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West Bridgewater /Brockton Ma. USA

well with high hope of a great start this year August again has been my down fall ... I have been told it is a soil rot/ soil virus that has wiped 7 of my 9 pumpkins after reaching tape weights of 5-700lbs , and one light one at around 350lbs.... I am wondering if a high iron content in the water may have a cause / or effect on AG's .
I currently use untreated well water but test show a very high iron content and we treat the second well as such for house water ...This same water does not appear to efect the crop of Prizewinners that grow in the same field but then this rot does not effect them either ...again was told this may be due to growth rates of the two as to way one is efected and not the other ,,,,
for next year I am looking at tilling in RID-X and to set up other ground(s) but still want to try to "fix" this area of the patch ... just trying to find a bright spot in all of this after a very bad August both personally and patch wise ...
Thanks
Bill G.

8/28/2007 9:58:01 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I'm wondering if high iron well water will have any negative effect, as well. I overhead water, and can see iron residue on the leaves, particularily on the major leaf veins. My sprinkler is a rusty brown color on the the frame, due to iron residue.

8/28/2007 10:34:50 PM

Rhode Island

bgib and doug 14
high iron content should not in my opinion have any effect on your plants health.
we have been forced due to lack of rain and water in our patch well to mix our house well water in with the patch well. no problems noted here.
id get a tissue test on one of the bad plants and see whats really going on. could help you have a successfull 2008 season.

8/29/2007 5:48:30 AM

West Bridgewater /Brockton Ma. USA

Pap
By tissue test , do you mean the green plant or the rotted pumpkin hull itself ?

8/29/2007 6:34:21 AM

Wi

A pathology lab likes many parts from the entire plant to diagnose disease. Send in a chunk of roots, vine, leaf / stem.

A tissue test for nutrient uptake requires newer growth leaves only.

8/29/2007 9:05:10 AM

Phoenix, AZ

Bill,

I think you are serious enough with this sport that you should do the foliar nutrient test as well as a pathology test both in the leaves and the soil.

Finally, test your water and find out how much iron it is.

8/29/2007 9:33:36 AM