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St. Thomas Ontario

Every year around this time I start having the same problem. Leaves become white to 'greyish' in color and become totally dried and brittle. Starting in center of plant and working towards the edges. Could this be powdery mildew or a type of insect infestation? The rest of the plant seems healthy but I know it's only a matter of time before the rest of the plant gets it. Any thoughts?? (I'll post pics tonight)

7/30/2003 1:42:31 PM

Nova Scotia

don't beleive the pics part people. lookajook just water them. without water your leaves are bound to dry up. hahahaha. lookajook when powder mildew hit me it looked like acid was used. leaves wilted completly down then turned dry brown in one day as well it was easy to see the mildew on other leaves along with powders freind aphid.

7/30/2003 2:45:21 PM

Chester Co., PA

The older leaves on most plants start to die in August. They are just worn out. I like to let a few new ones escape pruning and fill in the holes, especially ones near the main. Leaves are good, they are food factories for your pumpkin. What you describe sounds like mildew, have you been using fungicide on a regular schedule to prevent it? Once mildew has started it can't be eliminated, only held in check.

7/30/2003 3:13:44 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I agree with Wes on this. Sounds like the older leaves are just dying off which is natural.

7/30/2003 3:38:46 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

The old leaves on all my plants have brown edges. I blame it on insecticide burn. After all these leaves have been sprayed many times since day 1. The other-newer leaves look great, only sprayed once or twice. I would not worry too much about a few dried out leaves in the center of your plant. Dean o

7/30/2003 7:00:35 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

All the old leafes on my 840 Desrosiers are dieing. It looks bad, becouse now thera are no leafes on 5 feet of main vine :-(

7/30/2003 7:26:57 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I didn't use any insecticide on my leaves, and no powdery mildew so far, and the old ones get grey on the edges and dry out, slow, but progresively.
It seems to me like they are tired of working so much under my hard sun, but is nice to hear that the same thing happens in a cooler place like Stouffville, Ontario. I am also trying to get some new runners to make new vines which substitute the old ones and cover those places.

7/31/2003 1:53:23 AM

St. Thomas Ontario

Thanks for the info...I feel a little better too. might be combination of all those factors (although i've ruled our powd.mildew) Gonna turn main vine to run perpendicular to patch and let side vines run back in the 'aging area' of the garden. Thanks again.

7/31/2003 9:42:36 AM

Oz

micro nutrients ,,,,ironite is a good soil mixer.
try a little epsom salts,,,,1tsp per gallon of water

7/31/2003 11:41:04 AM

Joliet, IL

my leaves are in the same condition. the hail,
insecticides, and old growth got em. i make sure
to cut off the dead leaves close to the vine.
i then dab up pooled water with a paper towel and apply
captan. then bury. the 620 boyton lost its stump
shading protection from the missing leaves so i have
placed a clothes basket over it for shade. if the
pattern continues, which it will, i will make a shade tarp
for over the stump or sun exposed main vine. also i have
been reburying my stump all season to have protection
against hail damage when a stone hits the vine directly.
lost some secondaries that way but luckily no mains or
stumps.

7/31/2003 10:45:09 PM