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Follansbee, Wv

The 905 Ailts birbath has gone down to a converging rib split. I was hoping it would heal, but today when I looked under there it had amassed another glob of the thick goopy stuff. When I wiped it off a goodish amount of clear watery fluid ran out. And boy did it stink!
I will be removing it from the vine today and retrieving the seeds. It's been an interesting experience for me, and good learning experience as well, so all was not lost.
My apologies go out to Joe Ailts for letting him down. I'll give it another go next year Joe!
I will get final measurements for an estimated weight, since I have no way to weigh it. I will also take pics and get them in the diary later today.

On a good note, the 1367.5 is still hanging in there. The cracks that worried me the other day are in fact healing nicely. I guess it's the ones you don't see that hurt the worst.

8/11/2005 12:09:02 PM

Indiana

hold on a second!that could just be the gummy stem in that glob....probe it first!

8/11/2005 12:22:11 PM

Montoursville, PA

Prob: the art of gently pushing a coat hanger into the soft flesh area. If it falls into the cavity like going through mush the ball game is over. Me thinks you are right but Tom has a few hundred grows under his belt.

Just don't fall in behind the prob. :))

8/11/2005 12:32:43 PM

Follansbee, Wv

I haven't cut it loose yet, waiting for my littlest daughter to get home so I can get some final pics. But Tom, when I wiped off the goopy stuff a good bit of watery, very smelly liquid came out. I will try to probe it with a bamboo shiska bob skewer.

8/11/2005 12:39:38 PM

Follansbee, Wv

OK, I just found more of this goop on the stump of the 905. I got some great pics of it. It is the same stuff that's on the bottom of the fruit. I posted pics in my diary, hopefully they will come up soon.
I tried to probe the suspected split area, but the ribs are touching and I can't get anything between them. Maybe it's this disease causing it to appear split.

8/11/2005 12:58:49 PM

Western NY

if it stinks to high heck, it's probably a goner.

saw the pics, and small amounts of that stuff are not a problem, but like doc said, considerable mush means it's done.

8/11/2005 1:02:09 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Pics of the stuff on the stump are up now. If I can figure out what this is, maybe there is a way to fight it.

8/11/2005 1:05:38 PM

Deer Park, WI

No need to apologize Monty- You did a great job as a first year grower and I tip my cap to not only your dedication, but also going out on a limb and trying an unproven seed.

Im quite curious how thick those walls are!!

8/11/2005 1:35:56 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Well, so far I have received emails ranging from, "I've seen it, wiped it off and kept on growing" to suggestions of Pythium and, heaven forbid, phytophthora. With absolutely no history of Phyto here, I can't believe that's the culprit. Time will tell there though. If the lesions girdle and kill the plant then Phyto will be a likely suspect.
I gave the entire plant a good looking over and found this stuff in smaller quantities in a couple of other places. I scraped them clean and sprayed with a strong dose of Daconil. I will get some sulpher powder this evening and dust with it.

My plan of attack is to excavate a larger area under the 905 fruit, shore it up and crawl under there for a good eyes on look. I may take a chance and scrape/cut a gap between the converging ribs so I will have a definate answer on the split question. If, indeed, it's not split, I will dust the wound with sulpher and try to get a fan on it.

In the mean time, I am looking for a reputable lab to analyze this stuff. As was brought up in another post, I don't want a "guess". I want to KNOW what the heck this stuff is!

So for now Joe, you will just have to wait to find out how thick the walls are...I'm not giving up yet!

BTW, I'm not the one who went out on a limb. It's the proven grower who gives a newbie his seeds that goes out on a limb. After all, I have nothing to lose. If I fail to produce anything from it, people might think it isn't worth trying, not realizing that the failure was because I'm new at this. You, my pumpkin mentor, went out on the limb ;)

8/11/2005 3:08:41 PM

Indiana

That looks like gummy stem to me. obviously if it has gone through the flesh, it will rot it from the inside out, but there is a good chance that it just made a huge chamber and had a "pustule" like thingy. it smells like a$$ as well, just like a rotten fruit, only a little different...LOL

If the fruit is still growing then its not rotting. If the fruit isnt growing then you need to inspect further.

If its not through the cavity, dig it our with a sharpened spoon and paint with daconil right out of the bottle, or captan powder. I mix manzate with daconil for a thick paste that works very well for me. You rookies are always ready to pull the plant and fruit when something happens....just chill out!! LOL

Tom

8/11/2005 3:22:14 PM

Indiana

Walls are probably only about 2 inches thick Joze...LOL

Tom

8/11/2005 3:22:51 PM

Follansbee, Wv

It's a moot point now. It split out in the blossom end. Pics are posting in the diary.

8/11/2005 5:00:12 PM

Back of Beyond

Sorry dude - but it was a nice pkn.

8/11/2005 6:34:00 PM

Roanoke Il

Monty you did great this year you gave it her all thats what counts. I my self have lost the biggest fruits for the past 5 years hopefully this will be the year for me but if not if you really think about it it isn't the size of the pumpkin that makes this hobby or sport what it is it is the friendships that you develope or make over the years. In general 99% of the growers out there are some of the best people you will ever meet from every where in the world....mark

8/11/2005 7:17:10 PM

Hey Monty, at least your birdbath lasted longer than mine did! You still have one fruit left and you're doing great for your first year.

8/11/2005 7:42:00 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Well, it's cut up and has seen the scales. Look for the new post for details...and a question.

8/11/2005 8:18:16 PM

[email protected]

Well done Monty. You did all you could.

8/11/2005 10:01:56 PM

Indiana

you could try to find a truck scale or something if you really want to get a more accurate weight. Just an idea. Looks nice and solid to me! keep the 1367 going!

Tom

8/12/2005 1:35:56 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Monty
Sorry to hear you lost your 905. It sucks to lose them at this time of the year. I just lost a big one that had a cir. of 140" & an est weight of 629# on day 40. Hope your 1367 keeps going. Your having a great rookie season and I expect big things from you in the future. Take care and good luck with your other pumpkin.

Phil

8/12/2005 6:25:21 AM