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British Columbia

Our little community fair here is in 2 weeks, Sept. 18 - 19, with the weigh in on the 17th. I got up this morning to see a large gaping stem split on my back up pumpkin. It is from the 1183 Debacco 09 seed ordered from Howard Dill farms. It is a very pretty fruit, tall and fairly orange. I would love to get it to the fair for the display as we only have a few people here that grow AGs. I am trying to create some interest here in this whole idea of growing AGs. It sets at about 340 lbs. now.

Question, with a split to core at stem can I make it last two weeks? This is not an official weigh off but a community fair so I am not concerned about "official" but just getting it there for display before it is compost. I cleaned the hole with a q tip and applied fungicide. I dusted on dry sulfur powder and then filled with latex caulk and dusted sulfur over that. Doesn't look bad but I know there are mold spores inside.
Was this the right plan of attack. I know that the chances are slim but ...... ?
Number one question -is it better to cut it free of the vine and shelter it now or leave it on the vine?
Any thoughts, aside from the compost pile, are greatly appreciated. Only two weeks! That's all I need. It is way too big to fit in the freezer !
I sort of feel like my puppy just died. My other one is pushing 600 lbs. now so as a first timer on this I still feel pretty good but am starting to understand the pain this game can bring.
Good luck and thanks to everyone else out there,
Michael

9/5/2010 6:14:35 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

Check out these two pics in my diary.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=144847

It went from a split to the inside to a puddle of goo in about 10 days. If you can keep it cool and dry it may last longer.

9/5/2010 7:17:56 PM

Bethlehem CT

I had a pumpkin with a small split into the cavity in the beginning of August. I filled the hole with caulk. It is still looking good in my driveway right now. I think if you catch them early your chances are better for keeping them around longer. It's the splits that you don't see that will self destruct in a hurry. (rot from the inside out.)

9/5/2010 9:07:33 PM

Springfield, VT

Stem splits are common and should only be a concern if they working their way into the pumpkin. If this was a pumpkin being grown for competition you may want to split the stem, it has been discussed in other posts. If it looks like it might split into the cavity I would cut it off

9/5/2010 9:18:24 PM

Glosta

My 1566 Rodonis split the stem 8/16, i instantly did surgery. it is still holding fine and growing it has put on 200#'s since the split and has split on shoulders 4 other places. if you meant core of the stem it is no problem, but core of the pumpkin then it's an issue. my split whet 2 inches deep into the pumpkin flesh and still didn't reach the cavity. the surgery was the best thing I did. Not hesitating to slice the stem saved my pumpkin, I'm sure of it.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=143216

9/5/2010 11:33:03 PM

Ohio

cucurbitamaxima,
A picture of your stem split that we can see of your problem would be alot more helpful to us so we can help you better , because with out a picture all you are going to get is a bunch of guess's on how to fix your problem. A picture is worth a 1000 words. you have a pic handy you can put in your diary?

9/6/2010 5:48:00 PM