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Nauvoo, Alabama

I am an unimportant person but still need help. I am not a world record grower , but still need help. Pretty please.
With sugar and spice and every thing nice.

We had rains for over a week. The plants were unattended.
I noticed after the rains calmed down that one of my plants slowed down. Had random yellowing leaves. I found a ton of squash bugs. Never saw so many. I assumed the squash bugs caused it. I removed/killed as many as I could possibly find and removed the eggs off the leaves. Will the plant revive from the attack? Will the yellowing leaves revive or are they goners? The Main vine has stopped growing and most of it is yellowing. Some of the first secondary vines are still green and growing just fine.
should I terminate the main and let a healthy secondary take its place?

Thanks, Happy Gardening
Cricket

6/4/2009 10:37:08 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Hi Carolyn, to begin with let me say that ALL giant pumpkin growers are important! Especially if you ask anyone on this site!
The yellowing leaves will probably not bounce back. Give the main vine a few days and see if it starts to grow again. If it does not then yes, terminate and use a secondary for your main (if they are still growing). Sounds positive that your secondaries are still growing. Get some strong insecticide and keep those squash bugs from coming back!
I'm sure others here will chime in with other great advise.

6/4/2009 11:38:30 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

Thank you, I will start a diary too with photos of damaged plant. I figured the yellowing would not revive--but never had this problem before either.
Will give it a few more days. It has already been 4 days.
Had heavy rain yesterday evening. That should push the plant to grow more and will see how the main does. (poor plant)

6/5/2009 9:16:14 AM

[email protected]

Squash bugs can cause a lot of damage in very short order. They can also vector wilts, virus & disease.
Treat the plants with a broad spectrum contact insecticide ASAP. Triazicide should be available in home & bgarden centers.

6/5/2009 11:52:42 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Carolyn,
It may be Yellow Vine Decline, that can be transmitted by squash bugs. I think one of my plants in 2007 may have been infected by this. It was the only year I noticed squash bugs here. If you check out my 2007 diary, you can see it.

6/5/2009 1:07:52 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

Doug,
Those were some really nice pumpkins.
Hate it for that 615Reiss. Strange that you lost the pumpkin on the one plant that was giving you trouble. I know there was no relation between the blossom split and the yellowing leaves-------but, if it had been yellow vine decline, do you have to get rid of plants that have yellow vine decline?
I don't want to keep caring for this plant if its goin to keep yellowing and I just dont know it yet. It is young and can be replaced.

6/6/2009 8:43:04 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Carolyn,
I don't know much about the disease...I just read a little about it on the internet, here and there. You may want to do an internet search on it. If you're plant is still declining, I'd think about removing it, and replacing it if you can. I would worry about insects eating on the infected plant, and transmitting the disease to other plants. Good luck on you're decision and the rest of your season!

6/7/2009 1:15:28 PM