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N. Hertfordshire, UK

I went to my patch today to find several splits on the shoulders of my (only) pumpkin. She's a 1528 Paton and growing outdoors (at the mercy of the weather). The splits are only about 2 mm deep ~ please see my diary for pics. We have had a LOT of rain this week and I'm assuming this is the issue. She is growing on the second secondary vine. I have kept her covered in sheets all the time. This is only my second year growing and I had a very modest PB of 108 lb to beat. She currently measures at 105 lb and I want to take her to the Southampton show on 10th October.

Will the splits harden/be OK? Do I need to take her off the plant. Do I need to cut the main vine so she only keeps alive rather than grow any more?

9/25/2015 1:39:32 PM

Germany

Haven´t seen that kind of splits before. To me it looks like someone had tried to carve the pumpkin.

Cover the fruit another night with that cloth, fix the cloth with some stones and take pics of the exact positions of the stones. Then check the fruit and the stones the next day. If it´s a result of the rainy weather, the the splits should grow a bit further (or there should be some new splits). If you find some of the stones in slightly different positions, then it hasn´t been the rainy weather.

9/25/2015 3:43:02 PM

N. Hertfordshire, UK

Thanks Jorg, I'm trying to not get too anxious worrying, when I got there today the cloth immediately covering her had been dislodged (there is another cloth over that forming a makeshift tent)...so it could have been wildlife (big or small...)...I'm working tomorrow morning so won't get there until after 4 pm, I shall try and secure the cloth with markers tomorrow.

If the splits don't grow can I fill them with something to encourage healing... and if they do split further is there something I can use to slow it down?...another 14 days to the show.

9/25/2015 4:52:08 PM

Germany

Try to keep the splits dry. Also, you can dust them with sulfur.

If the splits really grow further (because of water related troubles)...no idea what I would suggest. Cutting the fruit off the vine isn´t the thing I would do. Being patient and seeing what happens (sort of making best use of the fruit by sacrificing it as a learning tool) might be the best choice, but that´s just my opinion.

9/25/2015 5:12:15 PM

Central Illinois

One of mine looked like that I figured the dog did it,He likes to jump up on stuff so He can see farther

9/26/2015 8:29:29 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Looks like claw marks to me. Apply sulfur or captan to prevent disease.

9/26/2015 11:41:38 AM

N. Hertfordshire, UK

Thanks everybody, I got there at about 16:30 this evening and to my eye I don't think the splits are any larger (the pumpkin doesn't appear to have grown either!!). We do get a lot of cats, (black) squirrels and muntjac deer on the allotments, so it is probably (hopefully only) an inquisitive pussy cat!!

I dusted them with sulphur and am hoping for the best.

9/26/2015 1:44:06 PM