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San Diego

does it take for a pumpkin to rot from a blossom end split that went into the cavity? My pumpkin split on day 43 unknown to me since it was under the pumpkin. Weighed it two weeks ago at day 63, now it's on display at a local garden center. I visited it this week, still no sign of rot that I could see anywhere. Is this normal and what is the longest it could make it? Wanted it for halloween, but didn't think it would make it. Jim

9/22/2003 8:30:04 PM

KENTUCKY

Jim,
I had a blossom end split on my 699 that went into cavity in the late 30's day old. I kept it on vine cause it was barely still growing, after split, for about 8 days. Then I took it and got weighed on a friday. By tuesday it had split open on bottom side just sitting in garage. Then next day (wed) the top was getting very soft. So I cut her open for seeds that afternoon. It was very "liquidy" inside from rotting from the inside out. Was not that bad yet, but in another day or 2 I would've needed a gask mask to get those seeds (was starting to smell pretty bad). I found about 10-15 seeds that had already germinated inside that rot. So if I would have waited, maybee alot more seeds would have been lost.

Hope this helps, The decision is yours!

Good Luck! Mike

9/22/2003 9:01:25 PM

[email protected]

I think luck has a lot to do with whether the rot causing pathogens find your guts. That and environment. Cold weather would help you right now.

Good luck!

Steve

9/22/2003 9:34:03 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

It took 30 days from initial split of my pumpkin to show signs of rot.

Environmental factors play a key role in preservation - especially temperature.

Once that caviety is open it is just a matterof time.

9/22/2003 10:51:14 PM