NarnyTheGreat
Newly Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:05 am
Location: Just South of Houston

Having squash problems, whats happening here??

I have a multitude of problems and a number of insects I believe but I have NO idea how to treat these as I havent gardened for YEARS. Please look at the pics and tell me whats happening if you can.

Thanks

Narny

[img]https://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2188/dsc05519t.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5352/dsc05518l.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9079/dsc05517p.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img828.imageshack.us/img828/1989/dsc05516h.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img571.imageshack.us/img571/9889/dsc05515i.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9849/dsc05513q.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img600.imageshack.us/img600/5747/dsc05512k.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6883/dsc05511j.jpg[/img]

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rainbowgardener
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Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

Yes, you have several different problems going on there.

2nd pic down is probably a squash flower that didn't get pollinated. The little embryo squash behind it continues to grow for a little while any way, then shrivels up like that.

The next pics are ants, which really aren't a problem by themselves, but sometimes can indicate other problems, since they clean up dead stuff

After the two ant pictures, the leaf with the little squiggly lines in it has leaf miners, little insect larvae that get in between the layers of the leaf and eat there way around, leaving those trails. A little bit of it here and there isn't really a problem, if you don't have a major infestation.

The rest of the pics may be some slug or snail damage (the holes) and/or leaves in the last stages of powdery mildew, a fungus.

But I expect all of this has to do with the fact that your squash just doesn't look very happy or healthy. It should be much thicker stemmed, with much bigger, less wilty leaves.

What kind of a squash is it? Here's a pic of a healthy summer squash plant:

[url=https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://s4.hubimg.com/u/1506167_f520.jpg&imgrefurl=https://naturalone.hubpages.com/hub/Climate-Changes-Growing-a-Bumper-Squash-Harest&h=348&w=520&sz=48&tbnid=Yna2t3X8CnyqQM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=133&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsummer%2Bsquash%2Bplant%2Bimages%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=summer+squash+plant+images&docid=8PmTUchGzwll5M&sa=X&ei=hp5nTuKGA8O1sQLzh72BDg&ved=0CDMQ9QEwCA&dur=1757]summer squash plant[/url]

That may be a soil issue. To grow good veggies, you have to have good soil!

NarnyTheGreat
Newly Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:05 am
Location: Just South of Houston

The plant is waltham butternut.

I think I planted them to close for starters. I planted 4 but one didnt get any light so it never bloomed. My husband "says" hes going to build me a lattice for the plants to grow up but that hasnt happened yet :roll:. The most problematic plant was the middle one getting most of the insect problem.

The problem with the females is due to the heat I think. My females have been dying before they even bloom and the most common response when searching others experience is they had record heat. However the picture of the one female bud actually bloomed and I hand pollinated. Within a few days it closed and started to die.

The ants are EVERYWHERE! We are in the worst drought in decades so the ants are looking for a place to get food I guess... everything here is dying as no one is watering their lawns and so my nice moist garden is getting all the bugs. I will be spraying with garlic later today as I read that ants don't like it though I am worried it wont make a big enough dent.

Over all, you are right... they look sickly and unhappy. I have a small amount of worm "juice" from my worm compost that I was thinking of spraying on them as well... maybe the soil, like you said, is lacking and they need some more nutrient.

With all of this information, what steps would you take to clear up the problems and make the plants happy? Would it be better to just pull them up? I really don't want to do that though.

Thank you for your help... I am starting to feel VERY overwhelmed and appreciate the assistance.

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rainbowgardener
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Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

Oh yeah, I didn't pay enough attention to where you are. Texas is a really tough growing area these days, with the heat and drought. That's probably what happened to all those yellowed/ browned leaves, they just fried.

I know it is really hard, but if it were just me, I'd just start over. Now should be a better time to plant the squash for you and if conditions are right, the new ones, not having been through all the stresses, will catch up to where you were very quickly.



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