From

Location

Message

Date Posted

San Diego

My 1098 pumpkin is at day 11, 26 inches and growing well. It is the best shot for me to have a pumpkin on this plant due to being later in my season. I have been having stem cracks or splits, 4 now. My concern is that two of them are creeping closer to the pumpkin. One is very close now. The splits are lateral. The two closest to the pumpkin flesh are not very wide. My question is, if one of them or two actually go into the pumpkin, am I fighting a lost cause or could I nurse this pumpkin to maturity with some splits by the stem even though its so young? I have put fungicide paste on all splits. I think this is genetic on the 1098 ciliberto. Any advice. Jim

7/23/2003 1:17:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

How in the world could it be a genetic trend when this is the first year anyone has ever grown the seed. What your plant has been through you are fortunate to have a pumpkin at all. Cross your fingers and hope your treatment helps. I have four of them with no stem problems in the worst growing year the Northeast has experienced in eons.

The pumpkin you are growing is more comfortable in about five hundred sq. ft. When you moved it you cut off up to seventy five percent of its roots. There is bound to be stress in that poor thing as it constantly trys to catch up.

It simply may not be ready to support major normal healthy fruit growth.

These AG's are amazing but it seems to me there have been stresses introduced that will definately be playing factors.

7/23/2003 1:48:42 PM

Nova Scotia

if i were you set up a fan now to keep dry especialy if cracks get to fruit. byt all said it sounds like stem stress make sure theres no tight roots

7/23/2003 2:33:25 PM

San Diego

Docgipe,

My friend wes is growing the 1098 too. His pumpkin did the same thing but much worse. Split completely everywhere in the stem and really bad into the pumpkin everywhere. Check out his diary wes@cali. Yes, I transplanted, but the plant looks very good now and has recovered well. It's not from that. Will post pic's soon in my diary.

7/23/2003 3:31:16 PM

Saegertown Pa.

I would try to slow it down stop watering it and any thing else you have bin adding to the soil.

7/23/2003 3:37:35 PM

Montoursville, PA

Wes lost his main active growing vine end due to a fertilizer and water spurt in growth.

Both Tony C and I met with Wes yesterday. The splits were shown as stem cracks packed in Captan or other fungicide. No mention or evidence of it going into the pumpkin at this time. The conclusion was that some situations like this heal while others do not. It is to be noted that the imperfect flower followed major but temporary damage. The damage experienced in the growth blow out, of the main, without a doubt stressed his plant, in a serious manor.

It is to be further noted that the secondaries on Wes's plant have lots of space to support the injured main, the secondary turned into the new main and the growth of the new set fruit. His choice is to go with this larger early fruit or elect to grow a smaller later fruit without stem cracks at this moment.

You are to be commended for attempting to grow one on such a small plot. You may work a mystery success but I would not expect it. I would be first to commend you again if you do recover and grow a dandy.

It is noted that QUINN came up with the exact suggestion I gave you quite some time ago. I have never met this gentleman but his patch and history of growing speaks out like his experienced answer.

7/23/2003 4:30:58 PM