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Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I am not certain if this is bad or just a natural thing. Could I get an opinion on this pic:

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=62965

You can see some little yellow spots. If this could be the start of downy mildew, I would like to spray some daconil tonight to stop it in its tracks. Then maybe some myclobutanil tomorrow for a systemic.

Should I water less?

I can take some closeups if this photo isnt enough.

Thanks

Jordan Rivington

5/9/2007 3:19:24 PM

Colorado

Jordan - Take a white piece of paper and hold it
under a leaf and tap the leaf. You may see some
small spots on the paper. If you do, smear the spots
with your finger. If the smear looks like blood
you probably have mites. Had leaves that looked
just like yours last year and mites were the problem.

5/9/2007 3:39:21 PM

Pretty early in the season for pm,,,looks like a touch of "fert burn" to me,,,,keep off the young leaves with anything but a very mild (1/2 rate or less) organic solution of kelp/fish and use those sparingly in the evening if you do,,,when the plants are small I suggest only watering around the base of the plant and staying off the leaves entirely.

5/9/2007 3:39:55 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

If it is mites, will spraying the plant with a pesticide this early in their life cause any problems? I have some triazicide with Lambda Cyhalothrin from last year I can spray. I plan on buying some Bifen IT for the general spraying this year, but do not have it yet.

5/9/2007 4:04:28 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm feeling that it's too early in the season for mites. But check anyway.

Weird yellow spots show up every year around this time. Magnesium & other micronutrients are often deficient when soils are cool. Later on, when the soil warms, bacteria start liberating all of the nutrients & the spots go away.

If you find nothing wrong, then do nothing. Sometimes less input is better.

5/9/2007 11:00:26 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

...nothing to worry about in my book Jordan...some plants have 'em (yellow spots) and some don't! Good luck, Duff

5/10/2007 8:36:33 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

...oh yeah, keep an eye out for flea beetles, they will make those tiny holes, and remain really hard to see, use a mild insecticidal soap while plants are small if you see more holes. Duff

5/10/2007 8:47:10 PM