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I'm growing the 99 cent variety of pumpkins, and they were doing really well, but the leaves have started turning yellow, wilting, drying up, and dying lately. The big, main leaves are fading now which is why I am concerned, as I thought it was normal for the under leaves to die.

I'm growing them inside in a large pot, and they have plenty of access to sun, and I wanter them in the early morning and late evening (before and after work.).

I use MiracleGrow every three to four weeks as a plant food, and nothing else. Do they need more nutrients? If so, what kind?

I'm afraid I know nothing about pumpkin gardening, especially in this climate, as this is the first time I've ever tried.

5/26/2007 4:40:44 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Where are you located? How old are the plants & how far along are the vines? How many gallons are the pots?

Potting soils run out of fertility pretty fast when trying to support a fast growing vining plants. Miracle Grow might need to be applied every other watering under some containerized conditions.

Then again, you could be dealing with a pest probelm.

Can you post some pictures?

5/26/2007 10:16:06 PM

Pataskala,OH

could be squash bugs

5/27/2007 8:10:46 PM

It's not squash bugs, the plant is always inside, so the bugs can't get to it.

Here are some pictures I took of the plant earlier today:

http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010270fh2.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010271hz9.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010272hk5.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010273ga0.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010274bn0.jpg
http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010275lb1.jpg

It's a fairly young plant, maybe a month or two, and I've upped the MiracleGrow feeding to two caps every other day. I have no clue how many gallons the pot it, it was on sale at KMart. Maybe two? I don't see roots coming out the bottom, so I assume it's big enough. I put a DVD up against the biggest leaf for size comparison, if that helps any.

Please help, the problem is getting worse. ;-;

5/28/2007 5:07:05 PM

Long Island,New York

Your plant is not getting enough real light. Its not a good houseplant.

5/28/2007 6:13:16 PM

Is there any way to set up a cheap artificial lighting system for it? I'm afraid the weather in Wyoming does not support outdoor plant life, hence why it was an indoor pumpkin to start with.

5/28/2007 6:50:12 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm no Wyoming weather expert so I "googled" it.

75°F
Clear
Wind: NW at 22 mph
Humidity: 31%Mon

77°F | 39°F Tue

62°F | 36°F Wed

64°F | 38°F Thu

68°F | 40°F

Those are some scary low temps. But others have gone before you & done better than I ever have under far worse conditions. See how J.D. handles the weather in Nikiski, Alaska.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2007&grower=24835&action=L

Perhaps you can borrow some of his ideas to make growing in WY more palatable.

5/28/2007 7:09:31 PM

Yeah, we have huge weather issues in WY. This week it's warm, two weeks ago we had two or three inches of snow on the ground, and two years ago we had three feet of snow in early June.

Bleh, only cows grow well up here. And drunk frat boys. :?

5/28/2007 7:53:38 PM