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East Jordan, MI

I have a split in the stem that shallow, but runs around almost half of the stem right where it connects to the vine. There is no pressure on the vine, and the pumkpin laid down just fine. It just happened over night last night. We had some strong wind, and I'm wondering if the wind wrenched the vine some, or might just be a growth spurt from the rain. The pumpkin is 8 days old at 15.5 feet and 23.5 inches in circumference. This is my first year growing AGs and am worried that it will eventually break. The next one down the line has one too but it is not long like this one. It is 4 days old and at 19 feet. I pollinated one this morning at 22 feet, but I don't know if it has taken yet. I'm unsure how long I should wait until I start culling, and which one do I cull? Any advice would be appreciated.

6/27/2010 9:29:42 PM

East Jordan, MI

guess I should've added the link to the pic.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=135806

6/27/2010 9:32:15 PM

Jericho Vermont

I have seen that before and I wouldn't panic about it. Just keep it dry and fungus free and it should scab over or stay like that through pumpkin maturity. I would maybe dust it with something like captan and keep it dry.

6/28/2010 6:34:18 AM

milford, CT,

cntryboy...actual stem splits are not usually a problem...it's when they go into the shoulders of the fruit that you have to really watch..keep it dry and dust with sulfur or captan...If it looks wet or seems to be oozing..put a fan on it..mark

6/28/2010 10:59:40 AM

Joliet, IL

got the same thing here country boy. i have pics in my diary. they look uglier than they are so far and heal with time. i have my pumpkin tarped and a fan on the splits with captan. they will get wider as the stem and vine grows, but not deeper. no sap oozing from mine. dry splits that i think are just superficial growth cracks. hasn't slowed the pumpkin growth since i noticed them forming and healing going on 5 or 6 days now as my pumkin started at the same age as yours and is 14 days old today.

6/28/2010 6:39:24 PM

Joliet, IL

that should read my pumpkin starting showing the cracks the same age day as yours around day 9 here.

6/28/2010 6:40:50 PM

East Jordan, MI

Thanks for the feedback. It has never oozed or been wet. A couple of local long term growers came over today and confirmed that it is just growth spurt or as one of them put it "stretch marks". Same prognosis, Keep it dry, monitor and let 'r ride and she'll be fine.

6/28/2010 9:53:07 PM