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Grants Pass, Oregon

My no name pumpkin got a white patch on the blossom end last night then this evening it was split all the way into the cavity. When I cut into it , there was mold all in there. Could any one please tell me why this happend? Thank you.

polka dot

9/21/2001 10:41:47 PM

Commack, NY

most likely, luck, or unluck of the draw. the blossom end is generally the thinnest, hence weakest, part of a pumpkin. sometimes they last, and unfortunatly sometimes they dont. Some pumpkins are more prone to splitting on the blossom end then others.....but that's a whole genetics topic. my guess is that there was probably a hairline split that you didnt notice and it started rotting from the inside out. or, the other possiblity is that it split on the bottom, and it started rotting from the inside out. "A" you didnt' know it split becuase it was on the bottom and "B" the first spot it rotted through was the blossom because that's the thinnest part. sorry you lost your fruit, i hope you have another big one to take to the show.

good luck
scott

9/22/2001 9:38:59 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

Option A is what happened with mine. I found the hole once I rolled it up.

9/22/2001 10:12:26 AM

Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Was that your 700#er Brian???
H-K-J

9/22/2001 10:42:14 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

Nope! That was UOW 616.

9/22/2001 11:00:26 AM

Ga.

Is it possible to save seed from a split blossom end???

9/22/2001 12:59:58 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I hope so. I saved the seeds from mine only a few were rotten. Some will be suspect but most should be okay. It probably depends upon how far along the decay was.

9/22/2001 2:35:04 PM

Ga.

is your 700 and 616 from the same plant?

9/22/2001 3:01:34 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Farmer Scott-

Yes thankfully I still have two more pumpkins growing. Actually 3 but I try not to claim one as it is Pretty Ugly. I had never noticed anything wrong until 2 days ago. all of a sudden there was a soft white spot and then the next day it has split through. It was around 75-80 pounds est weight.
But you live and you learn. Isnt this what it's all about.
(Besides having fun)

polka dot

9/22/2001 3:17:25 PM

Greencastle, PA

you're right Polka. I like the fun part the most, but learning is fun too, this is why my friends think I'm a freak. lol. Good luck,
Tom

Did you wiegh it? mine was small enough to be wieghed on a bathroom scale it was 30 pounds, 27.6% heavy.

9/22/2001 11:06:36 PM

Greencastle, PA

all of it's wieght was seeds! 728 of them! I thought there would be like 100, the walls were about 5" thick too.
Tom

9/22/2001 11:07:35 PM

Greencastle, PA

Back on the topic, I had one growin really fast at the blossom end and not at the stem, it then went down when the stem end rotted, the walls near the blossom were 5-6" and near the stem only 1". It was knind of bell shapped. I think it was poorly pollinated, I'm going to have to re read the whole pollinating chapter in my book, I'm Getting Mr. Langevins books soon too it think. I was robbed last weekend, I was going to get the books the next day, but they took check books bank cards cell phone, sorry, no pics of my 30 pounder, they were in my digital camera, but they took that too. Ugh. I can tell you that it looked like a mini-mombert. Good luck,
Tom

9/22/2001 11:13:15 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

Jeff
No, they are on different plants - one pumpkin per plant. The 616 was on the Shymanski 825.5.

9/22/2001 11:29:22 PM

Greencastle, PA

it was genetic if it was on the 825, it's known for splitting, I wouldn't grow that one. I wouldn't put my money on it in a backyard garden, but when they don't split they're great. big and orange.
Tom

9/22/2001 11:46:02 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Farmer Tom-

I didnt weigh the pumpkin this time. I was too frustrated. It didnt have any seeds that were mature enough to save. I still have another one growing that I'm hoping to collect some from. I want to grow it again next year for a pollinator. We shall see.

polka dot

9/23/2001 2:03:08 AM

Greencastle, PA

good luck, polka. I hope to hear of you getting a big one. Isn't this pumpkin growing sure iis fun stuff.
Tom

9/23/2001 2:32:18 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

I'm hoping my other two will hold out until our weigh-offs on October 6th. There both est weight is over 200 pounds.

Carrie

9/23/2001 7:14:17 PM

Ga.

you go Polka!!

9/23/2001 10:22:11 PM

Greencastle, PA

Great, make sure they keep growing, I want to hear about them at the wiegh-offs, not me at the wiegh-offs I want to hear about how they did at the wiegh-offs. I don't want to do another, "I saw 2 decapitated whales walking on the beach." lol. Good luck,
Tom

9/23/2001 10:36:08 PM