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New Berlin, PA

Within the past few weeks both my pumpkins are showing several growth cracks. There vary in size, but the biggest are maybe 2 inches long, 1/8th inch wide, and 1/8th inch deep. Sap weeps out of them initially, then then usually dry off and harden up a bit.

What causes this to occur? And what, if anything, can be done to prevent them in the future?

Thanks in advance for any help.

9/24/2015 10:08:38 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

It happens when the skin hardens and the pumpkin keeps growing. Keeping it in the shade and under a sheet helps keep the skin soft longer, but as they get older you sometimes can't avoid the cracks. I guess you could quit watering and feeding or even cutting them off the vine to stop growth, but who wants to do that?

9/24/2015 10:24:22 AM

New Berlin, PA

With 2-3+ inches of rain forecast for Tuesday/Wednesday, and the weighoff on Saturday I am strongly considering cutting them off the vines, and just putting the ends in water bags. I'd be heart broken at this point to lose them to a split due to all the rain.

9/28/2015 11:46:35 AM