RE: Creeping Death

Hi Kathy,

Sevin kills the natural predators of mites so after just 1 or 2 Sevin sprays
the mite population can explode into a serious problem. Rotate with active
ingredients like Bifenthrin (aka Capture or Talstar) or Lambda-cyhalothrin
(aka Warrior) to kill all of the pests that pumpkin growers are concerned
with.

Some retail names are Spectracide & Triazicide. There might be others.

For the record, I've been a CT certified pesticide supervisor since 1988. I
get nervous when I see folks throwing advice around here on Mallorn &
BigPumpkins. I know they mean well but...

Best wishes,

Stephen Jepsen
CT GS&PGA Director Emeritus
GPC Executive Committee
Tel (914) 260-7176
Fax (206) 203-2397


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Kathie Morgan
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:27 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Re: Creeping Death

Hi, Stephen!

I read that first as "excessive" use of Sevin. Then I saw my mistake  
and wondered how to avoid exclusive use of Sevin. We would be overrun  
with cucumber beetles and squash bugs were it not for David's  
exclusive use of Sevin as an insecticide. Do you mean for him to  
alternate that with ... what?

Thanks!

Kathie


On Aug 16, 2009, at 5:08 PM, Stephen Jepsen wrote:

> Chad,
>
> Check for mites. Exclusive use of Sevin can result in mite outbreaks.
>
> Hold a sheet of white paper beneath a leaf. Gently tap the vine so  
> as to
> dislodge the mites. Now use a magnifying lens if your over 40 or  
> just plain
> bight light if under 40. Stare at the tiny specks. The ones that  
> move are
> mites.
>
> Report back please.
>
> Stephen Jepsen
> CT GS&PGA Director Emeritus
> GPC Executive Committee
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On  
> Behalf Of
> Chad A. Weaver
> Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 6:18 PM
> To: pumpkins@hort.net
> Subject: Creeping Death
>
> First I'd like to thank everyone who has responded so promptly to  
> everyone's
> posts this year.  This is my first year attempting to grow anything,  
> much
> less a giant pumpkin!  The information I've learned on here will  
> undoubtedly
> be put to good use during the rest of this year and my second  
> attempt next
> year!
>
> Now my problem.  Through various other errors and animals I'm down  
> to one
> plant.  I've got a single fruit set and it is around the 80 pound  
> mark.
> Growth has been slow at around 3 lbs a day for the last couple of  
> weeks.
> Now growth has tapered off even more and I haven't seen any  
> significant
> growth in the last couple of days.  I think the problem is in the  
> lack of
> vine and secondaries.  Early on before I even knew what a male  
> flower looked
> like I was aggressively removing them.  Turns out I was also  
> aggressively
> removing the secondaries before they even grew.  I learned my error,  
> but the
> plant had about 3-4 of main vine with no secondaries.  The plant  
> continued
> to grow in spite of my vengeance and set a fruit at about 14 feet  
> and had
> secondaries that were about 8 feet at the longest.  Now creeping  
> death has
> set in.  Starting from the beginning of the plant and moving towards  
> the end
> the leaves are browning, secondaries wilting, and dieing off. It has  
> been a
> slow death that will now apparently consume the entire plant within  
> the next
> few weeks.  I water regularly with a soaker hose.  It's on a timer  
> and does
> 15 minutes every morning.  I had a few light doses of organic  
> miracle grow
> early on, and then a dose off pellet fertilizer that was around  
> 3-15-18 or
> something to that effect.  I've also had about 3 doses of Sevin  
> since June.
> The death seems to continue in spite of anything I do or don't do.
>
> I had hoped for better success this year, but will take the pile of  
> learning
> experience I've gained instead.  Every other problem I've successfully
> diagnosed and fixed, but this baffles me.  Any wisdom would be  
> gratefully
> accepted.
>
> Chad Weaver
> Hutsonville, IL
>
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