Question
Firstly, I have never gardened, ever. This is my first attempt, I need help! Here goes:

I planted pumpkins in my garden a few weeks ago (I know, I'm a little late, but it's Houston and always hot#.

I planted three seeds per hole, four feet apart, and three holes. They are in a very sunny spot.

The last group of seeds did not sprout, but the other two groups sprouted two plants right next to each other four feet between them. Before they get bigger, should I separate them? Should I just leave them be or pull one out? I seem to already have the powdery mildew problem. I washed it off. Was that wrong? Suggestions?

The garden that I'm working in was full of weeds and I did the best I could to weed it. After that I layed fresh soil and now the weeds are coming back. The man at a garden shop says it's too hot to use any weed killer on them #mostly thin, tall grass with long roots#.

While I was loosening the soil, I found several ants, pincher bugs and spiders in the dirt. Are they harmful to my plants? And is there any product to kill them and not hurt my plants?

I am considering buying a trellis for the plants since they are up against a brick wall. I can think of creative ways to support them. When I planted them I had no idea that the vine would get huge. As of now I have four small plants paired right next to each other in a small area #apprx 3ft x 10ft). I don't want to give up and at least prove to my fiance that I can make this work, if possible.

Please give me some advice, friends and family are clueless. It has been very hot here in Houston buy also very wet and rainy this month. The soil is a bit soggy, I haven't had to water them but once.

Thanks in advance for the tips and suggestions.

Answer
Normally, you would thin the seedlings to one per every 2 foot square. Squash plants, including pumpkins, require quite a bit of space to ensure proper air circulation. Poor circulation, in addition to hot and humid conditions, are the primary factors in a plant contracting fungus diseases, including powdery mildew.

Since the other seeds did not germinate, I would attempt to transplant 3 of the 4 seedlings to another location in the garden. Try to do your best to not disturb the roots of the remaining plant. Since the seedlings will initially go through transplant shock, be sure to water them every day for at least two weeks. This will give the roots enough time to establish and to adapt to their new location.

Next, I would spray the plants with a copper-based fungicide to control the powdery mildew. Although this disease seldom proves fatal to plants, it can still adversely affect production.

Finally, fertilize the plants with a water-soluble product high in phosphorus. Phosphorus is the middle number of the three listed on the front of fertilizer packaging. This will promote more blooms and larger pumpkins.

Next year, you definitely want to amend the soil with organic matter, including compost, shredded leaves, aged manure, and peat. This will help ward off disease, provide a steady source of nutrients, improve the composition of the soil, and deter insects. You also want to mulch around the seedlings once they germinate with shredded leaves, dried grass clippings, or straw. This will help keep the soil cool, retain moisture, and hold down the weeds.

In the meantime, since weed killer is not an option now that the plants have germinated, I would purchase a ratchet hoe at your local garden center. This spring-loaded tool cuts the weeds at the base while allowing you to move the hoe back and forth for easier weeding. It is also narrow enough to allow you to get in between established plants.

I hope this information helps. Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike