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Salem, OR

My pumpkins are experiencing late season blow outs, please see photo just posted. Blow outs are occuring very close to the ground so very difficult to work on. By using a mirror it doesn't look like the opening goes all the way to the cavity, but it is happening on my two largest remaining pumpkins. It looks like the skin is just pulling apart. The white you are seeing in the photo is just captan powder I have put on the exposed pumpkin tissue. The exposed pumpkin tissue is not soft like you would expect of a rotting pumpkin. What is causing this? Assuming I don't see any hole going all the way to the cavity when we lift these on Friday, can these still be entered in a competitive weigh-off? Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

10/5/2009 9:39:35 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If the hole is not into the seed cavity they can be entered in a weighoff.

10/5/2009 10:08:38 PM

Salem, OR

Really? Even if the opening hasn't yet "scabbed" over? I am use to seeing pumpkins with cracks that have hardened and healed over, but mine won't have time to do that. Any suggestions on how to load without making the opening worse? What would cause this skin splitting this late in the season, it's not like I am seeing a lot of growth this late.

10/5/2009 10:15:53 PM

Sequim, WA

It takes very little growth to make these cracks in the skin this late in the season. It's common and not a big problem. As long as any crack or hole does not go into the cavity then it's OK. Unless a strap or something slides over the cracks, it's unlikely they will get any worse when loading up. This is mainly a cosmetic problem and not a problem with the structure of the fruit.

10/6/2009 12:18:59 AM

Salem, OR

Thank you Tiller. It is frustrating to be this close to getting them to the scale and then starting to see new issues arise. I appreciate your message, I'll sleep better tonight :)

10/6/2009 12:01:18 PM

Colorado

sj if its not a soft spot-ie rot youre fine.

10/6/2009 1:15:51 PM

Salem, OR

Cojoe, dang, now I won't sleep again. I don't think it is a soft spot because you can see the tear that occurred at the skin level (looks like a blow out) see pic. When I touch the exposed "meat" it doesn't feel soft or goey like rot would feel, it doesn't smell bad and the area around the opening is firm not soft. Your thoughts?

10/6/2009 4:47:54 PM

Colorado

sounds fine to me-be happy its still growing.I saw a pumpkin with a tear in the shoulder big enough so set a golf ball in it(at jareds weigh off).It was clean as a whistle there-not a problem

10/6/2009 6:09:28 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

sorry to hear about your pumpkins sandy. i don't have enough experience to help you.

10/7/2009 3:27:32 AM

Dallas, Oregon

It still sounds good to me. As long as it doesn't go into the cavity you'll be fine. Just try to miss the potholes to Seaside.lol.

10/7/2009 11:49:43 PM

Salem, OR

Thanks everyone. We'll be lifting & "hopefully" loading tomorrow, so all I can do at this point is hope for the best. See you all at Seaside (I'll be the slow moving vehicle blocking traffic as I gently go over all the potholes) LOL

10/8/2009 1:14:55 PM