yet another question

[greencrystal]

well i had to harvest 4 of the pumpkins today as the plant was just dying off...... im very proud of them.....JUST one thing, one of the vines came off the pumpkin (and i know your supposed to keep them on) will it be ok? i have sort of put it back on hoping the natural juices will stick it on to keep it from going rotten.im praying people will say yes it will be ok as that one is the main one for halloween.........any replies will be great thank you

[LolaLou]

Eek, what a pain! My OH 'accidently' pulled one of the stalks off my butternuts last year when we were moving them in from the shed to the hallway (erm, as you do....it was to avoid them getting frosted!!) and a few weeks later I gave that to a friend and mentioned it may not keep (although it looked ok from the outside) and a week later when she cut it open, it has started to rot inside. Maybe, and this could be a completely daft suggestion, but would blocking the part where the stalk fell off with something like bluetack/plasticine and holding it in place with a plaster work??? It would act then as a barrier to stop any air/nasties getting into the pumpkin??

[Two_Sheds]

It won't keep long. The rot starts in the stalk and spreads down to the fruit, so the longer and drier the stalk you have, the longer the pumpkin will keep

[Frana]

I don't think it will last up to Halloween unfortunately, but possibly try a plastic wine bottle cork if the hole is not to big and hold it in with something that is non-porous. Only guessing but it may work! Good luck!

[rustylady]

JUST one thing, one of the vines came off the pumpkin (and i know your supposed to keep them on) will it be ok?

Not sure what you mean about keeping the vine on?? When you harvest any squash or pumpkin you should cut it with as much stalk as possible, but the vine to me means the whole stem including leaves.

[gojiberry]

Trying to put the stalk back on will only cause it to rot quicker. If you look after it it will keep till Halloween. Check it each day and dry the wound with kitchen roll, the dryer you can keep the wound the longer it is likely to keep.

Ian

[greencrystal]

ok i did mean the stalk it has come clean off but i cant see any holes...... i have taken it off now and i have wiped the juice off the top of it.....

some one mentioned putting nail varnish on it....she said it wont be any good to eat but it will be ok to carve........ if not then i will cut it up

anyone got a good soup recipie?????

thank you all for the suggestions xxxxxx