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Sep 22, 2016 2:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Brooke Vorwerk
Reseda (Zone 9b)
Hello,

My pumpkin sprouts are dying off. It looks like a pest problem but not sure what exactly. Maybe worms or something, it looks like they nibble on them. What can I do to stop this from happening?

Thanks!
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Sep 22, 2016 2:50 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Hi and welcome! If you could let us know where you are growing your pumpkins (city/state/country) that will help us to help you.

Off the top of my head it's getting a little bit late for pumpkins to be setting fruit at all. Did you start your plants late? When they've set fruit they need a lot of consistent water, too. The ground in your picture looks pretty dry. How often are you watering?
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Sep 23, 2016 6:50 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
Are they getting pollinated?

I have had squash family plants suffer, they can get blossom end rot the same as tomatoes, which can be helped with calcium in the soil.
Here's some info on blossom end rot, and general good care for squash family plants

http://www.missouribotanicalga...
Plant it and they will come.
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Sep 23, 2016 11:57 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Brooke Vorwerk
Reseda (Zone 9b)
I'm located in Reseda, CA. We planted in June. The weather has been really hot here in the valley.
We water them everyday! Sad Do you think I should water twice a day? And I think they are getting pollinated, we have bees everywhere.
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Sep 23, 2016 12:28 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Maybe until the hot weather eases up, you could throw some mulch on the soil to help keep it cooler and reduce evaporation? Straw or hay works fine - but use a deep layer, 4 inches or so to insulate. It's not a bad idea to have some straw under your pumpkins to keep them up off the ground a bit, too.

Also water deeply - for a much longer time than you would think is needed - when it's hot here we set our sprinklers to water for an hour every morning to be sure to get the water down deep enough. Just standing there for a few minutes with a hose isn't going to cut it, for example.

If the leaves on your pumpkins wilt in the afternoons, I would water longer in the mornings, not water twice. They are susceptible to powdery mildew so if you water in the afternoon again, and the leaves stay wet into the evening that's an invitation to fungal problems.

It looks to me as if your pumpkins are getting pollinated, then shriveling up after that. Are there any marks or wounds that look like critters or bugs are getting at them? Cut one of the shriveled ones open and see if there's anything happening inside.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Last edited by dyzzypyxxy Sep 23, 2016 12:36 PM Icon for preview
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Sep 23, 2016 12:34 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Brooke Vorwerk
Reseda (Zone 9b)
Thank you so much for your advice Elaine!! Smiling
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