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Chester Co., PA

Posted a diary picture of a 5-day-old, fist-size pumpkin today. Has anyone seen this condition before? Will the deep creases at the 4 lobe junctions turn into a Blossom End Split in August or September? This is a controlled, cross-pollination in a great vine location, but if it splits, that's worth nothing. Would appreciate any insights from this distinguished panel. So how about it; Paul, Tom, Mark, Scott, Jim, Ken, and heck, even Farmer Tom. Whatever happened to him?

7/10/2002 3:08:05 PM

colorado

So, my opinion doesn't count??? Oh well Steve

7/10/2002 3:18:47 PM

Greencastle, PA

He changed his name to weirdo lol. Pumpkins with deep ribs do have a higher risk of rib splits than other pumpkins, but i'm not sure about blossom end splits.
Farmer Tom

7/10/2002 3:24:30 PM

Chester Co., PA

Everyone's opinion counts, just could get all the names in.

7/10/2002 3:32:18 PM

Greencastle, PA

I just looked at the pic. There's no problem with that fruit, it looks great. The part with the deep creases is what used to be the lobes of the flower and will rot off the creases have no effect on the fruit. If the fruit gets deep creases that's something to worry about.
Tom

7/10/2002 3:45:33 PM

Chester Co., PA

Tom,
I'm not talking about the flower tip, but the place where the sides of the pumpkin meet the top (where the pedals were attached). There is a crack or split every 90 degrees around the pumpkin.

7/10/2002 4:32:30 PM

canal winchester ohio

Wes, I saw what you were talking about. It has a appearance of someone taking a "wedge" out of your pumpkin.
If you do have another I would go with it. If it is that size now, think how big it will become as the fruit grows.....Paul

7/10/2002 4:59:08 PM

Sequim, WA

That is common on small fruit. They usually dry out and don't present a problem later on. I've had many blossom splits and they usually don't occur until late in the season and then radiate out from the very center or pass close across the center or form a semicircle close to the edge of the blossom area near where it joins the orange pumpkin flesh. You'll have plenty to worry about without worrying about that one this early in the season. Good luck.

7/10/2002 5:03:43 PM

Commack, NY

ive never seen that before. i think id watch it, but keep my eyes open for something else. like paul said, imagine how big it might get when it grows. a few years back i dropped a flashlight on my pumpkin (out for a little after dark inspection. BEFORE i purchased my head-light!). it made a very small dent in the fruit. well let me tell you....that dent became HUGE as the fruit grew. it didnt cause it to split or anything. but my concern with your is that the blossom end tends to be thin to start out with. if its weakened now, once it starts to take off, it may turn into a problem. unless of course theres someone out there that's seen this, and grown it to maturity without any problems....anybody?

scott

7/10/2002 6:08:50 PM

Herndon, VA

Although I've never seen anything like that on my pumpkins, but I agree with Farmer Scott; small dents grow into big ones (Remember Godzilla?) I'd cull it only after a better choice presents itself. Better a wedged pumpkin than none at all. I'd let it get to at least basketball size before making a final decision.

7/10/2002 9:13:35 PM

Indiana

I have grown out fruit with splits in that area of the female, but never any that big. I would cull that one.

Tom Beachy

7/10/2002 10:15:32 PM

Choctaw, OK

I have grown fruit also with splits in that area, especially on the 825 shymanski which is know for big blossom ends that split. I bet as the fruit grows bigger, that split will heal and wont even be to noticealbe...but, if you can get another fruit to set, i would consider culling this one...it is possible all your fruit will be like that...if a better one comes along, keep that one. good luck!

case

7/11/2002 1:00:39 AM

Deer Park WA

Hi Wes, I grew the 1016 LaRue a couple of seasons ago that had the same type of blossem end as yours does (I call it the big booty) I never had a problem with the small splits on the blossem end from that seed. What took her to "Exhibition Only" status was the short stem. You see thats where the cavity penetrating splits took it out. Let it go for a while and be patient, if the splits worry you at 50 lbs then slather a "Light" poultice of captian with an artists brush on the wounds. Just my experience. PS short stems and vine stress are much more dangerous. Oh Yea, I believe Sherry LaRues 1016 did go down from a blossum end split though.... Get em big, The Gadberry's

7/11/2002 1:50:33 AM

Chester Co., PA

Thanks for all the suggestions; I respect every one of them. Can't stop thinking about Scott's advice - small marks on tiny pumpkins turn into huge blemishes on big pumpkins, remember Bruiser's woodchuck bite last year?, or we have all had a leaf stem scratch a small fruit and then grow into a 24 inch ugly brown scar. Another pollination was done yesterday 3 feet farther down the main (at 14 ft.) but we are having a monster heat wave and it might not take. The other older pumpkins with this condition seem to have healed-over their 'notches'. You just have to think that when the circumference gets out to 120" and everything is stretched tight that the small notch we see now will be a point of weakness and crack open. Well, it's always nice to share and discuss the unusual, that’s what this site is all about. Thanks again, I will watch it closely.

7/11/2002 3:22:05 PM

Chester Co., PA

GADS, 'Big booty'?.......I like that name.

7/11/2002 3:26:52 PM

Utah

you'll be fine, tiller knows what he is talking about-
i saw the same thing on one of his pumpkins. big scars
don't mean splits.

7/11/2002 4:16:35 PM