Re: Stem stress
Dewight:
No need to cull your fruit. It's not too late to correct the stem stress.
Loosen the vine from the soil, and begin the gradual process of raising the
vine to match the level of your pumpkin's growth. This will be an ongoing
process.
No need to wipe the ooze off. It will harden like resin. It's sap and it
sometimes oozes near the stem or shoulder area of a pumpkin during peak
growth periods as well as during stress.
Correcting your vine/stem problems will probably stop or slow the oozing.
Just be sure to allow the vines to warm up before manipulating them. You want
to prevent that sickening snapping sound.
If you haven't already done so, now would be a good time to put a styrofoam
board under your pumpkins to protect them from the ground.
Good luck.
Barb
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