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North Dakota

Some developing white soft patches on them when they reach size of a soccer ball , some turn entirely white and die when they reach the size of a baseball. Whats up with that?

8/12/2009 2:14:25 PM

Fresno, CA

on the baseball sized ones it could be just not pollinating successfully

8/12/2009 11:14:55 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Aborting at soccerball size is not uncommon either.

8/13/2009 1:45:16 AM

Lakewood, CO

I think we have the same problem. i don;t believe it is pllination/abortion because many reached 30/40 inches around before doing it...

All our pumpkins are "sadly" rotting. We are new to pumpkin growing and cannot figure out why. Is it the soil? A fungus? The plants have been very healthy, otherwise.
We posted some pictures, hoping someone has a clue.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6241&gid=1
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6243&gid=1
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6242&gid=1

The seeds are from a friend who grew a 250lb last year.

Has anybody seen this before? Can you help us figure out why? Thank you soooooooooooooo much for the help.

8/13/2009 10:25:54 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Mildred, 30/40 inches is not to big for them to abort.

8/13/2009 5:12:49 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Up to a few hundred pounds, they can abort, 30" is basketball size, they sure can!

What did your soil test say about calcium in your soil? That's the only thing I can think of.....

8/13/2009 7:52:27 PM

Lakewood, CO

Thank you. We did not have the soil tested this year.. Really, it was our first year... So I will get it tested for next year. Once we get the results, is there a resource online that helps me read them to know how good or bad it is?

I am still puzzled that they all would abort.. I can understand one or two, but all of them? Maybe, we did not pollinate well....

8/13/2009 10:36:13 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Could be too much nitrogen...

8/14/2009 12:10:42 AM

Bloomington, IN

Bad pollinations don't get any bigger than golf ball to baseball size. Abortions at the size yours are aborting are cause by something else. I wish I knew what that something else was as I've experienced it a few times this year on my A.G.'s, though none whatsoever on my Prizewinner. Might be one side effect of the genetic crapshoot. lol. Maybe.

8/14/2009 12:17:45 AM

Hensler North Dakota

Where are you from?

8/14/2009 1:22:39 PM

North Dakota

i live in washburn

8/15/2009 12:38:51 PM

Lakewood, CO

"most shady",

is what you see on my pictures the same problems you are having?

8/15/2009 12:53:33 PM

North Dakota

similar, mine have soft white tissue patches on them; i've been removing the damaged ones at first sign of a problem; seems to be helping the rest. Yours looks like a viral infection(black spots), possibly from excessive moisture around the plants. I would make sure theres good air circulation around them, only water at the base and ground along the vines, not on the the leaves or fruit. If theres "dew"on the fruit or foilage when the sun comes up thats not good.

8/15/2009 1:53:00 PM

Hensler North Dakota

Most Shady
Call me if you like. 870-2827
Dean

8/16/2009 6:57:01 PM

Rhode Island

if your pollinating this late in the season chances are just the heat alone will force many many aborts.

you need to pollinate in early to mid (at the latest) july for better success.

the ground and air temp in most areas is to hot now.

8/17/2009 9:30:51 AM