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New York, U.S.A.

My girlfriend and I decided to grow Pumpkins this year.
It's been a wonderfull experience but we never realized how much space these Plants need ! Our first Female flower has been growing extremely well and appears ready to blossom however it's starting to grow into our neighbors yard So I had no choice but to turn it around back into our yard. In doing so I slightly cracked the vine about 10 inches just in front of the Female flower. Specifically, the crack is not a clean break but it must have slightly twisted and turned a little brown along the crack. Will nature heal the vine ? Is there anything I can do ? Does the pumpkin have a chance of still growing ? I have no experience at this so I'm hoping there someone out there who can lead me in the right direction because I desperately don't want to lose my first pumpkin !

9/3/2000 4:41:47 PM

Rochelle,Ill

Suggest you cover the split area with soil and hope for the best. Also suggest you get started a little earlier next year. Good luck.

9/3/2000 5:50:40 PM

PA

I'm only a third year grower but I have a similar problem. I have a 250lb pumpkin growing and the vine is split wide open about 18" past the pumpkin. I did not cover with soil. I used captan a fungicide sold in most garden centers. Take a couple of tablespoons of that and a tiny amount of water mix to a thick paint like mix. Use a paint brush and apply to the split. This pumpkin has kept growing for a long time. Also a suggestion, Your pumpkin may not get real mature this year,because it is getting a little late so I would start around May 1 next year. This is a lot of fun so let us know how it goes. Also There are 2 books that are great. Author is Don Langevin. "How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins" there are 2 volumes they are both great . Annedawn publishing. Good luck

9/3/2000 6:07:05 PM

Connecticut, USA

We have links to these books in the How-To section of the site.

9/3/2000 7:10:35 PM