Re: Poor weight and Blossom end rot
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Poor weight and Blossom end rot
- From: P* <P*@aol.com>
- Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 23:27:50 EDT
In a message dated 98-04-07 08:45:05 EDT, you write:
<< wner-pumpkins@mallorn.com
Reply-to: pumpkins@mallorn.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
G'day all,
At the last minute before the weighoff I found my Zehr pumpkin had
blossom-end rot. Everyone asks me what causes this but I havn't heard any
good theories. I suspect that something gets in through some fine crack and
starts it.
What is the popular theory on this?
Is it related to the genetics?
Am I less likely to suffer this if I study the success of particular seeds?
I have heard on this list that only Zehrs seem to have success with Zehr
seeds.
A friend who grows market fruit said he sprays his fruit with Condies
crystals and Epsom Salts to stop fungus attack and says that may be a good
treatment to prevent this rot.
On another matter I am wondering what a poor weight would be for a big
hitter using seeds with a good reputation. Would a bad weight be 450 lbs or
500 lbs or what?
Stewart
Canberra Aust
the nation's capital
sdeans@pcug.org.au
>>
Stew,
We don't know all the answers yet on this, but genetically the pumpkin has
its thinnest walls at the blossom end so you would tend to have more trouble
there. Calcium defficiencies can cause blossom end rot in cucumbers and
tomatoes etc. You might try putting some calcium nitrate on after fruit set.
It is water soluble and is not the cure all, but it may help with blossom end
problems. It would be interesting to send two samples to a lab, one from the
blossom end...one from the stem end and check for calcium levels to see if
they are different.
pumkinguy@aol.com
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