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East Central Ohio

Ok, this is not been a good day for the pumpkin patch between the stink bugs and aphids...and I hope I am not getting annoying with my lack of knowledge, but I have now discovered 3 places where the vines are beginning to rot. Two places are on the secondary vines and one is about 4 leaf nodes before the pumpkin on the main. All vines are buried, but partially exposed on the top. I completely uncovered the areas that were rotting and sprayed daconil on them. The rot seems pretty significant but the growth has not slowed on the pumpkin. It has been averaging 3.5 to 4 in. per day. What else can be done to battle this problem.

7/30/2011 9:28:42 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

To piggyback on B39's question, as the spots of Yuk have shown up on my 740 Washer, also, Is this something that we could or should have prepped against in our pre season or planting phases? And what will be our best revised plan of attack? BSD, David

7/30/2011 9:41:05 PM

Presto, Pa.

Well I got the same thing, foot out on the main. I cut it out two days ago. I check tonight and it is growing worse. I seen on here someone had the same thing go wrong they cut it out and put something on it. It was simple. I'll try to find it, and post it back here, if no one jumps in. That part on my main is uncovered and I can put my finger under it and feel a root going down.

7/31/2011 8:09:00 PM

Presto, Pa.

Well I did a fast run back thru. I went into a diary of TNTTammy. This lady gotta love her. She has had some bad luck this year. She has posted what happen and want she has did. Plus she is funny. She tried sulfur power, she tried blench cut to 10%, and she tried Captan powered which she got from the store here. I think I got her right. I will try baking soda and water paste, after I cut the bad out. I'll post a picture tomorrow. Ed

7/31/2011 8:56:20 PM

East Central Ohio

Thanks for the info Ed...where my vine rotted was under the tarp I put up for shade. I removed the tarp and unburied the entire main and found no other areas where rot was taking place. The area in question was in direct sunlight all day and has dried fairly well but I did not removed the mush inside. Should I still remove the bad and put some peroxide on it. I fear its too late...I went from a 3.5 to 4 inch growth per day to only an increase of 1/2 inch in the last 24 hours.

7/31/2011 9:19:20 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

Definitely do your best to scrape out any rot or mushy areas. You want to scrape or cut it down to what looks like solid healthy tissue, disinfect it with something (I use hydrogen peroxide) then keep it as dry as possible with a fan blowing on it. Check it daily to see if any rot is returning and repeat if necessary. In hot and humid weather it can be a bitch to get rid of. You may have to cut off the vine there eventually.

8/1/2011 8:50:47 AM

Presto, Pa.

Thanks for jumpin in. I did cut it out down into half of the vine. I got the hydrogen peroxide. It is up in the air so keeping it dry is no trouble. I don't want to cut the vine. I was really looking for a worm when I was cutin it out. I am going down to do it now o I am trying a picture to put on. Maybe it will help others or just calm them down lol

8/1/2011 10:17:25 AM

East Central Ohio

Ok I will try to cut out the bad. Looking at it this morning it appears to have worsen and I think its probably not going to get better. This is the only plant I have left so I am not going to give up!!! I will also try the baking soda/water paste. Don't quite understand the benefits but I trust Ed knows what he is talking about.

If by some pumpkin miracle if I am able to stop the rot will the vine repair itself? If not, by cutting the main at the rotted area won't that terminate the pumpkin as well or will it feed off of the main that is still past the pumpkin? Not much there but it will be something I guess.

8/1/2011 10:34:17 AM

Northern California Foothills

The vine will heal over if you can stop the rot. The pumpkin will feed off the main past the pumpkin if you cut the main off before the fruit.

8/1/2011 2:03:39 PM

Presto, Pa.

Don't trust ed lol I am new at this too lol blind leading the blind

8/1/2011 4:37:23 PM

East Central Ohio

I was able to get all the brown mushy crap out at least to where the vine was solid. I then treated with peroxide...boy did really foam up!! I placed a fan on it and it is drying as I type. After scraping the gunk out there was a hole that you could fit a marble in. I left it open to help it in drying. I will check tomorrow and if it is dry enough I will try the baking soda/water paste and put the fan back on it. The forecast is calling for heavy rain/storms the next two days so mother nature is not going to cooperate with me...figures. And yes Ed, I will trust your advice...you must have heard or seen it somewhere. I would like to know what the benefits are though. Wish me luck and thanks for the input.

