Please help with my squash problem

Kron

This is our first year growing so much veg. I've noticed over the last few days that my squash plant has got what looks like little patches of white mould. Having looked round the garden I've also seen a bush that has the same problem.

Does anyone know what this could be. I can get a piccie if it helps if someone can tell me how to upload on to this site.

Please help. I'll be really gutted if I've got to dig it up as it's got a baby squash on.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Karen

juneg46

hi
If the baby squash seems okay, then dont worry about it. Courgette/squash plants do get mouldy leaves, you can cut them off if you want, but generally they dont affect the plant much. Could be too much rain! The other bush that has it is unlikely to be related to the squash, and therefore the mould is likely to be different. What sort of bush is it?

jammy_dodger

hi sounds like not enough air circulatin g around plants and a maybe being in a damp enviroment could be cause ? removing a little of foliage and check about there is nothing decaying around by where plants are growing .. if so remove dead leaves ..you could also lift the young squashes onto some straw as they develop to allow air to circulate about them .I'm sure others with more knowledge will be able to help but this has worked for me in past ..best of luck x

Kron

Thanks for that. I don't know what the other plant is called. All I know is that it did have long purple flowers a few weeks ago and the bees loved it. Sorry I'm not a gardener at all but love growing veggies.

I had a look at the RHS site and the squash leaves looked like their picture of powder mildew but no where near as bad. They said just to make sure its well watered and ventilated. The plants outside and I'm watering well so hopefully all will be ok.

The baby squash seems to be fine - we did have two but something ate the other one!!

Thanks for your help. Its much appreciated.

Karen

jaquivander

HI, I had the same this year too on squash and gourds., on the advice of a professional gardener friend of mine who reckons its all down to the incredible amount of damp weather encouraging the mould growth, I bought copper fungicide.
He also said I could cut off the affected leaves and when dry the plants would be fine anyway

I have about 12 plantsof each,
half of them I sprayed with the copper stuff (VERY expensive btw) and the other half , just cut off all the affected leaves .
The outcome....absolutely no difference whatsoever and after a couple of dry days (yes we actuallly did have them) the plants were both back in fine fettle.
My friend reckons also when you get rid of the leaves... DON'T compost them, burn or bin 'em as the spores can live in the compost

Hope that helps, I know I was quite fed-up when I saw the mess of the plants but now they're just fine and fruiting well

Kron

Thank you for that Jaquivander. Its good to know someone else has had this. I won't bother with the copper fungicide as apart from the leaves the plant seems quite healthy. One baby squash and lots of buds coming.

I feel much happier now!!

Thanks again.

Karen