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Topsfield, Ma.

fellow list members,
my two local pumpkin coaches were nowhere to be found today so i throw this question out to you. rocco, pollinated 7/9 and todays ott was 205, went from 21/lbs a day gain, to 7lbs yesterday, to only 3lbs today ! inspection revealed that the main on either side of the stem was mushy, hollow feeling. when the vine is squeezed, juices flow out from longitudinal seams. i've stood on my head trying to inspect underside of elevated vine, but can't find any sign of borer entry hole. should i mainline some sevin in to the vine...slice it the long way for inspection. could this be something other than a borer ? lastly, should i cull this one and concentrate on the sole survivor about basketball size on a secondary ??? i would realy appreciate any suggestions. thanks fellow growers.
duff

8/13/2000 6:34:39 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

duff could it be gummy stem blight ?. If theres no sign of a borer near the pumpkin within 5 ft either way it,s probley not a borer. how does the whole plant look? and are other mushy vines? i,d suggest spraying the whole plant with fungicide. that would be my best guess. I got gummy stem blight last season and when i went to cut the pumpkin off the vine i grabed the vine near the pumpkin and it collapsed kinda shatterd with no real pressure. I don,t know if once you get it you can get rid of it good luck hope this was some help

8/13/2000 8:46:17 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

minipatch,
appreciate the input. first noted some very droopy leaves along main vine and sprayed heavily w/daconil and saw prety good response i thought. leaves turned right around. vine and leave color give no real indication that anything is wrong. i'll measure again tomorrow to guage whether all hope is lost on rocco. then i'll have to decide if terminating main vine in mushy area will work to salvage remaining plant and pumpkin. if anyone can shed any light on gummy stem blight i would appreciate hearing about it
thanks
duff

8/13/2000 10:25:50 PM