From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Utah

what the GPC rule on a split pumpkin that was patched .... and then healed over ?

9/13/2013 9:01:06 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

As long as I can not get the probe to go into the cavity, and you have no foreign substance preventing it it is good.

9/14/2013 9:37:42 AM

Knopp, Germany

As far as I know, there is no rule for your question.

However, how does a AG get patched? My guess is that we will never get that answer because pumpkins do not heal themselves.

9/14/2013 11:22:55 AM

When i want to save a pumpkin for front yard , i use minwax wood filler in the splits to fill them. You might have to add each day but by keeping fresh air out ,it is surprising how long you can keep an AG. I have found this brand doesn't go soft from dew or humidity.

9/14/2013 11:33:36 AM

Utah

I was thinking that... a hole is a hole - and that disqualifies it.

But we have a guy here who said that he followed the procedure posted here on BP... (see link below)
And that his split has healed over completely. So I was wondering if there was any specific ruling on this by the GPC (or anyone else for that matter)
I would lean toward it being DQ'd because at one time it was split ... which means it was damaged... so it is always damaged.

But on the other hand if healed over and you can't push a probe in to the cavity then it is ok according to the rules. right?

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=52

Any official help would be appreciated.

9/14/2013 11:45:53 AM

Utah

Here are the GPC rules for this subject:

3. No foreign material (i.e.: fungicides, caulking, skin additives et cetera) will be permitted in the weighing of any fruit. Vines must be trimmed to within one inch of the stem of the fruit. The judges have the right to inspect any and all fruit before weights and measurements become official. Refusal of any inspection to an entry will cause the entry to be classified exhibition only.

4. The specimen must be sound, healthy, and undamaged. Entries must be free of rot, holes or cracks through to the cavity, and serious soft spots.

A. The Judges reserve the right to probe cracks, holes, and to dig out soft spots to judge a fruit official or not. Before the Judges can execute any of the previous they must have the grower present.
B. A serious soft spot is one that is greater than 3 inches in diameter, and greater than 3 inches deep. The dimensions of the soft spot will be measured after all soft material has been removed with a spoon.
C. If there are more than two soft spots that require material to be removed and measured, the pumpkin will be disqualified even if each is smaller than the definition of 'a serious soft spot'.

9/14/2013 11:56:48 AM

Lexington, Ky

Makes me wonder if the split went all the way through to begin with. Unless a judge probed the split prior to the patch work I would endorse LVP's opinion. Good question Gordon.

9/14/2013 12:19:32 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Glad you posted Gordon. I have a well documented (2009 diary) situation with a blossom end split that I repaired with Lexel sealant. The pumpkin continued to grow, repaired itself from the inside and was declared a sound pumpkin at weighoff. While it was not a GPC event, it would have passed the probe test or any other test as it had grown over, scared and dried out.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=121312

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=121312

With the patch removed and the probe test performed and was deemed not into cavity, the damage should be treated like any other damage like a bird, or squirrel or whatever that scars over or heals.

I've seen some pretty massive stem splits that get the probe test and pass, and those are splits are Doctored with or fixed by slicing.

9/14/2013 12:37:57 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

To correct myself..."It was a GPC Event"

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=121313

Look at the diary entry from thursday August 27, 2009 and go forward...to weighoff.

9/14/2013 12:53:56 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If you have a foreign substance(caulk, wood filler, or sealant)in there I would DQ you...no questions or probing needing.

9/14/2013 1:34:51 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I agree Linus, in this case the patch was removed and the pumpkin was on display for weeks before the weighoff.

9/14/2013 1:45:12 PM

Utah

Thanks for all of the replies.

9/30/2013 11:34:01 PM