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Pocahontas, Arkansas

I have had 2 stumps start foaming in the past week, is there anything I can do for them, and what do I do to prevent that on my other plants. Thanks in advance!!

7/6/2010 4:42:02 PM

Hurdland USA

“foaming stump slime” are just two of the many threats giant pumpkin growers face. spend hours bandaging and wrapping one grower’s pumpkin vines after they were damaged by a storm.

part of a passage of a book called
Backyard Giants: The Passionate, Heartbreaking and Glorious Quest to Grow the Biggest Pumpkin Ever.

best I advice I can find.

7/6/2010 4:57:09 PM

Pataskala,OH

Ask Pap. LOL

7/6/2010 4:59:29 PM

Rhode Island

a faoming stump is not the end of the season. iit could be but does not need to be in a lot od cases. heres what i have been successfull doing when a foamer rears its ugly froth.

1. i drill a 1/4 to 1/2 in drain hole through the base (side to side )just above the soil line

2. if it continues to foam after a couple days i cut a hole the size of a quarter from top through the bottom of base right at the point when the base main vine makes its turn downward.I USE A TURKEY BASTER TO SUCK OUT THE WATERY FOAM THIS STOPS THE FOAMING SUBSTANCE FROM TRAVELING DOWN THE MAIN AND DESTROYING THE PUMPKINS CHAMCES.

3.if i suspect at all that some foam got down the main ? i drill a 1/4 inch hole through the main an additional 4 ft or so down the main.
this is just guess work so best of luck
i would even gently flush the area inside the vine as well.
if you do flush however cut the botton hole even larger so all fluhing can run out the hole in the mains bottom and not travel farther down the main.

on my 2006 1450 pumpkin i had several holes drilled until i was sure the foaming was exiting the main. the base stayed for a while then i just removed the base and let the main feed off the side vines and back vine growth,

there are tons of roots around the base of an ag plant. most growers over the last ten years or so have got into the habit of not growing a back main and/or any growth off the back of the base. i think thats the reason for the foamers showing up over the last few years.no vines to absorb all the moisture taken in by those roots around the base. just my thoughts.

7/7/2010 8:25:47 AM

Pocahontas, Arkansas

Thanks pap, your advice is always great, I'll give it my best try. My best pumpkin is not on a foaming vine- so there is still hope anyway. Thanks again!

7/7/2010 1:03:18 PM