From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Brownsville, MD

We might have pushed our gourds a little too hard and split one. I never heard of long gourd splits before, but this is our first year. Can anyone fill me in with some info about long gourd splits? We fertilized with kelp, calcium, and amino acids last Thursday and the gourd just ripped open after a storm today. We need some tips to keep from splitting another gourd before the contest

8/13/2018 7:42:44 PM

Bloomington Indiana

Truckin look at my diary post Sunday Aug.11,2013. In my six years of growing LG only had two splits both in 2013. Have no idea way!

8/13/2018 9:11:37 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I had a couple split in 2013 during a cold snap. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=209651
It was after some heavy rains, which could be the reason. I guess they can grow too fast, just like a pumpkin.

8/14/2018 8:34:14 AM

Brownsville, MD

I guess it was that afternoon thunderstorm that did it. Fortunately we have another one going on our other plant. We will try to set o e more now to be sure we have something to bring to the weigh-off in October. We will wait a few more weeks before pollinating next year. It definitely hurt to see this one split- it was measuring 118” on Saturday. Hopefully the seeds are mature. It’s 136.5 Marley x sib.

8/14/2018 1:46:05 PM

Central NY

If it makes you feel any better the 136.5 was the third one on the plant...pollinated around this time last year...we got dumped on all spring and early summer in 2017...plenty of time...good luck truckin!!

8/14/2018 3:47:24 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Some times the late gourds do the best, if you can keep the rust fungus off them. Plenty of time yet to grow a big one.

8/14/2018 11:46:00 PM

Brownsville, MD

Thanks for the information! We harvested the one other gourd and will see how well it stores. Also had 2 flowers open yesterday, so hopefully we’ll have another one growing soon. All the vines are mixed up at this point, so they’re just open pollinated from the 2 136.5 plants. We saved some seeds from the 118” since it was hand pollinated.

8/17/2018 3:01:01 PM