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Tasmania Australia

Hi, I have a photo of a 1435 Wuersching that is one of the plants i am growing this year,
For some reason in the last week i have had drooping leaves on the few leaves that are closest to the main vine tips.
I am still trying to find out what is happening, So far i am kind of at a lost to what i need to do to help fix the issue.
I am thinking it might be possibly over watering? would this cause this issue?
At the moment i am giving it about 1 watering can a day.
Yesterday i thought i would give it two watering cans full to see if that helped,
Had a look first thing in the morning and they were still as they are now in the photo.
Temperatures and around 18 - 20C or around 62F, so days are not real hot, just warm sunny days.
I think the Yellow leaf might be a sign of a tad too much fertilizer for the plant size, Seaweed solution once a week on Mondays, Fish emulsion once a week on Wednesdays, Cacium solution once a week on Fridays.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=250699
Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

12/12/2015 11:53:03 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Hi, how much water is in one watering can? How big is your plant? You mention a main vine meaning the plant is on the ground and running now, so it must have 9 or more leaves? If so, you are not giving it enough water. A 3ft x3ft plant can easily need 5 gallons of water or whatever liters that might be, a day, maybe more, in a much larger radius than you might think. The roots are running far and wide under the soil. If the plant is young, it is not likely drooling due to disease pressure. Most likely not enough water. Best of luck to you.

12/13/2015 1:05:35 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Drooping not drooling lol. If your plant is drooling you have big problems lol.

12/13/2015 1:07:30 AM

Tasmania Australia

Yes a watering can holds about 9 liters, roughly around 2.4 gallons or there about.
Plant size is just on 4ft long, ( from stump to tip of main vine) and no side runners as of yet, with about 11 main leaves and a few smaller ones in and around the stump.
So it sounds like i might need to double the amount of water i am giving it then.
5 gallons is roughly 20 liters (18.9) and water in a much larger radius also.
Cheers.

12/13/2015 1:31:25 AM

Germany

I wouldn´t bury the leaf nodes of the main as long as the secondary isn´t peeking out. It´s a different story with leaf nodes of secondaries, where you don´t want the leaf nodes to produce any additional vines. (...just as a little comment on what I have seen in your diary, even though it doesn´t give an answer on the leaf question).

12/13/2015 3:25:17 AM

Central NY

I had a few plants last year that I watered in good at the get go and then let them do ther thing for a couple weeks..didn't water the squash plant at all..plants grew nice and healthy ...I vote overwatering...let the young plants'roots search for water ...(if your soil is bone dry, water in the whole area and let it do its thing)...I'm new to calcium nitrate.. Should we be using that from the get go?

12/13/2015 11:48:04 AM

East Jordan, MI

I suspect its a combination of over watering and too much fertilizer.

The roots of a 4 ft plant aren't big enough to support the plant growth yet, and if you over fertilize you can stunt root growth just as easily as you can promote it. If you keep the dirt too wet right where the roots are they will not grow to search for water.

A 4 ft plant with no side vines doesn't need to be watered every day.

Keep the dirt MOIST -- not wet -- about 6 inches down as far as the plant is long to the sides and rear as well. So for a 4 ft plant you should be watering 4 ft behind and 2 ft to either side.

Good luck!

12/13/2015 7:27:02 PM

Tasmania Australia

Sounds like good advice, will hold of on the water for a few days and see what it does.
For the Calcium, from what i have read it helps with the cell structure of the plant, but also it could be going against it as in too much fertilizer.
Might just let it be for a week and see what happens, just keep an eye on the soil moisture 6 inches deep.
Also cheers on the leaf nodes, will uncover them and wait for secondaries to arrive.
Appreciated.

12/13/2015 11:22:00 PM

Tasmania Australia

Hi, just looking for anymore information or just general ideas on this pumpkin that seams to be a tad on the sick side.
Unfortunately the photo doesn't show it quiet as clear as it is.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=251456
Might be a tad late to save this plant, but it is still putting on 10 pounds a day.
Thought it was Nitrogen deficiency with the yellowing and slightly yellow veins, but a foliar spray of aquasol ( nitrogen/ potassium) didn't fix anything.
Though Magnesium deficiency, again with the yellowing, foliar spray of epson salts also didn't fix the issue.

Only thing i thought was not enough water, but in the last few days we have had 44 inches of rain, all soaked in. Still no change.
The leaves are lucky to be about dinner plate size at best, young new leave appear to be fine, but in a few weeks they will also turn the same.

The plant right beside it has been getting everything the same, but appears to be doing fine with massive leaves, at least twice the side of the sick plant.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=251458
This one has only just been pollinated a few days ago, only a few brownish leaves on the ends.

Any more ideas is appreciated, might be a tad late to save it, but good to learn from for next season and the other plant.
Cheers.

2/2/2016 3:23:28 AM

50 Acres

Was something planted there in previous years that might be harmful.

2/2/2016 8:38:29 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

3 things could be causing it.
1. Residual herbicide in Soil
2. Severe nutrient deficiency
3. Virus or Disease

2/2/2016 1:07:05 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Gummy stem/yellow vine, some major funk! Maybe overspray of herbicide. Looks like a plant I had a few years ago, got over spray from the neighbor, spraying round up.

2/2/2016 8:24:48 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I'm calling 95% #3 Linus.

The best thing you could do is a get a disease screen now. Knowing whats going on in the patch now will help you sooooo much the following year.

2/2/2016 9:05:20 PM