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Denver, Co.

I have 2 plants & each has a problem. #1 has a basketball size fruit & today I noticed the stem has a split starting & running lengthwise. It wasn't there yesterday. What causes this? Is it growing too fast? I just fertilized Monday with a balanced granular & sprayed with Seaweed Tuesday. This is the normal routine though, I'm also spraying with Fish emulsion once a week. We have had a lot of cool rainy days though too.
#2 plant has some of the new leaves towards the end of the secondaries that seem to be curling up & splitting? I thought it was bugs, but I found leaves with dark, soft spots that tear easily, leaving ragged edges. Could this too be from growing too fast? Too much fertilizer?
I use Organic dried poultry waste granular ( 1 cup every other week), liquid fish emulsion & liquid seaweed every week.
Both conditions are new this week. Thanks for the advice!

7/29/2004 12:16:51 AM

Western Pa.

The split is common and will happen more as the fruit grows. Although I do believe that the less you move the fruit the less it will happen (move the vine, not the pumpkin!) We sometimes create stem stress trying to alleviate it! Dust with a little powdered sulfur. Don't know how hot it's been, but leaves sound as if they were sunburned.Posting a picture would help!I advise against any sudden changes at this time of growth.

7/29/2004 1:45:41 AM