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San Diego

my main fruit on my 950 boyton has a small split on the blossom end on day 7 at 15 inches circumference. The crack goes into the blossom end:( It's not a huge deep split, but like a crack about an inch long. The fruit is still growing and it seems to have stopped oozing from it. I will sulfer paste it. Is there any chance for this fruit or is it a gonner? It's one of only two fruit on the plant and my bets one. Thanks, Jimmy

5/28/2005 11:51:30 AM

Applegate, Oregon

Duster,

Sorry to say that if it has a split on the blossom end, it is not your best fruit. plenty of time left, pollinate another! I have never kept a pumpkin on that has split at that size, so I don't know what will happen. When they have issue at that size, I cull them. Dale

5/28/2005 12:55:06 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Jimmy, blossom splits can and sometimes do keep growing contrary to what some believe. The growth can most likely cause future internal damage as the outside air brings with it mould spores. Even if you got it sealed quickly the damage may doom your progeny at some point in the future. You should consider surgery and try another fruit further out later on. It is very early to get a fruit to October and or September.

5/28/2005 1:40:20 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Lots of time Jimmy...You can practice your pasting on it see what happens but it would be my first cull choice hoping that you wire up the next one in a better spot. Good Luck! GrowEmBig! Chuck

5/28/2005 6:23:42 PM

Puyallup, WA

Splits on a small pumpkin like that are always the death nill. Cut it off and go on to the next female.....keeping your fingers crossed.

5/28/2005 7:48:39 PM

San Diego

thanks guys. The good news is that this is not my main patch, just a spot in my backyard. Hopefully my main patch 950 won't do this on me:) Jimmy

5/28/2005 9:29:33 PM

Joliet, IL

i had a small blossom end tear last year in the early stages of a pumpkin on a 695. it was where the flower meets the pumpkin. it healed fine at the time, but ii ended up spliitng on day 44 last year at the blossum end. it was chugging towards huge numbers at the time and was a major disappointment. from my experienced, baring tragedy to a severed main. i would go with one of the next ones down the line. if the blossum end splits early it is most likely thin in that area to start with. when i opened up the split one i had, i found the walls were 8 to 11 inches thick everywhere except the blossum end which was only 1 ' thick at the weakest point and only 3 to 4 inches thick on average.

5/30/2005 1:53:21 AM