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San Diego

I have a question about leaves. My plant is around 4 months old now, a 300+ pumpkin almost done growing. No matter how hard I try to stop trietery vines, they keep popping up every where. Anyway, some of this new foliage looks a little strange and I'm not sure if it's a deficiency in my soil or what. 99% of the plant is great, looks fine, but some of these new leaves look blochy, light green and dark green together, they give a transparent look almost and a couple others had like a green looking wart on it. Is this normal for so late in the season when the plant is almost done and dying or ? I have been hitting the 5-10-40 hard to get every ounce out of my pumpkin, about a pound a week for 300 sq ft plant. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

8/23/2002 10:16:28 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Sounds like a mosaic virus to me. Shouldn't effect your pumpkin though(:^}>

8/23/2002 10:24:31 PM

Western Pa.

Jim,

Your plant is trying it's hardest to "perpetuate the species!" I have found that continued pruning of the "terts" ,(and weeding)will result in a bigger pumpkin. Also, if you have cuke beetles, they love new growth(get rid of it!). When weather cools down, I'd cut out the fert. Here in Pa.,Sept. is a very slow month for growth. One more thing, next year plan at least 500 sq.' per plant!

Good luck!

kilr

8/24/2002 2:02:57 AM

San Diego

Thanks for the advice, just so you know, I'm from san diego, so no beetle problems and my patch is 500 sq ft, more long than wide. Once my fruit was set and growing fast, my plant didn't want to grow much past the pumpkin, so I only ended up with 300 sq ft. Should anything be done so this mosaic doesn't return next year? Never had it before. Thanks, Jim

8/24/2002 2:39:45 PM

Long Island,New York

Its not uncommon to get a little bit of the virus near the end of the season...and if the pumpkin is in its later stages it shouldnt hurt it anymore than it has already. CCB's, whiteflies, and aphids are the major tranferants....so, to minimize your chances, do what you have to do tho chase these bugs away before they feed on your plants. An extra-good fall cleanup around the yard might help reduce the overwintering populations. I spray the bushes in my yard in early spring...way before I have to do stuff to the pumpkin plants....because Ive seen them there waiting for a nice pumpkin plant meal........G

8/24/2002 2:57:11 PM

Western WA

what exactly can you do to prevent the mosaic virus from even infecting you plant??? I have it too, but my 9 day old pumpkin which has a circumference of 20" hasnt even slowed in growth.

8/24/2002 5:20:16 PM

Long Island,New York

The virus is in the saliva of certain bugs.(aphids, whiteflies, cucumber beetles etc...) When they feed on your plant the plant can get infected. Prevent the bugs from feeding on your plant. Its as easy as that !........G

8/24/2002 5:24:38 PM

Western WA

thanks a ton!

8/25/2002 4:13:10 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

The bottom line with mosaic viruses is there is no 100% way to prevent getting them:( The main reason for this is you can't hit every bug with your contact insecticides and the ones that have residual or lasting effects are geared to kill the virus carrying bugs once the bug feeds on the sprayed plant. And, once the plant has been bitten by these bugs the virus can be transmitted, even with just one bite. Thats why year-round yard clean up is so important. The better and more complete your clean-up(and your neighbors) the better your chances(:^}>

8/25/2002 4:49:49 PM

Key West, FL

its the mosaic, saw brent hesters past today all his plants have it but not bad they are all doing well. he said hey trew lots of fert on them when he noticed the virus

8/25/2002 8:12:50 PM