Me pumpkin leaves are turnin yella!

[WitchypooNo2]

We have mulched with straw?? coz we have serious bindweed problems could that cause it??

The plants seem healthy but some of the outer leaves are turning yellow!

Could it be overwatering? under watering?? lack of something obscure like phosphowhatzits?

if I feed them with foul smelling comfry juice will they get better?

Any thoughts feelings or suggestions most welcome!! Pleeeease

[WitchypooNo2]

I luff the Margo avatar btw!!!! I do have pink floral wellies

[Wombat]

could be mildew if you overwater - is there a powdery coating on the leaves as well, witchy?

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

It does sound like a lack of some nutrient. Lack of water would cause the plant to droop which you'd probably notice. I'm not sure what is in comfrey liquid in terms of nitrogen etc but I have heard people rave about it. It would probably be a good thing to use on it but it will be interesting to see what other people say first!

[Muddypause]

I luff the Margo avatar btw!!!!

Blimey, that's a first. Most people complain bitterly about having to be Margo. Make the most of it; you become Gerry at 25 posts.

Pumpkins are going to need a lot of watering; those sort of plants are very thirsty. If they are planted in the ground and you've got well drained soil (also important to prevent the roots rotting) it will be very hard to overwater them, particularly in this weather.

A bit of plant food is probably a good idea too, particularly when the fruit is developing.

[WitchypooNo2]

No powderyness that I can see and no droop. I have been watering in the evening at the base of the plant! We pump water from our water butt (an uncovered old pond) down the hose coz we are on a hose pipe ban!

[Wombat]

best way to do it Witchy!

[Boots]

Do you have pumpkins on the vine?

If so, tis just the vine telling you to pick and store. If no, then could be too much water on the leaves. Tis good to grow pumpkins down a slope and then you can just bung the hose at the top and water down with run off. They don't like getting a drenching from the top much, I don't think.

[WitchypooNo2]

Right there does seem to be a developement.

Its also on the cougettes. the older leaves are yellowing from the vein and at vein...junctions?? see I know nothing!!! There are whitesh bit that look powderyish but don';t feel it.......Any suggestions

No Pumpkins yet as it is the beginning of the growin season (well for me ) The courgettes are just flowering and as I said there is no drooping but perhaps I have over watered them? I
ll leave them for tonight and see how they go.

Thanks for all the fab advice tho!

[Wombat]

Maaaaaate!

Sounds like powdery mildew to me! This is fungal and generally due to high humidity in the area which can be caused by watering the whole plant instead of just the roots. Is there high humidity where you are?

Generally it may be time to plant new ones, when growing vigorously it is not a problem. Maybe you might want to try a seaweed spray perhaps.

Nev

[hedgewizard]

Yup, pumpkins are prone to it but if your plants are still quite small you might be able to rescue them with an antifungal. Watering the leaves makes this more of a problem... next year get a resistant variety like Big Max.

[ina]

Actually, I think some varieties have yellowish leaves anyway... At least, my pumpkin does, and it's perfectly healthy otherwise. (No idea what variety it is, though, as it's grown from a shop bought one - smallish, round, yellow fruit )

[Stonehead]

Older leaves on pumpkins and squash turn yellow, then crispy brown and die throughout the season. However, if the leaves turn pale yellow (without any powdery formations), with a green V at the leaf base, then your problem is probably magnesium deficiency. It's also quite noticeable on peas, beans, peppers and some brassicas.

The easiest way to correct this is to water with a solution of Epsom Salts. I use two teaspoons of Epsom Salts in a litre of water. Pour this around the base of the plants or, in the cool of the evening, apply as a foliar spray (which gives a quick response).

Causes can be too little liming or too much potassium (which hinders magnesium uptake).

Stonehead

[WitchypooNo2]

Right! Thanks for more advice. It is the older leaves turning yellow but the but the veins are still greenish...I think.... We are having a humid spell at the mo but when I water I water the base not the leaves but I have been watering alot so I gave them a break last night. I will try the epsom salts (live quite near epsom!!) and see whats what. They kinda look like those leaves have been weed killed iykwim

[hedgewizard]

Lime releases magnesium? Thanks Stoney! I'll break the pH meter out of its box, it's about time I knew what I was dealing with anyhow. I was going to ask how long a topdressing of epsom salts would work for.