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Connecticut

Was stumpextomy chosen to keep rot out of the plant or would rot flow get to the pumpkin and cause it to fail. What amount of growth is lost to the pumpkin 20% 50% 80%.it looks good and clean. Will that stop the rot for sure? Thanks in advance. Good luck with your pumpkin.

7/31/2025 6:24:13 AM

Jericho Vermont

Great question. I have tried to save many a stump and even though some of the pumpkins made it to weigh offs they don't last long after as I believe the rot does follow down the main and infects the pumpkin. In my 2020 diary here I did try to save the stump but gave up on it and cut it off. This was from August 2, 2020 https://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=318467 The pumpkin made it to a weigh off and Halloween and you can see the weigh off photo here: https://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=320982 On August 2nd the pumpkin estimated at 603 pounds and finished out at 1469.5 for a gain of 866.5 pounds. As long as I can grow, I will never fight another bad stump when I have had decent results terminating it. I will sulfur powder once a week and the fan drives it in. The fan also will fun the rest of the season.

7/31/2025 7:13:52 AM

Bethlehem CT

I have found the same thing, I always try to save them at first, but always wind up cutting them off as I see the rot moving on down the main toward the pumpkin.

7/31/2025 8:26:44 AM