Splitting pumpkins
Hi Gang,
Below I've copied a response I received to a 'What causes stem splits?'
inquiry I recently sent to Mike Orzolek, a cucurbit researcher who was
originally tracked down by our good friend, Marv Hicks.
I believe, in addition to the factors Mike mentions, that nutrient
imbalances are a significant factor. We just moved here last year, and I
was trying to pump up my soil fast. I gambled and added lots of amendments
(refer to the archives under George Brooks, Wayne Hackney, Larry Checkon,
Joe Mills for clues!). I started four plants in all. My #1 & #2 picks had
mutually exclusive genetics. Not all lasted long enough to set fruit, but
there were vine splits all over the place on all four plants. Once fruit
started setting, the stems seemed to be developing little cracks very
shortly after pollination - before the little fruits even started coming
down, so "stem stress" wasn't a determining factor.
I also believe Mike's 'soil moisture fluctuations' may be the single biggest
factor.
I hope we get lots more input on this one. Stem splits sure hit a lot of us
this year.
Beth
###
Here's Mike's response:
The splitting of pumpkin stems or stems of other crops can be caused by
genetics, soil moisture fluctuations, environmental conditions or
interactions of all three factors. Certainly in 2000, especially in the
State College area, we have had cooler than normal temperature, more cloudy
rainy days than normal and almost the reverse in seasons (summer in May and
spring in June and July). These extremes in environmental factors coupled
with the genotype of the particular crop (in this case pumpkins) would
account for at least 80% of the cause of stem splitting. I have seen very
little stem splitting when growing pumpkins on raised beds with plastic
mulch and drip irrigation at our Horticulture Research Farm at Rock Springs,
PA.
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