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Maui, Hawaii

Aloha everyone, I was having a great year with a pumpkin that was at 1000lbs+ at 60 days and still gaining 16lbs a day....headed for the 1200lb+ range!!....then out of no where, STEM ROT...now the stem is totally gone, but the pumpkin is not rotten where the stem was, what can I do to preserve and keep this area from rotting? Hopefully I can make it last another 3 weeks untill our county fair.

9/5/2009 1:06:52 AM

Nikiski, Alaska 99635

Aloha brother! Been to the Islands 9 times over the last 30 years including Maui. In fact, I have been to the Maui county fair. Tough place to keep a pumpkin in one piece I'll admit, but it can be done. First, make sure the surface behind the stem is firm and healthy, if not scrape it down to that point. Then mix 1 TBS bleach + 9 TBS water, this will give you plenty of solution to apply directly to the surface area where the stem was attached. Use a small paint brush for application of solution. Soak area thoughly and allow to set for 5 minutes, dab dry with paper towels, then run a small fan with the air flow directed at where the stem was attached. Area should be fully dry after 12 hours of fan time. Your best bet now is to find a local supermarket that has air conditioning, they keep'em so cold I freeze my ass off everytime I go in one and I live in Alaska. Not only is it cold, but the air is dry. I've had 4 pumpkins over the years ( one of them 1019 lbs ) put on display in our local Safeway store after weigh-off for 2 months. Have had to remove all the stems during those displays. Once the stem is off and kept cool and dry your good for a long ride. Check out your local supermarkets you will find they will be happy to move and display it for you until fair time. Just make sure they put some barrier around the pumpkin so the general public doesn't turn it into an early pumpkin pie. And congrats on a 1000 !!!!! in Maui. Now that's some Maui Wowie Bro!!!!

9/5/2009 3:04:52 AM

Western NY

nice! I would recommend you get an accurate weight on it now just in case it doesn't last. certainly sounds like a state record, post pics!

9/5/2009 7:51:52 AM

Adams County

i'm with Andy get that pumpkin weighed. state record is a great acomplishment.

9/5/2009 8:31:13 AM

Maui, Hawaii

thanks for the advice, i will give it a try. We are planning to get it to a scale today.....Hopefully it hits 1000?? estimate has it at 1069, but im woundering if it had enough time to thicken up inside?? We'll see??

9/5/2009 2:55:14 PM

So. Maine

Should also make sure the scale is either " certified " or State calibrated to have it considered official . GOOD LUCK !

9/5/2009 8:17:24 PM