Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Torrance, Ca.

Hey Matt,
I had a disease filled patch right out of the gate. I got on the phone with Harry from western labs and another grower. Fusarium was my big one but pythium was also off the charts. Hence the reason I'm taking this year off and focusing on getting the soil rested and clean through cover crops and a few other tricks.
The chemicals I rotated on top of the fusarium chemicals were Rhyme, Segway O, Herritage, Ridomil Gold and Presido. We still ended up growing a 1740 and had a 3 week span of 50 to 60 pound days before things dropped off fast. My biggest fruit was done growing by August 1st so the chemicals really did their job!

I just need to get the soil rested and start my chemical routine much sooner in 2024. If I would of just had 4 or 5 more weeks of growth, what could of been for our southern area! Our buddy Rick also turned me onto Miravis Neo which targets fusarium. This will be added in 2024.

Good luck buddy and don't forget to pull that shade cloth over if you see even a 1% chance of hail!

11/17/2022 10:52:21 AM

Kutztown, PA

Can either of you guys say what the outward symptoms of Pythium and Fusarium are. For instance what the plant might look like. I'm specifically interested in the effect on the stem of the pumpkin, if any.

11/17/2022 11:39:22 AM

matt-man

Rapid City, SD

pythium attacks the root system....and does it fast, the plant will show signs of leave wilt and discolor....slight yellowing...by then it is to late.....lost all of my fruit on day 40....all were 450 pounds or so.....got one to the scale but she was rotting fast....i use terra clean, eagle 20, companion...iot helped but not enough

11/17/2022 4:47:27 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I love that I see you're using terra clean Matt! I'm doing a massive drench of this product now then I'll follow with 4 different cover crops taking me to 2024.
Harry at western said even if my soil panel says I have no disease when I grow again, he wants me to still use my chemicals to keep things in check.
He also tells me, as soon as you plant your seedlings hit them with a light dose of whatever you're using to fight what disease is the worst in your patch. Mines fusarium, so I'll be drenching a 5 foot circle around each baby plant as soon as I plant outside. Get those roots protected early!
My disease is so bad, trying to grow next year would be a waste of time. In-between each chemical drench I reinoculate with all the good guys. The good microbes also help in fighting off the diseases we deal with.

Garwolf- Matt D. has a page somewhere on here with all the diseases and pictures. Maybe he'll see this and remind us where its at. It may even be somewhere else but its very informative.

11/18/2022 10:03:31 AM

Andy H

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Three years ago my soil was so bad that everything aborted, I mean everything and the plants died soon after. I read an article that Rutgers put out on the use of biologicals vs pathogens like pythium and fusarium and one statement stuck with me- " The key to controlling and/or suppressing damping-off pathogens with biological controls is keeping the biological populations high and continually present on root surfaces of the host and by following good cultural practices."

I think most of use use a mychorrizae product of one kind or another. Along with that I used Actinovate, a bacterium labeled for pythium and fusarium and another product containing trichoderma virens and trichoderma harzianum.
Along with additional "organicky" products I can say I had no issues whatsoever touch wood. Even powdery mildew came so late that I didn't care when it did.
Didn't help me with my weights but that's on me. It did give me maybe my best ever growing season in terms of yield and quality. Good luck.

.

11/18/2022 1:44:58 PM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks So. Cal. I'll look for it too.

Do you have to inoculate the good microbes due to the Terra Clean 5.0 or is it due to something else you're using?
What's the inoculant?

11/18/2022 1:48:26 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Garwolf, after the terra clean 5 or zerotol drench you wait a day or less and you can start putting the good guys back in. The acid\peroxide dissipates fast according to the rep I spoke with. I use their product " Terra Grow " a couple of Rons products and a 10 pound bag of the good guys I get from the local pot store. This get the good microbes going again which also push away disease.
There's a really good chance but its not confirmed yet, that the zerotol folks will be at the convention this year. My buddy gave Woody all their info and we'll see!

For us guys dealing with disease, its a fine line between chemical drenches and reinoculating with the good guys all season long. I know a few of the heavy, heavy hitters that do this all season with great success.

11/19/2022 10:25:01 AM

matt-man

Rapid City, SD

good stuff...thanks for sharing

11/27/2022 12:47:23 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Most newer growers don't even know what they're dealing with and just think the old looking leaves are just age. If they did a little testing of both the plant tissue and soil and saw their test results,,, I can almost promise them and extra few hundred pounds the next growing season.
This was me many years ago and once I tested, saw what I was dealing with, bought the chemicals\biologicals needed for the next year my weights went up 4000 to 500 pounds that first year.
We spend a lot of time and pour everything we have into those 5 months to get a big pumpkin. Why not spend a little money testing and be ready the following year to get ahead of the disease.
A good starting point is on the Ohio clubs page. They have loads of information on each disease and what fights the diseases you might be dealing with. Some of the chemicals are pricy so find another grower or two and split the cost of what you need. That's what I've done and its taken me to that next level.:)

11/27/2022 1:54:54 PM

Grittyville, WA

I will just say that the diseases that attack the roots will manifest as a deficiency, or slower growth, and vica versa... a deficiency often will look like a disease. Hence, I think the above posts ^ are approaching "pumpkin bible" scriptures. I havent grown a big pumpkin by bp standards, so its just a guess... but maybe these condiderations are important growing a big pumpkin. Shh... :)

11/28/2022 5:32:44 AM

Grittyville, WA

Well I knew I couldn't write that much without a typo sorry :)

...maybe these considerations are important growing a big pumpkin!

11/28/2022 5:36:54 AM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

..important TO, for or in growing a big pumpkin, ha ha ha;
I also am amazed at a typo even after re-reading a reply or post numerous times - If it was light-hearted, I'll usually type the error as corrected and that's also my method of justification;
If it wasn't, I leave it be, lol---eg

11/28/2022 6:23:09 AM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks So. Cal. I think I'll have a test done this year. Does anyone hear know what time of year is best to test for disease in soil. Can it be done in winter? If the lab is just culturing it seems anytime would work - don't know???

11/28/2022 9:45:13 AM

Grittyville, WA

Sheesh... I musta been half asleep, the grammer is not there either. Well it really is looking like I should take a year off. My brain is gone, and somebodys dog tore my greenhouse plastic up!

11/28/2022 12:51:29 PM

Kutztown, PA

Little Kins, why not just compromise on the handle and go by "Grittykins". That has kind of a ring to it. I'd do it, but "Garwolfkins" just doesn't have the same pizazz!

11/30/2022 4:25:51 PM