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Taber, Alberta

This is a new one for me. We don't normally get powdery mildew here, for the first time, I put the hoophouse cover back on to keep the night temps from getting too low and keep the weight gains going. This week, I noticed powdery mildew on several of the older leaves and it's getting worse every day.

I'm not too worried about big weight gains any more. I'm down to a couple of pounds a day on day 80 and have a few good stretch marks going that could get quite a bit deeper if the pumpkin has a growth spurt. This being said, I've begun to trim some of the diseased leaves off. My goal now is to just ride things out until the end of the year.
My question is, if I compost the diseased leaves, will the powdery mildew come back again? Is there anything else I should be worried about? The pumpkin is old, but is still in good shape.
Thanks
Alan

9/18/2008 8:19:31 PM

South East

Do not put the pm leaves in your compost. Get rid of them.
Spores can overwinter. Would be a unneccesary risk. trow em in the trash can.

9/18/2008 9:21:55 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

My take is that one should not compost any part of a pumpkin plant. Once the plant is done, destroy it, pull it out, get rid of it, rotate your patch.

9/18/2008 9:56:03 PM

Nikiski, Alaska 99635

Alan consider using the product by the name Messenger next year. I have used this product the last three years with excellent results.

9/18/2008 11:00:30 PM

Taber, Alberta

Thanks J.D. for the heads up for next year. I'll see if I can get some for 09. It seems that I have to keep growing in a greenhouse in my climate if I want to get to 1000 pounds.

9/18/2008 11:10:07 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

I use Diathane, seems too work for me

9/19/2008 6:46:14 PM