From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Newark, CA

I get a white powder on the leafs of my pumpkin and squash plant, what is it and how do I prevent it?

Grandma's garden

5/14/2009 12:43:58 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Spray a fungicide. What you have is powdery mildew. Prevent is the key word with it.

5/14/2009 7:59:50 AM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

isn't this awfully early for PM?, not that i have another suggestion but PM does not show here for a couple of months usually

Hi Gma. I am in San Jose, just down the street

Gary

5/15/2009 8:46:00 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Too early for PM here bt CAS might be different????? How old are these plants?

5/16/2009 1:40:46 AM

Long Island,New York

Could be she is being pro-active rather than re-active....looking down the calendar and preparing for issues that pop up every year in her patch......
BTW....daconil (otho garden disease concentrate) is available in most garden centers and is very effective on preventing the mildew Grandma...on Long Island New York I start spraying in late June as a preventative. I'll then spray every week or so after that using a group of fungisides that act in different ways so as to make sure I cover my bases if some fungus gets around the daconil. I use NOVA and HERITAGE and DACONIL and MANZATE (for Downy mildew). Every area is different with different enemies....best bet is to get advice from successful growers IN YOUR AREA. Good luck!

5/16/2009 8:33:52 AM

Long Island,New York

ok...to clarify...I don't mix them so much....I use one one week...the next week I use another kind.

5/16/2009 8:35:21 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good point G. I was typing faastrer than thinking. LoL

5/16/2009 7:44:22 PM

Newark, CA

Thanks for all your advise. As LIpumpkin thought I am being pro-active. The powdery mildew is what I have had in the past. Last year I grew a 75lb pumpkin and this year I am striving for 100lbs. I did not want to get the powdery mildew this year. That is why I was asking before it happens. Garysand how are your pumpkins doing with this heat we get every couple of weeks. I started my seeds inside the last of April. Planted them outside about 3 weeks later. Had to put up a wind guard around them, very windy in my location. Today removed the wind guard and found a pumpkin already, but no flower bloom. Normal?? I also fertilized with Miricle Grow for the first time. I prepared the soil before starting my garden with a couple yards of mushroom compost. I tilled it in and let it set for 2 or 3 weeks before planting. I also invested in a drip system. It waters 10 mins every 2 hours. So far no yellow leafs. Seems to be working okay. I also mounded my pumpkin plant and have a trench at the bottom for watering and wheat straw in the trench to hold in the moisture. Thanks again for everyone's help and suggestions.
Grandma's garden

5/17/2009 8:53:12 PM