8/1/2011 8:41:12 PM

Presto, Pa.

Mine is getting worst. I was really suprised. I too put the peroxide on it the paste no good. I rinsed the spot with water then peroxide. did that a few times then took a toothbrush and did it two more times. I did not cut anymore away. It seams to grow on the fresh root. I am going to post some pictures.

8/2/2011 10:26:22 AM

East Central Ohio

Ed, just looked at your pictures and yours is a little worse than mine. Is it possible that you may have SVB, being that close to the base? I was reading an article today that says the SVB will attack the stump area of the vine and work its way up the vine.

Mine does not seem any worse and is drying out. I cleaned it again this morning with peroxide and after it dries a little going to paste it. Good Luck Ed!!

8/2/2011 11:12:58 AM

Presto, Pa.

thanks I'll have to go read on that one. It seams to be a little better. I cleaned it again with perxide and water, and tooth brush again. And repeated it. I'll be on it first thing in the morning. I'll put the paste on it in the morning too. We are going to get rain tonight. I didn't cover it but I did put a bucket to block the sun.

8/2/2011 7:21:02 PM

East Central Ohio

I have an answer to the problem I have had with the vine rotting...SVB!!! Ed, I cursed myself in my last entry. Thought I clean the area one more time and found a dead SVB in the hole. I then checked the areas on my secondary vines and upon doing "surgery" removed a total of 7 of them from different areas on the plant, 2 from the main and 5 from the secondaries. I cleaned all of these areas with peroxide and painted with Daconil. I am confused on whether to allow them to dry or to cover the areas with soil. Most research I have done says to cover with soil, but wouldn't that cause it to rot. Anyone have any suggestions to a pesticide that will kill the SVB. I used Bayer Advanced Vegatable/Garden spray and it evidently did not work.

The pumpkin is still growing and gained 4 inches in two days so hope is not lost....yet.

8/2/2011 7:37:03 PM

East Central Ohio

Here is a link on the SVB if anyone is interested

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef314.asp

8/2/2011 7:56:16 PM

Presto, Pa.

read it. thanks I do remember squashing one of them some time back. I cleaned the spot three different times today. I cut down into it the same day I found it. I did some dugging on that plant. I didn't see a worm. not to say he hain't there. there will be spraying going on tomorrow, alot of it.

8/2/2011 9:59:23 PM

Presto, Pa.

O one more thing how do you make a SVB trap? and what do you put in it? I see them, I read about them but what is it? seams like a dumb question. Is it to late to use it?
I did read about burying the vine. I would like to see it dry out first. Come on guys and ladies help us out.

8/2/2011 10:03:04 PM

East Central Ohio

Ed, I found a few links on the SVB trap including some interesting past post on this site weighing the benefits/risks of the traps. Some people have seen SVB's as late as mid August so I would assume that they should still be used.

I also read that by placing a yellow dish pan/bowl filled with water will attract the adult SVB and they will get trapped in the water...this is used as a way to let you know they are there and preventive measures taken. I'll let you read and draw your own conclusions. This being my first year I will try the yellow bowl trick just to see what happens. Hope this is somewhat helpful cause like you said before, blind leading the blind.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=14&p=348102

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=352715

http://www.extremepumpkinstore.com/ecom-prodshow/SVBtrap.html

http://www.morris.umn.edu/pyg/tips/vegetables/tip_1216.shtml

8/3/2011 12:33:39 AM

The bottom of New Jersey

To answer the question about whether to cover the vine or not after cutting out SVBs - I personally do not cover up any cut areas at least for a few days until they heal over. Covering with soil right away might not cause them to rot, but I personally like to examine the area for a few days just to be sure it is looking good.

8/3/2011 8:33:25 AM