I'd go with discarding these and, if you have enough summer left, starting new squash by direct seeding. You get the best production from young, vigorously growing plants.

All living things have bacteria and virus in and on them. Many are innocuous, actually most are. Plants and animals that are healthy have systemic processes (immune systems) to prevent the 'germs' from taking over and killing them. In humans, we get a fever that raises the body temperature high enough to kill the bacteria. Antibodies are produced to tackle the virus. In plants, if a bug or a dirty blade punctures the cuticle of the tissue, the plant will induce a protective death of the cells surrounding the wound, thus sealing it off and preventing the spread. If that doesn't work, the plant will often drop the affected leaf. It saddens me to think about all the poor plants that have been thrown away due to this paranoia about virus. Obviously if you're a breeder, there are certain viri that are worth worrying about. But for most casual hobbyists, there are MUCH bigger problems. Squirrels, for instance... or scale/mealies/crown rot. Hydrogen peroxide is your friend. Besides, how often do people really have to cut into their plants??? I can think of maybe two or three times I have in the past five years. If you're doing surgery on your plants more often than that, perhaps you should be growing roses. :) -MB

Glad you made it with minimal damage. I was looking forward to the funereal food though. I was hoping we'd make it a pot luck. Since I'm in Northern South Jersey I figured I'd be able to attend. I'd be glad to sit by the coffin and feed you some of each offering. I'm making a big pot of chili this afternoon and I'm almost at the point where I add the corn.........I think I need to look again in the freezer and see if I have some frozen. Opening that can of corn is going to be kind of hard... shudder.

Wow! Thanks Amj, Ttodd and HIWTHI! Haven't been over here in a while...missed your lovely posts. I'm researching bathroom items (tubs, toilets, etc.) & went to the bath forum today. So glad I did, & checked over here while I was at it! Amj, Jasmine is doing really well. About the same as before the dramatic incident! True, the ear situation continues as before as well, but she is eating, drinking & "using her box" regularly. She moves with agility and is steady on her feet. Feel I've been given a second chance with her...who knows how long it will last? However much longer she's with us, I appreciate her presence in my life more than ever! As for my sister, she will soon begin radiation & chemo. This time, she must have both therapies simultaneously. Last year she had them separately, with a short break between the two. Having them together sounds brutal, but her doc thinks she's tough enough to endure it, and this will be the most effective treatment for her particular cancer, which metasized from her lung. I feel so sorry that she must go through such a grueling treatment, but am elated that there is a way to address what she is diagnosed with. Her doctor is optimistic for the short term and the long term using this therapy. Thanks for asking, & for thinking about us, Amj. You are really a sweetheart! Ttodd, thank you SO much for sharing your cat's ear history! I've never met anyone with a cat who had such severe ear issues either! Amazing. Glad your kitty lived on to enjoy a long, happy life! 18 years is really a long time for a kitty to live! I appreciate your good wishes, & send you a hug back! HIWTHI, thank you for sharing your story too. We are currently using Prednisone, an oral steroid, for itch relief, and I have some drops that she sometimes lets me put in. She's a tough customer these days as far as letting me touch the ear...I'm not pushing it either. Just glad she's doing the basics again! Never thought I'd be so thrilled to see a kitty eat, drink & potty. I'm so grateful for this time with my little fur-baby! Thanks again for your thoughtful reply. I believe my sister will do well, but has a rough patch to go through with her treatment first. Now that her house is sold, she's living in a tiny, three-room apt. until her house on the water is finished being renovated in October. At first I thought this whole house sale/house purchase/reno thing was miserable timing, but now I think re-doing a house gives her a lot to look forward to. I think that's really important, & now see it, even with all the chaos it's introduced, as a blessing!