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Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I’ve added mushroom compost and garden soil with wood chips etc, has great drainage but I’ve noticed teeny tiny bugs and LOTS of them over the surface of soil and afterwards even on me (eeek!)

from what I understand it’s just soil mites due to compost, I don’t believe them to be aphids, as we get those too. I sprayed down some pest control and dusted sulfur just in case. Plants don’t have damage so question is, are soil mites harmless to pumpkin plants? Should I do my best to get rid of them? I don’t think it will be easy if I need to, I’d just like to see less of them.

4/29/2021 7:42:26 PM

Syracuse, NY

Worse problem - from what i see, they're pointed the rong whey (?);
The plant usually goes the opposite direction of the 1st true leaf.
You'll just have to extraordinarily-gently and lengthily turn them as they grow,
IF that's the case.
Do not uproot.
Now would be the time for anyone to speak up if they've ever grown a plant in darkness except for a light at the end of the tunnel!
I hereby submit that idea.
(c) pumpkinpal2 2021
ha ha ha

Anyway, if they give you an inch, take 2, going outward;

Else, it'd not be a crime to use one's length to grow over the other plant's original path.
The stem MUST NOT be turned too quickly, and only as the FIRST measure once it becomes available and bamboo staked on one side of it - only the vine then, only as it grows...and I'm too tired to ramble further, lol.

ELSE - You or a few buddies COULD get all dirty and join hands to shove them down into the soil at a predetermined distance, outside the perimeter of the original gallon pot and in unison, to turn them bad girls, but that might cause damage to the
root mass really bad.
However, it's only been ONE day;

Topless+Bottomless 5-gallon bucket cut down one side with a giant hose clamp to
squeeze the soil slightly and then turn all?
Woo-Hoo.
anyway, couple ideas.

PS---maybe you have black flies?
Mites are exceptionally small.
Flashback!
ewww...I hear ya---eg

4/30/2021 10:19:44 PM

Grittyville, WA

It seems like every year has a new twist. I've seen lots of knats this year. Moths, too. A few years ago there was a boom in the flea beetles. Other years its aphids... It's always something. Solarize, pesticides, or just ride the wave. Good luck.

5/1/2021 1:12:10 AM

South Dakota

Fungus gnats are pretty common in fresh compost. They may be fungus gnats.

5/1/2021 8:41:05 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Flipping bleeping... sigh I did have them in the wrong way didn’t I (smacks head). So with that what do people do who plant directly in their patch, not knowing where the leaf will be... middle of patch I take it? But dang it mad at myself now for having them backwards I was just being so careful to not cause stress I didn’t pay attention to how they went into the hole lol.

Will only keep best one... first to 6ft is what I’m thinking. They went a bit pale in the leaves after going in, but not droopy etc. Hoping it greens back up again... I did add some kelp/water, so we will see. The 963 Johnson is dark green and was directly planted, it’s just starting to get its first true leaf. Same soil so I think I can rule that out too... prob some stress.

Are fungus gnats bad for pumpkins? To me they looked like mites, and there is hundreds..thousands even lol,. they crawl over everything. Very pale a bit translucent, not white but I want to say goldish but pale gold. Aphids was last year but I managed those... these things are new for me lol. Hope I don’t regret the compost lol.

5/2/2021 6:23:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

In and by the picture, they'd each have to go clockwise, very slowly, since the one on the left will hit the wall and one on the right is already turned clockwise somewhat anyway. Maybe it'll all work out, but, I, myself couldn't leave it alone, I am sure, lol...Is the end of the raised bed nailed on or with screws? Hmmmm. I'm thinking of a pizza oven for some reason, lol; If you can zoom in on your bugs, a diary picture would help with that - else, if they're not destroying the PLANTS, maybe they're fending off other enemies. Good luck---eric g

5/2/2021 10:13:29 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Nah it’s screws and lots of them lol. Can it be lifted up, yes... it’s bottomless and I tilled under it a good 1-2 ft before placing the box on top. I don’t want to lift it up tho but it can grow outside of the box — it’s mostly for protection from pests while small since I can cover it if stormy too etc. Tempted to turn them but it already was showing stress with some color changes so nervous to touch it at the moment. I believe with the nice sun they got today they are on the mend, but I don’t want to jinx it lol.

Not even sure you’d be able to see the damn little suckers clearly enough but I can try. Soil mites is my guess still and they r not crawling all over the plant unless I disturb the soil lol. I googled soil mites and mine r like the tiny babies of those. Fungal knats didn’t look like them. Aphids are close, but these r really tiny so thinking no (but aphids will def be showing up later lol).

5/3/2021 4:07:26 AM

Bethlehem CT

In years past I planted out cantaloupes under row cover, soon after transplanting I noticed these tiny, tiny black insects on the plants and were actually killing the young transplants. I sprayed the plants with a pyrethroid and that seemed to help. Also there was something about the row cover that made the little buggers more destructive. I searched the internet and I never could find any answers as to what they were. It is still a mystery. They very well cold have been a type of mite. (They were black or dark grey in color and the size of a speck of dirt.)

5/3/2021 6:43:26 AM

Syracuse, NY

Funny - Bob on 'Bob's Burgers', an animated comedy just said 'Ohhhh-kay' and the episode is about the 'girl' on the show plant-sitting some plants and it all works out perfectly as I type, lol; Keep us in tune with pics and deets of what's going on - Thanks! eric g

5/3/2021 6:49:53 AM

Bethlehem CT

I have them again, They were on lettuce and cabbage. I sprayed them, If there are any left I will see if I can get a picture. Anyone who can help me figure this out, I will be appreciative.

5/4/2021 8:49:11 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I took a photo of them today and added to my diary. Let me know what you think if it’s soil mites.

I looked up spider mites and soil mites as they are awful close in nature. I don’t see the plants dying due to them, so I’m leaning towards soil mites and google photos does look a lot like them. They are not pin prick size tho, but smaller than ants around here. If they are soil mites I read that it’s mostly beneficial as they help break down organic matter... as long as they won’t start eating the actual growing pumpkin... they won’t right?

5/6/2021 6:14:57 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Fungus gnats like LJ said. A weak insecticidal soap will get them.

5/11/2021 1:57:05 PM

stoughton WI

Ive had fungis gnat issues before, they thrive in moist areas where fungi is prone to grow, they can and will eat plant roots and will burrow into your pumpkin vines and can be more difficult to detect than svb's. Also something i learned recently, the can pass diseases as well such as pythium and fusarium. The female can lay about 300 eggs. Its usually best to get a systemic pesticide in the plant, not long after transplanting.

5/11/2021 7:30:28 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have had big problems with fungus gnats this year. You are right about them opening up the plant to disease. I have had more problems with root rot this year. They really do stunt the hell out of the plants too.

5/12/2021 7:46:45 PM