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Lloydminster/AB

Ah yes, the foaming stump. I watered more than I would normally because the forecast was for hot weather and my plant is in a greenhouse. Unfortunately we had warm rainy weather so the area around the crown remained wet. I also have been terminating most of the secondary vines. Just too much moisture.. I performed surgery, drained fluid and applied fungicide. There doesn't appear to be any rot inside and I'm hoping the fan dries it out. Plant looks healthy so I remain optimistic.

7/14/2011 10:36:05 PM

Rudolph

dig a hole that is 2-3 foot long by the stump at a down slope so the fluids run away,,it will help it dry up and make your chances of saving the stump better.

7/15/2011 11:48:26 AM

Mass

There was a lot of dicussion in Niagara about terminating vines being a big part of the cause.. My guess is in the greenhouse you dont have a choice. Mine are now hitting my fence at 20ft out. I was thinking about letting them climb the walls, but then will have no access in some areas. May be just let the terts keep going to keep producing new leaves. I might try on one plant, it will be one big mess! But will alow more moisture to escape.

7/15/2011 6:17:37 PM

Lloydminster/AB

So far so good. Today there is still some foam but it looks much drier. I did dig a small trench away from the stump as soon as I realized how much fluid was going to come out. The greenhouse limits plant size, but I had waited to the last moment to terminate. Unfortunately I will have to completely terminate the plant this weekend, the greenhouse is completely full. It is supposed to hit temps in the 30 celcius range so that will really dry out the greenhouse. Anybody know why it actually foams though? Doesn't it take air mixing with a fluid to produce foam?

7/15/2011 11:03:04 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I'm not sure if I would let terts grow,if I had a choice, though this is the first time I've had them completely controlled. Coincidence? Hmmm
Now you got me thinking.

7/15/2011 11:07:34 PM

Muddy Waters

I wonder if low calcium could cause this or out of balance,I was low last year and had a foaming stump!Thinking thin wall on stump due to low cal???

7/16/2011 5:32:35 AM

Lloydminster/AB

Well, I have plenty of calcium but I switched sources of n this year and learned that ag pumpkins behave very differently to organic and nitrates than to urea. Yes I definatly over did it this year, with some bad results.

7/16/2011 9:51:47 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I have not used a bit of foliar ferts this year.
I used a moderate amount of alfalfa pellets.
Soil test showed calcium as medium.
I developed a foaming stump about 6 days ago.
About 3 days after terminating 2 of my largest secondaries.
I dont have any fruit set over 8 days old.
My patch is new, never grew pumpkins there before.
The only noticably difference between the foamer and the 2 other plants in the patch is the stump size,
it's 3x as big as the others and so is the plant size.

7/16/2011 10:24:31 PM