From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Connecticut

ZYMV = Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (officially lab diagnosed) = basically end of my season.

My patch has gone from six nice looking pumpkin plants to a half of one plant that is being kept a live purely for scientific samples, I am going to spend some time on my other hobby, fishing.

While this works out great for me, I am sorry to inform the community, I will be away from the internet and not able to diagnose the various plant problems that may occur to your plants this week (Mon-Fri). There are many other growers that can chime in and offer help, just do not expect a “Matt D.” reply this week. However, when I return I will gladly offer my assistance. I do expect a little back log, but I will do my best upon arrival to sift through all the e-mails I get and some of the postings to offer my suggestions.

My diary will be updated later this month with pictures but from looking at the leaves it looks like just about any mosaic virus, and is the reason I wanted to get an official lab diagnosis to know exactly what my plants were infected with.

Best of luck to all this year!

7/15/2012 10:01:14 PM

Omaha, Ne.

so sorry to hear that.

7/15/2012 10:07:07 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Wow! Sorry to hear that Matt :(

7/15/2012 10:16:08 PM

So. Maine

That stinks Matt , sorry to hear . lota work put in to it , any clue of the cause ? AL

7/15/2012 10:31:30 PM

Connecticut

Details will be provided as I have learned a lot, but in short it looks like aphids are the most likely vector.

As a teaser, insecticides would not have helped at all. There was really not much I could have done even if I had know it was coming.

7/15/2012 11:27:39 PM

President - GPC

Matt, Sorry to hear of your year....Let us know what you have learned....

7/16/2012 2:52:42 PM

Sourthern Utah

sorry to hear it matt.. enjoy fishing,, bummer

7/16/2012 3:24:14 PM

churchville, ny

That stinks Matt - I have the same problem here in western NY and have lost pretty much all of my 30 giant plants - I am letting them grow just so my wife may have something to carve for our yearly display.

The verdict is not in yet on my 15 acres of regular pumpkins.

A few early season cukes did me in here and now I worry about next year and the future of growing ANY giants (or regulars)on my land - this especially demoralizing after pretreating the soil and doing what I thought was necessary to have a successful season.

I think the warm winter with no hard freeze here certainly added to the insect problem. Next year I plan on growing a "trap" crop for the cukes but I still worry that it takes only one bite on a plant to cause such devastating effects.

Thanks for all that you do, Matt.

7/16/2012 4:59:06 PM

Long Island,New York

My condolences Matt......but seriously------chasing 1800lbs is childs play compared to trying to get fish bigger than Ian and Mehdi....are ya sure you want to do this?

7/16/2012 8:02:00 PM

Massachusetts

condolences Matt, e-mail me matt, i will take you to a great largemouth spot, worth the ride!!! scott.

7/16/2012 9:30:53 PM

milford, CT,

Matt, can you post some pic's of what ZYMV looks like...just as a reference for other growers..Thanks Mark

7/17/2012 10:50:33 AM

churchville, ny

Mark - if you take a look at my diary of 6/30/12 there are some photos of what Matt thought was mosaic virus. I don't think I have a plant left that does not show the new growth with the mottled, blotchy curled leaves.

The plants still grow but will not set fruit and the ones that set before the virus took over have blisters on the skin, are small and are starting to ripen early.

My regular phat jacks have been hit hard with it also. I talked to the president of Harris Seeds about all the diseases that have shown up in recent years and he agreed that it is becoming tough to be a pumpkin grower.

I am treating my seeds next year with imidacloprid before I plant anything!

7/17/2012 11:20:49 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Matt,
This sucks, you help everyone, my hat is off to you.

7/17/2012 5:39:57 PM

churchville, ny

FYI - I added 3 photos to my diary today (7/18) showing actual pumpkins with mosaic virus.

7/19/2012 11:17:35 PM

churchville, ny

Sorry - the diary is 7/19 not 18

7/19/2012 11:19:10 PM

Connecticut

Hi all I am back from my trip. It was a great time, no huge fish but some new fish to me. (Freshwater drum and Bow-fin)

I am trying to get through all the e-mails and will be getting the information on what I learned about this virus posted, I am just waiting on one more test result to come in to complete the story.

7/23/2012 9:46:53 PM