From

Location

Message

Date Posted

C N Y

Usually what happens for me is that Cucumber Beetles (small, yellow and black-striped, as well as some spotted varieties, usually later) come along and start poking their noses into ANY of the cucurbits' leaves and then, slugs pick up were they left off. Early-on, I wanna say that slugs and snails do nothing, in my opinion, to *initiate* any damage I've ever had, nor add to it, like, ever. They are just 'obvious villains' by default. I actually avoid killing, or even half the time, getting them out of my way, lol. Slow, slow drivers. On smaller plants, maybe physical removal, but it's not needed on countertop-sized or bigger. Ummm, have you ever considered or heard of 'walking boards'? For being up-close and less-damaging to the plants, esp. the roots being squished and therefore hindering the plant, pieces of plywood 5/8" X 16" X 4' are ideal, in my experience. A Lowe's dude would be happy to cut up a 4' X 8' sheet into 6 pieces (*grain long*) as described and you'd be good to go, to start with. I gotta do the same, now that soon I'll have my pumpkin trailer hooked up! Yay! Ahem; In advance. Well, good luck with your bugs. With closer pics, one might determine plant problems more readily for you. No pressure on the walking boards, either, but, they are beneficial. Take care---eric g

[Last edit: 04/23/26 3:13:02 AM]

4/23/2026 3:09:14 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Do you have them covered at all or are they exposed to the sun all day long at this size? At a minimum, I would get some lawn chairs and weight them down so they don't blow over and shade the plants. Full Alabama sun on transplanted plants that small is not good.

I don't think it is the typical flying pumpkin pests\insects at this point given your location and weather right now. They will show up soon especially when plants get bigger and start flowering. I would still get the pesticide on and around them in case it is and look out for slugs.

All plants also go through "transplant shock" which is a week or two of very slow growth. Shading on them during the day helps out.

4/23/2026 8:07:50 AM

Huntsville, AL, USA

Ah that makes so much sense, the smaller hill is shaded during some parts of the day and it's growing a little faster than this hill that's in full sun. I'll get them some relief today for the heat of the day. When do I need to stop shading them? I know that I need to shade it pretty much 24/7 once/if the pumpkin starts getting big so it doesn't harden, but I didn't know I needed to shade them when they're small!

4/23/2026 10:05:57 AM

Upa Creek, MO

You want the plants to get well rooted and once they start to vine out along the ground, they can tolerate sun much better. At the size they are now, the Bama sun is frying them especially without established roots. They definitely still need sun, so give them some part time as "hardening" off.

Also, you only shade the pumpkin so it won't mature fast, the plant still needs the full sun to grow you a 2K pumpkin.

4/23/2026 6:05:55 PM

Huntsville, AL, USA

Ah, I see. Thank you for the info!

4/24/2026 9:45:34 AM