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Sacramento, CA.

New growth shows mottling and small darker green puffed-up areas. Two of three pumpkins on plant are already as big as medicine balls. Is "slash and burn" my only option?
If so, can the vine and fruit be composted safely?

7/18/2001 11:42:15 AM

Connecticut, USA

Dispose of all infected plant matter, do NOT compost it. Only cut off the infected vines. Keep an eye on your fruit. The existing pumpkins may not come down with it. New fruit will likely be deformed. I saw some mosaic virus on another grower's plants last year and he ended up winning the Big-E weigh-off with a 621.8 pounder!

7/18/2001 12:23:53 PM

Sacramento, CA.

Pruned out all visibly diseased vines. Discovered several secondary/tertiaries beginning up-vine from existing fruit that were infected. Guess I'll just cross my fingers and hope my other vines stay healthy.

7/19/2001 12:32:27 PM