Pumpkins..
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- Bummerdout06
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Pumpkins..
hey there! i know this is a bizarre topic. and i don't know how many of you are plant/farmer people. but i'm growing a pumpkin, two green little pumpkins are starting to grow. and i was wondering if any bugs and stuff like that will eat it? or destroy it. I am growing these pumpkins for halloween and would like to see them grow, i don't care how big, as long as they grow. its my first pumkin and don't want it eatin or destroyed by bugs. will it? if so what kind of stuff could i get to spray on the pumpkin that does not harm dogs, but keeps animals away (i am not going to eat the pumpkin myself) please any help..hopefully someone knows.
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- Emily
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Re: Pumpkins..
Cucumber Beetle (and other beetles): This is the most common insect enemy to your vine crops. These pests can damage the leaves and transmit diseases which may prove fatal to the plant. Fortunately, most common pest controls are effective against this pest. Use the milder sprays and dusts early on. Apply stronger sprays such as Diazinon or Malathion for major infestation and later in the season when a wide variety of bugs are out in full force. Then switch back to milder sprays and dusts in September as the season winds down and the bugs are no longer in abundance.
Snails and Slugs: These slimy little creatures of the night love to suck on the soft pumpkin fruit. They normally do not attack regular pumpkins. A favorite snack is a young Atlantic Giant fruit before the skin begins to harden. They will eat holes deeply into the fruit and destroy it.
Fortunately, there is an easy and environmentally friendly ways to defend against snails and slugs. The easiest method is to put a layer of sand beneath and a few inches around the pumpkin fruit. These pests do not like to travel across sand. This effectively halts them from reaching the fruit. As the fruit grows, add more sand. Continue to provide a ring of protection until the skin shows signs of hardening.
Applying Snail and Slug Pellets is also very effective. They eat the pellets and die.
Snails and slugs do not bother regular pumpkins to any significant degree. Consequently, you do not need to use sand or Snail and Slug bait for regular pumpkins. Ditto for the smaller varieties like "Jack Be Little".
If you fruit is growing well and all of a sudden slows down, this may be the cause. After the damage is done the vine will shrivel and die. The presence of secondary roots may continue to produce a little more towards fruit weight, but effectively your season is over if they eat through the vine. Some growers will perform surgery, cutting into the vine, extracting the vine borer, then patching the entry wound. After, surgery, sprays are applied and the vine covered with soil to promote secondary root growth. However, success is limited and significant damage is often done during surgery. Vine borers attack most members of the Cucurbita family- pumpkins, squash and cucumbers.
It is important to guard against an infestation before it happens. Spray your vines with a strong chemical such as Diazinion. Make sure to cover the vine thoroughly, especially near the base. I recommend you paint on the insecticide . Mix the spray according to the manufacturer's instruction and put it in a jar with a safety cap. (Don't forget to clearly label it and put it out of reach of small children). Take an old paint brush and brush it on the vine up to about a foot from the base. Make sure to gently lift the vine and paint the underside. Repeat applications as necessary and in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction.
Squash Bug Squash bugs are sucking insects that enjoy munching on your leaves and stems. They are easily controlled by regular applications of Sevin.
Snails and Slugs: These slimy little creatures of the night love to suck on the soft pumpkin fruit. They normally do not attack regular pumpkins. A favorite snack is a young Atlantic Giant fruit before the skin begins to harden. They will eat holes deeply into the fruit and destroy it.
Fortunately, there is an easy and environmentally friendly ways to defend against snails and slugs. The easiest method is to put a layer of sand beneath and a few inches around the pumpkin fruit. These pests do not like to travel across sand. This effectively halts them from reaching the fruit. As the fruit grows, add more sand. Continue to provide a ring of protection until the skin shows signs of hardening.
Applying Snail and Slug Pellets is also very effective. They eat the pellets and die.
Snails and slugs do not bother regular pumpkins to any significant degree. Consequently, you do not need to use sand or Snail and Slug bait for regular pumpkins. Ditto for the smaller varieties like "Jack Be Little".
If you fruit is growing well and all of a sudden slows down, this may be the cause. After the damage is done the vine will shrivel and die. The presence of secondary roots may continue to produce a little more towards fruit weight, but effectively your season is over if they eat through the vine. Some growers will perform surgery, cutting into the vine, extracting the vine borer, then patching the entry wound. After, surgery, sprays are applied and the vine covered with soil to promote secondary root growth. However, success is limited and significant damage is often done during surgery. Vine borers attack most members of the Cucurbita family- pumpkins, squash and cucumbers.
It is important to guard against an infestation before it happens. Spray your vines with a strong chemical such as Diazinion. Make sure to cover the vine thoroughly, especially near the base. I recommend you paint on the insecticide . Mix the spray according to the manufacturer's instruction and put it in a jar with a safety cap. (Don't forget to clearly label it and put it out of reach of small children). Take an old paint brush and brush it on the vine up to about a foot from the base. Make sure to gently lift the vine and paint the underside. Repeat applications as necessary and in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction.
