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Hot West Tennessee

My 1102 Pukos was rolling along until two days ago the leafs started flagging and I mean complete limp. Ok I said
I covered it with shade cloth and watered well. Late afternoon perked back up , I thought good just needed a good soaking ..... wrong.. next morning sun came up 70 degrees still wet soil went limp just like it was 99 or 100.
Checked stump , looked fine, about hour before dark when shade hits it it perk up like nothing is wrong. Again this morning 10 oclock 80 degrees goes limp, It has not grown 1 inch since this started. 904 Northrup next to it does not even blink at the heat, 1290 Poirier flags just slightly but perks up with a spray of cool water.
Any ideas???? Not ready to pull the plug yet>>>>
right

6/7/2009 3:42:09 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Sounds like not enough roots to support plant. Flagging is a self preservation mode. Shuts down plant and stops transparation. Keep the soil damp not wet.

6/7/2009 6:03:42 PM

Sacramento, Ca

I had that happen last year to my giant pumpkin. Last year was my first time and so I just poured a couple of bags of store bought compost and manure on the ground, making a hill with it. This year I planted tomatoes and peppers in the space. This time I decided I was going to rototill the space. When I started doing that I found that there was a brick walkway about 6 inches deep in the entire area that the previous homeowner just covered with dirt. The bricks would heat up in the hot afternoon sun and cook the roots. If you are not sure what is under your soil I would check that for sure.

6/7/2009 7:36:55 PM

Hot West Tennessee

I watered it, added some compost, hope your right. This is same size hill as others. I did all with same method. Hope it picks up before real heat hits.....

6/7/2009 9:58:07 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Could be bacterial wilt. If so it comes on fast & doesn't recover.
Could be fusarium. If so good luck.
Could also be a genetic or environmental issue.

6/8/2009 1:35:49 AM

Hot West Tennessee

About the same today, If one of the wilts wouldn't you think it would not perk up at all? I will wait till Sat
if no signs of recovery pulling and spraying area with
fugicide. Going to be hard to pull a 8FT plant....

6/8/2009 10:30:26 PM