Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023 - 93

PUMPKIN/WINTER SQUASH PLANTING DATES
Halloween
6/15-7/15
6/15-7/15
6/15-7/5
6/15-7/5
5/1-6/15
6/15-7/15
5/10-6/1
5/5-6/15
6/15-7/15
6/15-7/15
6/20-7/5
6/20-7/5
6/15-7/10
5/25-6/30
6/1-6/15
NR
NR
KY Central
LA North
LA South
MS North
MS South
NC East
NC West
OK
SC East
SC West
TN East
TN West
VA East (coastal)
VA West (mountain)
NR = Not recommended
For Soil Strips between Rows of Plastic Mulch. Use the following
land preparation, treatment, planting sequences, and herbicides
labeled for pumpkins or squash or crop injury may result.
1. Complete soil preparation and lay plastic and drip irrigation
(optional) before herbicide application. In some
cases, overhead irrigation can be used if small holes are
punched into the plastic.
2. Spray preemergence herbicides on the soil and the shoulders
of the plastic strips in bands before weeds germinate.
DO NOT APPLY HERBICIDE TO THE SURFACE OF
THE PLASTIC. Herbicides may wash from a large area
of plastic into the plant hole and result in crop injury.
3. Incorporate preemergence herbicide into the soil with
0.5 to 1 inch of rainfall or overhead irrigation within
48 hours of application and BEFORE PLANTING OR
TRANSPLANTING.
4. Apply selective postemergence herbicides broadcast or in
bands to the soil strips between mulch to control susceptible
weeds.
Minimum Tillage. No-tillage is the most commonly used minimum
tillage practice with pumpkins. No-till planters currently in
use with row crop production will plant pumpkin seed but seed
plates or feed cups need to match up with seed size. Improper
seed plates or cups will break pumpkin seed. Type of winter
cover crop residue can affect pumpkin seed depth. Inspect seed
placement and adjust for correct depth. Early spring planting
with no-tillage in pumpkin may delay growth and days to harvest.
Planting after soils warm in the spring will improve vigor
(pumpkins are normally planted after soil warms so this may not
be a management problem). Use of small grain cover residue
may require additional nitrogen fertilizer (20 to 30 lbs N/acre in
addition to the normal recommendation) if cover crop is fairly
2023 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
6/1-7/15
5/15-6/15
6/15-7/15
6/15-7/5
AL North
AL South
AR North
AR South
GA North
GA South
KY East
Winter Squash
4/15-6/15
3/15-5/15
5/15-6/30
4/15-6/30
4/15-6/15
3/15-5/15
5/15-6/15
5/10-7/10
4/15-5/15
3/15-5/15
4/15-6/15
3/15-5/15
4/15-5/20
5/25-6/30
6/15-6/30
3/20-5/1
4/15-6/15
5/15-6/30
4/25-6/30
5/1-5/20
5/15-6/15
mature when killed. Normal pumpkin nitrogen fertilizer recommendations
can be used if a legume cover crop (hairy vetch,
winter peas, or crimson clover) is used as residue.
SPECIAL NOTES FOR PEST MANAGEMENT
DISEASE MANGEMENT
A. Keinath, Plant Pathologist, Clemson University and R.
A. Melanson, Extension Plant Pathologist, Mississippi State
University
Accurate diagnosis is necessary for effective disease management.
Incorporate appropriate and effective cultural practices
and pesticides, as detailed in the Disease Management section,
in a season-long integrated disease management program.
Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM): CDM can be a devastating disease
of cucurbits in the southeastern and eastern U.S. Successful
CDM management often requires the use of an appropriate
fungicide spray program. A useful tool for management of CDM
is the CDM forecasting system (http://cdm.ipmpipe.org). This
program depends on the accurate reporting of CDM in the field
as well as the monitoring of a network of sentinel plots throughout
the United States and Canada by plant pathologists at various
Land Grant Universities. Forecasts of the movement of the
pathogen are generated 3 times a week. Risk maps are produced
from these forecasts. For forecasts, maps, text alerts, and other
helpful information please visit http://cdm.ipmpipe.org. If you
think you have CDM, please contact your local Extension office.
Mosaic viruses: Once plants become infected with a virus, they
cannot be cured. Chemicals are not an effective management
option for virus infections. Many mosaic viruses in cucurbits
(cucumber mosaic virus [CMV], papaya ringspot mosaic virus
[PRSV)], watermelon mosaic virus [WMV], zucchini yellow
mosaic virus [ZYMV]) are transmitted by aphids. Managing
aphids is not an effective way to manage virus diseases. Use resistant
varieties when possible. Even resistant varieties may not
escape virus diseases. Most varieties do not have resistance to
all four viruses. Virus diseases cannot be accurately diagnosed
based on symptoms. It is important to send samples of plants
with virus symptoms to a diagnostic lab when symptoms are observed
so that in the following year, varieties that have resistance
to those viruses that may be more prone to occur in your production
region can be selected for production.
Nematode Management: Various root-knot nematodes, such
as the southern root-knot and guava root-knot, as well as other
nematodes can infect pumpkin. Sample soil in fields to planted
to pumpkin in spring during late-summer or fall in the previous
year when nematodes are active. Clean and disinfest equipment
between fields. Use appropriate crop rotations and cover crops
with non-host crops to reduce nematode populations. Use appropriate
fumigants and other nematicides for management (see
fumigant and nematicide tables).
INSECT MANAGEMENT
Cucumber Beetle: Cucumber beetles cause direct feeding damage
to the foliage. Young plants need to be protected with insecticide
as soon as they emerge or are transplanted. Cucumber
93
http://cdm.ipmpipe.org http://cdm.ipmpipe.org
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023

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