Here's the deal. These are two pumpkin plants (of 3-4 shoots each). They grew beautifully for a long time. But then they started getting what looked like powdery mildew on the leaves. So I got an organic fungicide and sprayed them. Nothing changed. Then, the leaves closest to the roots started turning yellow and brown. So I checked them for bacterial wilt by breaking off a stem and seeing if the sap (or whatever it is called) was yellow and sticky. Nope. Now the "powdery mildew" is spreading and the yellowing is increasing. I thought maybe it was from over watering, so I stopped watering as often. It rains every few days anyway, so even when I do water, it gets more water from the rain.
There have been TONS of male flowers, but I have only found one or two female flowers with fruit. A friend told me these plants should be setting their fruit, but they don't seem to be doing that. Any hints? Tips? Advice? These are the only plants I truly, truly care about (such high hopes for homemade pies and canned pumpkin...) and I am SO sad that I may not get any harvest from them.
4 comments:
Unfortunately I don't know what to do about the mold. I have some gourd plants that are getting the same thing and a friend of mine mentioned something about chlorine. Maybe look it up online. She also said that she has to hand pollinate her squash and pumpkin plants. She tried to show me how, but we realized all the flowers on mine were male flowers, too. Just this morning I found the beginnings of a female! I will watch her like a hawk and hand pollinate when it's time. Good luck with yours and let us know how it goes.
My zucchini plant leaves look about the same (as do my tomato plants). The only things that have helped have been to 1) cut off the moldy leaves and 2) be really careful not to get water on the leaves (rain doesn't count). My zucchini plant looked rather pathetic after I "pruned" it, but it's starting to produce again and the new leaves look much healthier. You could also call a local nursery and ask what they'd recommend.
I just tried to leave you a comment, but it wouldn't let me...so if you get two..sorry. :) I will ask my mom about your plants. She's got a great pumpkin crop this year and I know the pumpkins are always top priority in her garden. She'll know what to do. Also--I don't have your phone number or else I'd call! I really miss you!! Hope things are going well..and that you are not scaring the heck out of your kids with the Gunny. that was SO funny..but after I saw the picture..I'm scared too.
Hello Cheri~ Jill's mom here. I have seen that on my pumpkins before and other plants as well.
I don't know the solution but this is how I would deal with it. Talk to them three times a day and cover them with warm blankets at night. J/K
This is what I would do. Let your soil dry out. Rain messes that up but if possible let it dry out. Cultivate it. the soil may be to compact from all the rain. The roots may need to breathe. Ferilize the plants. I just use Miracle Grow or whatever is recommended by your nursery. Cut off the yucky leaves. They aren't doing any good anyway.
The male flowers always come first. As the vine gets longer you will get the females. The girls are always late.
The first leaves of my summer squash always turn yellow and brown. I always break them off. This has never effected the crop.
And finally~read on line about diseases and mildew on pumpkins. There are alot of folks who love pumpkins and have good advise.
Pumpkins are my favorite. Hope you get some.
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