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White Plains, NY

Behind the Boyton 950 I grabbed the vine to test for flexibility. The main vine was found to be soft and rotten inside. Checking further the buried main vine from the trunk was completed rotted to about 6' out. The six feet was removed. The pumpkin is now without a trunk. I had only 2' of main vine remaining behind my 560 pounder and that vine was reduced to 1/2 its diameter because of rot. After playing surgeon I'm left with 3 secondaries on the weak main I'm only trying to keep the fruit alive. All doctored parts treated with captan, sulfur and sevin.

It is recommended to check your buried vines.

Next year if I bury vines it will be later in the season. Our wet cool weather may have caused the rot. As nature designed the vines to be above ground are we doing the right thing by covering them?

8/29/2003 10:49:28 AM

Montoursville, PA

Most of the rot I have looked at or talked to others about started some nine inches underground and came up to the stump or mains. In normal years when there is just normal injury or rot the good fungi cleans it up. We seldom know of the biological system working all the time to help us stay healthy underground.

We looked at one where the stump was just sitting there with no roots. The fungi cleaned it up, to it's bottom, while the rest, of the main and secondaries continued, to feed the pumpkin, in a traditional root, to secondary, to main flow, of nutrients.

One could hardly avoid the cause....to much water this year and a resulting lack of oxygen. Not to mention lack of sunshine for many of the longest growing days we have in the Northeast.

Yet in almost all given climate areas a few growers rose above the difficulties and grew a nice one. That is called experience, excellent patch condition and luck.

8/29/2003 11:29:17 AM

I have experienced major rot with my main vines and stumps(both internal and external).It was "activated" by an extremely wet and humid spell in early August.All of my vines were buried except for the main vine...and all my side vines seem healthy.I have both Phyto and Pythium in my soil and much of the plant deterieration is caused by "splashing" of diseased soil onto exposed plant tissue during heavy rains.Once this occurs,one`s season is basically over...fungicides and fans may be of some help,but only to a minor extent.Considering most fruit are grown on the main vine...once it becomes infected,all the secondary vines are unable to feed it.....in essence....the pumpkin`s lifeline has died........Ben

8/29/2003 10:52:43 PM

White Plains, NY

What is the feeling of planting on a hill about 3' high. I think this would allow the water to drain and might encourage longer roots. If one does cover the stump and the main(s) when should this be done? Wouldn't it be better to cover once they had hardened off?

8/30/2003 10:47:55 AM

[email protected]

I buried only secondaries. No rot. But soil drains perfectly.

Jim, We should consider adding SoilMaster to the patches.

http://www.proschoice1.com/

Read this next one too. It mentions the use of calcined or ceramic soil amendmants.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3061.html

Steve

8/30/2003 11:12:21 AM