17/2011 8:46:33 PM

Presto, Pa.

Wally I don't have the money to go buy all that stuff. I just let it alone. Mine just kept on growing. Heck I touch my vine and it splits. The one on top, watch it and keep the bugs out. It will heal. Just my two cents. Ed

7/17/2011 9:12:07 PM

Presto, Pa.

Wow I just looked at your pictures. My two cents aint worth nothing. wow underested on how that happened.

7/17/2011 9:26:20 PM

Western NY

wally, saw the pics - those aren't anything to worry about. make some kind of a shield over the one that would catch water. Other than that, don't sweat it, not going to hurt growth at all.

7/17/2011 10:18:12 PM

long Island

Here's the pics:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=163659

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=163662

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=163665

7/17/2011 11:33:09 PM

long Island

Uncle Ed, I have no idea how this happened. Your two cents is worth much more than that to me. Thanks for the reply and its nice to have someone to talk to when something like this happens.

Andy, Thank you for the words of encouragement. I will not give up. I want to do all that I can do to help the plant survive this injury. Can you describe the "shield" that you mentioned? Its getting late for me and its time to go to bed. I`m so glad to hear that you are saying that its going to be OK. I have read everything I can about steam splits but there is no info on what to do about the ones that are on the bottom. they are in contact with the soil and there is no way that I can actually see whats going on in there. Hopefully someone can give me a step by step method on how to handle this. I have so many questions but they will have to wait until tomorrow.
Well, maybe just one for tonight.
Andy, would you dust the splits with Captan powder over the Daconil, or would you try to wash the Daconil off first before the Captan dusting?
OK, maybe one more, Would you trench under the bottom splits to get them away from the wet soil?

7/18/2011 12:03:11 AM

Western PA

Wally, I Take a water or soda bottle and cut the top off and bottom. Then slice one side from top to bottom. Just put it right over the split vine. You need to shield the water off so it does not collect.

7/18/2011 5:08:53 AM

Middle TN

clever idea Lee!

7/18/2011 9:59:44 AM

Presto, Pa.

Thanks Wally great bunch of people on here.

7/18/2011 6:13:54 PM

long Island

Today I tried the soda bottle method on the top splits. On top of the soda bottles I put two clear plastic containers.
I also inserted a pc. of foam with drain holes popped in it, under all the splits. I also put a layer of mill cloth on top of the foam, along with all of that, I installed two fans that blow threw the plastic containers.
After careful consideration, and some advise in my email from a fellow grower, I have decided to remove all of the plastic containers. My email friend and I both agree that they are going to collect a lot of moisture. This, of course, is no good. I will be installing a Plexiglas cover, elevated with sticks above the splits. This will keep the rain off, and also allow much better air movement than my current set up. I will be doing this first thing tomorrow morning and will post new pictures when I`m done
Thanks for everyone's help with this so far and thanks for all of the kind words of encouragement. I really do appreciate it.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=163771

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=163772

7/18/2011 9:09:08 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

Those areas are already hardened and dried.. you should not have to do anything with them

7/18/2011 10:22:14 PM

Vancouver Washington

Those will be fine. My brother has had good luck in the past just burying the vines after they dry out. I have had great success putting a piece of PVC pipe over them - after cutting out a section to allow the vine to go in. I have also wrapped them with athletic tape. The reality is that once they have dried out....it really doesn't matter...they will be fine with little effect. I have seen 1300 pound pumpkins grown on vines that had completely opened and flattened out and nothing was done to them. Sometimes we have a tendency to over manage these things and create a lot of unneeded stress and work for ourselves.

7/19/2011 12:59:56 PM

long Island

Yes. Unneeded stress and work. I agree totally. I am very happy to hear that this is not the end of my plant. Everyone seems to agree, no big deal.
We are on day one of a 5 day heat wave here on Long Island.
Everyday will be in the 90`s and no rain is forecast.
The splits look completely dried out today. I have removed all of the plastic containers because like I expected, all they do is collect moisture. I still have not come up with a way to keep the rain off of the one that's wide open, on the top. It is dried out and healing, I don't want that thing filling up with water every time it rains. I am going to try a Plexiglas cover on sticks. I need to have it high enough to allow total air movement underneath and at the same time stop any potential rain from getting under it.
I love the PVC pipe idea. Wont that block the sun from getting to it? I thought the sun had to keep it dry. That's why I was leaning towards the clear plexiglass. Also, I am afraid that anything that inhibits the air flow around those splits will create a moisture condition. Everything here on Long Island is soaking wet every morning, whether it rains or not. We have a VERY HUMID and VERY LONG Island.

7/19/2011 2:18:19 PM