How to detect pumpkin diseases in time, effectively treat them and save your harvest

Pumpkin - an unpretentious and productive crop. Caring for the plant is simple, consisting of timely watering, fertilizer and shaping. But even if all the rules are followed, the pumpkin can become infected with a virus or fungus, which reduces the quality and quantity of the harvest. The causes of diseases are different: high humidity, untimely feeding, contaminated seeds.

In this article we will look at the most common cultural diseases, find out treatment methods and preventive measures.

Pumpkin diseases and their treatment

Pumpkin diseases occur both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. Some appear at an early stage of development, others appear during the fruiting period. We will answer questions about why leaves dry or turn yellow and what to do if the bushes become diseased.

Root rot

Root rot affects seedlings or young bushes in open ground. The roots become brown, the leaves become dry and yellow. Causes of root rot: watering with cold water, sudden temperature changes, increased soil acidity.

For preventive purposes, it is recommended to follow the rules of crop rotation - plant pumpkins after potatoes or peppers, and also thoroughly disinfect the soil. If root rot has already formed, the bushes are sprayed with a solution based on zinc sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Before processing the beds, be sure to wear a respirator, goggles and gloves.

Important! To reduce the acidity of the soil, liming is carried out before planting: sprinkle the soil with a mixture of lime and dry wood ash. Use the components in equal proportions.

Powdery mildew

White spots appear on the leaves, which eventually grow throughout the plant. The causes of infection lie in weeds and soil, as well as in an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

The fungus is transferred from plant to plant by water or wind. As a preventative measure, regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds. To treat powdery mildew, use ground sulfur or mullein-based infusion. The procedure is carried out early in the morning to avoid burns.

Downy mildew

Downy mildew is downy mildew. Yellow-brown spots appear on the leaves and the plant dries out. The rapid spread of the fungus is facilitated by insect pests: aphids, whiteflies, slugs. To avoid false dew, before planting, the beds are carefully dug up and all debris and remains of last year’s plants are burned. To disinfect the land, the drugs “Gamair” and “Fitosporin” are used.

It is not recommended to plant pumpkin bushes close to each other; this can lead to a number of problems. If downy mildew appears on the bushes, it is advised to immediately treat the beds with a solution of copper sulfate or Planzir. It is important to detect the disease in time and take protective measures as early as possible.

Anthracnose (scarden)

Dark brown spots appear on the leaves, their diameter varies from 2 to 12 mm. The copperhead occurs due to frost, sunburn, and frostbite. If help is not provided in time, the spots grow and merge into a single pattern. Ulcers appear on the stems, which dry out and crack over time.As a result, the plant dries out and the pumpkins lose their firmness and elasticity.

For prevention, it is recommended to fertilize the soil with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and plant weather-sensitive varieties in greenhouses. Previkur or Fundazol are used as therapeutic measures. Before use, study the manufacturer's recommendations and the required dosage.

Important! When growing in a greenhouse, be sure to ventilate the structure and follow the watering regime. Excess water and high humidity form a special microflora, which serves as excellent soil for the development of copperhead.

Green spot

Green spotting is carried by raindrops and winds. The disease appears in the second half of summer, closer to fruit harvest. Light green or brown spots appear on the pumpkins, which cause the peel to crack.

For prevention purposes, disease-resistant varieties are selected and planted in seedlings. Before planting, the largest and heaviest seeds are selected and disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or aloe juice. It would not be superfluous to harden the material, for which purpose disinfected seeds Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours for 5 days. If the pumpkin does become infected with green spotting, it is treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture or the drug “Alirin-B”.

Yellow mosaic

On young plants the disease manifests itself in the form of curling and white color, on adult bushes - yellow patterned spots. When infected, the bush and fruits stop growing, and the plant takes on a sickly appearance.

Yellow mosaic is transmitted through soil or insect pests, including whiteflies or aphids. Experienced summer residents advise planting disease-resistant varieties whenever possible.As a preventive measure, follow the rules of care, regularly water and fertilize the beds. Treat yellow mosaic with karbofos solution.

Important! If the disease has overtaken a greenhouse pumpkin, immediately after harvesting, remove 10 cm of the top layer of soil. Afterwards, the soil and the greenhouse itself are treated with a 0.5% trisodium phosphate solution. Gardeners recommend boiling the clothes in which the procedure was carried out several times. The mosaic virus can remain on it for up to two years.

Sclerotinia

Sclerotinia, or as it is more often called, white rot, appears on both young shoots and mature plants. It reproduces with the help of fungal spores, which are especially active in hot and rainy times. When damaged, the petioles and leaves begin to rot. A mycelium appears near the base of the stem - a white dense coating that looks like fluff.

If detected, the affected areas are sprinkled with dry charcoal or ash. As a preventive measure, fertilizing with zinc sulfate, urea or copper sulfate is used. Sclerotinia is especially active in greenhouse conditions and greenhouses.

Bacteriosis

One of the most common and dangerous cultural diseases. Brown sores appear on the leaves, causing dryness and wilting. Soon the fruits themselves become deformed and take on an ugly shape. The source of bacteriosis is considered to be seeds and remains of vegetation in the beds. Frequent rains and watering with cold water accelerate the development of the disease.

