From

Location

Message

Date Posted

The Garden State

So I have a rib split on my pumpkin which is about a foot long and 1/2 inch wide. The split only goes about an inch into the flesh and I have dried it and packed it with corn meal. The problem is that the split continues to widen. I even stopped all ferts and yet the split still is widening. My weighoff is still a few weeks away so is there a way to stop the split from widening??

9/23/2011 9:32:36 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I got thru and early season blossom end split by tying a seat belt around circumference of pumpkin until it had healed successfully. Depending where your rib split is, maybe a plank or plywood on either side properly shored up to support fruit weight might slow the progress of split? Nothing to lose!
Goodluck

9/24/2011 7:35:17 PM

South Hero, VT

I'm going to assume you have already applied a bleach/water solution, dried the fissure, applied sulfur and put a fan(s) on the split.

Keep the fruit shaded with a tarp.

Ratchet straps over foam blocks/strips to prevent cutting into the fruit might also help.

Did you apply a lot of potassium before this happened?

9/25/2011 9:10:51 AM