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Hello everyone, This is my first time here and I'm looking for advise. I got into pumpkin growing this year completely by accident and managed to grow a 100+ and a 50 lb. pumpkin, now I seem to have some sort of fever because I already have a planting area made up for next year with a manure crop growing on it and a compost pile cooking waiting for next spring.My wife thinks I've lost my mind but the kids and I think its cool. My question is this, the larger of the two pumpkins apparently exploded or blew out. when I examined the inside I saw what looked like a hole where maybe some kind of insect got inside, however I couldn't see any evidence of it from the outside,(being a novice I may have overlooked it) what do you think? insect or disease? and what could I do about it? I saved some seed from the pumpkin but I was thinking if it were a disease I may want to throw them away.

10/22/2000 10:14:46 AM

Connecticut, USA

Sounds like an internal crack, sometimes called a Dill ring. I lost big ones both this year and last due to similar problems (see my Grower Diary for the pictures). If you upload a picture we could give you a better idea of what the cause was.

Your symptoms are quite common amongest the users of this site. We all have the FEVER. As far as seeds go, we will be giving away seeds from our 2000 pumpkins and those of other growers from this site too. We hope to begin the mailings by the end of November.

I hope you enjoy the web site.

10/22/2000 8:10:56 PM

College Park MD USA

Hey skygazer,
Sounds like a typical "split". This happens a lot with Atlantic Giants, especially when they get soaked after a dry spell.
From what you describe, It doesn't sound like a disease.
Just my two cents worth,
Pumpkinhead

12/28/2000 11:54:57 PM