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Midway, UT

About 7 days ago I started seeing soem browning on some of the older leaves of one of my plants. Slowly the growing would increase from the edges and work its way to the stem until the leaf was consumed about 5 days later. I now recognize that it isn't the high heat that has caused the problem but bacterial wilt. A higher than normal number of cucumber beetles have been around this year and I'm sure they have brought it. I'm looking for suggestions on how to combat it. From what I have read so far there doesn't seem to be a lot of great solutions. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Lost the pumpkins last year to hail and would love to get something to the scale this year.

7/17/2010 1:45:09 PM

[email protected]

YUP Bacterial wilt is mostly spread by cucumber beetles but other insects can vector wilt too.

I'm sorry to report there is no cure.

7/17/2010 2:04:52 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I have the same problem on one of my patches. Just try to keep the plant growing to componsate for the loss of leaves. Thats what i'm doing.

7/17/2010 2:15:36 PM

Belgium

"Alliette" will help

7/17/2010 3:27:37 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Dang Jamie.,...

7/17/2010 5:09:02 PM

Simi valley, ca

Do you have other plants ? if so you would be wise to remove that plant! ,I have had it on a plant next to 3 others & they never got it, & i never had it before or since!

7/17/2010 7:13:03 PM

Long Island,New York

well, it doesn't sound like bacterial wilt to me. Bacterial wilt is usually sudden and catastrophic....ok one day and the entire vine or entire plant wilts the next day. A test for bacterial wilt is to cut a vine in the infected area and pull apart the two sections at the cut and if a long stringy fluid is pulled apart its likely bacterial wilt. A lot of problems show up in the leaves that can look alike so its best to get it tested...but again, it doesn't sound like "classic" bacterial wilt symptoms to me.

7/17/2010 8:23:59 PM

Cheshire,Ma

I had the same problem. I endedup cutting out 1/3 of the plant. I have sprayed the rest of the plant with Companion for 4 straight days nad watered the soil with Companion. I have stopped the wilting for now.

7/17/2010 9:47:39 PM

Littleton, Colo

....crap!

7/18/2010 12:19:08 AM

Selbyville, Delaware

I agree with LIpumpkin, bacterial wilt will wilt the entire vine in one day, and nothing will bring it back. When you see it, you know you are screwed! You have to quickly pull the plant and burn it before a cucumber beetle spreads it to another plant.
Your leaf damage sounds like cucumber beetles just eating away the leaves and you are seeing the end result of that, high salts from ferts can do that to the leaves too.

7/18/2010 9:37:57 AM

[email protected]

Try to PULL an infected section apart. Where it breaks there will be threads visible if it is infected with bacterial wilt. Those thread clog the vascular tubes causing the wilt.

There is no roto-rooter for pumpkins but the pipes can be kept cleaner with Agrifos or Alliette.

It is still MUCH better to control the insects.

7/18/2010 11:15:48 AM

Midway, UT

Thanks for your feedback. Maybe it isn't bacterial wilt because it doesn't seem to be consuming the plant as fast as some people describe. I'll post some pics and get a test done. It is some type of fungus for sure.

7/18/2010 1:09:01 PM

Midway, UT

Here is a pic of one of the leaves...

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=139279

7/18/2010 5:34:45 PM

Joliet, IL

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1172.html#6

i am hoping its not serious jamie and i hope i am wrong, but the picture on this website posted above in the gummy stem blight section shows a diseased section of a leaf that looks very similar to your picture.

7/18/2010 7:47:40 PM