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Lakewood, CO

Hello,

New are new to this board ad pretty new to pumpkin growing. Last year we grew some jack-o-lanterns, but powdery mildew grew on the plants at the end of August and we were not able to get rid of it. This year we are tring to grow some giant pumpkins (usig Atlantic Giant seeds). Do you have any clues as to how we can make sure we don't get powdery mildew again, or, if it comes, how can we fight it?
Thanks from Colorado

5/18/2008 4:09:12 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Knowing what part of the season mildew raises it's ugly head in your area is important. Start using fungicides before the mildew gets started. It's not easy to get rid of once it is established.

5/18/2008 4:36:26 PM

Jericho Vermont

Mildred,
Make sure plants are watered early enough for them to dry before darkness. Wet plants seem to breed pm quickly. About mid August here in VT I start foliar spraying a solution of 10 percent skim milk in water. This seems to help prevent and slow down the pm. I personally have never used a fungicide but also living in VT we do not have long humid spells (usually just cold and wet.) LOL If you do a site search on pm you will find lots of info on fungicides.
John

5/18/2008 8:20:30 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ditto all of the above. Also, try joining a local growers club such as the Colorado Pumpkin Growers.

http://www.coloradopumpkins.com/

Daconil & Eagle are the best fungicides to use in rotation. As previously stated, even a 10% Milk solution once a week will offer some relief of Powdery Mildew. Around here we start in late June so as to cover all of the various foliar disease we might encounter. A local grower's club or cooperative extension service can give the low down on your particular area.

Best growing wishes.

Steve

5/18/2008 11:52:36 PM

Colorado

Mildred,
Definitely logon to Coloradopumpkins.com. There is a wealth
of info about growing in the Rocky Mtn states. Also if you
need some high quality seeds let us know. We have a weigh-off at Jareds nursery in Littleton at the end of September.
Check out the diary enteries for the WIZ and The Biz here
on BP.....LB

5/19/2008 11:17:48 AM

Lakewood, CO

Hi,
Thanks for the link to ColoradoPumpkins.com
Our family came to the weight-off at Jared last september. We also signed up for some of the giant seeds, but never received them, so we got some Atlantic Giants in the mail. We just planted them last weekend, so we are a bit behind...

Mildred (from the Me and the Pumpking Queen book)

5/20/2008 10:35:37 AM

Lakewood, CO

LongBeard,
if you have some extra seeds, we would appreciate getting a few. I am still hoping the ones we got in the mail will sprout soon, but just in case, since we are newbies...
I can give you my address offline thsi message board (you can write to enricovr(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you.

5/20/2008 7:27:01 PM