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Squash in trouble!

Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
in Fruit & veg
Hi, I’m worried about my butternut squash. They were growing really well and set a few nice squash. Recently the flowers have been wilting and dropping off. Spots started appearing on the leaves. I initially thought it was powdery mildew, but the spots are now turning yellow. Then I noticed these brown/rusty patches on one of the squash. The patches have spread quite quickly in couple of days.

Anyone know what this is? I’m worried it’s a fungal rot of some sort and I might not be getting any squash this autumn. Any advice much appreciated.








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  • Hampshire HogHampshire Hog Posts: 330
    Womble 

    I think it is powdery mildew I would treat as if it is for now can't do any harm ! I would also feed with a high nitrogen / tomato feed I find this helps with my pumpkins.
    • Image Powdery Mildew 1
    • Image Powdery Mildew 2
    • Image Powdery Mildew 3

    Powdery Mildew 
    Podosphaera xanthii

    • Initially pale yellow spots develop on the oldest leaves
    • White to gray powdery felt in spots, blotches or complete covering of leaves
    • Lesions develop on underside of leaves, or on shaded leaves first
    • Older leaves infected first
    • Severe infection can cause leaves and vines to wither and die
    • Fruit may be blotchy or have sunscald
    "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Thanks HH. I’ll get spraying and see if I can get it under control. Fingers crossed.
  • Sue BestwickSue Bestwick Posts: 32
    Never had any luck staying to save  only thing to do is get rid of affected plants before the rest get infected can spread to other curcubits all down to stress
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    I’ve only got 2 squash plants and they’re both affected. The courgettes next to them have got a little bit of mildew on the lower leaves but it doesn’t seem to bother them. Still producing lots of courgettes.

    The spots look a bit different to mildew I’ve seen before. I still think it might be something different.

    If they get worse and I get rid of the plants, can you pick butternut squash early and eat them? Only one of the squash has those rusty patches on them so far.
  • Hampshire HogHampshire Hog Posts: 330
    Womble.

    If its not any of the mildew's then it could be black rot a fungus :/ if it is then the plants do need removing and destroying burning or bag up and bin. don't put on the compost heap.

    Need to be sure you clear away all the plants and rubbish on the ground around them as the fungus can live from season to season its also recommended that you avoid planting any cucurbit plants in the area for two years. 


    "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Thank you. Looking at some more google photos, it looks more like black rot!  :/
    I’ll cut off the affected squash, keep spraying to treat mildew and see if the other squash get affected.
    Bugger!
  • granmagranma Posts: 1,933
    edited July 2018
     ,I have eaten squash/pumpkin  raw or steamed that are tennis ball size or smaller.I grate the flesh too for salads .  It's only like courgettes, left to grow larger they are marrows.
    But your question dove , yes I eat them   at whatever size they are ok ,very tasty .I leave the peal on if it's not diseased.
    I generously cut off any that is mil dew .
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Thanks Granma.

    I picked the blotchy one and peeled it. The flesh was pretty pale but looked fine. I roasted it with some honey and rosemary. Tasted great.

    Fingers crossed the rest of the squash survive a bit longer.
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    I was hoping for some more squash advice, if anyone can help.

    The plants have struggled with mildew but seem to have pulled though. They’re putting on new growth with healthy looking green leaves and starting to flower again.

    There are 2 nice looking squash on the plant. They didn’t succumb to the blotches like the other one. They haven’t got any bigger for weeks now. The skins are a nice golden colour and thickened up, I can’t push a thumb nail into them.

    Should I pick those 2 and encourage the plant to set more squash, or leave them on till autumn? As I’ve only got a couple, I’m not bothered about storage.

    If the plant does manage to set more squash now, will they have time to develop and ripen before winter? 

    Thanks in advance.
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