Diseases and pests in pumpkin. Control methods and prevention

  • Apr 29, 2022
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I will not get tired of singing the praises of the pumpkin. For me, this is a completely unique vegetable in terms of its properties, beauty, and taste. And it is perfectly stored in the conditions of the apartment. Pumpkin can be eaten all year round. She will not get bored if you learn how to cook a variety of dishes from her. Yes, the dislikes of the orange beauty, there were times when I was skeptical about her. But not now.

Pumpkins. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com
Pumpkins. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com
Pumpkins. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com

Unfortunately, despite its external hardness, the pumpkin sometimes gets sick. Pests also do not bypass it.

Pumpkin diseases

This vegetable is susceptible to fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. There are effective ways to deal with them.

bacteriosis

This is the most dangerous disease. You can lose your entire crop.

External manifestations of the disease:

  • leaves are covered with dark green spots;
  • brown ulcers appear on the fruits, they are deformed;
  • leaves are pierced with holes.
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bacteriosis
bacteriosis

When the first signs appear, I spray the bush with Bordeaux liquid or

copper chloride.

For prevention, I carry out disinfection of seeds with zinc sulfate.

powdery mildew

Provokes this fungal disease dampness and cold air.

The disease can be recognized if:

  • white spots appeared on the leaves;
  • later the whole leaf turns white, and then other parts of the plant;
  • gradually the leaves and stem darken and dry out;
  • fruits cease to set, and the taste of those that have begun worsens.

Sick plants I treat with colloidal sulfur or spray with a solution of mullein.

Powdery mildew of pumpkin
Powdery mildew of pumpkin

downy mildew

This disease is similar to the one described above. Only the color of the plaque differs: in peronosporosis it is gray.

The provocateurs of the disease are the same as those of powdery mildew.

What it looks like:

  • plaque is formed on the inside of the sheet;
  • outside on the leaves are yellow spots, later they darken;
  • leaves dry and become brittle.

I treat peronosporosis in the same ways as powdery mildew.

root rot

More often, weak seedlings are sick, in which the root system is affected. The disease begins with sudden changes in temperature and watering with cold water.

Symptoms:

  • the roots change color to grayish and become soft:
  • the first leaves turn yellow;
  • pumpkin stops growing.

To prevent the disease, I disinfect the seeds. If the disease manifests itself, I replace the top layer of soil with healthy soil. Additionally, I process it with ash or crushed coal.

green spotting

This insidious disease manifests itself mainly on fruits sent for storage. Her symptoms are not visible at first. How to recognize the disease:

green spotting
green spotting
  • spots appear on the fruits;
  • the crust is cracking;
  • fruits are stored little, as they begin to rot from the inside.

With such a disease, it is impossible to store a pumpkin. I put it in for recycling immediately after cleaning.

For treatment, I use spraying with Bordeaux liquid.

Green Spot Prevention:

  • growing through seedlings;
  • disinfection of seeds before planting;
  • seed hardening.

yellow mosaic

Pumpkins have almost no immunity against this disease. The disease can be seen on seedlings or young plants. Infection occurs through weeds or aphids.

What does a diseased pumpkin look like:

  • leaves become white and curled;
  • in adult plants, yellow patterns are visible on the leaves;
  • plant and fruits do not develop.

For treatment, I use a solution of karbofos.

Pests

The most common on the pumpkin are aphids, spider mites, wireworms, slugs. To deal with each of them, there are methods.

wireworm
wireworm

Luckily, pumpkin is fairly disease resistant. For planting, I choose varieties with immunity to diseases.

Do you have pumpkin disease? How do you fight disease? Share your experience in the comments.

Read also: Pumpkin Honey: variety description. I talk about the intricacies of planting and care

Another related article: Gymnospermous pumpkin: description. My recommendations for growing and further care of the plant

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