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Rhode Island

a sure sign that your stump is getting ready to start foaming is TO INSPECT the stump AREA when the soil is somewhat dry around the base.
if you see a circle of wet soil ( a one ft or so circle)all around the base while at the same time the rest of the soil around the base looks dry.. this is your first warning sign.
a sure guarentee that the stump is already leaking below the surface, building pressure, and will soon work its leaking ways up to the surface of the base/crown.
should you observe these conditions my advise would be to drill a hole in the under area of the highest then lowest area of the plants base vine to allow the pressurized liquid to drip out.(you may also want to let this liquid drip inro a tray or shallow container and dispose of away from the plant when possible )
I SUGGEST MAKING A HOLE IN THE LOWEST POINT OF THE MAIN AS WELL BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT THAT LIQUID/FOAM TRAVELING DOWN THE MAIN VINE ALL THE WAY TO THE FRUIT. MAKING A SECOND OPENING AT THE MAINS LOWEST POINT WHICH IS USUALLY A COUPLE FT FROM THE CROWN ALLOWS THE LIQUID TO BE STOPPED SO IT CAN NOT TRAVEL.
I ALSO USE MY HAND TO DIG OUT A SHALLOW HOLDING AREA UNDER THE HOLE AT THIS LOWEST POINT, OR ELSE THE CUT HOLE WILL SEAL ITSELF UP IF THERES NO PLACE FOR THE WATER/FOAM TO GO.
if you wait until the foam/water pressurizes itself to break through the outer surface of the base? it may be to late to save the base.
what conditions cause the foaming stump? ---- in a few words
1. soils with HIGH organic matter ---- ie poor drainage.
2. W A T E R -----to much of it RAIN OR OVER WATERING
3. PRESSURE ------ inside the collection area (the base)
4. DEAD ENDED SIDE VINES ----- before the fruit ( the plant can take in the water but theres no PLACE TO PASS IT ON except for the fruit and that can not take it all.)

PAP

7/30/2009 7:51:34 AM

Glosta

Pap, once again you are a great source of insight. I will be on the lookut for these signs since my patch is more on the wet side these days.

7/30/2009 8:07:38 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Pap, how many times have you had this problem? Just curious as I seem to lose stumps every year. Thanks for the info.

7/30/2009 8:18:13 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

As usual I agree with pap 100%. Just want to add that it is also very important to cover your stumps when it rains at this time of the season to keep the stump and surrounding soil DRY. We use clear plastic sheets, approx. 30" x 30" with a couple of old cut-off sprouts thrown on top so the wind won't blow them off. By doing this and using Bio_Endo Grow in the soil we have not lost a stump in 7 years. Just make sure you take them off before the sun comes back out, although that isn't much of a problem this year.

7/30/2009 9:08:02 AM

Ohio

I think Im running into this problem on one plant for sure.

Pap, didnt you still grow that 1450 on a bad stump?,, how far along was that pumpkin before the stump went totally bad?,, and what kind of weigh gains was you still getting when the stump was still foaming? I want to keep my stump as long as I can before I have to terminate it, cause right now Im still getting great weight gains at this point.

7/30/2009 9:09:16 AM

Sharon, MA

Pap:
Last year my 1568 was a foamer and I did just what you said. But I actually slit the main vertically right at ground level, 1" long to drain it. I made a small aluminum foil drain to run the water away from the stump At first foam and water was running out..about 1 cup per day, then after 3 weeks it finally stopped. Like Larry said, I kept the rain off it and let the sun dry it out. This year I'm experimenting with drilled holes too.

7/30/2009 3:39:36 PM

Joliet, IL

i use a mini white plastic patio table over all stumps from the middle of june on. lightly dust stumps with captan once a week as preventative maintenance. and every secondary vine to main vine union by the stump needs to be checked for growth stress fissures and mini cracks and splits. i hit these with 10% bleach and use a fan if necessary. old leaves need checking regularly. by the time they fall over, rot is usually at the base of the leaf and on the main already. toothbrush and clean out all brown to healthy tissue and spray bleach,let dry, and captan any area that develops minor surface rot. and if you get a foamer, do like pap says.

7/30/2009 4:57:34 PM

Ohio

what kind of gains was you still getting on your pumpkin at the time your stump was foaming?

7/30/2009 6:25:09 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I am really beginning to sympathize with you guys in the northeast pap. We're getting rain on a regular basis and the stump/main vine area has been a particular concern. Cutting leaves along the main vine this weekend to allow good air flow and keeping a close eye on the stumps.

Earlier, we were experiencing an ideal growing season where I expected some really big things from the Ohio area.

My how things can change in a hurry.

Roots need oxygen to permit a healthy exchange of nutrients. If that space is occupied by water, bad things happen.

7/30/2009 10:44:36 PM

Minnesota

I have a pumpkin noid, first it switched seeds and gave me a flatvine seed, then it cracked/broke the tip of the other one, and I'm sure it helped the vine borers.

7/30/2009 11:40:25 PM

Johnston, R.I.

As I read this post the recomendation if I can understand it is to clean out soft tissue, clean the spots, put in an alternate drain at lowest point in main. Now thats where I have a problem plant is growing up hill which makes stump lowest point.. Does this make it toast ???

8/4/2009 7:54:09 AM