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Cherry Valley Boro, PA

I read in the how to section about Len Stellphlug plugging a split. If a pumpkin has a pinhole into the cavity, and is patched with this method and the hole heals over will this be considered an official pumpkin or DMG? Thank you

9/4/2005 9:08:56 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

An offical GPC weigh-off location will require that the sealer be removed for inspection. The officials will carefully & gently probe the split. If the spilt hasn't breached the cavity, then the fruit goes on the scale & the weight will be official. If the split does enter the cavity then the weigh-off officials might let you weigh the fruit but the weight will be DMG (damaged) & not elligable for prize money.

Some smaller county & local fairs might be more relaxed about these details but this is the correct way it should be done. I've seen questionable fruit upset weigh-off results before & the affected growers sometimes get pretty hot.

9/5/2005 12:54:03 AM

Ontario, Canada.

The Stellphlug technique refers what essential is a skin graft from a donor pumpkin. He found that the hole actually healed over and the graft grew along with the parent. I don't believe a pumpkin like this has ever been reported at a CPC site. Maybe Pap or Dave McCallum can find the answer to your question.

I tried Len's technique last year on a pumpkin that was about 500 pounds in early August. The graft did not take but it gained another 300 pounds to finish at 812est. before I cut it up in early September.

9/5/2005 8:27:33 AM

Ohio

Shazzy from this site tried the graft also but I cant remember how it turned out.

9/6/2005 8:36:09 PM