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Winston Salem NC

My vine about 8 inches before the pumpkin is rotted. It is solid until you get to the actual pumpkin stem and it has turned to mush, too. Vine after the pumpkin is still solid. Trying to hold this thing until right before Halloween. Do I need to cut it loose or will it stay and not rot the pumpkin?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

9/14/2008 2:44:27 PM

Rochester, MN

Rick,
I'm not 100% with your case, but yes...the rot from a stem can get inside the pumpkin...the key to stopping rot is to cut ALL of it out and just leave good pumpkin/stem and then put captan or a fungicide paste over the good pumpkin. Sometimes you have to go deep to get all the rot...but if you don't it may look good on the outside..but inside it is going deeper and deeper.
I lost an 1193 lber a few years ago as I didn't handle a rot spot as I mentioned.
Good luck.

9/14/2008 6:18:34 PM

Winston Salem NC

Ok to the patch I go to cut it off then. Thanks Dave

9/14/2008 6:46:19 PM

Winston Salem NC

Got it off and the Rott was about a half inch up from the top of the pumpkin and about 1/4 way into the stem and inch or so up. I put a "bandaid" with Daconil on it since its the only fungicide I have currently. Weighed in at 96lbs. I'm pretty happy since its my first pumpkin grown and it was only a generic Burpee Prizewinner with very little pruning done to the plant.

9/14/2008 8:23:17 PM

Rochester, MN

Rick,
Great that you got all the rot out and a sound pumpkin from it...now just keep it dry and the Daconil will help.
Dave.

9/14/2008 10:54:44 PM

Winston Salem NC

From what my stem and vine prior to the pumpkin looked like it was most likely caused by a SVB. A heavy rain has washed away the dirt I had burried the vine with and I never recovered it. Looked to see an entry hole but everything was just mush so I dont know.

9/16/2008 3:36:57 PM