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What happened to my pumpkins?

leelkataleelkata Posts: 31
in Problem solving
Hello. I have or had some beautiful pumpkins growing.

I took good care of it I haven't used toxic bug killers. Used a little neem oil spray and caught slugs with beer trap.
They got enough water. Gave sometimes natural feed. They are on a little hill, so don't get soaked and stand in water.

On the first photo you can see that it looks like it dried out and there are lots of holes on them. The stem turned yellow in 2-3 days. Some other pumpkins have white spots on them. It definitely wasn't slugs.

I'm sure that pretty green pumpkin won't survive. 😭 I worked so hard to keep them healthy and bug free. 

Could it be that something is eating the roots, or caterpillar which hides in the morning or some kind of special pumpkin bug or a disease? The same happened last year but I didn't have pumpkins on them. 
Any idea? Any help would be greatly appriciated. 😊

Posts

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    edited October 2020
    The little white spots are the start of powdery mildew,  I would be more surprised if there wasn't any mildew on pumpkins/squash by this time of the year. The nights are now to cold for these plants so the main problem I think you have is that that plant got going to late or has not had enough light/warmth/something to ripen a pumpkin before now.

    I can see hedge clippings on the ground near it, if it's growing by the hedge then it's probably a combination of a lack of light and poor soil.
  • leelkataleelkata Posts: 31
    Thank you very much. There is a tree nearby. Unfortunately it's from the neighbour. Luckily it did not cover the sun from the pumpkin. That was actually the funniest spot in the garden. We've been conditioning the soil and ripped out as many tree roots as possible. Most likely the cold.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Try growing them up a strong support, if most of the plant is up off the ground they will suffer less from slugs, damp etc, and they will get more light. I agree they are very hungry thirsty plants. 
    AB Still learning

  • leelkataleelkata Posts: 31
    Thank you for all your advices.  Perhaps a raised bed will help next time. I'm only afraid that the pumpkins will pull down the plant, as they are quite heavy. It makes sense because they'll get more sun. Well it's too late for these ones Now, but I got a lot further than last year. 😊
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