From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Farmington, Utah

I sprayed my pumpkins with a bleach solution last nite. I was told 10% bleach. 1 part bleach - 9 parts water. It was too strong. They are spottoed now. IS MY SEASON OVER??? Or is the skin just discolored. Please I hope they're not done for. Has this happened to anyone else. IF so what was the out come.

7/28/2003 9:49:27 AM

Utah

ouch kenny- i don't know for sure but that sounds to high of a concentration. I think more like 1 to 99 would be more what you want. I hope they pull through.
gordon

7/28/2003 10:19:14 AM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Yes, what is the correct concentration. Posts from 2002 all say a 10% solution. Would like to hear a definitive answer and whether to just apply it to the pumpkin itself or to the entire plant.

7/28/2003 11:11:58 AM

the bottle of bleach that we have says to use 3/4 cup for a gallon for disinfecting stuff. that comes out to a 4.7 % solution. but that's for the kitchen sink, not a pumpkin patch.

7/28/2003 11:21:58 AM

Utah

just the pumpkin itself

7/28/2003 11:24:07 AM

I used 10% solution last year and did not have any 'spotting' or other ill effects. But my pumpkin was older.

I have not seen/read anything on this sight referenceing anything but 10%... Not conclusive, but you should be ok.

Good luck!!!

7/28/2003 11:38:38 AM

Utah

... show you what i know... or what i don't know.
:)

7/28/2003 12:32:49 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I have read where you can use the 10% solution but your to use it later in the season. Never hear of anyone using it this early. But best of luck!!!

7/28/2003 9:55:57 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Why did you do that? To put bleach on a healthy fruit sounds to me like if I were to get kinda a bath myself. Brrrrr! That could be useful to clean it before a contest maybe, but now???

7/29/2003 6:43:58 AM

Cologne / Germany

Brian and Carlos are correct. Using bleach is a way to conserve or disinfect the culled fruit in case you store it several days before you go to a weigh-off.
I only used bleach once during the season when I was in need to disinfect a split stem with signs of rot last year.

7/29/2003 6:55:32 AM

Farmington, Utah

My 1260 was starting to show small dark spots on the skin of the fruit. In the past this has turned into rot for me. I was trying to be cautious and stop any thing like this from happening to my fruit again. I have read int the past that a bleach solution helps to stop any bacterial/fungal infection to the fruit. I wish I hadn't have used it. They still continue to grow but not as fast the last 2 days. I hope that they were just shocked and will pick up growth here soon. Thanks for all the replies and emails of how to save my season. Kenny Blair

7/29/2003 9:12:01 AM

[email protected]

Kenny,

Most fruit rot fungi are caused or exacerbated by too much water. Reducing moisture may help prevent this sort of thing. Once a rot causing disease has started, there is little hope for control. Prevention is the key.

Many conventional fungicides are labeled for fruit rot fungal pathogens.

Phytophthora causes a fruit rot. Aliette, Prodigy, Phos-Phyte-K, Phyte, etc. will all last longer than bleach & will cause no fruit damage when used as directed. This is usually a grayish rot though.
Picture: http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/pumpkin/phyto.html

Fusarium fruit rots also infect pumpkins. Though this is usually a tannish color.
picture: http://ohioline.osu.edu/~vegnet/problem/pb92100.htm

According to OSU researchers Fusarium can be reduced on fruit with the use of mulches that help keep soil off the fruit.
http://fusion.ag.ohio-state.edu/news/story.asp?storyid=986

Black Rot & Alternaria Black Spot (aka Target Spot) can both be prevented with fungicide sprays too.
http://www.uvm.edu/extension/publications/gardendisease/gd10.htm

Spray programs that target gummy stem blight will assist with managing Black Spot.

http://www.alafarmnews.com/jun_pumpkin.htm

I hope that fruit is OK & that these links are useful.

Steve

7/29/2003 10:09:43 AM