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Georgetown, Ohio

I have three plants which I plan to cull down to one due to lack of space. Today I noticed that one of my plants, (the biggest of the three) has a sizable split in the stem. I was wondering what caused this and what can I do to keep it from happening to my remaining plants?
I sprayed for pest once since transplanting outdoors. I put them out about three weeks ago and about one week ago I sprayed with Ortho Malathion.

5/20/2000 7:21:16 PM

PA

I had one split also. I'm not sure why but I think it was either to tall from lack of sunshine in the greenhouse( the plastic is getting old) and the plant was streching for light. or the wind did it. Maybe both. Good luck
Amy

5/20/2000 7:57:14 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

HI FLUXDUSTER. I grew a plant last season that had a stem split very early on( when plants had less then 10 leafs) mine were split by the wind.I put captains on and in the split to keep disease and bugs out but as the plant grew so did the size of the split and near the end the hole was about 1 inch wide and 3 or 4 inchs down.The plant developed stem rot around early august and when i went to pull the stump out of the garden it was totally rotted and came out with no effert at all.(I) will never grow a plant with a stump or vine split again i put a lot of time and effert to keep the split healthy and it still went sour this is only my opinion but you might want to consider going with the next fastest growing or best plant you have hope this was a little help to you. good luck.

5/21/2000 2:36:46 PM

Choctaw, OK

the 815 checkon plant that the checkons grew last year had the stem split and they still got a 1190 lb pumpkin, it had a blossom end split i think. so don't always count out a split stem, if it wasn't your best plant i would get rid of it. It is a tough call.

5/21/2000 3:29:10 PM

Commack, NY

i'm battling the same thing myself. nobody knows what makes this happen. but i can tell you, like case did, the 1190 was grown from a plant with a split stem. the 862 van, had the same thing happen. i'm having it right now, but there's no way i'm pulling a 935 lloyd plant. larry and bill both burried there stump, so that's what i am doing as well. i would concentrate on trying to keep the area as dry as possible. worse things have happened, i just hope i have a little luck, and i hope you do, should you decide to keep it.

5/22/2000 9:44:09 AM

Commack, NY

and the 879 rockwell squash

5/22/2000 9:45:25 AM