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Ontario, Canada.

My pumpkin plantation of purely painful, perceived misplaced pumpkin pleasurement has produced.

2 - Dill ring splits.
2 - Rib splits.
4 - Stem splits.
4 - Blossom end splits.

All this occurred this summer from seven plants and eight pumpkins or squash with all fruit growing at the benchmark.

9/9/2005 1:41:21 PM

Spanish Ontario

HOLY CRAP i,m not that bad only lost all 6 plant,s last to go was 982.4 EST AT 1104 SEPT 6

9/9/2005 5:21:33 PM

Choctaw, OK

2- Dill ring splits
1- blossom end split
3- Stem splits
1- Blossom end rot
(six plants-8 fruit)
I havent lost anything to the stem splits. Things grew well this year...in turn, i have had some blowing up occur.

I still have one nice fruit left and three split fruit still growing and intact (due to sealing the splits with silicone).

This stuff happens...just need adjust what seeds i will grow and a few other things. The nice weather grew things fast however...and fruit shapes couldnt handle the growth...i think that's an important part of why so many have split.

9/9/2005 5:42:26 PM

Hey Russ, sorry to hear about the pumpkins. My 812 Landry produced a 500 lbs (unofficial) green pumpkin or squash. This pumpkin had 3 dill rings, 4 holes (one that I could fit my hand through) Cantaloping on the front portion, Orange colored juices coming out all over the top, One side bigger than the other, all kinds of dips, and waves in the skin. The plant was incredible growing so big! And the pumpkin was my biggest and strongest growing even 19 lbs in one day with all I said above! It finally came down because the mold and flies got into it while I was camping and couldn't seal the hole. Ohh well better luck next year for the both of us. Thanks for a great seed! I'm sure it only went bad because of the soil conditions.

9/9/2005 6:22:34 PM

And also just a suggestion maybe why your having splitting problems. I have seen how much you do to your patch, covercrops, tilling, and more. Maybe you've done just to much to the soil that it's overwhelming the pumpkins. I don't know if this is true or not but it's a suggestion. Good Luck with your other ones. Don't be like me and just have one as your baby and prize pumpkin because thats the one the usually goes down.

9/9/2005 6:26:00 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Kyle, thanks for the support.

Plants and fruit have a hard time adjusting to sudden changes(Stress). That night it rained as a cold front crossed my area after warm spell of three days. The next morning was cool and mostly cloudy. I found it hard to believe it could split without the enfluence of clear and sunny skies. I know better know. All the "Kings men and all of the Kings horses still can't put Humpty back together again.

9/9/2005 11:48:18 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

You guys are luckier than you realize. I'd give my right arm for a pumpkin that grew big and fast enough to split.

9/10/2005 12:20:28 AM

Roanoke Il

3 blossom end splits one rib split must be the weather thats right the weather lol....mark

9/10/2005 5:52:07 AM

Rhode Island

going back only five years ago stem and blossom splits,dill rings,ribbon vines,etc, was a problem you heard very little about ( internet not withstanding)
if you grew an 800 to 900 lb fruit it was considered very big and if anyone had a dill ring they probably did not know what it was
fast forward to 2005 and with the improved genetics,in-breeding, soil and folliar additives,growth stimulants passed on,etc, is it any wonder you need at least 8 plants to be assured of having a couple left at weigh off time ?
not many were blowing up or experiencing internal cracks when 700 was the goal
i think we created our own monster
dick

9/10/2005 6:36:01 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Russ, I feel your pain. It has been a very trying season here at the Hunt Patch as well. I still have one left and hope it can make it to the weigh off.

Ken, sorry to hear you lost the big one off your 982. I really sucks to lose a big one at this time of year. Good luck to all that still have a pumpkin left.

Phil

9/10/2005 7:22:36 AM

Williamsburg,KY

And I thought I didnt have a good year..Sorry to hear about your troubles. Last year I had 4 blowouts, this year none. I cut back on my fertilizer and no blowouts, just a mouse that got hungry and a few deer who took a bite and mildew killed the leaves. And none big enough to take to Allardt TN. Always next year.

9/10/2005 9:34:15 AM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Perhaps Emily Rose visited your patch some day when you weren't home!!!...lol.....No, seriously I can feel your frustration and pain, and I don't think an exorcism is the answer to ridding those dark,damp,demons from attacking your pride and joy. The only positive about a really bad season is the fact that it is "behind" you and you got all kinds of possibilities and things to look forward to next year!...good luck, Bill

9/10/2005 11:33:49 AM