Squash Bug Squash bugs are sucking insects that enjoy munching on your leaves and stems. They are easily controlled by regular applications of Sevin.
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- Jess
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Re: Pumpkins..
haha Emily that was a wonderful post! as for your pumpkins, good luck with growing them...:luck: i love halloween!
the banana dance will live on!
- four
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Re: Pumpkins..
Pumpkins are one of the easiest plants to grow ever, pretty much they just take care of themselves, just keep a look out on em and make sure there isn't too many weeds growing up around them that they can't move at all and they should be just fine. Those bugs Emily mentioned normally go after my zucchinni but don't even touch the pumpkins, or at least around here they don't.
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Re: Pumpkins..
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Whatever our failings may be, we need not lower our eyes in the presence of Jesus...Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and the weak-kneed who know they don't have it all together, and who are not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace. As we glance up, we are astonished to find the eyes of Jesus open with wonder, deep with understanding, and gentle with compassion.
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- Beachatnight
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Re: Pumpkins..
Once, I had a pumpkin. It grew up against a tree. We never really paid attention to it, until one day we noticed that it was shaking. I didn't think pumpkins got cold or scared, so I went out to investigate. As I got closer, I noticed that a squirrel had burrowed into the side of the pumpkin and gotten stuck. It was pretty funny. So, the moral of the story is, watch out for squirrels.
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Re: Pumpkins..
Once a Squirrel got stuck in a jar my grandparents left outside so we filled it with gas and threw matches at it.
Fill up the bucket with whatever ya got.
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
- Mail Order
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Re: Pumpkins..
OoOo... barbaqued squirrel. Tasty. Hah.
ATTENTION: Due to finanical difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
"They turn the lights down low,
In shadows hiding from the world,
Only coming out when it gets cold.
The seas part when they hit the floor,
The voices carry on and out the door
And everything you touch turns into gold
Like the angel you are you laugh creating a lightness in my chest,
Your eyes they penetrate me,
(Never cease to amaze me)
That's when I got up and left" Like The Angel - Rise Against
"They turn the lights down low,
In shadows hiding from the world,
Only coming out when it gets cold.
The seas part when they hit the floor,
The voices carry on and out the door
And everything you touch turns into gold
Like the angel you are you laugh creating a lightness in my chest,
Your eyes they penetrate me,
(Never cease to amaze me)
That's when I got up and left" Like The Angel - Rise Against
- Flowers For The Dead
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Re: Pumpkins..
No, the jar shattered and the squirrel ran off burning and set some brush on fire, then layed down and squealed then all you could hear was the popping of his body fat. POP! POP POP POPP!
Fill up the bucket with whatever ya got.
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
- Flowers For The Dead
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Re: Pumpkins..
Then there was then one time i was olling over a dead squirrel in front of my house and i landed on him.
Fill up the bucket with whatever ya got.
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
- Angel_Amie
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Re: Pumpkins..
i think thats gross.
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- Flowers For The Dead
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Re: Pumpkins..
Its life, and that stuff happens every day. Deal
Fill up the bucket with whatever ya got.
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
Make sure it's somethin' that the bucket likes alot.
One day CUT FREE!!!!
- Beachatnight
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Re: Pumpkins..
Damn, what did squirrels ever to do you?
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Re: Pumpkins..
Originally posted by Flowers For The Dead@Aug 1 2003, 02:36 PM
No, the jar shattered and the squirrel ran off burning and set some brush on fire, then layed down and squealed then all you could hear was the popping of his body fat. POP! POP POP POPP!
I wish I could have been there.
ATTENTION: Due to finanical difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
"They turn the lights down low,
In shadows hiding from the world,
Only coming out when it gets cold.
The seas part when they hit the floor,
The voices carry on and out the door
And everything you touch turns into gold
Like the angel you are you laugh creating a lightness in my chest,
Your eyes they penetrate me,
(Never cease to amaze me)
That's when I got up and left" Like The Angel - Rise Against
"They turn the lights down low,
In shadows hiding from the world,
Only coming out when it gets cold.
The seas part when they hit the floor,
The voices carry on and out the door
And everything you touch turns into gold
Like the angel you are you laugh creating a lightness in my chest,
Your eyes they penetrate me,
(Never cease to amaze me)
That's when I got up and left" Like The Angel - Rise Against
- sexyheather
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Re: Pumpkins..
im no farmer, i live near disneyland in ca haha but i did used to grow pumpkins in my back yard and never had a real problem with bugs.. sugar water makes them grow bigger! my first grade teacher told us that and i tried it and it worked really well, or at least i think it did. the insect factor probably depends on where you live.
The quote that saved my life, "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
- Bummerdout06
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Re: Pumpkins..
ok thanks. about the sugar water thing, i will def. try it. but won't bugs be more attracted to it? i don't know. i live in southwest virginia. does anyone know about bugs there? thanks
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