From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Middle TN

Ive been watching for problems or at least trying to since I dont really know what Im looking for. Anyway I noticed on the blossom end what was the lobes had something black on it about the size of a pencil eraser. It almost looked like mold, when I touched it, it was kinda slimy underneath. I gently wiped off the black and slime and put some captan powder on it. It wasnt actually on the pumpkin skin just on the protruding lobe. Is this the beginning of blossom end rot? or a soft spot?
Tammy

Im supossed to be watching for soft spots on the stump and the stem but since Ive never actually seen a soft spot on a stem or stump I dont know what Im looking for. Do I 'feel' for it or look for a color change or what? Is there a pic someone could point me to?

6/7/2010 2:03:02 PM

Western Pa.

Tammy,

I think you'll be fine. It's a good idea to remove old dead flower blossom after they take.

6/7/2010 3:14:32 PM

New York

Maybe it was a slug or something?

6/7/2010 4:30:50 PM

Middle TN

I think one of the lobes rotted off..is that normal?

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=133296

6/7/2010 4:34:37 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Tammy,
I'd keep close tabs on it. On one of my pumpkins a few years ago, I had the top of the blossom end knob start rotting. It started going into the pumpkin's flesh. Thankfully it held up until the weighoff. I'd recommend you keep that area dry. Hopefully others will chime in.

6/7/2010 9:57:30 PM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

That pumpkin and plant look good! Its good that you used the white stuff but you shouldn't need to use to much more right now. Continue whatever your doing and let it ride!

6/7/2010 9:58:19 PM

Joliet, IL

tammy, you got it in the nick of time before the entire lobe rotted into the pumpkin. i have had to take a knife and cut off all rot off the blossum and i also used captan and it was fine. the object now is to keep that blossom dry. i would put a fan on it and cover with a small patio table until completely healed. remove anymore rot the starts to build if it does and repeat. once healed it will be fine as long as it does'nt wok the blossom nub into the pumpkin.

6/7/2010 10:04:05 PM

Middle TN

I sure hope I caught it in time. I will definately be keeping a close watch. I can put a fan on it but I dont have a table big enough to cover it. I have a cotton sheet 'tent' over it for shade, is that enough? Should I switch the sheet with a tarp?

6/7/2010 11:39:59 PM

Midwest

Tammy, in your diary, I see that you were almost touching the Captan that was on the vine. Please be careful, that stuff is dangerous.

6/8/2010 1:27:49 AM

Middle TN

Thank you. Without thinking, I stuck my hand in there for size comparison and didnt realize I was that close until I got some on me. I'll be more careful :)
Tammy

6/8/2010 6:47:59 AM

Ohio

Tammy, keep an eye on it and take shazzy advise. You go girl! Oh and by the way, it looks marvelous.

6/8/2010 7:50:44 AM

Joliet, IL

switch to a tarp tammy with a fan on it 24 hrs a day. it must stay dry to heal. remove rot repeatedly and you can also spray with a 10% bleach to 90% water solution directly on the blossom and let that dry and reapply captan if any more rot gets hold. i have chased rot on a blossom all the way to the point i had a concave indention where the blossom was somewhat going into the pumpkin but still healed in the nick of time and the pumpkin was fine and lasted til halloween.

6/8/2010 8:49:23 AM

Middle TN

this is probably a silly question but I gotta ask... doesnt the tarp make it too hot? I just keep thinking about how hot the hoop house got with the plastic.

I put up a tarp, added more captan and set a fan to blowing.. Im crossing my fingers. Thanks for the advice everyone :)

Tammy

6/9/2010 1:01:25 AM

Joliet, IL

i used white tyvek last year which is not the best material and switched to tarps white on one side and reflective silver on the other. i have used blue tarps with no problems as long as you keep them high enough over the pumpkin. with your heat down south, maybe some of these small relatively inexpensive silver and white ones could be purchased from this attached site. the object mostly is to keep that blossom dry till it heals and try night to let sprinkler hit it or wet sheets.

http://www.tarps-tarps.com/silver/white-heavy-duty-tarps/cat_7.html

6/10/2010 12:29:41 AM