Brown leaves, dying flowers on pumpkin plant - Ask Extension
Our group has been conducting an experiment since last fall. We placed a small pumpkin in a sealed container with dirt to observe and learn about the ...
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Brown leaves, dying flowers on pumpkin plant #845620
Asked August 14, 2023, 2:51 PM EDT
Our group has been conducting an experiment since last fall. We placed a small pumpkin in a sealed container with dirt to observe and learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin. After sprouts formed we transplanted several sprouts to our garden. It has been doing wonderfully until today. Leaves are browning and the flowers are dying before they can produce. We are looking for guidance as to how to save "Pumpkin Jack". Thank you!
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
The original pumpkin decomposed and the seeds in it produce your sprouts.
One of the other Ask the Experts said that no significant problems were observed in photos. Tiny white spots could be a symptom of minor feeding injury from some type of sucking insect pest. Leaf yellowing/browning was likely caused by one or more environmental stress factors, such as sub-par soil or growing medium, poor root growth, crowding, inconsistent soil moisture, etc.
The flowers die one day after opening. Plants typically produce many male flowers before female flowers appear. Male and female flowers must be open the same day for pollination/fertilization to occur and for fruits to form. Insects move the pollen from male flowers to female flowers. Female flowers open and die If bees are not active on days when both types of flowers are open.
You can go to the following website for pumpkin growing info. It will also have links to specific insect and disease problems (see photos) that can impact pumpkin growth:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pumpkins-and-giant-pumpkins-home-garden.
Pumpkins need 100 or more days of growth. Remove any leaves which completely turn brown and die. Leave Pumpkin Jack in the ground, water if needed, and maybe you will get one or more "babies" to grow into mature fruit.
Good luck.
Len
One of the other Ask the Experts said that no significant problems were observed in photos. Tiny white spots could be a symptom of minor feeding injury from some type of sucking insect pest. Leaf yellowing/browning was likely caused by one or more environmental stress factors, such as sub-par soil or growing medium, poor root growth, crowding, inconsistent soil moisture, etc.
The flowers die one day after opening. Plants typically produce many male flowers before female flowers appear. Male and female flowers must be open the same day for pollination/fertilization to occur and for fruits to form. Insects move the pollen from male flowers to female flowers. Female flowers open and die If bees are not active on days when both types of flowers are open.
You can go to the following website for pumpkin growing info. It will also have links to specific insect and disease problems (see photos) that can impact pumpkin growth:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pumpkins-and-giant-pumpkins-home-garden.
Pumpkins need 100 or more days of growth. Remove any leaves which completely turn brown and die. Leave Pumpkin Jack in the ground, water if needed, and maybe you will get one or more "babies" to grow into mature fruit.
Good luck.
Len
