[Thephoenix572]

When pumpkins are growing should the leaves turn white? Is this normal

[sunshineband]

No they shouldn't but they do when they get old and dry.

It is due to powdery mildew, and it is best to just cut these leaves off and compost them.

Give the plant a good water and a feed, and it should keep going long enough to harvest the pumpkins

[Carollan]

I grew pumpkins for the first year this year.All the leaves started to go white when the pumpkins began to turn orange,which they did weeks ago during the hot dry spell.All the men at the allotments said`` don`t start watering things,if you do,you`ll have to carry on all summer``.I wish I hadn`t listened to them now!!

[JayG]

The OB's were probably referring to the fact that repeated shallow watering tends to result in shallow-rooted plants which therefore become more, not less, dependent on watering.

Cucurbits all need plenty of water, so fewer, thorough waterings is what they need, trying not to wet the leaves more than necessary.

Mildew doesn't actually need dry conditions but it is more tolerant of dryness than other fungi, which is why it quickly becomes prevalent when soil conditions are like that, although cucurbits almost always eventually succumb to it anyway, especially outdoors.