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long Island

I found them.

I cut a leaf off and shook it over a white pc of paper.
Little tiny specks that look like very finely ground pepper appeared on the paper. Upon very close inspection with my glasses on, the little specks were in fact moving.
I also detected some of the very fine webs that they produce on the leaf.

Thank you Luke. I know you are reading this. You nailed it.

I ordered Avid on ebay but it will not be here fast enough. Tonite I went to my local garden center and bought Bonide Mite Beater. It contains permethrin.
I will be spraying tonight as soon as the sun goes down.

I sure wish I knew what this was 2 weeks ago. I will now be trying to save what ever leaves I can at this point.

I will be posting pictures of "Classic Spider Mite Damage" as soon as I get my camera back from my sister in-law.
i hope they will help my fellow growers, and in particular, the Super Rookies like myself.

9/1/2010 5:55:49 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Glad I could help a little Wally. They thrive mostly on the underside of leaves so focus on that. It requires a lot of patience, but try getting the entire bottom so the spray comes in direct contact.

Hopefully someone with more experience than me while have some input as I am still fighting them too.

Luke

9/1/2010 6:32:47 PM

Long Island,New York

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=119024

9/1/2010 10:14:22 PM

long Island

Yup, that's how it starts out looking. It goes way down hill from there.

Thanks my fellow long Islander. Buy the way, Do you plan to go to the Hicks Nursery weigh off? I have never been to such an event. If I am at 300 lbs, does it pay to bring my pumpkin or will it be laughed off the island? I am planing to go with or without the pumpkin. I still have no plan on how I will get it there. Maybe I can borrow my brother in laws pick up truck. I will keep it covered up until I see what the competition looks like. I have a feeling that most of the pumpkins there could easily eat mine for breakfast.

9/1/2010 11:08:50 PM

Long Island,New York

I think anyone with a fruit should attend a wieghoff no matter how big or small it is. ESPECIALLY on Long Island. Long Island lost its premier GPC site due to lack of participation. People stopped bringing smaller fruit due to "competition" and because they might not win anything. All wrong reasons in my mind. The hookups, comradory, and experience as well as motivation are some reasons to attend...plus if you don't go the wieghoffs will fold. In 2005 I won the amaganset wieghoff with 759lbs...had anyone else brought the 300-400lbers they had they would have walked away with 500 dollars and 400 dollars.....instead, after a steady decline in numbers of entries the site folded.
My last plant was pulled in August and I have no fruit, plus Im away in Pa that weekend. Good luck.

9/2/2010 9:04:56 AM

long Island

Thanks LIP. I feel the same way as you and I am definitely going.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off - 11:00 AM
The Giant Pumpkins will return for the 8th annual Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Hicks Nurseries.

9/2/2010 9:40:45 AM

One of the main reasons for getting a mist blower as well as a standard backpack sprayer. The mist blower makes it much easier to get contact on the bottom of the leaves. Best of luck, and do go to the weigh off. If I can get $500 for a 300 pound pumpkin, I might make the trek myself!

9/2/2010 9:52:11 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Nilbert or anybody else, are the back pack sprayers like a Stihl the same thing as a mist blower?

9/2/2010 11:27:21 AM

Western PA

Luke, I do believe they are the same. The stihl unit is something that would save a lot of time in the patch. You can probably spray the majority of your patch from the outside, which would be a huge plus in my mind. The wind will turn the leaves over and a fine mist will give you the even coverage over the underside.

Pump sprayers are great for coating the top of leaves, but getting the underside with a light even coat is tough to do.
I hope to have a stihl in a year or two.

9/2/2010 12:38:50 PM

Western PA

I borrowed my neighbors leaf blower and tapped my wand from my pump sprayer onto the end of the blower.His leaf blower is VERY heavy,and my arm got tired real quick, but it worked pretty good. I could not see any residue on the leaves so I touched one and saw that their was a very light coating on the leaves. Holding the leaf blower in one hand and pumping with the other is a pain. I need a stihl :)

9/2/2010 12:44:31 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

The Stihl is indeed the same as a mist blower-a gas-powered leaf blower with a 4-gallon tank on top. As much as I've spent at this hobby over the last eight years, the Stihl is by far my best investment relative to saving time, being less invasive with the plants, and applying evenly.

9/2/2010 9:00:14 PM

Commack, NY

Wally, you definitely should go to Hicks, we have alot of fun. looking foward to seeing you there
Scott

9/2/2010 9:04:47 PM

Either of these, they are both freaking awesome:

http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/SR420.html
http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/SR450.html

I have the 420, the 450 wasn't out yet when I purchased. I've seen some homemade setups as well. I'm as MacGyver as the next guy, but considering the 420 costs less than certain seeds, I was able to rationalize the purchase. :)

In addition to the 420, I have a couple hand pump backpack sprayers, which were all purchased before I got the Stihl. One of them is dedicated to herbicides, so I don’t have to worry about spraying with a contaminated tank.

If you need more rationalization, you can also use the SR420 or 450 as a straight leaf blower as well, instead of paying the neighbor kid to rake up your leaves for the compost pile. And, with an exit velocity in excess of 200 mph, it can be used to take down small saplings and remove terriers, cats, and other unwanted rodents that otherwise invade your patch. Construct a bank of them, and point them at the sky for hail protection and to ward off other unfavorable weather patterns. At the end of the season, duct it through some drying trays and have your seeds ready in minutes. Set up a wind turbine in the front yard, lock the throttle down full, and take yourself off the grid. The thing practically pays for itself.

9/3/2010 11:46:34 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thanks Nilbert, I now know what to ask Santa for.

9/3/2010 1:34:26 PM