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Nauvoo, Alabama

My stem has splits. All my secondary vines have been terminated. Some that accident broke too early have teritory vines extending the secondary length. What if this pumpkin doesnt make it? Will that territory vine at end of secondary produce a big one? If thats a waste of time, let me know. And if I were to grow another pumpkin on the plant, where would be the best place if no more main vine growth?
I have posted pictures of my split stem but they havent loaded as of yet--its 10:30 am now.

7/12/2007 11:36:48 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

Many times stem splits do not go into the cavity. There are a couple of ways to deal with them. It will help to see the pictures. Then maybe you can get some better answers.

7/12/2007 11:51:14 AM

Nauvoo, Alabama

I put captan on the splits. Figure there is nothing more I can do but sit and watch. The splits are not deep or wide. But scary non-the-less.
When is a good time to put foam insulation on splits? When they are big splits or does size matter? Id love to cover these splits. I worry about fruit flies. They are bad here. None around pumpkin yet.

7/12/2007 12:50:10 PM

Ohio

Id leave the splits alone and don't fill them with anything,you don't want to trap moisture inside the split to rot, use straight daconil right from the bottle and paint it on the splits with a small brush,then let it air out,(Tom Beachy gave me this advice years ago and it works great for splits) if you have a small fan use it if the splits are real deep.

7/12/2007 2:29:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Hair spray with a pump aerosol can help pull moisture out and seal........

7/12/2007 2:40:56 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Don't use foam insulation, that will expand and cause you further grief (gosh I don't know who told you to use that stuff)

I've only every used copper powder and a copper paste made from the powder inside the splits and cracks and set a fan on them 24/7 and hope for the best.

Good luck, hope they are just small and will scar over.

7/12/2007 3:27:30 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

Where did I get the Foam Idea????? Jim Beauchemin= The Secrets of Growing Champion Giant Pumpkins DVD. Maybe I should rewatch that dvd. Its a nice dvd but not very detailed.
The pumpkin has been under a tarp tent. I never wet the pumpkin when I water. Which I haven't watered much due to rains.

7/12/2007 4:32:23 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hmmmm, well Jim B. sure enough does know his pumpkins but expanding foam in a split or crack (IMHO) is a recipe for further disaster.

7/12/2007 5:21:28 PM

Georgia

Brooks I definetly agree with you and Tom. Ive found that if I even find soft spots on my vines I use Daconil and a paint brush and it usually fixes the problem.Good advice

7/13/2007 12:45:52 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

ARe Splits very common? Do most pumpkins continue to grow and make it to a desireable weigh off date? Or do they evenaully rot no matter what?

7/13/2007 1:39:36 PM

San Jose [email protected]

splits are very common, and they can and do still grow, when you are doomed is when you get air into the pumpkin cavity, then mold then mush

7/13/2007 7:04:37 PM