From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Minnesota

My patch has 5 large pumpkins and a squash growing.
I don’t know how that squash came about, but Powdery
Mildew has destroyed much of the leaves in my patch.
Neither the Pumpkins nor Squash are fully ripened, but
they appear to be fully grown, being a huge size and
weighing about thirty pounds each. Should I remove those
decayed ugly leaves? Please advise.
Jumpin Joe

9/16/2005 8:35:21 AM

Livonia Michigan

ive had problems with some mildew too. it usually comes about late in the season on old leaves. i usually water at a time to allow the leaves to dry before nightime. i also allow new growth to happen through the season to nourish the plant growth. i would just leave them alone but then again ive seen people trim off leaves like mad so maybe its just trial & error

9/17/2005 4:08:12 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It is probably way too late to contain the Powdery Mildew through leaf removal (sanitation). However doing so might make you feel better about the patch & could still help a little.

We have to start very early in the season with fungicides here in the humid Northeast. However this years experience should have given you an idea when to start fungicides next year. Don't wait for the symptoms to appear. Time it so you are a couple weeks earlier than the first symptoms innstead.

9/17/2005 5:25:30 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Restricting water use to only the soil is a very good practice. Drip irrigation has many benefits in reducing the spread of PM. I have used very little fungicides this season. I can tell you that the peroxide treatment works on already infected leaves. The best results I have had are with 2oz baking soda and 45ML of HC oil in 2 gallons of water. Sprayed at 3 day intervals upon first site. I am left with only very minor PM on a few leaves in late September and I have not sprayed anything since the 7th of September. My plants still look fairly young for their age. The night time dew has been heavy since mid August but it has not increased the PM in my patches. Untreated plants in my area are pretty much destroyed by PM. The absolute best thing is the low cost of this spraying program.

9/20/2005 6:55:25 AM

Coventry R.I.

hi my name is frank, if you don,t mind what is hc oil, and where can you get it. i heard o neemn oil

11/8/2005 12:36:14 PM