Giant pumpkin growers have a lot to worry about. They worry and fret over the many problems that can develop with their plants and fruit. And, growing conditions are a cause for concern, too. A giant pumpkin dill ring is one of those potential problems.
A dill ring is also referred to as a “Sag Line”. Oddly, this condition is named after Howard Dill, who developed the Atlantic Giant pumpkin variety. One would think that a pumpkin fruit problem wouldn’t name a plant problem after one of the founding fathers of the great hobby of giant pumpkin growing.
A Dill Ring is a sag line, or depression that runs across a pumpkin from side to side. Above the line (closest to the stem), the pumpkin develops normally. Below the ring, or sag line, the fruit is markedly smaller, creating an odd-shaped pumpkin. Unfortunately, this fruit will not go on to become the weighty monster a giant pumpkin grower dreams of.
The best way to eliminate this problem, is to remove this unfavorable trait from the DNA of giant pumpkins. And, the community of giant pumpkin growers needs your help to do this. If you have a fruit with a Sag line of any kind, we recommend you cull it from the vine. Optionally, you can allow another fruit to develop. However, do not keep the seeds from any fruit produced on an affected vine.
Dill rings are a genetic condition. Therefore, it is wise not to save seeds from any pumpkin that has a dill ring, or any fruit from a vine that produced a pumpkin with a dill ring. Otherwise, the genetic trait passes on to future generations from the seed.
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