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Winston Salem, NC

I know there are some folks in the community that are dealing with this issue this year and after two year in a row of not getting a pumpkin out of my main patch, I've started the research for solutions to minimize this problem.
At any rate, here is a paper letting you know the temperatures needed to kill off the oospores whether it be steaming or solarizing. If you have been fighting phytophthora and have other papers or solutions let me know.
Here is a link to the paper.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50212740_Thermal_inactivation_of_Phytophthora_capsici_oospores

8/31/2016 10:07:32 AM

Citrus Heights, CA

Hi Matt. In 2013 I lost all my plants in July to Phytophthora Capsici. This was confirmed via testing at the University of California Davis. The professor who helped me was an expert in cucurbits and their diseases. He said the best way to get rid of it was not to grow on the land for five years. Fortunately I have the room to make other patches. He said it was best to just let native weeds/ grasses grow. I will recheck the soil next summer at UCD. I plan on growing mustard next fall. Followed by some soil solarizing in the summer with plastic on top of the soil. Ron

8/31/2016 1:10:51 PM

Winston Salem, NC

Unfortunately I'm a backyard grower, and space is limited. So, if we need to throw a flaming kitchen sink at it, thats what we gotta do. Thanks for the info though.

8/31/2016 3:45:52 PM

Deer Park WA

Maybe a cover crop of mustard would help?

9/1/2016 12:31:48 AM

50 Acres

When I was younger and played fastball. SOMETIMES THE DIAMOND WOULD BE TOO WET TO PLAY ON WE WOULD GET BALES OF HAY AND OR STRAW, SPREAD IT OVER THE DIAMOND WET IT WITH AGAS AND OIL MIX Lite it . The heat of the fire would dry the diamond. Perhaps this method would kill the spores.

9/1/2016 8:37:47 AM