If infected fruits are discovered, they are immediately picked and buried as far as possible from the garden plot. For further prevention, the bushes are treated with a mixture of lime and copper sulfate.

Fusarium wilt

When infected, the root system weakens and the stems become thin. A white-pink coating is observed in the affected areas. In dry summers, the leaves turn yellow and dry out. Dangerous bacteria penetrate through the root and are spread throughout the bush with water.

As a preventive measure, at the seedling stage, the seeds are watered with the growth stimulator “Kornevin” and sprayed with a solution of milk and iodine. For treatment, the drugs “Quadris” or “Kurzat” are used.

Alternaria blight

Black dry spotting is characteristic of mature and large fruits. Pumpkins develop dark, dry spots that slowly turn into a velvety crust on the surface of the vegetable. Alternaria also appears on fruits that have already been harvested from the garden. The pumpkin is drying out due to violations of assembly and storage conditions.

To prevent it, it is recommended to wipe the vegetables with a dry cloth and store the crop in a dark, dry and well-ventilated place. Summer residents regularly inspect vegetables for signs of infection, and diseased fruits are immediately removed.

Symptoms and what they mean

Spots, pustules, plaque - all these signs indicate that the vegetable is experiencing a lack or excess of nutrition or care.

Let's look at common symptoms that signal the onset of disease:

1. White spots or white coating are a sign of an overabundance of fertilizers, especially mineral ones. Powdery mildew or fusarium wilt occurs as a result of the spots.
2. The bushes wither due to sudden climate changes and non-compliance with crop rotation rules. The most likely diseases with such symptoms are root rot and verdigris.
3. Fruit deformation is the main symptom of bacteriosis. The fruits take on a diseased form uncharacteristic for the variety and become weak and soft.
4. Mold on the fruit indicates that the plant is experiencing an excess of moisture. A defect appears due to green or brown spotting.
5. Yellow patterns on the leaves are the main feature of a yellow mosaic. If detected, it is necessary to treat the pumpkin with Bordeaux mixture or ash solution. Photos of diseased leaves clearly demonstrate the external signs of the disease. (photo 4)
6. Pustules on the roots indicate that the plant is sick with root rot or fusarium wilt. This happens due to improper disinfection of seeds and soil.

Preventive measures

Disease prevention is an important stage in plant care. It is this that allows you to preserve the harvest and collect the most delicious and juicy pumpkins from the beds.

Gardeners highlight the following protective measures:

1. Compliance with crop rotation rules. It is not recommended to plant a crop on the same bed for more than two or three years in a row. The best predecessors for pumpkin are greens or legumes, the worst are zucchini, squash and eggplant.
2. Disinfection of garden tools, clothing, seeds and soil. The best disinfectants: Bordeaux solution, potassium permanganate, HOM.
3. Growing and preparing seedlings: timely sowing, following the rules of watering and fertilizing. It would be a good idea to harden off the seedlings.
4. Proper care of the plant, including regular weeding and loosening the soil.
5. Organization of root and foliar feeding. Whey, iodine, and onion solution perfectly protect against diseases.
6. Regularly inspect the bushes for external damage.
7. Timely measures to treat plants.

Pumpkin pests and methods of controlling them

Among the insects, the melon aphid is isolated. Small translucent bugs settle on the back side of the leaf.Aphids feed on plant sap, which causes metabolic disorders. The leaves dry and curl, after which the flowers and ovaries fall off. If measures are not taken in time, the plant will die. The drug “Consento” helps get rid of melon aphids.

In addition to aphids, a sprout fly is noticed on the bushes. It is not the adults that are dangerous, but the larvae. They chew through pumpkin seeds and fresh sprouts. The sprout fly can destroy up to a third of all seedlings. For prevention and treatment, the beds are treated with the drug “Fentiuram”.

Pumpkins are also attacked by slugs and wireworms. They appear due to high humidity and non-compliance with crop rotation rules. For prevention, only disinfected seeds are planted and organic trimmings are added in a timely manner. It is advised not to thicken the plantings and form a bush on time.

Many insects are difficult to notice with the naked eye, so experienced summer residents recommend walking around the area 1-2 times a week and carefully inspecting the beds and bushes for damage.

Read also:

The harm and benefits of pumpkin seeds for men.

The benefits and harms of pumpkin seeds for women: therapeutic effect and rules for using pumpkin seeds.

Is it possible to freeze pumpkin while retaining maximum beneficial properties?

Conclusion

Pumpkin begins to get sick due to non-compliance with care rules and sudden climatic fluctuations. Many diseases appear in the form of white or gray spots, plaque, and dry curled leaves. The main measure to protect crops is thorough and timely disinfection of seeds and soil.

You can’t do without fertilizers: foliar fertilizing protects stems, fruits and leaves; root plants have a positive effect on the condition of the roots.At the first detection of symptoms, the infected fruits are eliminated, and the remaining crop is treated with fungicides or folk remedies.