There be pumpkins here!

21 years ago

Finally, It looks as though my efforts are bearing fruitÂ no pun intended. It seems that despite how healthy the vines and male flowers looked, the plant was lacking potassium. After two applications of a fruit and flower fertilizer, the female flowers are more robust and some hand pollination has yielded 3 or 4 pumpkins that I hope will stay on the vines and mature. I am however having a real battle with aphids! I tried insecticidal soap and had poor results. The leaves are too delicate for a harsh water jet. IÂm presently using Malathion to combat the little buggers. Does anyone know if there are ladybugs for sale in the area? I know itÂs late in the season but I definitely have enough aphids to keep a heard of ladies happy for a while. I checked HD an LWÂs ÂNo luck.

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Comments (4)

Pagancat
21 years ago
Congratulations! We expect to see a few on October 1st!

(Now for my .02 cents...)

Malathion? Are you sure you wanna use that stuff on an annual crop? The only time I've reached for something that toxic, it was for my agaves with a snout nose weevil infestation. I know you've fought long and hard for your pumpkins, but you're pulling out nuclear warheads for a neighborhood disturbance. Soap and water *will* work if you keep on top of it. Seems like there's something to step up to from there... maybe I'm confusing the ingredients with Diazanon?

Good luck - looking forward to pictures, too!
jkochan
Original Author
21 years ago
Malathion is what the state agriculture depts. were spraying when the Mexican Fruit Fly was the scourge of the west. It's a little more benign than Diazanon. I tried 2 different insecticidal soaps as well as Neem oil and plain water. It just didn't knock them down. All the spraying was trashing the leaves, which are pretty delicate. I needed something that would stop 'em cold and have a residual effect for the hatch. I would've preferred ladybugs, but I would have needed a bazillion just to fight'em to a stand still. They started on the underside of the leaves and I didn't spot them till the leaves started to curl and by then it was pretty awful looking. If I can find some LB's I can stop the Malathion long enough to be safe for the LB's and still have few enough aphids that they can be controlled with predators. I'll take a picture of the patch tomorrow and post it.
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jimdaz
21 years ago
I read an article recently about the use of Ladybugs in the garden. Seems in our area, they donÂt really help much. In the spring, you can release them and get some benefit. Ladybugs donÂt like our hot summers, and have migrated to the mountains. The article said people in the high country gather them for sale in the deserts. Problem is, they are not hungry, and will fly away to find a cooler climate. I believe in integrated pest control, with the limited use of pesticides. Sometimes chemicals can be used, but be careful you donÂt destroy the beneficial insects.

Here is a good article from the University of California, on using Integrated Pest Management. I didnÂt realize soap and neem oil sprays are not effective when the temps are over 90F.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC Integrated Pest Management-Aphids
sand_dragon
21 years ago
Berridge's nursery on Camelback near 46th or 48th Street had ladybugs & I think Praying Mantis for sale when I was there a couple of months ago.