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Southern California

I am in Southern California temperate area. First year objective is a fun project for the family; We are not expecting a record.

I have one plant. It is growing like crazy. We love it. It is a daily wonder for the whole family.

But I've got rookie worries.

Yellow Leaves
The 3-4 large leaves close to the root yellowed on the edges at first and now are all yellow. The rest of the leaves are perfect. I am watering less and added a little nitrogen. Is my plant in jeopardy because of these dead leaves?

Main Vine crack.
Yes a crack perpendicular to the vine about 60% through. I buried the crack and am surprised it still grows without yellowing. Should I cull the fruit growing past the crack?

I've got 4-5 fruit set on the side vines before the crack. One has a couple of 1/4" scratches in it (kids or animal). Is the mere presence of a scratch reason to cull the fruit?

7/15/2004 12:57:44 AM

Ohio

Paper, my 940 did the same thing,my main split long ways about 3 inches, the split was about 2 to 3 feet from the stump. My first 3 leaves turned yellow about a week later and the leaves started to turn a little crispy.. I filled the split with silicone and havnt had any problems since then. I have a basketball size pumpkin growing past this split on the main vine about 11 feet out, its growing slow but its healthy, Yellow leaves could also mean to much water. I was told if the leaves get to bad to just cut them off and try to grow new leaves to replace em.
And as for the scratches,lol, Well,, i was mowing real close to this pumpkin last week and a rock flew out and hit it dead center, there was like a half inch dent in it. I put captans on it and it healed nice, it looks like crap but it healed. I also have pumpkins strarted on this plant on secondaries past the split on the main. It just seems that they are growing slower then my other plants and im almost positive its beacause of the split in the main. Hope this information helps coming from a newbie grower.LOL
BROOKS

7/15/2004 7:33:42 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I would keep 3 fruit. Two on the secondaries and one on the main that is past the crack. Don't worry about scratches only huge chunks. The loss off a few leaves means nothing. Check your stump for borers.

7/16/2004 6:48:30 PM