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Minnesota([email protected])

Several days ago I noticed a soft spot only A.G pumpkin. It is on top of the blossom end knob. I scraped most of the rotted area off, and left it open to the sun. It appeared to dry out, and looked like it might not get any worse. Then we had a couple of rainy days, and is rotted a little deeper, and I found a couple of little white worms in the wound(may they RIP).
How can I heal this area? It's about 250' from the an electical outlet, so a fan isn't an option. I don't want to invest in that much extention cord. Would a 10% bleach solution, brushed on every so often, do the trick? I was also thinking apple cider vinigar, or baking soda possibly? I would love to have it scab over, like some surface wounds do.
The wound is about 1" X 1", and about 1/4" deep.

8/15/2006 5:28:56 PM

San Diego

sorry about the blossom, doesn't sound good, but keep the faith. I would scrape out the mush and brush on a 10% rubbing acohol to 90% water solution. Cross your fingers and keep the area dry. You will know soon if it will heal or rot through

8/15/2006 5:50:39 PM

Hampshire, UK

A fan is an option anywhere! Go to any computer parts supply website and look up fans. They are cheap! They have masses of them and they all run off 12v! Yes they don't come in a case but they blow air perfectly!

8/15/2006 6:07:09 PM

Ohio

Captain, 12 volts huh, thats a great idea my man! That will save me alot of stringing cords across my field if anything should happen that I need to use one. Thanks for the idea.

Brooks

8/15/2006 6:34:49 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

We are having a split issue with our Beachy and have set up a battery operated fan attached with wire to a stake near the sore spot. We just keep it going until it runs out of batteries. A few days back, we had a split vine that the mini electric fan healed really well. It's advantage is you can put it nice and close.

8/15/2006 8:17:15 PM

[email protected]

Another fan option is those hand held fans people use on the beaches, parks, etc. They run on 1 or 2 AA batteries and are easily set up to the area you need. You can find them in a walmart and will blow the desired dry air onto the spot.

8/15/2006 9:20:12 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Great fan ideas!
Other than the fan, should I scrap all the discolored tissue away, or can I leave a little on? I have one vote for rubbing achohol solution. Thanks Duster.

8/15/2006 9:23:13 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I think Duster and I should brush up on our spellingLOL. I think we meant alcohol... or is it alchohol? I also meant scrape.
Any help is appreciated!

8/15/2006 9:27:59 PM

SF Bay Area, California

First scrap all brown, discolored or mushy flesh away until you are down to solid unblemished flesh. The discolored flesh is full of bacteria that is eating your pumpkin.

Then get an old toothbrush and scrub the area with a 10% bleach solution. Now coat the area with a paste made out of sulfer powder and Daconil (fungicide) or captan powder and Daconil. (if you must be organic - sulfer powder and water) Use your battery fan to dry the area and if you can get some direct sun on it even better.

Now keep it dry and it should heal. If more brown soft stuff starts to happen... repeat the process.

8/15/2006 11:04:02 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Great advice from from the Bay Area (sorry don't know your name)and will help you out big time. I used the sulphur paste/fan system and it worked great! Good luck.

8/16/2006 12:43:46 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

My blossom area went soft about 3 weeks ago. I cut the blossom completely off, put fungicide on the cut & let the fan dry it out. The pumpkin is still growing well & is my 2nd biggest pumpkin. Good luck.

Phil

8/16/2006 6:29:51 AM

Puyallup, WA

I have found that the blossum end is more prone to rot if it is facing upward rather than downwards. Bean bag shape tilting upwards is not good!

8/16/2006 6:37:37 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for all the replies.
Stan, the blossom end is pointing up.

8/16/2006 10:04:12 PM