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North Port, FL.

I have posted a photo of the crack pumpkin at my "Kenny David" from NZ grower diaries for your reference.

I wonder what went wrong with this crack pumpkin ?? any growers have the same problem like this before ? can any one share some personal experience with cracking pumpkin and is there any things we can do to prevent this from happening ? appreciate all growers advice, thank you
Kenny.

4/18/2012 6:27:58 PM

I have had pumpkins split or crack. Some growers say it can happen after a heavy rain due to growth spurt which is why they want to water consistantly.

4/18/2012 9:36:18 PM

Ashby, MA

Do you keep them covered from the sun using a bed sheet or a tarp over it like a tent?

4/19/2012 11:29:40 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I thought this post was about the latest wave of pumpkin addictions.

4/19/2012 1:39:02 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

But yes definitely keep the water and fertilizer consistant and keep them covered from the sun. But I think most would agree that sometimes it just happens. That's why I can't imagine only growing one or two plants.

4/19/2012 1:41:48 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Last year i had mine split in a direction perpendicular to the ribs. I am pretty sure this is because I left it exposed to the sun. The skin began to mature early while the pumpkin was still growing and it was too brittle to handle the growth of the pumpkin. From what I have seen in peoples diaries most splits happen parallel to the ribs and they are usually close to the stem or blossom. These kind seem to be caused by just plain growing to fast. If a Pumpkin gets too much moisture it can grow so fast it literally pulls apart at the seams. The other kind of split that I have seen is a dill ring split. This is genetic thing that causes a certain section of the pumpkin wall to be significantly thinner than the rest. usually the depression is visible in the form of the pumpkin and goes around the entire radius. If it gets to bad the Pumpkin can split at the weak part. Since its genetic there is nothing you can really do about a dill ring.

4/19/2012 8:27:15 PM

North Port, FL.

Thank you for all your advice, the pumpkin had 3 crack is a young pumpkin about 3 weeks old " my mistake I did not cover up the at this stage " the crack showing sign of healing pumpkin has grow a bit bigger now, will had the pumpkin cover hope the pumpkin will growth well from on , I am running out of time is early fall here weather are getting colder ,just hope the pumpkin will mature in time, only time will tell, this is my late growing pumpkin trial plant.
Kenny.

4/20/2012 3:48:10 AM

North Port, FL.

I have try 2 times to post the crack pumpkin photo on my grower diaries for reference but fail, wonder what happen ?.

4/20/2012 3:58:34 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Kenny, my posts haven't been showing up either. I sent Ken an email today to find out what the trouble is.

4/20/2012 2:22:19 PM

Baker City Oregon

Mine aren't posting either. E-mail sent. Would love to see your photo.

4/20/2012 2:47:31 PM

North Port, FL.

Thank's Ken problem solved :0), all photos I posted earlier are at my growers diaries today, hope it works for all grower too.
Kenny.

4/20/2012 5:59:52 PM