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East Sussex, UK

Check out the photo on my diary. Does this stem split mean it's game over? The pumpkin is about 800 lbs. and still gaining.
I know the Patons used compressed air to dry out similar splits on their 2433. Any advice is welcome.

8/21/2023 9:55:54 AM

Springfield, VT

Look at Matt D diary for treatment. Simply put fungicide the crack, split the stem with a knife and fan on it 24/7.

8/21/2023 11:29:11 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Yup, the method Matt is using is a game saver. Both Richmond Dave and myself have done this and saved pumpkins from the dreaded into the cavity split.

Sometimes you can also do a cross cut on the flesh, like this

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=295834

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=296168

8/21/2023 2:55:09 PM

Colorado

Ive never understood why splitting the stem more would help do anything helpful. Isnt a stem split caused by the shoulder of the fruit expanding laterally and pulling the base of the stem apart. Why would splitting the stem more slow this? Sorry just perplexed

8/21/2023 4:33:59 PM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=117449

8/21/2023 6:11:35 PM

joe sherber it can stop the split form entering the pumpkin and open the stem. we all know stem is not required to be legal fruit

8/21/2023 6:13:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

I agree cojoe that the logic isnt totally clear but I did some cutting on my stem this year, figured many snall cracks was better than one big one. It seemed to help. Are there occasions when it wont help? Probably.

8/21/2023 7:11:06 PM

Grittyville, WA

small

8/21/2023 7:11:45 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Don.

8/21/2023 7:27:32 PM

Colorado

Don, ive seen stems that spread that wide and stayed shallow like that on their own.I just dont get how carving the stem changes the depth of where the crack wants to go into the fruit.I am dense,more than my pumpkins ha.I do see how opening things up makes it easier to dry out.

8/22/2023 12:51:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=339080

And the next entry after this shows that secondary splits have somewhat alleviated whatever was causing the primary crack.

But as cojoe says, maybe it would have been fine if left alone! Seems to me like it helped though. I have a second one set on this plant, and it also has a large stem crack, so do these stem cracks propogate down into the pumpkin sometimes, or not?
In the example above, there's no question in my mind that some of the forces pulling the stem apart was reduced, away from the main crack. I probably cant contribute much to this discussion since I dont have any other experiences to share.

8/22/2023 1:54:34 AM

Grittyville, WA

Btw, I dont see a recent photo, Sam H. Maybe its not up yet?

8/22/2023 2:02:11 AM

East Sussex, UK

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. Short answer, game is not over just yet! Brandon, there is a photo from yesterday and it doesn't look much different now.

8/22/2023 10:07:25 AM

Grittyville, WA

I see it now. I don't know the odds. I used to pack sulfer in the end of a straw and blow it like a spitball into any spots I couldnt reach. Seemed to work... just dont inhale.

8/22/2023 10:28:42 AM

Western NY

Carefully cut back towards the vine with a fillet knife as shown above. I'm not sure why it helps, but it usually does.

The other part - keeping it dry - is tougher for stem splits, and I've resorted to sticking a shop vac hose in there constantly running to drop the humidity enough to let it dry and scab.

8/22/2023 11:05:19 AM

Bethlehem CT

Andy that is a clever idea!

8/22/2023 12:59:24 PM