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Beavercreek, OH

I lost all my pumpkins to something last year and am losing them this year as well. One plant at a time, the leaves will start wilting. Within 7 days, the wilting leaves move down the vines, turn the leaves yellow, and the plant begins to die. During this time, the pumpkins will either rot or prematurely start turning orange, then die. Upon closer inspection I am seeing rotting damage to the main stem, within a foot of where it begins. The link below has some pictures. I will also mention that as the pumpkins rotted last year, I did have an abundance of squash bugs or Anasa tristis. I have not seen them this year yet.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/x7P6dYhCzubU6Qyh9

Anyone have a diagnosis and suggestions to treat and prevent?

Thanks much!

7/15/2018 9:41:33 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Some of the pictures at the bottom look like squash vine borer damage.

7/15/2018 9:47:50 PM

stoughton WI

the cause is most likely insect damage, squash vine borers

7/15/2018 9:49:41 PM

Georgia

The bottom photos look like vine borer damage. Without a water transport system the baby 'kins died on the vine and the leaves wilted. You might want to slit the stem and see if you can find some more grubs. But it looks like they have blown out the stem and headed back to the ground.

Where I live, vine borers attack in June and generally blow out the vines in early July. The first year that it happened, I though my neighbor's dog had trampled my plants, until I did an autopsy. On the bright side, most States above the Mason/Dixon only have one wave. I get to enjoy two generations of attacks.

7/16/2018 4:01:49 PM

Beavercreek, OH

Thank you for the help and explanations. I appreciate it!

7/17/2018 9:15:41 PM