Pumpkins should be planted in a field with good drainage. Growers should avoid planting in a low spot that is susceptible to flooding or on land with poor internal drainage. Cover crops can help increase the organic matter and improve the internal drainage of a field.
Alabama Cooperative Extension
Expect high Whitefly populations
Whitefly management in cucurbits
Whiteflies migrate from winter vegetables to spring vegetables to agronomic crops. Whiteflies can cause feeding injury issues in vegetables and transmit two viruses: cucurbit leaf crumple virus and cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus. Vegetables like squash, zucchini, cucumber, and cantaloupe are susceptible to these viruses.
Impact of rain on Alabama pumpkin crop
Persistent rains in Northeast Alabama have sparked concerns about potential disease pressure among the region’s pumpkin farmers.
Managing common pumpkin pests | VGN
Alabama disease update | Powdery mildew on squash
Powdery mildew reported on yellow squash and a few other cucurbits in Alabama. It typically prefers hot and dry conditions.
Downy Mildew | Alabama Cucurbit Disease Update
A late freeze in Florida combined with hot and dry conditions in May may have contributed to no presence of Cucurbit Downy Mildew in Alabama so far during this growing season.
