I have a similar problem with my zucchini and cucumbers. My zucchini have gotten white spots on the leaves and some of them had died. I kept getting the fruit and as a new gardener, I didn't worry about it. After a week or two I noticed that most of the branches were dying and when I lifted some, the stem broke just above the ground. It was rotted through. All three of my plants have died and I removed them all from the garden. We have had a wet summer and I may have over watered them, though my soil drains pretty well. Next, my neighbor's cucumbers (which are separated from my garden by a link fence) have all withered and died. I am now noticing spots on my cucumber leaves, some have even become holes, and the vines are beginning to wither. Is there anything I can do to prevent further damage or what can I do to prevent this problem next year? Should I spray milk on them?

pruning is removing unwanted portions from a plant [even removing deadwood] - any cutting you do, regardless of season - if you want to encourage vigorous new growth prune when dormant, if you want to maintain balance and control size [of individual varieties, to prevent dominance], prune in the growing season not sure you can "encourage girth", that's more a function of age and position on the tree, and you can't "discourage" legginess, which is just a result of uncontrolled vigorous growth, but you can remove it in the summer which won't encourage it's immediate return as winter pruning will which is to say, you may want to prune some of your varieties in the winter, to stimulate more vigorous growth, and prune the Liberty motherstock in summer to better keep it slowed down opinions will vary I'm sure, and your results will be different than anyone elses here :) Bill

Thank you every one of you for your kind support. I knew that fellow hostaholics would be the ones who would fully understand how I feel. I just had to share with you. That was a terrible situation you had to endure moccasinlanding. I hope your neighborhood plant thief stays on her medication too. I felt that I could start a new thread ("My hosta was stolen!"), but then I thought against it---we want to stay on the positive in life not the negative, right? So towards the positive, this is what my dear husband built for me last year for my spring birthday. Needed more room for hostas and that side of the house had more sun. It was also here that my Birchwood Parky's Gold was---near the ground, on top of the window well cover. Irawon, I will still take away any hostas that are special to me. I did take away Goodness Gracious. I need to take away High Society too and maybe more.

CHEMICALS USED IN PULP & PAPER MANUFACTURING AND COATING Common NameChemical NameChemical FormulaUsed ForSpecific DensityOther CharacteristicsAgalite or TalcSilicate of MagnesiaMgO-32%, SiO2-62%It gives paper a greasy or soapy feel. and enables it to take a high finish.2.6 - 2.8A natural fibrous form of talc, gray in color.AKDAlkyl Ketene Dimer Sizing AlumSulfate of AluminaAl2(SO4)3.18H2OFor alkaline sizing along with Rosin1.62 AlbarineNatural Sulfate of LimeCaSO4.2H2O - 100%A calcium salt that is used for a variety of purposes including: building materials.2.4 Ammonium Zirconium Carbonate(AZC)Ammonium Zirconium CarbonateCH2O3NH3ZrUsed as in-solubilizer, crosslinker & hardener1.36AZC is a clear, usually colorless solution, having an odor of ammonia and a pH of approximately 9.5. As a carbonate, it will react with acids, and so should not be used in coating systems below pH 7. In storage, it is stable for up to six months.AnthraquinoneAnthraquinoneC14H8O2Added to white liquor (alkaline cooking liquor) to improve pulp yield and to increase the rate of delignification.1.44yellow crystalline powderAnti-Foam/Defoamer To prevent foam (anti-foam) or to destroy it once it has formed (defoamer). Surface active, but highly insoluble in water.AsbestineSilicate of MagnesiaMgO-32%, SiO2-62%It is used as a loading agent in paper manufacture, particularly for blotting papers and board.2.6 - 2.8A mineral compound of almost pure fibrous magnesium silicate, which possesses physical characteristics between those of talc and asbestos.APEAlkylphenol EthoxylatesCH3(CH2)n(C6H4) (OCH2CH2)m-OHUsed as cleaning agents or surfactants ASAAlkenyl Succinic Anhydride Sizing Barium SulfateBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as a pigment4.2-4.5White insoluble powder.BarytesBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as filler4.2-4.5 Blanc FixeBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as a base for watercolor pigments and as a filler in paper.4.2-4.5Powdered barium sulfateCaseinA milk phosphoprotein Binder or adhesive in coating formulation CMCCarboxy Methyl Cellulose Sizing Caustic Lye or Caustic Soda or LyeSodium HydroxideNaOHPulping and to maintain pH Chalk (Precipitated)Precipitated Calcium CarbonateCaCO3 - 100%Filler particularly with acidic sizing coating pigment2.7-2.9High Brightness & OpacityChalk (French or Spanish)Silicate of Magnesia4MgO+5SiO2+H2O; MgO - 33%; SiO262% 2.6-2.9A soft white compact talcChina Clay, KaolinHydrated Silicate of AluminaAl2O3-40%; SiO2-46%; H2O-13%Filler, Coating2.4-2.7 Chlorine DioxideChlorine DioxideClO2In Pulp Bleaching2.86 Chlorine GasChlorineCl2In Pulp Bleaching and water treatment2.86 DolomiteCalcium Magnesium CarbonateCaMg(CO3)2Filler, Coating2.86 DTPADiethylene Triamine Penta Acetate Used for chelation (removal of transition metals from pulp). EDTAEthylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid Used for chelation (removal of transition metals from pulp). Guar GumNatural Polymer Dry Strength Additive cationic derivativeGypsum or Mineral White or PlasterNatural Sulfate of LimeCaSO4.2H2OGypsum board,2.4 Hydrogen PeroxideHydrogen PeroxideH2O2In Pulp Bleaching3.13-3.4 LimeCalcium OxideCaOAlkaline Pulping Process Chemical Recovery, Bleaching3.13-3.4 Lime StoneCalcium CarbonateCaCO3To make Lime Precipitated CaCO3 is used as Filler and in Coating MagnesiteMagnesium CarbonateMgCO3 -100% 2.5 OxygenOxygenO2In Pulp Bleaching OzoneOzoneO3In Pulp Bleaching RosinAbietic AcidC19H29COOHSizing Rosin SoapSodium AbietateC19H29COONaSizing Salt CakeSodium SulfateNa2SO4. 10H2OMakeup chemical in sulfate pulping chemical recovery (Na2SO4. --- Na2S)2.4 Soda AshSodium CarbonateNa2CO3Makeup chemical in alkaline pulping chemical recovery (Na2CO3 +Ca(OH)2 ---2NaOH+CaCO3)2.43-2.51 Sodium DithioniteSodium HydrosulfiteNa2 O4 S2Bleaching2.20White crystalline powder with weak sulforous odorSodium SilicateSodium SilicateNa2SiO3In waste paper deinking for wetting, peptization, ink dispersion, peroxide stabilization. Starch.Comprised of glucose units linked together by oxygen bridges called glycosidesWet and dry end additive SulfurSulfurSTo make HSO3 for bi-sulfite pulping TitaniaTitanium DioxideTiO2Filler to increase the opacity and brightness of paper. Used in coating also.3.84-4.26