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Massachusetts

Do pumpkins still grow if stem split goes into cavity? I have a pumpkin was growing up 10lbs a day. Stem end split occurred and it went right down to 5lbs. Then yesterday it didn't seem to gain much again. I have no measured yet today? Do pumpkins still grow with a cavity split? Or does the pumpkin instantly stop growing when the split reaches the middle?? Thanks. I have a fan on it drying. It seems to be helping. One split it still bleeding clear jelly stuff.

8/6/2014 11:58:00 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I had a blossom end split into the cavity 2 years ago. I plugged it with silicone and the pumpkin put on 200 more pounds. The pumpkin didn't heal itself but it was nice to have a little bigger pumpkin for bragging rights.

8/6/2014 1:32:53 PM

BC, Canada

Typically a split to the innards means a nasty mold rot down fairly soon. But no reason not to stuff it with some fungicide and seal it up. Nothing to lose but a little effort
You mentioned the clear jelly stuff oozing out. I have a nasty stem crack on one that I have treated and it is still oozing a lot of that stuff. Almost like serum form a wound. Does anyone know what this is and if it part of a healing process?
Thanks

8/6/2014 2:07:59 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

The split itself is nothing fatal but as stated above the mold and bacteria on the inside of the fruit are. So the pumpkin will continue to grow (slower by the day) for a little while until the disease takes it down from the inside out. A word of caution: that extra 100 lbs or so turns into a lot more disgusting job once you finally remove it from the patch. Have a snow shovel handy for the bottom part.

8/6/2014 4:19:55 PM

Colorado

Sometimes they stop immediately and others grow for awhile.If yours stopped get the seeds out/as orangeneck said it'll be stinky in about 10 days.

8/6/2014 5:50:14 PM

Sw Wi

Had one put on over 700 lbs last year after blossom split. I caught it the day it happend and it was only 1/4 inch long. Good luck it can be done.

8/6/2014 6:11:18 PM

Lancashire, UK

In 2009 (my first year) my pumpkin developed a pin hole on one side at about 250 lbs. Poked a straw all the way through into the cavity. Season over I thought but tried to keep it together. Plugged it with decorators caulking and kept reapplying a thin skin every couple of days. Finally finished at 675lbs. When picked it sat on display in a garden centre for 3 weeks. Finally opened it up and it was fine. Nice and clean except for a small amount of blackening around the caulk plug.

8/8/2014 4:15:05 PM