The little package of seeds that the pumpkins came in gave some very simple instructions. They said: dig a hole, put a couple seeds in the hole, and cover the hole with dirt. They said I would be enjoying pumpkins in 100 days. They did not say that pumpkins are susceptible to mold, bacteria, and viruses. I have said over the past few days that my pumpkins looked 'wilty,' well, apparently some of this wiltiness is related to disease.
Pumpkin 2 has been thriving. Pumpkin A, on the other hand, has contracted some kind of illness. There are a lot of diseases that pumpkins can get. It looks as though A has some kind of mildew or perhaps several kinds of mildew. It may be bacterial or viral as well. The white powdery stuff I know is mildew, but I'm not sure what makes the leaves turn yellow. I know now that its not lack of water and fall is a few days off as well...
The Internet offers suggestions on what to do. It seems the best option is to: "remove the entire diseased plant." That's a little harsh, I have no intention of doing this as I only have two plants. The next option is treating them with various chemicals and antibiotics. Really? Antibiotics for pumpkins? Do they need an IV as well? OK, I like my plants, but I don't think I'm willing to go that far. I picked the only option I have left, or at least the only option that I could think of; pruning...There is no instructions on how to do this (but I did see somewhere that you should 'sterealize' your pruning shears between cuts) so I just went ahead and amputated the diseased bits. A looks a little scraggly now, but I hope I caught the problem before the necrosis spreads...sorry A.
A on the left before the pruning, and A on the right, after. A already looks a little greener.I only hacked off five leaves. I really hope this works...
Alas! Poor A!
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