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Omaha, Ne.

Hi this is my first year. I trying to get my pumpkins to Halloween but I keep getting soft spots on the pumpkins stem. I try to catch them early and sarape the soft gooie spot off then I put a water & bleach mix,captain and fans on it. It dried up small spots. But then I started scraping a spot on the bottom of a stem and it was rotted thru. The hole is as big as my finger. Water an a clear goo is leaking out. Will this heal or should I cut it off and put it in the garage? Will it make it to Halloween.

9/13/2011 11:05:46 AM

Western PA

Do you have a tarp or something over them to keep the rain and dew off of them ?

It sounds like you are doing the right thing as far as treatment.Your plant may have a virus or something going on if most of the stems are leaking.
I am not sure if they will make it.

9/13/2011 11:22:51 AM

Omaha, Ne.

They each have had blue tarp tents over them.

9/13/2011 11:34:44 AM

Rhode Island

if its rotted thru as you mentioned? ( and i take that to mean a hole thru to the pumpkins cavity?) it would be disqualified from any weigh-off competition.
pap

9/14/2011 12:41:29 PM

Omaha, Ne.

It only in the stem 1 to 2" away from the pumpkin.

9/14/2011 8:45:36 PM