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Nashville, TN

I asked what the symptoms were in heat damaged leaves earlier - but received no reply...So I'm asking on this specific thread..

I've got one plant - HUGE thing, very vigorous - but it stresses in these 95+ days much more and for a longer period than any of the other 2 dozen GP/GS in my rear patch. It has started to get this 'black wilted edging' on the edges of many of it's MATURE leaves - Plants on both sides of it are normal.

I DID put down some granular Fe-S-Ca-Mg fertilizer in front of it's growth path about 10 days ago - it's grown over it and set it's roots into it by now.. But it's the same amount I laid down by all the GP/GS...

We've only received 1/2" of rain since June 1, with average daytime highs in the low/mid 90's..

I've been removing these damaged leaves promptly, and putting them in the burn pit. Also started spraying with Rescue - which is Captan + Malathion...

Is this simply heat reaction - and not disease/fungal??

7/3/2006 7:19:38 AM

Follansbee, Wv

The black wilted edges are heat damage. You will know it's coming if the edges of the leaves (sometimes the entire leaf) become extremely limp and wilted during the heat of the day.

7/3/2006 7:44:09 AM

Nashville, TN

Thanks Monty! Should I just leave them?

BTW my 'front patch' of lesser Maximas/gourds/small pumpkins and one GS - aren't even getting watered - and show EXTREME heat stress.. Wilting drastically for 4-5 hours per day.. Whereas my GP/GS 'rear patch' are getting regular irrigation - and even the 926 Hunt that is stressed, is only wilted for 1-2 hours per day...

I'm not seeing these symptoms in the more stressed front patch - which is why I didn't think of it as the culprit at first...

7/3/2006 7:49:46 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I grew the 926 last year and had a lot of heat damage to leaves,Let them stay on the plant the rest of the leaf will be ok.

7/3/2006 9:23:05 AM

sevierville, Tn

You will see a big difference from plant to plant. some plants handle the heat better. Also once the leaf is mature the heat doesn't hurt em as much. I leave them on as even part of a leaf is better than none. Have some young leaves that never even make it in this 93-95 heat. You can give em some shade, especially at the tips to help if your losing too many leaves. Will be cooler by weeks end , we hope.

7/3/2006 1:39:27 PM

Follansbee, Wv

I agree with AXC and smoky mtn. I leave the leaves on unless they are completely destroyed. As smoky suggested, shading the tips will help some.

The only explanation I can think of for the smaller pumpkin varieties not showing significant damage is the size of the plant. Perhaps the smaller plants are able to move just enough water to prevent the burn damage, even though they are wilting, whereas the AG's are so large, they simply cannot move enough water. That is my wild, uneducated guess which is probably completely wrong.

7/4/2006 9:33:07 AM

Ohio

I take a pair of scissors and cut the burnt part of the leaf off, it dont look pretty when your done with it. I think it also keeps the cukes off the leaf also, they seem to be attracted to the dried burnt part of the leaf.

7/4/2006 10:35:22 AM

Ohio

Oh, one more thing I do, if the younger leaves are to damged that need removed . I will remove the dead leaf and replace it with a leaf from the vine thats starting to grow from this node, I will cut the entire vine off only leaving the leaf for its replacment. Guess it would be called a thirdary leaf,lol.

7/4/2006 10:41:13 AM