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Location

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Date Posted

Paradise Mountain, New York

What would cause a pumpkin as it's growing, to rot from the inside out. With this happening, will it be passed onto the seeds inside that will be grown later.

12/30/2002 9:33:29 PM

syracuse, ny

well, i'm no expert, yet, but i would guess, depending on the size of the fruit, perhaps it was aborting, or perhaps
a calcium deficiency, or perhaps....hmmm, i'm all out,
but that's a start.....

12/31/2002 4:04:18 PM

Montoursville, PA

For all time nature has culled it weakest of all living things. This enables survival of the fittest. When we mess with mother we do not always have success....even on the same plant.

Three bobcats taking down a whitetail fawn does not need to be an ugly sight. First the cats will be nourished and it is an absolute fact they caught the easiest one to capture.

When mother gets selective let her have her way. That is my two cents worth.

12/31/2002 4:45:22 PM

Webster, NY

My humble guess is that something got in that no one noticed and had it's way. However, I like docgipe's answer better.

12/31/2002 5:00:06 PM

Western NY

i've seen them rot for apparently no reason at all. could be microscopic. but, there i have also seen rotters beget rotters. can't say it's genetic, but some of them could be more prone to it.

Andy

12/31/2002 5:49:05 PM

Timewell Il

did the fruit get to hot and being unable to cool down caused it to spoil on the inside?
TIM

12/31/2002 8:12:06 PM

Ontario

I heard it is from too much nitrogen.

12/31/2002 8:48:11 PM

Hopefield, South Africa

Most probably from not enough water, especially blossom end rot.

1/1/2003 4:10:04 PM

Pulaski Tn blkcloud@igiles.net

mINE,DID THIS FROM TOO MUCHO 0 0 60..ONE DAY THEY WERE FINE THE NEXT FLAT AS A PANCAKE..

1/1/2003 5:54:46 PM

Herndon, VA

The most obvious reason is a small hole letting air into the cavity. Look VERY CLOSELY. Splits and small holes are not always obvious, especially when they occur underneath the fruit. Many pumpkins will continue to grow after a split, so don't let the continuing growth rate fool you.

1/1/2003 7:17:38 PM

syracuse, ny

well, everybody had an answer to that one!

1/2/2003 7:42:32 PM

Caceres, Spain

Bryan, as you know, I am not any pumpkin expert, just a well intentioned newbie who loves to grow them big and who is very glad and thankful to be admitted in the growers brotherhood, but I know some on fruits and I believe they aren't fond to suicide. -This page can become a theory discussion one-. That accident you are talking about happened to the 1063 Hester (Jim Kilbert, my bearded friend, I didn't see it, but Brett told me), for instance.
The most suitable answer for this to happen could fall on a microscopic enemy exterior attack. They could find a little porous, erosion or even come with the sap to the interior of the fruit. A bacteria doesn't need a hole big enough to be appreciated by human eye. The apical end rot of many fruits, which is due in many cases to a low calcium level, first soften the skin, then the bacteria first and fungus later begin to eat it and then get to the pulp. I would say that these kind of happenings use to have two causes, one from inside: the plant had a feeding problem, usually an imbalance, as BlackCloud said; and another one from outside, a little porous, as Bruyser did.
What about its seeds? I am pretty sure they aren't touched genetically, but they could have bad bacteria spores on its surface. You only need to have them 10 min in hidrogen peroxide prior to wet them at starting time, which I would do with any seed to plant.
Don

1/3/2003 3:21:12 AM