Re: Splitting pumpkins
I would tend to agree with this. Consider tomatoes, tomatoes
get stem splits, and the reason given is usually a nutritional
deficiency and/or uneven watering. This year, our tomatoes are
outside of the sprinkler range, as my wife has wanted to water
them by hand. This watering has been more sporadic than the rest
of the garden has received, and we have stem splits on many of
these tomatoes.
Best regards, Cliff in Idaho
>From: "Beth Rado" <rado1000@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
>To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
>Subject: Splitting pumpkins
>Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 03:01:10 GMT
>
>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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