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Alabama

My six year old daughter and I on a whim decided to try to grow a pumpkin for the state fair. We planted Atlantic Giant seeds we got from Lowes. We have done a lot of things wrong but we have learned a lot including from reading on this site. Looking forward to next year.

We have 3 plants with 3 pumpkins. Last weed one of the vines started to wilt and I found a spot where the vine was split into multiple pieces. Today I found the same thing on another vine. In both cases, it is between a pumpkin and the base of the vine so we are not going to get any more growth out of our pumpkin.

I posted a picture in the grower diaries under Joel. Please tell me what is happening and how to prevent it on the 3rd vine and next year?

Thanks for you help.

8/2/2008 8:58:36 PM

Columbus, OH

I was going to say SVB, but the ones I got didnt get much farther then just entering the vine, so I dont really know what the aftermath looks like.

8/2/2008 10:23:12 PM

Bloomington, IN

Looks like squash vine borer damage. Take a knife and cut into the vine lengthwise on both sides of the affected area and if you find a bug like in the link, remove and squish. If you don't find anything then it may have already exited.
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/daviess/Images/squashvineborerlarvae.jpg

If you've seen any of these, then definitely the vine borer.
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/diaglab/04images/623squash-vine-borer1.jpg

8/2/2008 10:58:43 PM