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Bristol R.I. USA

So far ive gotten down to my final culls on my plant. This morning after digging up the main to position the fruit I noticed that the fruit had a small stem split on the stem going towards the pumpkin. Its not deep at all and not ozing any loquid. Anything I can do to prevent it. It looks to be a fast growing fruit. I hope that laying down the mill fabric and taking off the stress from the vine will stop this any advice is appreciated.

7/9/2012 9:20:10 AM

Germany

Had a similar problem last year:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=171659

During the further growth of the pumpkin the splits didn´t make any troubles. Hence, I recommend you stay optimistic and do what you already do (keep it dry and minimize stress from the vine).

7/9/2012 9:24:57 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I figure that since its such a small pumpkin the small split could open up just enough room that it needs without ripping through the skin.

7/9/2012 9:31:09 AM

Nottingham, UK

Here's a split I had last year. I put a perpendicular cut in to prevent it spreading to the pumpkin which may not have been the best idea as the new cut oozed into the split and it took ages to get it dry. It turned out fine in the end but it wasn't exactly a fast growing pumpkin.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=165903

7/9/2012 9:43:58 AM

Wi

Kenny I've had 1500# pumpkins with early on stem splits like that. No sweat. They never reached the meat of the pumpkin.

7/9/2012 10:10:02 AM

Rhode Island

kenny
id pull everything out and try again next year.
besides, your working to much overtime at the prison.
pap

7/9/2012 10:45:16 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Pap sometimes im not sure if you're kidding or serouse. I certainly will not be pulling anything out of the patch. Not till Oct.

7/9/2012 2:08:11 PM

Ohio

Ken, i had a few do that with me before when they was just starting, and i think what caused my splits in the stem is that I left the roots intacked at the same node as my pumpkin and the leaf node before it. It made my pumpkin start growing really tight to the ground and didnt give the main vine or stem any wiggle room for growth, so something had to give and it was the stem.

7/9/2012 3:10:41 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Brooks, thanks for the tips. I almost certainly believe that it was the vine being buried like it was the rooting system on the Wallace 1647 is so juiced up. I have rooting over the vines..i bury all my vines and during my final selection. I gently uncover the vine and cut all tap roots. This allows me to get the pumpkin in the best possible position to allow for a little stress as possible. No doubt that the tem did split a bit after not being able the move. I'm just hoping that this I the end of the stress fracture on the stem.

7/9/2012 5:19:06 PM

Mass

I dont even let my vine root at the set. I have been putting 2 inch chunk of styrofoam under it while pumpkin is still in the air. This allows the fruit to lay down most of the time with stem/blossom parallel to the ground when it hits. if it gets culled then i lose one set of tap roots maybee. But seems to create a much straighter stem. Maybee that isnt good. I dont know. At least the fruit is level to start, and would seem less likely to go birdbath or grow over the blossom. I think I have aided both of them from tipping to far one way.

7/9/2012 9:21:32 PM

Sharon, MA

Peter:
That is a really good idea. I'm going to try putting foam under the main before it hits the ground next year. And I agree...it sounds like a great way to prevent birdbaths. Keeping the blossom at just the right height is mostly about proper management, like you said.

7/10/2012 3:50:38 PM

Frankfort Ohio

kenny i have several with stem splits i think its from laying down to fast in this heat all of mine were down in 2 days

7/10/2012 5:56:43 PM