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Simi valley, ca

If the 1420 splits on blossem end ! I wondered if growing the blossem end down might elemanate that problem ? iv never herd of bottem spliting ?/Any thoughts ?? thanks in advance !!

1/20/2007 11:42:53 PM

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

We grew a pumpkin in 05 that grew over the blossom end so that it was under the pumpkin. It ended up failing on the blossom end and the pumpkin rotted on us.
I'm not sure if this is any help or not, Just our experiance
John

1/21/2007 12:12:46 AM

Sioux Falls, SD garyboer@dakotalink.com

wouldn't blossom end up be less stress on blossom end?

1/21/2007 12:30:23 AM

that way <<<<<<

I would think (but dont know) that since the natural tendency of the blossom end is to be indented to begin combined with the natural pressures of growth while on its blossom end would tend to place much more splitting power on the BE. The fruit gets larger and heavier the tendency would be to raise the blosson upwards (like the concave you sometimes see on the bottoms)causing additional tension on the inner surface of the fruits blossom end. There would likely be additional compression on the outer side of the blossom end but since the actual blossom physical structure is most normally a tunnel like structure I dont think they'd usually hold up. Tough to monitor too. JMHO

1/21/2007 8:46:04 AM

SF Bay Area, California

I know from direct experimentation that growing on the blossom end presents many challenges:

1. Blossom end not in dry air and sun equals rotten blossom end. Rotten blossom end untreated equals rotten pumpkin.

2. Blossom end in a cool dark place equals a safe tasty meal for all sorts of hungry burrowing bugs and worms. A blossom end full of feasting bugs equals rotten pumpkin.

3. If the blossom end is too thin, they still split when grown on the blossom end because they structurally have no strength in that area. Hidden split under pumpkin equals pumpkin mush surprise for breakfast one morning - the breakfast of chumpions...

1/21/2007 11:17:56 AM

Eugene,OR

My 1420 split at the stem.

1/21/2007 11:44:47 AM

Syracuse, NY

uhhhh, if we grow the fruits ON something like the general practice is, maybe it won't be so bad. when i grow a fruit on the flat, aluminum-foil-sided housing insulation, the bottom of the fruit is rarely FLAT, but darned close to it.
everybody try one this year and we'll have a discussion
in the fall.----eric g

1/22/2007 1:59:02 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Has the 1420 really been prone to blossom end split? If so I may change my mind on planting it this year.

1/22/2007 7:12:07 AM

Syracuse, NY

send it to me, i'll plant it!
i wouldn't worry about blossom end splits,
unless it were your ONLY plant for the year,
and, who's to say that what you grow otherwise
won't catch the BES bug as well?
the only baskets you'll NEVER make are
the ones you don't shoot.

1/23/2007 2:16:08 AM

Rhode Island

you can tell very early on (most times )if a fruit looks like it will grow onto its blossom.

why not grade the soil in a downward position under the stem end and force the pumpkin to change its shape?
( raising the blossom end up and directing the stem down)

last year at basketball size our 1140 looked like she wanted to go bagel on us. ( the opposite of the above problem )

i dug and tapered about four inches downward under and away from mid bottom to blossom end. she did straighten out.

pap

1/23/2007 6:52:23 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Blossom end up is much preferred to blossom end down. The technique Pap mentions works great. Ramping your fruit can influence its resting position and thus its shape.

1/23/2007 7:00:02 AM

maine USA

Pap, how can you tell early? How early? thanks KathyT

1/23/2007 11:46:51 AM

Simi valley, ca

What i was thinking is that if blossem end was down,than pumpkin usely treets the bottom of pumpkin different than rest of pumpkin in hardness & if theres no point in middle (where it usely is) theres no pressure on it , its only sitting in middle underneith , maybe a pumpkin that would split growen regulary , would not split if growen that way !! ,, No telling i guess !!unless it was tryed several times !!!

1/25/2007 1:23:41 AM