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Issaquah, WA

Of our 4 starts, 3 are showing yellowing/light green on the second true leaf. 2 plants on the same end next to each other are much worse than the others. That end receives a little less sun but I don't think that is the cause.

I am thinking maybe we have a deficiency somewhere. Maybe Mn or K? Ill post a link to the photos in my diary below. Some of our soil tests were posted earlier in our diary as well.

Any and all thoughts and/or remedies towards this would be much appreciated.

5/16/2013 1:38:10 AM

Issaquah, WA

Link to photos in my diary:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=198233

5/16/2013 1:44:29 AM

Issaquah, WA

All 4 starts were transplanted into the patch on 5/9 and have heat lamps about 3 feet above the plant on at night. All 4 plants have received the same treatment but 2 on the same side(receive slightly less sun) are showing this yellowing condition much more predominantly. So far they have been given doses of fish, seaweed, and Biomin Calcium.

5/16/2013 2:03:17 AM

Ireland

could be the cold weather, especially at night

5/16/2013 5:39:51 AM

Germany

Soil too cold could cause deficiencies in some minerals such as Mn. If your soil is just heated by the heat lamp and the sun, then I suspect the plants on the less sunny spot grow on soil of lower temperatures and therefore show this effect more pronounced. (My plants experience cold nights every year, but that doesn´t cause them to yellow their leaves as long as only the nights are cold. In fall, as soon as night and daytime temperatures were going down and soil temp was dropping significantly, I found yellowing of new growth on my plants.)

5/16/2013 5:53:53 AM

Glosta

My answer is similar to Pumpking's but it goes a little further. Cold and wet soil will cause what you see. Believe me I battle it every year. Here is a quote from your diary..."Our patch has been built on yards and yards of Cedar Grove Booster Blend. Water on the other hand doesn't seem to go very far in our patch. It rains or gets watered then turns into a black muddy mess instead of draining off. Doing the dig a hole and fill it with water test. We pour in the water and it hardly goes anywhere. The cedar grove compost seems very susceptible to soil compaction."

So you say you brought in sand and other dirt this year. But then you dug through all that and into the clay beneath for a planting hole. Where do you think all the water will sit? you in essence are drowning your plant. that pit of a planting hole is nothing more than a filled in pool.

This is what a drowned plant looks like
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=159145

5/16/2013 6:47:25 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Give the plants 1 TBS of Epsom Salts dissolved per gallon of water......repeat in 5 dayZ...they will green back up.

5/16/2013 10:10:36 AM

Winston Salem, NC

Bry...I really like the idea of digging a few holes away from the plants to drain some water off. I will have to remember this one if we have a deluge in the near future.

5/16/2013 8:59:35 PM

Issaquah, WA

Thanks for the info guys. Ill give the Epsom salt a try.

5/16/2013 10:13:01 PM

Enumclaw, Washington

We have had some very hot sunny days this May here in the PNW. That looks like sunburn to me. Young plants are tender. I think the leaves will continue to grow, but will not last that long. Great part is the plant will keep making new ones, and you can cut them off after a bit.

Careful where you dig. The roots from the plant should be out 3 feet from the plant by now. If your soil is that wet look to add some more sand next year to help with drainage. We tend to use high levels of compost and it holds water like crazy. Hard to fertilize when your soil is saturated.

Have you dug down 8 inches and done the "grab" test?

About Cedar Grove Booster Blend, I will give you a list as long as my arm why not to put that in your patch. So as to not get sued I will not post it here, but I would look for a new source of compost for next year! Or club is sponsored by a great source of soil amendment. Give it a try, save some money, and do your soil some good at the same time. All the top growers in our area use them.

5/17/2013 12:03:39 AM

Enumclaw, Washington

here is another local grower having heat related problems http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=198077

5/17/2013 12:07:37 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

motogizmo, the other product you mention, are you referring to Oly Mountain Fish Compost or another producer?

5/17/2013 2:43:08 PM

Enumclaw, Washington

The PNWGPG is sponsored by Scarecrow's Pride. It runs very high in potassium, and breaks down very fast giving off its nutrients. After a few years of using it my soil is like powdered sugar, very rich and dark. My salts are dropping as well. I can't say enough good things about it. I is not stained black with coal dust either! Very consistent nutrient contents as well. No summer gras with high nitrogen followed by a load of nitrogen robbing wood chips if you know what I mean. I am lucky that they are close to me. I know that loads have traveled as far as Oregon from the Seattle area.

5/17/2013 8:50:30 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks. Maybe too far for them to truck for me :)

Great link here too...

http://www.scarecrowspride.com/Scarecrow_s_Pride.html

5/17/2013 10:04:17 PM

Enumclaw, Washington

Yep thats the girls, and all their hard work!

5/18/2013 12:42:52 AM