RE: Stumpless Pumpkins

Bob,
 I also grew a stumpless pumpkin in 1998. I noticed a foaming about two weeks
after we had unprecedented rainfall (13" in 48 hours in very early June). My
patch was entirely flooded for two days, and the water table remained at about
6"-8" below surface grade for almost two weeks. I had first noticed an
infestation of white fly around the stump, and about a week later, discovered
the white foam. I treated with both insecticides and fungicides early and
often, but to no avail. The stump totally disintegrated within 4-6 weeks and
the two strong vines that came from it disengaged about 18" from the stump. I
had pumpkins on both vines and both continued to grow. One was cut in mid
August for an early fair (it weighed 412 pounds). The other was cut for the
GPC weigh offs and weighed 388 pounds.
My guess is that the water displaced all the air in the soil around the roots
in the vicinity of the stump. Since this was the earliest growth, and the most
established roots, it took the brunt of this lack of air the most. Roots along
the vines, which were less established, were less severely hurt because the
water receded before they suffered greatly.

Just a guess. I hope this helps.

Don Langevin
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