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San Diego

My pumpkin is 83 days old, stopped growing a few days ago. I was inspecting the stem and found a small hole about the size of a pencil eraser. Not deep at all, just a little mushy to the touch with a little wetness. It is on the top of the stem a 1/4 or 1/2 inch away from where the stem and pumpkin meet. Hard to see it because of the shoulders. I have some sulfer powder, should I put some on the whole stem? If I treat this right, will my pumpkin be ok? What are my chances? The pumpkin still looks great everywhere else. I just want it to last until halloween. Thanks, Jim

9/25/2002 5:41:39 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

Jim if its only on the stem not touching the pumpkin,i'd take a small utility knife and cut away the soft part(a tiny circle)dust with sulfer or captions (dry) make sure the rain dosent touch the pumpkin at this point of the game (tarp it ,if you havent already!)and you could use a small fan just enought to move the air,aim it at the stem problem and check daily.Best of luck.John

9/25/2002 5:54:48 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Jim - The sulfer powder should be just fine.
Make a little paste w/ it and fill in the hole.

If it is really mushy you could dig a little of the mush out and fill it in w/ the paste.

You should be fine to make it to Halloween as long as there are no other probs.
Cheers - Ceis

9/25/2002 5:55:22 PM