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Western PA

I have some small surface cracks at the base of the stem where the stem meets the pumpkin. I also have a small discolored area at the stem base which is slowly secreting a clear goo.

Here is a PIC of it: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=92008

Are these cracks normal? What is the best way to treat them and is there a way to avoid them?

The area secreting goo, How bad is this? What is the best way to heal this pumpkin up? Should i keep removing the goo droplets or is this the way it is going to scab over??

Note: I cleaned all cracks and goo area with alcohol and applied a fungicide to it, The pumpkin is under a tarp so it is staying dry.

I really appreciate help!!
Thanks!

8/4/2008 3:28:55 PM

Jericho Vermont

Your stem looks perfect. These things are always dripping a little here or there. Here is a reference picture to look at......

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=55041

This is from our 2006 718 pounder on August 13th. The pumpkin made it all the way through the year putting on an additional 380 pounds. We also had a terrible cold wet summer that year that slowed the growth down. Lots of stem splits don't go all the way through to the core and are weighed in as legal pumpkins.
John

8/4/2008 5:39:47 PM

Western PA

Thanks a lot John, I read through your 06,& 07 diary and now I know the genetic line of the 1009 young. A lot of very helpful info in there. It's pretty amazing that stem made it that long looking that bad!

Thanks again,

Erik

8/5/2008 10:26:46 PM