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ohio

AFTER SURVIVING THE DEER, GROUNDHOGS, DOGS, S.V.B.'s ETC. THERE IS STILL ONE MORE... ME. I DROPPED A PIECE OF WOOD ON MY BEST PUMPKIN, ABOUT 100 LBS. THE CUT IS ABOUT 8'' LONG AND ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH DEEP. I USED CAPTAN BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO?

8/4/2001 7:27:24 PM

Commack, NY

just use captan powder, dont make a paste. the only thing you can do is watch it. i dropped a large flashlight on a fruit 3 years ago, created a huge dent in it. it got bigger and bigger, but it was okay. hope yours is okay also

scott

8/4/2001 7:33:20 PM

Herndon, VA

I poked one of mine with a pruning shear yesterday...an event that was obviously omitted from my growers diary. I didn't have any Captan, so I used dirt....I'm a newbie. It sounds like you did everything right, but the scar will grow with the pumpkin.

There are times that I think I may be doing more damage by trying to protect my pumpkins (and goofing up) than if I just left them alone. Lately I have been getting way too familiar with the unique cracking sound a vine makes when I step on it by mistake.(doh!) --Bruiser

8/5/2001 1:03:29 AM

Mid Michigan

Dont know if this right or not, but seems like i read somewhere on this site, or maybe (gasp) a different pumpkin site,,,,that some-one used silicone on a pumpkin crack and it worked out ok. I'll see if i can find where it was, and let you know. Cuzbiker

8/5/2001 7:10:37 AM

Mid Michigan

It was in the "how to" section on this site in an article by Len Stelpflug. Check it out.........it's called
"pumpkin crack healing".
Cuzbiker

8/5/2001 7:15:02 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

Superficial scratches like this will heal without anything, just keep them dry. Some Captan wouldn't hurt. If I understand it the silicone is for deep cracks at the end of the pumpkins. On the superficial scratches it will probably prevent it from drying out the way it should.

8/5/2001 9:54:09 AM

Chester Co., PA

The 'How To' article talks about using latex chalk in the cracks not silicone. Would silicone bind to the surface? This is a creative hobby, whatever works, use it.

Bruiser, don't put dirt on the wound. It introduces bacteria that might cause rot to start. I can't locate any Captan either. It is probably better to just clean the cut and let it dry and scab over.

8/6/2001 11:06:33 AM

Eureka, Ca

I have one pumpkin that I completly left alone ( it was a self pollinated suprise pumpkin) . I went to show my son how perfectly shaped it was and that it had no scars. That was when I noticed it had been eaten around the blossom end. I didn't see any dropings or footprints. I suspect the sparrows.

8/6/2001 12:24:36 PM

Herndon, VA

Thanks Wes, I kind of thought it was the wrong thing to do immediately after I did it. Looks ok now, I guess I lucked out. I finally found some Captan so next time I'll do it right. --Bruiser

8/6/2001 12:33:24 PM

Wood River, Nebraska

Where can Captan be bought??

8/6/2001 3:00:29 PM

Commack, NY

you should be able to get it at any garden center. if you cant find it, you can use sulphur powder. it works, and its a bit safer

scott

8/6/2001 5:00:27 PM