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Ontario, Canada.

This is a warning that conditions for Blossom End Splitting(BES) will occur in the next few days over these regions. A low pressure area with large amounts of rainfall tracking in the southern great lakes region will cause increased soil moisture levels. A Clearing trend and warmer air will enter in the regions south western areas today ushering in higher levels of transpiration and photosynthesis.

BES occurs when there is a rapid net influx of nutrients and especially water into the fruit. Prior dry root stress periods cause calcium(ca) deficiencies in the fruits distal end. Compounding this, older vine suberized roots have reduced ability to uptake adequate quantities of ca during this period.

When a sunny period follows a period of rainy cloudy, dull days, the sudden increase in air temperatures reduces the relative humidity, thus increasing the rate of transpiration, drawing more water and calcium to the leaves and away from the fruit. Photosynthesis also stimulates rapid fruit growth rates further increasing the demand for ca.

Control of BES in Giant Pumpkins

1. Misting to increase relative humidity can reduce Blossom End Split(BES) by reducing transpiration during the sunny period.
2. Reduce air temperatures to slow transpiration.
3. Reduce light source & photosynthesis during the sunny period.
4. Maintain adequate soil moisture before and after the changeable weather patterns to ensure adequate calcium uptake.
5. Fruit Shading helps to increase elasticity of the skin.
6. Canopy pruning can reduce the photosynthates and fruit expansion.
7. Topical spray applications of ca to the fruits distal end.

8/25/2006 8:54:32 AM

Midwest

Thanks kahuna4! I'm living in that region and yes, we had over 1 in of rain yesterday morning and, yes it's sunny and 84degrees after the rain. I was hoping for rapid influx of nutrients for a short burst of growth but I am now not so sure burst is what I really want.

8/25/2006 1:20:00 PM

Long Island,New York

Not to mention the pkn is full or air...when the pressure changes due to a front passing through it will want to equalize...kinda like beans for dinner before a airplane flight........

8/25/2006 5:17:09 PM

Beach Park, IL.

We had a lot of rain here too. I also fertilized this evening 8^O .

8/26/2006 12:18:08 AM

Selbyville, Delaware

oh great, no sleep tonight.

8/26/2006 12:28:29 AM

Circleville ,OH.

Your about a week late for me Kahuna,2" rain was the raipid influx that did mine in. Oh well!!!!

8/26/2006 12:56:44 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

You should see the dumping of rain and Hail we got here friday evening..Flooded streets, flooded patch, and the temp dropped from 74 to 52 in just a matter of minutes. It is currently 51 degrees here now at 12:37 am with 96% humidity...You talk about bad conditions for August growing, more is expected for the whole weekend. The powerdy mildew and growth stopping temps. should be prevailing here in southern Colorado. Then it is supposed to get up in the high 80s to low 90s after our weekend hail shredding splitter mildew storms..Hope we can hold all together.....Good luck to all...JK

8/26/2006 2:44:09 AM

Ontario

i think if you have a sound fruit with no danger areas ie dill rings sag lines deep ribs you have no worries. But if you have a pumpkin with those areas of concerns, then you have internal splitting in the walls and these conditions just may increase it, but if it happens in the next couple of days it wasn't going to make it for another 5 weeks anyways. No sense losing sleep,if she's going to split the wheels were already in motion long before this upcoming weather. Its like powdery mildew, if you wern't spraying in early July, you can't blame the weather(humidity) in early august for it.The spores were alrteady there by july 10th.The internal wall splittimg has started along time ago when you were getting those huge weight gains, now that the pumpkins are slowing down, rain won't cause them to split it because you won't get a huge growth spurt from it. Have fun

drew

8/26/2006 3:11:37 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Drew is right the preventative measures need to be in place long before the BES event occurs. However frequent misting to slow transpiration rates can reduce the incidence of BES on that first couple of warm days after the rain event. Drew get some sleep.....LOL.....

8/26/2006 11:54:00 AM