Question about squash plants

[lilcee]

My squash plants are taking over the garden. They are huge!. I'm getting lots of squash on them so can't really complain. The problem is that we've had so much rain it stays wet under the plants because their leaves are so big. Some of the squash are starting to rot from the wet. My question is, is it ok to trim back some of the leaves without hurting the plants? The zucchini are so big it's hard to get under them to look for the squash and they are getting all twisted so that the squash don't grow good.

[img]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/100_1136.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/100_1140.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/100_1139.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/100_1138.jpg[/img]

[LindsayArthurRTR]

They look healthy to me! I would just leave them alone

[rainbowgardener]

Just be sure the squash fruit don't touch the ground. Put a piece of plastic or some straw or something under each one. Helps prevent them from rotting where they touch the ground.

I try to avoid cutting the leaves, because the zucchini stems are hollow. I don't know for sure, but to me leaving those hollow open stems seems like an invitation to disease and pests. Even for non-hollow stem plants, the cut stems can be an access point for disease. I prune when I need to, but not if avoidable.

[lilcee]

Thank you for the tips. I have noticed some of the squash rotting so I will put something under them

[garden5]

I hope pruning squash leaves doesn't hurt the plants since I just snapped a bunch off (accidentally) while weeding last week .

If you're just worried about the dampness, put something under the fruit. If at all possible, try to leave the foliage alone. The plant needs it for doing photosynthesis.