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San Diego

I cut my pumpkin off the vine on Wednesday 9/18 after 2 weeks of no growth and the plant was basically a shriveled vine. Right after I cut it I noticed a small hole in the stem about the size of a BB, but it looked like it went in pretty deep. There was no hole on the vine where I cut it so it definitely started right there at the top of the stem. We were able to lift the pumpkin on the board it was sitting on and put it in the truck to go weigh it (119 on a certified scale, my first 100+). After the weigh in I noticed the the hole in the stem had gotten a little bigger in more of a star pattern. When I got it home I decided I didn't like that hole there so I melted an old candle over the end of the stem to try and seal it off. Now, I have no idea if that's something I should even be worried about, but I am leaving the country next week (for a month) and don't want to return to a big pile of mush. Anyone out there dealt with something similar? The stem does feel a bit soft, did I harvest it too soon?

9/20/2013 8:43:58 PM

Eurasia

What is a BB, please? Shriveled foliage and whole in the stem might be caused by GSD and that means, that you better trash this fruit before leaving for a month. AGs are no storable fruit, and with gummy stem disease they rot quickly into the fruit. If you want, i show you such a fruit and the rotting tissue into the fruit with cross section. Please mail to ludwig.ammer@gmail.com and i will send back pictures.

9/21/2013 8:06:24 AM

Minnesota

Was there like saw dust around it? squash vine borers, do they have them in CA?

9/21/2013 12:24:46 PM

Bethlehem CT

Hangfire are you saying that when you cut through the stem you noticed a hole in the center of the cut stem? If so that is normal. Most growers leave 1" or less of vine on each side of the stem when cutting. So you won't see that the stem is hollow.

9/21/2013 1:59:54 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Post a picture, and you will get logical answers and not someone making "their best guess" or someone else blurting out a one liner that won't be helpful or usefull at all.

Big moon is correct, that the stem is hallow in the centre and so are the vines.

9/21/2013 3:15:02 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Great point Glenn, great point! I notice that sometimes and its really no help at all.

9/21/2013 4:04:29 PM

San Diego

I would love to post a pic, am I missing the attachment link or is there another way to do it? I will send some pics to you pumplobster.

9/21/2013 8:05:08 PM

San Diego

Yes, there was a small hole in the center of the stem when I cut it from the vine, wasn't sure if it was supposed to be there or not. Still worried with how soft the stem is, it seems to have gotten more rubbery each day, though the pumpkin appears to be solid and firm.

9/21/2013 8:13:01 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Don't cut the stem off the vine, cut the vine on each side of the stem. If you are going to store it for a while leave 12 inches or more on each side of the stem. All stems have that hole in the center.

9/21/2013 9:00:51 PM

San Diego

"Don't cut the stem off the vine, cut the vine on each side of the stem"

That makes sense, I guess I can do that next year.

I may edit together a youtube video and put the link up, then everyone can see what I'm talking about.

9/21/2013 9:59:50 PM

Eurasia

Now that i have seen a picture of that whole, i think it´s a normally grown whole in the middle of the stem, and it shrinked in the dry air. Nothing to worry about. Have a nice sunday.

9/22/2013 12:06:31 AM