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Chillicothe Ohio 45601

we are new at this ,starting year 3.have ha dsome moderate success but calculated 300lb was best. it then formed a black pitted place on surface and soon after got soft and rotten.even the smaller ones got soft so I was wondering if we were watering wrong? had 4 plants and were watering entire patch.was wondering if maybe should only water main root? I would like to know how many pumpkins should be allowed to grow on each plant? tried to stay with the fastest growing and largest one but then it would rot and would have to switch to another. what am I doing wrong?

4/15/2014 5:39:24 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Its hard to tell what kind of fungus you have but here are a few suggestions. Use a systemic fungicide like Agri-Fos or a similar phosphite. Read the label and apply the maximum number of times, spaced out evenly. When I get a pumpkin set, I put weed fabric and sand down under it and spray the sand with daconil. I put a tarp over the pumpkin to keep rain water off as well as for shade. Don't over water; you want moist but not soaking wet soil. Some biological products like Companion or a good compost tea help fight off bad fungus.

4/15/2014 8:39:12 AM

East Jordan, MI

If you have pictures it might be easier to help identify the fungus. Rotation of fungicides, don't over water, rotate planting area are some of the protections you can use to prevent it. There are a lot of Giant Pumpkin Growers in near you and the best was to learn (at least for me) is to visit their patches to see what they are doing, and ask them to come look things over at your place too. email me at cntryboy764@gmail.com

4/15/2014 7:51:56 PM

Chillicothe Ohio 45601

thanks for the info and I will be in touch soon,im only 20 mile away from cntryboy as I live in chillicothe

4/16/2014 5:50:44 AM

Sloughhouse

i am a first time grower and am wondering if you think it would be a good idea to use the run-off water from our certified organic compost pad to water our pumpkin plants?

4/24/2014 1:00:30 PM