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Waterloo, Nebraska

My best pumpkin had an accident last saturday. His blue tarp fell on him and there was moisture under the plastic against the pumpkin. The 103 degree heat burned him where the platic was touching. He has an ugly flat spot now. From day 10 until day 14 (the day he was burned) he was growing an average of 4 5/8 inches per day in circ. Day 15 he gained 4", day 16 he gained 2" and day 17 he gained 1 1/2". Do you think it is the oppressive heat causing the slow down or the injury? I has been over 100 everyday. I do not have any other pumpkins an the main vine, but a few small, slow growers on secondaries. I was planning on culling the one on the secondaries but am not sure now. The ones on secondaries are grapefruit size, the injured one is 50 1/2 inches in circ. Who do I cull, or do I wait a bit? Parts of the flat spot seemed a bit soft last night, but they appeared to be firmed up this morning. Any advice would be appreciated.

7/18/2006 10:29:04 AM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

i would NOT cull it, if it is dead (which I doubt) it will "cull" its self, just hang in there

7/18/2006 8:12:42 PM

Waterloo, Nebraska

How do I know if it is dead? It has not grown in the last 24 hours. Last night I cleaned out a bad spot and put captain in it. I hope that was the right thing to do. This morning it looked like it was trying to scar up.

7/19/2006 9:04:30 AM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

It may be goners, a pumpkin still living is usually shiny, a dead one slowly turns dull, get soft, rots, stinks, usually in that order

7/19/2006 7:34:34 PM