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Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I have a large, late pollinated pumpkin going and gaining between 20-25 lbs / day. It was close to 300 lbs on Aug 26th and with a warm September, I hoped it would still amount to something. Last night I noticed a huge stem split! The stem is about 8" diameter where it attaches to the pumpkin and reduces to a stem of about 3" dia. The split goes right through the stem and I can easily see the top of the pumpkin underneath. It has not broken through into the cavity of the pumpkin. It is totally dry and the pumpkin appears to still be growing. Will it be ok or am I doomed? Is it still legal or will it be disqualified? Should I treat with fungicide? It is too large to patch.

9/1/2004 1:29:32 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Treat it with a fungicide and keep it dry. As long as that crack does not reach the interior cavity you will be fine. It surely will be probed when it is put on the scale. Alot of pumpkins get these stem splits its hoping and wishing they don't reach the internal part that is hard. If air reaches the cavity it is doomed. Still a sound pumpkin as far as a weigh off is concerned by the way you have described it.

9/1/2004 2:01:52 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Check out the pic: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiarySubmitFinished.asp?eid=27291
I have treated with Benlate and am monitering. The split is now going into the meat of the pumpkin but has not broken through to the cavity. Is there a way to apply a larger patch of is fungicide paste the best approch?

9/3/2004 3:38:32 PM

Cologne / Germany

Honestly I don´t think that pumpkin will make it. The stem looks pretty short and flat and will probably not take the tension if the fruit keeps on growing. It´s always sad to loose a good one but so it´s just "the dark side of the moon" of AG growing where noone can help anymore.

9/3/2004 5:12:27 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I've seen a lot worse splits that don't doom the fruit. All you can do is keep it dry and ride it out! You could always sever the vine partially behind the fruit to slow it down...
but you'll never know how big it could have gotten? Best of luck!!!

9/3/2004 8:50:22 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

It finaly split into the cavity yesterday. Its final measurements were: 109+73+83= 265" and 386 lbs. This pumpkin gained 303 lbs in 13 days! I feel this is fantastic based on my 3% organic matter soil and lack of experiance. We are going to retreve some seeds. Im not sure if they are mature enough to grow but we will find out. I will post pictures on my growers diary in the next few days of the pumpkin, split and inner cavity.

9/5/2004 8:20:21 AM