Re: stem split
Dave
Do not attempt to fill the crack up - better to keep it open and dry.
I aquired one of those hair dryers that were common in the 70's that have
the little unit with the hose that connected up to the hair bag thingy. This
one works slick because you can shut off the heat and just blow air and the
hose can be mounted to the stem of the pumpkin so that it blows air directly
into the split.
Another trick I use that works wonders is get some garden sulpher in a
little bottle and a drinking straw. Stick the straw into the bottle and get
maybe 1/2 of sulpher into the straw. Then stick the straw inside the crack
and blow the sulpher into the crack. You will need to do this many times and
from varoius angles to get all the exposed flesh coated.
Make sure you remember which end of the straw is which - not tasty stuff and
dont inhale the sulpher into your lungs.
Nothing better than sulpher to dry up the newly exposed flesh and kill any
bacteria at the same time. The flesh will turn kinda leather like after the
sulpher application. You may need to do this a few times to be safe.
All this assumes that the split does not go into the seed cavity.
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: "david rathbone" <david.rathbone@sympatico.ca>
To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 6:24 PM
Subject: stem split
> My largest pumpkin has developed a stem split where the stem joins the
> pumpkin. I've tried filling the hole with a paste of fungicide bit the
> hole is too wide. Any ideas what I could plug the hole with? I
> currently have a small piece of styrofoam in there.
>
> thanks
> Dave in Hamilton
>
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