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Monrovia, CA

Howard is my 723 pound pumpkin that I have had in a cool spot since October. He is in Pasadena,CA and waiting to be put on a Rose Parade float (seriously!) on January 1st. Yestarday I checked him and found that the stem has gone soft and has alittle mold on it. The fruit still feels solid. What should I do? ....cut the stem off right at the fruit and Captan paste? Any suggestions would be more than greatly appreciated!!
Thankyou so much!
Michelle L.

12/5/2004 9:29:31 AM

Joliet, IL

i would cut off the rot and use a toothbrush to clean the
inside of the remaining stem cavity and then apply liberal
amount of captan or sulfur powder on the entire stem
and make a captan paste and plug the stem cavity
then i would set up a small fan and try to dry it up
so any remaining spores will have no moisture to
set up on. also if storing in a cool dark place, maybe
throw in a dehumidifier to keep out the dampness which
mold and fungi love. wait to get some more responses
before acting on my suggestions because there are many
more out there way more knowledgable than myself.

12/5/2004 10:25:53 AM

[email protected]

Get Howard in a walk-in refrigerator ASAP. Elevate the humidity too. I would also excise the soft areas.

12/5/2004 1:16:00 PM

Western Pa.

These are soft stemmed pumpkins. I have had the stems rot, disintegrate, and fall off,and the fruits still have lasted for several months. As long as the pumpkin isn't rotting, you should be fine. As Tremor says, remove all soft/rotted material. I'll be looking for Howie on New Year's Day! (Which float?)

12/5/2004 1:59:49 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

If it goes into a walk in fridge I'd put the fruit on a pallet so that it has less surface contact. (with the floor)

Also I'd give a bleach solution wash first, then give a final rinse with a calcium solution. Make sure that the skin is dried well.

12/5/2004 2:52:38 PM

Monrovia, CA

Hey everyone...Thankyou!!! I'm going to Pasadena today armed with bleach and a fan!! If all goes well Howard will be on the City of St. Louis float. It is the one pulled by the Budweiser clydesdales and they have a Harvest-themed entry with a giant cornucopia of fruit.

Michelle

12/6/2004 9:13:34 AM