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Boston, MA

The blossom end of my pumpkin is feeling slightly soft. Not squishy but just has a little more "give" than the sides or stem end. The skin around the area looks a tad wrinkled as well, tho not black. I have a feeling this is blossom end rot, which would make sense as we got 17 inches of rain over the last 3 weeks and the plant was just suffering for lack of nutrients. Give it to me straight... is the pumpkin already a goner? Or can I rescue it with some kind of emergency calcium treatment? I read of dissolving a crushed up Tums tablet and spraying it on the leaves... wonder if its an old wives tale or maybe worth trying.

7/17/2021 10:33:50 PM

Bethlehem CT

Have your vines started growing? Are they still stunted?

7/20/2021 12:42:28 PM

Boston, MA

The vine with this particular pumpkin is still stunted, but I just noticed signs of new secondary vines starting back near the base. My other vine has resumed growing, though! As for this pumpkin having a soft blossom end, I noticed today that the skin near the blossom has started turning white and thinning, so I think shes a goner already. 26 lbs estimated today based on OTT, so at least we weren't too far into the game ;) Just pollinated another female on the other vine today though so fingers crossed that one will fare better.

7/20/2021 7:27:24 PM

Grittyville, WA

Doing the vampire thing... I wonder if the plant literally sucks the nutrients & sugar back out of the pumpkin?

Hopefully some better weather will keep things going in the right direction...

7/21/2021 3:15:47 AM

Bethlehem CT

The weather had been very unusual. We have three sunny days in a row coming up without rain, Your plant hopefully will turn the corner.

7/21/2021 6:17:38 AM