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Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

When I say top, I mean the side that is facing the sky, not the stem. The pumpkin is growing faster than any of my other pumpkins but since the seed got a really late start it is only 20 days old. The pumpkin looks healthy and continues to grow very well, has the nice sheen, but the "top" seems to be flattening out a bit and I happened to put a bit of my weight on it to see the stem and it had some give. I checked the sides and all other places of the pumpkin with no signs of "softness." I am hoping this softness is just due to it being in a very quick growing stage and it hasn't caught up with thick walls. Is this normal? Did I just not notice it on my others since I didn't lean on them that way or something? This is a 961.8 Kaczenski. Is this a dill ring forming? Since I am new, I worry about everything.

thanks

9/6/2006 8:41:37 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Flexible vs softness..softness will normally have an area of discoloration. Softness is not a good thing, as it means the pumpkin is rotting form the inside out. Flexible is also something to keep an eye on as it means that area of the pumpkin is very thin and prone to splitting. I would never try to have a pumpkin support my weight.

9/7/2006 10:18:42 AM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Leave it be. I had a dark green squash get an orange soft spot near the blossom end over a month ago. The blossom end dropped off around that time, but the fruit is still solid, firmed up a bit, and gone back to green. Mind you, it's not growing any more, but at least it's still solid.

9/7/2006 10:53:01 AM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I would say flexible rather than soft and no discoloration noted. Struggled for the right word, but agree that flexible is much better. I don't have the pumpkin support all my weight but sort of leaned on it when looking at the stem. I am starting my calcium tshirt wraps and hope it continues.

9/7/2006 5:42:51 PM