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Wood River, Nebraska

Give me some clues as to why the pumpkins on a healthy, well pruned plant would just stop growing. I currently have a 106 pounder on a main vine a 39 pounder on another main and several 30-50 pound fruit on secondaries. After a cloudy three day period I assumed they would begin growing again. I culled two from the secondaries, yet its now been 5 days and no growth. Are they all dead?? The plant continues to grow and the stump is rot free.
dave=stewee

8/1/2001 9:09:50 AM

Chester Co., PA

Dave, My experience is that heat is to blame. If you have had a hot spell (5-7 days) with temps. over 90 degrees the pumpkin stops growing and it's done. Mine don't start growing again, except maybe adding an inch in the whole rest of the season. The vine remains healthy and growing.

8/1/2001 12:43:15 PM

Wood River, Nebraska

Wes, You're right, We had 7 days of 90 + temps where the second day I recorded the greatest gain of 8.3 pounds on the largest fruit. It was all down hill from there with less gain each day and then zero. I was using an overhead sprinkler controlled by a thermostat for cooling set four times a day for 20 min. at temps >85. Too little too late? Apparently the high temps cause the pumpkins to ripen pre- maturely. Oh well, at least I’ve got a 100 pounder for the local fair. Any tips on how to keep it from loosing weight for another six days? Is shade cloth over the entire plant the answer for next year??
dave=stewee

8/2/2001 9:25:23 AM