Chris:
What you describe sounds like a problem we had when we moved into
our house and started planting outdoor plants. We planted new plants
in a area not planted by the previous owner and shortly there after the
yellow blotches and stunted growth would occur. When I took some leaves
to our local very reputable nursery the man took one look and asked if
any herbacide had been used on the ground or in the area. I was not
sure but it was very possible given the low maintenance {lots of ginger
stone ground cover} the previous owners installed. I'm sure they
doused all open ground with Triox or some other long term herbacide.
Anyway after about three years we no longer had the problem and
none of our plants show the chlorotic symptoms they once did so I am
sure that the problem was herbacide residue. I don't know about your
case but its something to think about. Maybe someone was spraying
weeds in your area. Take care and its going to be a glorious pumpkin
year here in No. Cal.
Mark
Pleasanton