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Riverside CA

I live in Southern Ca where it is hot! After a really hot 2 weeks, I brought in my big pumpkins from the field, however, some had sunburn spots, mainly near the top. I let them set in my patio and found that one sunspot had opened up and had a black fungus growing in it. As far as I can see this has been contained to this area, only.
I would like to know if I can treat it or should I just toss it? I read about captan in Don Lungren's book and wondered if this application would help and stop the fungus from growing. It appears that this had eaten away about 2 inches deep into the pumpkin and now that I went out to look at it again, it appears that there is a 1/4" small hole going down into the pumpkin so I guess I have just answered my question.
In the future, I will continue to shade the big guys with beach umbrellas. However, is there anything I can do about sunburn spots?
Thanks so very much. You guys are always great!
Miss Paula

9/30/2007 9:58:29 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

They can't really be "healed" very much. Try covering the fruit wih white sheets & perhaps even shade cloth for the vines.

10/24/2007 12:57:39 AM

Simi valley, ca

Hey Miss paula I live close to you in simi valley , Thats 80 miles, north - west of you. Yes i understand your conditions but i know it gets even hotter there as i see it on weather report everyday , Thats a hot town !! But there are some years that are better than others around here , But what i have found out is the heat & intensety of suns rays will cook your leaves in middle of season they still grow pretty good , But if it gets suddenly cold after long heat wave that will really stop growth & may not recover ,(in 06 mine didnt) but still got 824 lbs , not to bad concidering they only put on 10-15 lbs a day once the cold spell hit when pumpkins should have been growing too fast if anything ,not to slow !! We cant control the weather , but if we keep trying we sometimes get good weather ,like this yr , look at auteum leafs diary that pumpkin ended up weighing 1376 lbs , Its a bummer for me this yr though as something went wrong with my plants , But ill try again next yr , Hope you do too !!iv had pumpkins shaded mostly

10/28/2007 4:10:27 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you catch sunburns soon enough, scrape off any mold and paint it with Daconil. That has worked for me in the past. Still its best to use the sheets to avoid the sunburn to begin with.

10/28/2007 11:28:26 PM

Macomb County

read about PM at http://www.bigporchpumpkins.com/

4/3/2008 2:49:33 AM