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Illinois

What causes the stem to get all mussy?

9/19/2011 4:40:31 AM

Muddy Waters

Good Question!

9/19/2011 6:27:27 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Not sure, but it sucks. Check out how ugly my stem is on my 1059 now after surgery. Other than this, the pumpkin was flawless.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=170149

9/19/2011 8:38:23 AM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Rockhoundjim, Mark, Luke we're all waiting to get some revelation from an experienced grower, but I don't think there's a definative catch-all answer. Here in Kentucky our weather had some very strange patterns, most rather extreme. I am a new grower also, and seems many others have had their share of issues stemming from this years strange weather. I've noticed if I see an issue starting on or about the pumpkin, all I need to do is look back down the vine till I find a problem. It may just be a leaf stem started to rot after it had feel over a week or two ago. Some vine rot where a male flower was... Madness Man.. Madness I say! BSD, David

9/20/2011 10:40:59 PM

Western PA

I have had 3 pumpkins that stopped growing early this season. 2 of which the plant was still in excellent shape as far as I could see.( I think I ran out of nutriets from all the spring rain )

My theory is that when the fruit stops growing, for some reason the plant is still trying to send water to it , and the stem can only take so much before it starts to rot.

I have one that is still slowly growing, and the stem is in great shape on that one.

Just my 2 cents.

9/21/2011 9:54:18 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I think most of the time it is a disease that starts in the root zone- pythium, fusarium, one of those types. Incorporating Daconil and Aliette into your rotation of sprays will help a lot. If you are also using Eagle 20 for foliar disease then you have most of your bases covered.

One other thing is that sunburn could also play a role in causing the upper part of the stem to mush up.

9/22/2011 1:31:33 PM

Rhode Island

that stem on the pumpkin to me is a supply line for the plant to foward its vigor and nutrients into the pumpkin.a poor or damaged, scraped off, soft spotted/rotted stem can not properly provide for the fruit.

for many years ron,myself, and several of our good growing buddies have fought stem rot problems.this year none in the wallace patch, every stem is like brand new. what do i attribute this to?

the addition of alternating chemical drenches with the biological drenches.

we had gone for a few years with just biological drenches along with the spray programs but no more.ya need the chemical drenches as well as biological coupled with mist sprays of insecticides,fungicides and nutrients as needed.not a program for the easy does it low budget gardener.

pretty sure ron is writing an article on this subject for upcoming sngpg news letters.

also keeping the stem area of the fruit dry and exposed to sunlite daily is a big help as well.

pap

pap

9/23/2011 7:37:38 AM

Portsmouth, RI

I agree with Pap, Ron help me a lot this year with the drench's. My 2 pumpkin plants have no leafs thanks to Irene but I have no vine rot and my stems are like brand new also.
Bob

9/23/2011 8:38:40 AM

Illinois

To show you how new I am at this I don't know what you mean about the "drench's"

As for leaving the stem out to dry in the sun. The stem was covered by a few leaves. I also had the pumpkin covered to protect it from sun burn etc.

I greatly appreciate all the info you kind folks are giving. Now if I can follow all of it next year.

9/25/2011 6:18:03 AM

Portsmouth, RI

Drench's we refered to means biological and chemical soil drenchs. The chemical should be a systemic fungicide rated for soil drench's so the plant takes it in. A certian amount of product is applied, say to a 1000 sq ft and drenched in with the required amount of water to carry it in to the soil.

9/25/2011 8:51:19 AM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

A drench is watering from a source that is treated (mixed or pre mixed) with the additives desired. It took me a while to follow that rabbit to it's hole as well! Now I've got to follow that systemic, chemical, biological, organic etc rabbit to it's hole and I'll have a grip on that drench thing. Some of us will never quite devote the amount of funds (especially it one or two seasons) that others are able to, but don't let that deter you from the joy of basic gardening. There are plenty on this site who grow some outstanding pumpkins year after year on a very limited budget, with success. This hobby take more experiance than funds to do it justice, and patience is a vertue!! BSD, David

9/27/2011 1:55:26 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorta thinkin that drench, denotes a form of delivery...more so than what's in it??? Can't you drench w/ just water? Drench, would be delivering whatever you want to deliver directly into the ground. Truly tho, a lot of drenching contains additives of some sort of systemic stuff!!! Peace, Wayne

9/27/2011 10:54:35 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Stuff, ah, that's what I'm missing! Where is that "Stuff" available at??? BSD, David

9/28/2011 4:20:50 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

BSD, sorta thinkin, that Tom has a lot of that Stuff available!!! Peace, Wayne

9/28/2011 11:19:29 PM