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Watlington, UK

From what I've read about BES I think it's due to a genetic disposition that gives a thin blossom end and a sudden flow of water up the xylem and literally bursts the pumpkin open as the cells at the blossom end, the weakest point, are unable to absorb it all. I don't think it's anything to do with calcium deficiency, if it was there would be rot there due to weak cell walls (eg in tomato BES) but there is no rot in pumpkin BES, just a structural weakness in the connective tissue, not the cells themselves.

8/9/2024 7:04:16 AM

Richmond, BC, Canada

I like your genetic disposition theory Gerald. I can tell you that the cracks were dry and "callussed " over, which tells me that the crack had been there for a while. Then there is always discussion about calcium and boron levels but as you can see from my last soil test, calcium was over 5000 and boron was over 7. Also we have had no rain for weeks.

8/9/2024 7:51:12 AM

Grittyville, WA

You could do a tissue test to see if anything else was off (copper zinc, phosphorus) or if the minerals in the soil were, for some reason, not getting into the pumpkin. Interesting that you have successfully ruled out calcium and boron.

8/9/2024 2:23:30 PM

Watlington, UK

I'd love to see a list of pumpkins that have succumbed to BES. I bet there's a genetic correlation there. Problem is none of us keeps a record of the failures, only the winners!

8/9/2024 5:50:59 PM

Richmond, BC, Canada

I'm going with a genetic theory. I discarded the seeds.

8/10/2024 8:46:05 AM

Lloydminster/AB

I think blossom plots may be caused by not enough water.
How’s that for a take.
My thinking is that vital flow of sugary fluid goodness is all used up before it gets to all areas of the fruit.

8/10/2024 11:21:27 PM

Richmond, BC, Canada

I'm very generous with water lol. It's on a timer every 4 hrs for 6 minutes. Soil is moist. I don't have proper moisture meters other than my shovel.

8/11/2024 12:02:11 AM