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Massachusetts

Best pumpkin ever at 130-140lbs. Day 31. Went down this morning and measured it was fine. Went down a few hours later and it has 2 stem end splits that go 2 inches or so into the pumpkin. Its doing about 10lbs a day. Is it over for me? Will they heal? Im pretty sure the splits don't go into the cavity. Can/ how much more can a pumpkin grow with splits? Has anyone grown a pumpkin a few hundred pounds more with splits? Thanks. Here is a picture of the damage. View Discretion is Advised. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=224724

8/2/2014 6:59:57 PM

Sw Wi

Spray rubbing alcohol in splits put fan on let dry for about 30 minutes then blow sulfer powder in the splits. keep the fan on it till the day u pick it. In a couple days if it doesnt fry out and lloks to be getting soft repeat the alcohol and sulfur podwer. Croos your finger. I had one split at 850 lbs last year and I made it to a scale at 1622 lbs. They need a lot of tlc bit well worth it. Good luck

8/2/2014 8:12:25 PM

Springfield, VT

You may need to split the stem with a knife to relieve stress to stop the split. Once the split is dry an stable it should hold fine. I had one in 2008 I did this to and the split dried and the pumpkin filled in the split. It looked kind of strange with the split stem and little or no split into the pumpkin.

8/2/2014 9:58:24 PM

Massachusetts

Thanks for the help guys. I never had a pumpkin this big, nor have I had this ever happen to me before. I'm glad to see that the pumpkin still has a fighting chance. Thanks for the responses. I will try to keep it dry and relieve the stem pressure. I hope it keeps growing for me. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks again!

8/2/2014 11:47:29 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I've seen stem splits that you could stick a small flashlight through, like a bone through the nose and they were at the weigh off being weighed as solid fruit. Sometimes they heal underneath while still splitting further. You'll know in a few days. Follow the advice and there's a real good chance of success.

8/3/2014 12:13:58 AM

Langley, BC,Canada

Take a look at Richmond Dave's diary from 2013. He has some good pics of how to take the pressure off the stem. I just had the same thing happen yesterday and did some exacto knife surgery. Will see if it worked.............

8/3/2014 1:01:25 AM