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Northeast Nebraska

I posted this on another forum.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg1015240821936.html

No matter what they say it is the blossom end of the fruit. I lost more than twenty fruits actually. From 1 week after pollination and even had some 30lb pumpkins die off.

2/28/2014 2:24:32 PM

Bethlehem CT

It doesn't really look like what I would call blossom end rot. (The one attributed to calcium deficiency anyways.) I think what you are seeing is rot occuring on a pumpkin that has aborted for some reason. To me the following picture link is more what I think of as blossom end rot. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=92337

I have grown plants that failed to grow out pumpkins just like you described yours. The plants were healthy and vigorous but for whatever reason the fruit just rotted. I have often thought it had to do with the genetics of that plant. It could also be something wrong in the soil. It could be disease. Was your plant healthy and vigorous?

3/1/2014 2:24:06 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Looks like a disease...

3/1/2014 2:38:22 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Cucurbit_FrtRots.htm

Gummy Stem Disease often causes Black Rot

3/1/2014 2:41:37 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-17/BP-17.pdf

3/1/2014 2:42:11 PM

Northeast Nebraska

That particular plant was not very vigorous. Whatever this problem is it happens to every ag plant I have ever grown. Rotated gardens, some have never grown vine crops. Only effects ag not cucumbers or watermelons.

3/2/2014 1:41:47 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Have you done a soil test?

3/2/2014 6:06:02 PM

Northeast Nebraska

I will be pulling one as soon as the snow melts and the frost is out. All plots are in old hog pens. I assume p%k are off the charts high. It was sweetcorn two years ago and I applied ammonium sulfate. There could be residual soil nitrates.

3/2/2014 10:04:21 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I had the same problems years back...tissue sample were sent in and It was alternaria/fusaria infection. I thought it was gummy stem myself. Cutting into the stem I notice a thick gummy occlusion. I could have been secondary to the death of the pumpkin but was there. I think I had over used some nitrogen that caused the "bloom" of the disease. Do not start another patch until you soak all your tools in bleach or it will spread!...Three years fallow without any vining plants was the recommendation I got from Rutgers. Or a total solarization/fumigation of the soil. Good Luck!

3/31/2014 10:28:59 AM