Contact Us
University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805.645.1451
Fax: 805.645.1474
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed for the following holidays:
December 24-25 - Christmas Holiday
December 31 - January 1 - New Year Holiday
January 20 - MLK Day
Pumpkin Viruses
Pumpkins and other squashes are susceptible to several viruses, which are transmitted to the plants by aphids. The aphids that fly in to the planting are the ones that bring the virus from reservoir weeds, and other plants that harbor viruses in the area around your garden. There is no cure for viruses in plants. Usually, the younger the plant at the time of infection, the more severe the effect of the virus on its host. Flower abortion may occur. Fruit production will be slowed or may stop, and the fruit and leaves may be deformed. Plants that stop bearing should be destroyed. The fruit that does develop, even though it is deformed, is still safe to eat. In pumpkins, some kids get a kick out of deformed fruit – the uglier, the better. So deformed and blistered pumpkins may be worth more than virus-free jack-o-lanterns.