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Albany, NY

My poor plant has been through the ringer this week. About a dozen borers surgically removed, half of the secondaries couldn’t be saved, and main has a huge gash with chunks missing. Because of the missing chunks, the wound can’t be closed. I scraped off rotting tissue and cleaned the wounds. But I’ve heard conflicting advice about wounds like these, should they be buried with the hope that the vine will root or should it be kept above ground, clean and dry? Also, there are pieces of tissue hanging off. Should I cut those or leave them? I really just want to keep it alive at this point. Pumpkin grown has slowed way down (which is not at all surprising).

8/3/2019 2:09:16 PM

Central NY

Def keep uncovered and dry...a fan can help heal it faster...if your staying ahead of the asana wilt the plant will be ok...but slowing down is never good but so long as it doesn’t stop you can keep it going...hang in there and good luck!

8/3/2019 2:48:27 PM

Albany, NY

Ok, thanks! If you don’t mind me asking, what is asana wilt?

If it stops growing, does it ever start again? How many days of no growth before it is officially “over”? There is a new vine that has just started growing from the stump, so I think the plant at least isn’t circling the drain. Of course, that also means energy that isn’t going to the pumpkin.

8/3/2019 4:56:28 PM

Central NY

That’s the wilt caused by the borer...I think that’s what it’s called...if you’ve got five days where it doesn’t grow I would say it’s over...now that being said, if it’s shooting a new vine, there’s time to at least get one for the porch..pics of the plant can help..

8/3/2019 5:04:47 PM

Albany, NY

Thanks. I would like to post pics, but I’m having a hard time creating a diary. I’m having to do everything from my phone though, so that might be why. There is a good amount of healthy tissue left, but it’s only about half the original. If you cut the top off the vine leaving a kind of canoe, that’s the healthy part left. It goes on like that for about the first foot of the main. There are also some smaller splits at other points on the main, but they aren’t healing relatively well.

The pumpkin on the main vine would actually be decent size for the porch even if it stopped now (assuming it doesn’t rot). At 18 DAP the OTT was 118.5. That was 3 days ago and it has only gone up to 123 since. It was growing incredibly well before the borers! This is so heart breaking! If nothing else, I am learning a lot by seeing how far I can keep it going. This is my first year, so I guess this is all part of the learning process.

8/3/2019 6:12:08 PM

Albany, NY

Also, it was wilting pretty badly a few days ago, but that has improved considerably.

8/3/2019 6:15:21 PM

Central NY

Yes, it’s all part of the learning process...and I say porch pumpkin with a smile because I hear people talk about 600lbers that are “porch pumpkins”...lol...still need a tractor to move those...we’ve grown some good size pumpkins with split vines, half rotted and healed vines...keep at it...never give up...these plants can surprise...sulpher and or captan powder right on the wounds...fans if you can..make sure your plant is sucking up water before hammering it with more...let’s see what the numbers say in 5 days...also- I do everything from the phone as well ...wouldn’t do a journal without the big pumpkin app...easy peezy...good luck

8/3/2019 6:26:37 PM

Albany, NY

Haha, I would be thrilled with 600lbs. Although I’m fairly certain my porch would cave in with anything over 200.

I didn’t realize there was an app. Definitely easier, added pics to the diary just now. Thanks for the help, I’ll post an update later in the week!

8/3/2019 8:11:52 PM

Central NY

captan powder..stat..doesn’t look so hot..hopefully it dries out

8/3/2019 8:47:34 PM

Albany, NY

Will sulfur be ok or does it need to be captan? It looks like neither the Home Depot nor Lowe’s near me has captan in powder form. I had just rinsed it with peroxide before taking the pic.

8/3/2019 10:22:03 PM

Central NY

Yea, sulpher at the minimum ...could try tractor supply..they might the captan...

8/4/2019 7:59:31 AM

Central Illinois

Your pumpkin can continue to grow even without the stump connected but only if the side vines are rooted.I dont know what type of irrigation your using but if the vines have roots the entire plant area should be watered

8/4/2019 9:02:20 AM

Central Illinois

Just saw your diary,your soil seems extremely wet and will rot your remaining vines.

8/4/2019 9:08:27 AM

Albany, NY

I hardly ever need to water. We have had a ridiculous amount of rain. I’ll see if I can order some captan. Maybe amazon.

8/4/2019 12:36:44 PM

Albany, NY

So, making the huge assumption that everything goes well, it stays dry, etc., how long does it take to heal?

8/4/2019 7:50:32 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Welcome to growing in the east. You cannot escape the rain. I’d uncover your remaining secondaries if I were you. Once the rooting is done you don’t need dirt on top anymore and it just invites disease.

8/6/2019 8:56:16 AM

Albany, NY

Thanks for all the advice. Had to call it a season today, as I couldn’t get the rot under control. Every day for the last several days I’ve cut away rotted tissue, rinsed with peroxide, added sulfur and captan, covered with tarp when it rained, but the rot still spread. I’ve learned a ton for future seasons, so I suppose the disappointment is worth the wisdom.

8/7/2019 4:07:04 PM

Central NY

Ugh...sorry to hear that...take a few days off...but it is time to make the changes necessary to have success next season...best of luck

8/7/2019 7:02:08 PM

Central NY

Next season have Clearys fungicide on hand...

8/7/2019 7:02:57 PM

Lakewood, WA

Excellent effort on your part, KaliMa! As a fellow first-year grower, I am sorry to read the news about your plant. This seems to be a rough year for many.

Take some time off and hope to see you here Next Year!

8/7/2019 8:30:28 PM

Albany, NY

Thanks, unfortunately we are moving next July, so I won’t be able to grow next year. Hopefully the year after. It’s so much fun, I’m bummed to have to wait 2 years before trying again.

8/11/2019 8:21:15 PM