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Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I'm noticing that the leaves on my 1420 LaRue have quite a light green color, not like the usual darker green. The plant is growing at a good rate and has leaves bigger than the other two plants in the same patch. These two plants have normal dark green leaves. Is the light green color caused by a deficiency of some sort or to much of something? If so what?

Thanks,
Mark

5/21/2007 9:20:14 PM

Ohio

Mark, do what I did today, send in a soil sample overnight to a lab and get the results back to your email in about 3 days,
I also have light green leaves on all my gourds, small pumpkins and even corn in my 2nd patch.
When ever I try to guess and try to fix the problem it has never worked out for me,now that I sent a soil sample in this time it will work out, or should,lol.

It could be many things Mark, Nitrogen, boron, Magnesium, iron deficiency, to much water, not enough water, cold temps and more.

Brooks

5/21/2007 9:49:03 PM

Woodstock Va

Mark from my little bit of experience, too much water or not enough nitrogen , as long as their not turning yellow and the plant continues to grow I dont think I would change much at this point. Might just be the genetic differnce in the plants. Good Luck!
Barry

5/21/2007 9:56:33 PM

Waquoit Mass

tissue test will stop all the guessing dave

5/22/2007 9:53:40 AM

Phoenix, AZ

What Big Dave said. If you want to REALLY know and are spending this much time on this sport, spend the money and get a foliar. You spend how much time in your patch every day? a foliar will be $60-80 for a complete one. For me, it was worth it.

5/22/2007 10:13:50 AM

[email protected]

If you tissue test then make sure to ask for the labs interpretive consultation service. Be sure to include all prior soil test & amendments with dates. Having the weekly soil temperatures is also very useful. Without ALL of this data no substantive conclusions will be drawn.

5/22/2007 10:21:30 AM

Phoenix, AZ

Steve,

I will differ with you on NO substantive conclusions. You will have a idea of what is going on if not a complete picture. However, even with what you indicated, it cannot explain all going on within the plant.

Take me for example, I have plenty of Mn in my soil but always come up deficient on foliars. I can only conclude that is it my high OM that is tying up my Mn. However, that is still only a guess for me.

5/22/2007 9:04:59 PM

Ohio

good idea Hammer, How much more is a tissue sample verses the regular soil sample? And, what part of the plant do the labs prefer to test? Thanks for the info on a tissue sample, I guess I always thought of a tissue sample being a test for a disease, never really thought about doing it for a deficiency for nutrients.

Brooks

5/22/2007 10:03:19 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Brooks,

the standard my lab goes by is 6th leaf back from growing point. This is an issue with very young plants. cut leaves off from petioles immediately so there is no movement of fluid.

Confirm with your lab of choice and please post your results. I have only seen my own foliar results and don't know how I compare to other AG's.

People talk so much about soil but never about foliar. Without a foliar, you really don't have a complete picture.

Now, go REALLY crazy and do a fruit flesh test after the season. I plan on doing one if no one takes my pumpkin after I am done growing.

5/23/2007 9:49:25 AM