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Pumpkins are struggling

Bucksnbears

Bucksnbears

Well-Known Member
This year. Not sure why.

It's real dry here so today I spent from 7a.m. till now hand watering about 200 plants on 3 different properties.
Gave each about 2 gallons.
Pumpkins usually respond fast with a good watering. Will see.
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Watered tomatoes in the garden Friday and got 3" of rain yesterday. Go figure. Maybe it will work for you too.
 
We can’t shut off the rain- I’ve got 2 acres of pumpkins and they are going crazy good. Almost too much water to be honest.
 
JNRBRONC said:
Watered tomatoes in the garden Friday and got 3" of rain yesterday. Go figure. Maybe it will work for you too.
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Was forecasted 2" evening of the 4th. Got about 16 drops.lol.

Pumpkins have become my favorite foodplots planting so I try and keep them going.

Doing the math, I hand watered about 3200lbs of H2O today in 2 gallon pails.
But I feel good about it. Didn't see ONE person untill 5:00 p.m. when I went to the local tavern and had 2 beers.

Oh yeah, gave each a 1/4 cup of triple 19 also.

Newfarmer, 2 acres? Is this for a foodplot? If so, that's awesome!

Can you post some pics and techniques on how you plant them?
Thanks.
 
Love it!!!! If u got real ambitious…. Go throw some mulch around em…. Anything from wood chips to hay. Then water them. I do that for trees & id guess it keeps things moist 1-2 weeks longer.
Hang in there!!! Perfect rain down here but I know the “we need rain” feeling!!!!
 
Bucksnbears said:
Dang Skip, I like that idea of mulch.
To late for this year but will consider it in the future.
Thanks!
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I don’t know how it is in Iowa but here in mo I stopped mulching around pumpkins in my garden. Gives the nasties a place to hide and avoid the insecticide. Squash bugs are especially bad about doing that
 
Bout 15 years planting pumpkins and only one year I've dealt with squash bugs . Sevin dust took care of that.

Checked 1 plot today that was watered yesterday. Amazing how well they responded. Like literally blew up overnight.

I will not water again this year. If we keep staying dry, I can terminate them and plant brassicas early August if they fail.
 
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Mine are looking pretty good. We've had a good amount of rain this year. The Jack-o'-Lanterns are taking off, and the giant varieties are way behind.
 
Bucksnbears said:
Bout 15 years planting pumpkins and only one year I've dealt with squash bugs . Sevin dust took care of that.

Checked 1 plot today that was watered yesterday. Amazing how well they responded. Like literally blew up overnight.

I will not water again this year. If we keep staying dry, I can terminate them and plant brassicas early August if they fail.
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I’m jelly. They’re a constant fight for me every year I plant pumpkins. Sevin does nothing for mine either. Have to mix up permethrin and be vigilant with spraying just to keep up with them. Sevin does work on cucumber beetles tho for me
 
Sevin is highly toxic to bees, from what I've read. I'm swimming in bees this year, which is good.
 
Good to know that about bees. Thanks for that info.

Sundog, maybe I have my bug ID screwed up? Small bettle like yellow with black stripes?

Very concerned about the honey bees. Normally, my flowering White clovers are covered with them.
Have seen 2 so far?
Life's natural balance has sure taken a whooping. No bees,frogs,snakes,spiders and even mosquitos are dang near extinct.
 
If you don’t have flowering plants (so after it goes from flower to fruit) is best time to spray an insecticide. I’ve never grown pumpkins actually so not sure all the pests & diseases. I’ll see if MSU has a guide on pests- they usually do. Ok- here’s a good one I found, Rutgers…. Covers it all. These sheets take a little scrolling & zoning in on your issue but sources from universities put these out & they are fantastic. GOLD for information sources on how to solve pest or weed issues. If need any help sifting through lemme know…

 
Bucksnbears said:
Good to know that about bees. Thanks for that info.

Sundog, maybe I have my bug ID screwed up? Small bettle like yellow with black stripes?

Very concerned about the honey bees. Normally, my flowering White clovers are covered with them.
Have seen 2 so far?
Life's natural balance has sure taken a whooping. No bees,frogs,snakes,spiders and even mosquitos are dang near extinct.
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Those sound like cucumber beetles. They can have either spots or stripes. Squash bug and stink bugs are pretty similar. Slightly smaller than a dime. Gray colored. Stink to high heaven when you kill one with your fingers.

Sevin is toxic to bees so I always spray my pumpkins in the day time when the flowers are naturally closed. Avoid spraying early morning or late evening when the flowers are open. And for sure don’t ever spray in the flower itself
 
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