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Pa

Can anyone give me suggestions on whether it is better to cut the pumpkin from the vine or leave it attached to have it keep longer? It stopped growing a week ago at over 600lbs and I want to try to keep it for a few weeks to take it to a local fair. The bad part is there is a small split (about 1" wide, 1" deep) that I repaired the day the growth stopped so I know it's not healing. I have it cleaned and packed with captan. I n the past I've kept a pumpkin on the vine for about month with little problem but I wasn't sure with the split what I should do or if it's even worth trying.

8/19/2004 10:45:50 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I would....
leave it on unless it's started to rot, sink, turn brown, etc. Keep it dry and covered from the sun and rain.
Patch the split as best you can.
Some other folks may advocate cutting and storing in a cool dry place like the garage.
Personal preference I think is the bottom line, and of course the condition *it's* in, and the conditions it has the chioces to *be* in.

8/19/2004 11:01:38 PM

Ohio

Alan, You think that cold weather had anything to do with it stopping? We arnt very far from each other and i know the cold slowed mine down to a snails pace for a while, Lucky for me they picked back up when the weather got a little warmer, or it could have been from cutting everything past my pumpkin off, or really any number of things.
Brooks

8/20/2004 12:53:49 AM

Pa

I originally thought it was the weather. It went from a sting of at least 15 days of 20+ before the cold weather then it dropped to 15 12 9 6 and now it's at 0 for 6 days. There is nothing apparent with the vine to indicate a problem. I opted not to measure yesterday but will tonight after work and post the results. Nothing would make me happier than finding even a half inch change!

8/20/2004 6:28:17 AM

Ulster County, NY

I think the weather has contributed to those splits. I've resorted to some caulk, but an open to suggestions for dealing with them as well.

8/21/2004 10:57:10 AM

Pa

As I figured no new growth. I've bee keeping it clean and as dry as I can. I'll have to wait and see if it can make it 'til the middle of Sept.

8/23/2004 5:12:47 PM