Recommended 2025 pumpkin spray schedule

Important considerations:

1. Check The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast Homepage for development and spread of downy mildew. Spray your field when the disease is in locations near your field with chlorothalonil (i.e., Bravo Weather Stik). Spray your field with Orondis Opti or Revus plus chlorothalonil when the disease starts developing in your field.
2. Spray for powdery mildew at first sign of the disease (check inside the canopy). Usually, symptoms on the upper leaf surfaces signal an outbreak.
3. If you have Phytophthora problem, treat your seed with Apron XL LS (0.64 oz/100 lb seed) and spray the plants with fungicides mentioned in the “Schedule IV” on the following page.
4. For bacterial spot, apply Actigard twice after seedling emergence, then begin spraying plants at vine spread with Manzate PRO Stick + Kocide-3000 alternated with Regalia + Kocide-3000.
5. Use 50 gallons of water per acre with ground sprayers, 5 gallons of water with airplane. Make sure you have thorough coverage of plants.
6. Always, check the labels for the updates. 

Table 1. Registered fungicides and application rates for managing pumpkin diseases. 

Table 2. Restricted entry, pre-harvest interval, and mode of action for registered fungicides in pumpkins.

 Mode of action FRAC code: Each number and/or letter indicates a separate mode of action. 

Suggested spray schedules in commercial pumpkin fields in Illinois 

From observations of disease development this growing season, the following recommendations should be considered:

• This year, there is no downy mildew problem in pumpkins and other cucurbits in Illinois (at least so far). I think spraying for downy mildew will not be needed.
• This year, powdery mildew in pumpkins began about 10 days later than the past. But it is progressing very rapidly. I suggest spraying plants with Inspire Super immediately, and within a week, application of Quintec. If additional spray is needed, another Inspire Super should be applied. If Inspire Super is not available, consider Procure fungicide.
• Bacterial spot has developed on leaves, but not much on the fruits yet. In Ohio, there is an outbreak of bacterial spot in pumpkin fields. One or two sprays of a copper + mancozeb would be good to keep fruit clean.
• If anyone has Phytophthora, consider spraying Orondis Ultra + ProPhyt, alternated with Ranman + ProPhyt.

Schedule I. For control of only powdery mildew. 

Start spray applications with week 1 recommendation at the first sign of powdery mildew inside the canopy (on vines or lower surfaces of leaves), with a spray interval of 7 to 10 days.

The first spray in central Illinois is usually during the last week of July or the first week of August.

Microthiol Disperss (sulfur) can also be used for control of powdery mildew.   

Schedule II. Full-season spray schedule for management of powdery mildew and bacterial spot. Begin application for managing bacterial spot at vine spread. 

Start week 1 spray applications at fruit set and progress on weekly intervals for the full season. If needed, Inspire Super can be replaced with Procure. 

Schedule III. For management of powdery mildew and downy mildew (if downy mildew is reported in the area). Spray at weekly intervals.  In Illinois, downy mildew usually occurs after July 15.

Start spray applications at Week 1 at the first report (or sign) of downy mildew. Start spray applications at Week 2 at the first sign of powdery mildew or downy mildew.

Schedule IV. For management of Phytophthora blight (also management of downy mildew). Spray at weekly intervals. In Illinois, Phytophthora vine and fruit infection can occur any time during the season. 

Follow the recommendation provided in either the first row or the second row in the table. Start Week 1 spray applications at the first sign of Phytophthora infection or downy mildew. Other phosphonates (i.e., Reliant) can be used instead of ProPhyt.