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Vegetable Gardening

Is this squash plant salvageable?

FADiver (7B, eastern Virginia)

8 years ago

As you can see in the above pics, the yellow squash plant on the left has some kind of disease (such as the spots on the leaf in the top right). Also, this sick plant is obviously not doing as well as the others in the garden (top photo). They were all planted at the same time.

So, can it be saved, or does the danger of the disease spreading out weigh the gain? Or could I just cut off the diseased leaves? Also, yeah, I know these are probably too close together anyway. Thanks!

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Comments (8)

vgkg Z-7 Va
8 years ago
I'd probably remove it if for nothing else to allow the nearby plants to spread out. It may be under their leaf shade before too long anyways. If you love squash you may want to consider planting more right now from seed. By the time the new ones bloom your present ones may be on the wane due to mildew disease, borers, cuke beetles, and squash bugs (all a real bane here in Va).
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digdirt2
8 years ago
I can't really see any signs of any disease in the pics - just yellowing either from over-watering or lots of rain and insufficient nutrients. And way overcrowded plants.

Dave
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FADiver (7B, eastern Virginia)
Original Author
8 years ago
Yeah, those vine borers are in my nightmares. I'm vainly hoping that since none of my neighbors are growing squash, maybe the bugs won't be able to find my garden.

Dave, here is a better pic of the spots on some of the leaves. I assume it's not overwatering because all the plants are getting the same amount of water.
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gumby_ct
8 years ago
Check the backside of the leaves.
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n2xjk
8 years ago
That might be from cucumber beetles. I'd also suggest pulling that stunted plant. If you have space elsewhere in your garden, sow some more squash seeds to take over when the first wave of squash fades.
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bcomplx
8 years ago
I'm with digdirt. Get thee some fish emulsion or miracle gro and feed those babies. They are way undernourished.
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FADiver (7B, eastern Virginia)
Original Author
8 years ago
Maybe... But I just find that hard to believe... I just got soil test results that showed that all the nutrient levels were fine. And, the other cucurbits in the garden, including the large squash on the right are getting the same amount of water and are in the same soil and they're thriving. Add the spots on some of the leaves, and to me, it seemed like it must be disease. But, this morning suddenly the sick plant has begun to flower, so maybe it's not down for the count just yet.
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gumby_ct
8 years ago
Having blossoms is like having babies and can weaken the plant further. Have you checked for insects on the backsides of the leaves?
0

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