I have no idea what happened, but I think I have somehow lost all the squash plants. They started to have a white mildew like look on the leaves last week and we sprayed diluted milk on them. Well, that didn't work.
Now, they are not only white on the leaves. Many of the leaves are turning brown and wilting up, the few squash that are on the plants have mold (white and black) growing all over them.
AHHHHHHH! I don't know what happened. We only got about 2 weeks of harvest and 20-30 squash. That sure isn't what I was counting on. I think we are going to have to pull them all out and that makes me want to cry :(
The green beans are finally producing a lot and we have eaten them a couple of times this week. The tomatoes are still growing and looking good, but the grape tomatoes are still the only ones that have turned red. The cantaloupe are growing big and there are several more coming along. But, the cantaloupe has a good chunk of leaves that have brown spots all over them. I don't know what that means. Too much rain? Not enough water? Obviously, we don't really know what we are doing.
7 comments:
I'm having the same problem with my zucchini plants. I can't get rid of the mildew like leaves and they are refusing to fruit.
We often lose squash to black and white mold when there is inconsistent water...the same can happen with tomatoes...they look like they are coming along great, then they start to turn black and squishy at the end opposite the plant (where the blossom used to be). In tomatoes it is called blossom end rot, I don't know what it is called in squash, but there isn't much you can do when it doesn't rain for 2 or 3 weeks, then every day for 2 weeks. Has it been particularly moist lately?
It was extremely rainy a couple weeks ago. But, it seemed like that was when the squash were doing the best. They just grew and grew with all that rain. Maybe something was going on underneath that I didn't see.
Also, I realized that I was not supposed to water at night. I had been watering in the evening almost every time to avoid being out in the heat. But, I guess you are ONLY supposed to water in the morning. Now I know. Won't make that mistake again!
Such a bummer about the squash! I saw a website in a book, I'm going to guess you have already heard about it. Just in case: www.extremelygreen.com
Same thing happened to mine, I pulled up all but one plant last week and will surely have to do the same with the last one tomorrow or the next day. It is powdery mildew, caused by all that rain. This gardening is hard....physically and emotionally!!
Lisa E
I believe you need to thin out the plants next time. It seems that the powdery mildew thrives when there is not a lot of airflow around the plants.
We've started a garden as well and have NO idea, but are having LOTS of fun learning!! Enjoy the green beans, ours produced LOTS then started to die :-(
Susan
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