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Buffalo, New York

What is the best way to water pumpkin plants after they start vining?

Before mine started vining, i would feed the roots with a 1.5 gallon watering can. now that they are vining, should i use a sprinkler or is it best to keep using a watering pot/can?

obviously, i dont want to water the leaves while it is hot and sunny outside...

just curious?

thanks

jr

6/24/2007 7:36:43 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Even though my plants have over 20' of main now I still water every other day with a 2 gallon sprinkler can. I also have a soaker hose running parallel with the main vine but a few inches off to the side and I water the main vine that way a couple times a week. I've been afraid of overhead watering because of the possibility of mildew etc. I'm fairly new to this whole thing to so I'm sure some other guys/gals here will have some better advise.

6/24/2007 1:11:35 PM

Buffalo, New York

how would someone know they have a mildew problem? does it leave white cloudy spots on your leaves??

some of my zuccini plants have white spots?
i am guessing these are mildew spots, what causes them and any way to cure them?

thanks....

jr

6/24/2007 1:48:34 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Powdery mildew is not the actual leaf changing color> Mildew sort of grows on the plant but very much the same color you describe. If you do a search here on this site I'm sure you will find pictures of mildew on leaves. I think it is primarily caused by overly wet soil during hot humid weather, as well as water left on the leaves to late in the evening. Prevention is far easier and more successful than trying to cure it. Once you have mildew it can be hard to get rid of, you may control it but thats about it. I spray a fungicide on the tops and bottoms of my leaves every couple weeks just to protect the plants before the mildew gets to them.

6/24/2007 2:01:28 PM

Long Island,New York

zucchini varieties often have white mottled leaves--its normal. So do some other squash varieties...know your species...

6/24/2007 2:54:12 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

do a search on powdery mildew, you will find a TON of stuff to help control it.

6/27/2007 11:45:48 PM

Cornell, Wi

I think Tremor said before 1 inch of rain is 62 gallons per 100 sq feet. You will never over water or provide enough water with a can unless you have a lot of time. I would suggest using atleast a wand and hose if your afraid of getting the leaves wet.

7/4/2007 7:40:07 PM

Cornell, Wi

Pumpkin roots really spread out way past the vines , I have seen the roots early in the season, 8 feet ahead of the vines. I think most people dont water far enough around the plants. Them small white hair like roots are the feeders, and in my opinion are just as important to water and feed as the main plant.

7/4/2007 9:07:03 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Yes....62 gallons on 100 sq ft is equal to 1 inch of rain. Drip hoses are probably best but overhead irrigation has produced a LOT of records over the years.

Some of these pictures aren't as good as I'd like but you might find them useful:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/cucurbit/

Here is a decent picture of Powdery Mildew:

http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1179-w/B1179-9b.jpg

It starts on the leaf bottoms. By the time it looks like that last image the chances of controlling it are slim.

Prevention is the key. There are many chemical fungicides that work well (Eagle is probably the best) but I've been able to control PM just by spraying MILK to the leaf undersides every week. M-Pede Soap, Neem Oil & Stylett Horticultural Oil all work very well as preventives too & are much less toxic than chemical fungicides.

Here in CT we have just entered the prime PM spraying season.

7/5/2007 12:00:34 AM

Cornell, Wi

Way to support them farmers Tremor...

7/7/2007 10:54:11 AM