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Bluegrass Country

My daughter and husband decided to plant some pumpkin seeds this past late spring~having no idea what we were getting into!!
We planted the pumins on the south side of the house with afternoon sun being pretty rampant. We didnt figue on the 'monster' we had created! The vine is out of control and taking up most of the garden. There are about 3 vines total~one being the 'big momma'!!
Now we are in August and we are wanting to know exactly where do we go from here? The leaves are getting a greenish-grey and dry and shriviled. The blooms are georgeous and yellow!
We want to keep the pumkins alive and growing but with all the rain we have had (Im in KY, by the way..) do we just leave well enough alone, or cut the expanding vine until the pumkins come to mature~whenever that will be..???
Yes, I know Im asking a lot of questions but my 4 year old daughter is getting anxious and Im just wanting most of my back yard back!
Can anyone give me any advice? Thanks a bunch!

8/6/2003 2:03:16 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

First off welcome aboard! You'll find some very nice people & a wealth of information here. Check the "How To" section of this site as well as the "links" section for good pumpkin growing tips. Pay heed to the vine pruning & management tips. Perhaps the best thing to do right now is to remove any tertiary vines &/or crossing secondary vines. Some order is good even in a beginner patch.

That greenish gray color sounds like Powdery Mildew. This is a fungus disease that will eventually kill many leaves. Leaves are a requirement for pumpkin growth since they perform the photosynthesis that feeds the growing pumpkin. For this a chemical fungicide would be in order in most cases. But this is a child's garden. So 1 Tbsp of Baking Soda added to a gallon of water then add 1.3 oz of Superior Summer Horticultural Oil. Spay it on both the top & bottom of the leaves thoroughly. Do it in the late afternoon or early evening to avoid burning the plants during the heat of the day. This is much safer for use in a childs garden & should check or at least slow the mildew. Weekly treatments might be needed. But the smile of a childs face on Halloween.....

Try also reading some of the "growers diaries" for an indication of the madness some of us put ourselves through in an effort to grow "the big one". LOL

Ask all the questions you can & don't rush anything.

Also. If the pumpkin bug gets you good, pick up Don Lagevin's books "How To Grow Giant Pumpkins" volumes 1, 2, & soon #3.

Have fun!

Steve

8/6/2003 9:57:45 PM