From

Location

Message

Date Posted

milford, CT,

Anyone have any experiance growing out pumpkins that have nicks...scars from birds or other. I have two pollinations that look I think are good to go but they have some pretty good size scars on them from something. I was just wondering if these scars end up causing problems later on? Mark

7/6/2008 3:19:29 PM

[email protected]

10% Bleach solution & they usually heal right over.

7/6/2008 4:40:29 PM

Sparta, NC

Check out the pics of the 998 I grew last year in my diary. I had a bird peck it in a couple places and it finished the season at 1178.9 lbs with no problems.

7/6/2008 4:43:15 PM

Ohio

Sam, I didn't know that your 998 had them deep peck marks, by the looks of it I would have thought it wouldn't have made it, but it did no problem! I'm glad you posted about that, because I have a perfect shape pumpkin starting on my 1231 Pukos and it has a slight gouge in it from me flicking a cuke beetle off mine, and its not half as bad as your 1178 was,lol. I was very seriously thinking about culling it , but you changed my mind. Thanks!

7/6/2008 5:33:00 PM

Rhode Island

we have a lot of cuts and dents in our pumpkins from hail damage. prefer not to keep them unless absoultely necessary because our fruit are usually ugly enough with out pock markes all over then as they grow
luckly we had at least one on each plant that was covered during the storm so come hell or high water the others are history.
the plant looks like hell though.thank god we will grow more plant as the season goes on.

7/6/2008 10:00:24 PM

Bethlehem CT

Milford I get nailed by the birds here. They even peck through the sheets I throw over the pumpkins. The only thing that I have found that keeps the birds off are laundry baskets or peach baskets. The birds seem to like my pumpkins until the skin starts to harden. Check out my last years diary. My 927 got nailed by birds when it was about 2-300 pounds. I grew it out just fine but the scars do tend to grow a little with the pumpkin. I don't think it affects the final size, but it sure makes them ugly as heck.

7/7/2008 8:07:19 AM

Frankfort Oh

lol,,pap

7/7/2008 10:59:56 AM

milford, CT,

Thanks everyone...I use laundry baskets but the bird have learned to crawl through the opening I cut for the vine. Gotta build a better mouse-trap!

7/7/2008 12:40:24 PM

Rhode Island

friggin birds. its not bad enough we have hail,high winds, extreme humidity, drought followed ny monsoon rains , wood chucks, borers, beetles, stick bugs, more hail,
anyome who get a nice fruit to the scale ends up earning it thats for sure.

7/7/2008 8:14:48 PM