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Kutztown, PA

This is the first year of four I have not applied Roundup to kill weed at the beginning of season. I've done this about a week before taking the cloches off the plants. In correlation, for the last four years I've seen at least some curly of leaves and odd looking deformations that looked somewhat like a mosaic virus. Some plants worse than others, but all had at least a couple of secondaries that exhibited this. Last year it was wide spread showing up on all new growth. It was so bad that I pulled all four of my plants in early July and attributed the problem to mosaic. I even did an assay for cucumber virus which seemed most likely since I always have my share of cucumber beetles. While I suspect overuse of Roundup was the real problem, I decided to change up several things including not using It at all. Here's what I did differently this season. I applied amendments, including Imidacloprid granular on May 1st instead of April 1st. I put my plants in the ground 3 weeks later than normal and used no heating cables. I planted a mustard cover crop August 1st last year, cut it and tilled it in on November 25th. I'm using a bury mix that includes last years Rootshield, Azos, Mycos, granular humic, and a small amount of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 at each leaf node. So that's it. Roundup seems the most likely culprit to me, but I can't say for sure. I should point out that cucumber beetles have been scarce so far this year. There may be a photo of the odd deformed, curled up and splotchy looking leaves in my last year diary, but if you look at any cucumber mosaic photo on the web my leaves looked like that. Has anyone had a problem like this that was so pervasive one year, then vanished the next?

6/28/2024 9:03:36 AM

Bethlehem CT

If you had a cucumber type mosaic virus the plants have to get re-innoculated every year from the cucumber beetles. The only mosaic that lasts in the soil that I am aware of is Tobacco mosaic and I believe that only affects night shades. (tomato/potato family) That virus can ruin a piece of land for many, many years. Fortunately pumpkins aren't night shades so that one gets ruled out.
It looks like you have a big cornfield behind you, most likely they are spraying with roundup when the corn is 6-12" high. It is possiblethat if the day is windy that spray mist could drift onto your plants. Maybe that wind fence helped? Very few farmers are using the old 2-4d type herbicide anymore,(these are the types of herbicides that kill broadleaved plants and leave the grasses) These corn/lawn type herbicides are very volatile and even the vapors can stunt your plants and wreck your season. That is also the same type of herbicide that people get in hay, grass clipping and compost. Too bad for us pumpkins are quite sensitive to it. These are just some thoughts to consider, there are lots of possibilities as to what happened.

6/29/2024 8:27:23 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

From my years in the industrial vegetation control industry, I know that glyphosate becomes very tied up after contact with the soil. However, I don't know whether there are any mechanisms whereby it may be released within the soil or the half-life of it. I have never heard of any concerns with its repeated use in the agricultural industry except for weed resistance over time (marestail is a prime example). Some research along those lines might be quite fruitful in answering your questions about it.

6/29/2024 12:08:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

Its possible that was round up damage.

"Glyphosate binds (chelates) vital nutrients such as iron, manganese, zinc, and boron in the soil, preventing plants from taking them up."

"This could also have implications for humans and animals that eat GM glyphosate-tolerant crops, as it could affect nutrient value."

So, your plant would look depleted of certain minerals... and being depleted of these nutrients could make the plants look miserable... I think having no manganese, zinc, and boron might look similar to a virus.

[Last edit: 06/29/24 1:29:58 PM]

6/29/2024 1:25:48 PM

Kutztown, PA

Moon, the barriers and the fact I started a few weeks later could have saved me from the farmer. All I can say, is no Roundup and the plants look great! Whatever it was it seems to be gone, knock on pumpkin. Gritty, I do remember thinking initially it was a Mn deficiency last year. I thought it possible since it's one of the things recommended to add in my soil analysis report. I even sprayed some chelate on. I didn't know glyphosate could bind to Mn. That's interesting. I have to say here that I had four plants in the ground last year and had really busted my @#%^ doing all the work involved. I was really bummed out when I had to pull them all. "Live and learn" I guess.

7/1/2024 8:56:00 AM

Bethlehem CT

Way to bounce back after a rough year! I have had a few years with nothing to show for at the end of the season. It can be rough. The fact that you didn't give up is the key!

7/1/2024 2:30:26 PM