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Jamul

O.K. before I bothered to post here I typed in "scale" never type in "scale" in a giant fruit forum unless you want to weigh something.

The situation is that I found a scale infestation under the leaves of the plant I am growing. They are near the center of the plant. Actually it is the back of the plant now(stump end), because I took out everything that was the large backwards growing secondary and tertiaries off of it. I used a sprayer to wash off the scale off the leaves I am trying to keep. The area is swarming with little flying insects which I think are related. Any organic or chemical remedy suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


It also looks like Powdery Mildew might be there too. Hard to say. Most of the remaining plant is unaffected but I am sure the cycle of infestation is not yet abated.

Thanks In advance of any help.

I think I should have thinned some of the secondaries off the main because the plant is very dense and probably doesn't air out well. Probably overwatering on occasion too.

I am a beginner for sure and... you know, you get the feeling that it is all down hill from here. LOL. There are three small pumpkins on the main and the main is still growing at 19 feet.. I guess it is a small accomplishment to get that far. Not to say I am throwing in the towel...not until the last pumpkin stops growing.

8/30/2009 12:16:33 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm not familiar with any scales that feed on cucurbits around here. Regardless, can you email me pictures or other data?

http://www.cdms.net/LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx?pd=9048&t=

This is the best scale insecticide on Earth. It's also the fastest neonicotinoid (like Merit) but not labeled for pumpkins.

8/30/2009 8:20:36 PM

Long Island,New York

are they little white flying insects?

8/30/2009 9:17:41 PM

Jamul

Thanks for the replies Tremor and LIpumpkin.

What I thought might be scale is an aphid infestation and the mess they make. Actually I cleaned most of it up with water, but am still considering other steps like insecticidal soap. I have been reading big pumpkin.com archives and also other sites about the topic.As you all know the regional universities put out bunches of info. A neighbor who gardens stopped by and said they were aphids. It's really a process of getting to know what we are up against in the garden locally this year.

From reading the Archives, I am certainly impressed with your expertise in this area Tremor.

LIpumpkin, the insects are little flies. With the bright glare from the sun it is hard to tell what color they are but I think they might what we call "white flies" around here. If so they are very fond of making messes in Hibiscus plants. So far I can't see that they really did anything to the pumpkins?On the other hand, maybe they are related to the aphids? I don't think so(I did at first). Maybe they are ? I know ants work with aphids, and like other Bigpumpkins.com posters we have multitudes of many kinds on this rural lot. I thought about exterminating the ants in the area early on but decided not to... rethinking that one.

Continued...

8/31/2009 12:25:55 PM

Jamul

...I did a lot of reading in the archives and thought maybe the "flies" could be soil gnats too. I used pretty raw horse manure, amending the patch as the plant was growing, so this could have something to do with it? I guess if they are soil gnats this big heat wave we have had in Southern California brought them out. More learning for me to do obviously.


The worst problem in the patch now is a pocket gopher. I flooded the tunnel system and it goes strait through one side of secondaries and within a foot or less of the stump. I am getting traps this afternoon. Going after the gopher is encouraging in a sense, this soil under the plant, in this first time patch, has some potential.The roots are doing pretty darn good.

Have a good day all.

8/31/2009 12:26:33 PM