Got dry, fuzzy white stuff on 'em?
It's not pixie cum, it's powdery mildew. Ew.
Powdery mildew is a tenacious bastard of a fungus that attacks the genus curcurbits (pumpkins, squash, zucchini) and causes the leaves and fruit to rot on the vine. It's especially common in the American South, where it stays warmer and more humid than the plants' native habitats.
My pumpkins have it- yours could too. Eeek!
What to do?
Well, fungicides can be spendy and nasty around pets and little kids, not to mention just plain crappy for the environment.
I use a weak mixture of baking soda and water to take care of my mildew.
Take a gallon of (preferably) filtered water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and a little squirt of dish soap (to make it stick to the leaves). Mix well, and use a spray bottle to spritz your curcurbits liberally until soaked. It's best to spray them in the late morning or early afternoon, so they will be dry by nighttime.
It may take a couple tries, but it's a great (and cheap!) household trick.
Of course, if you have seen pixies spanking their little monkeys in your garden, then it is pixie cum. Sorry, I don't have a remedy for that...
