newag
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How should I treat a broken leaf stem on my zucchini plant?

While my husband was building me a trellis for my container zucchini and squash plants (so I can grow them vertically) he accidentally broke one of the stem leaves. The leaf isn't broke off, but it does just hang. I'm not sure if I should cut it off or what. What is the best thing to do for the plant?

DoubleDogFarm
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I would cut it off clean, close to the vine.

Eric

newag
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Okay. And then just let it "air dry" out??? (don't laugh). I mean, does it leave it susecptible to any insects or disease, being an open stem (don't laugh again. You know I'm new at this....)

DoubleDogFarm
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If you have problems with SVB I would wrap the wound with something. Many use foil against Squash Vine Borer.


Eric

newag
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Not that I am aware of (SVB). I have been looking for red dots (or anything else that resembles an egg (of course I'm just looking for any dots on my leaves....lol). But haven't seen anything. Can you elaborate on the foil...

DoubleDogFarm
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Take a look at this post on Squash Vine Borer.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=169940#169940

G5 mentions foil.

I would probably just cut it off and keep an eye on it.


Eric

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vegetable-gardener88
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It won't do any harm cutting the leaf of. I'll cut mine off a zucchini (we like to call them courgettes here in the UK) and I cut leaves of that are diseased but the plant will keep producing.

johnny123
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Right, Cut away.
Just try to kill it.
It will just keep growing.

garden5
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I agree as well, cut the part away. It will do much more good than harm.

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gixxerific
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johnny123 wrote:Right, Cut away.
Just try to kill it.
It will just keep growing.
Exactly. :lol:

I had cucumbers growing one year that got out of hand I trimmed about 2/3 off of it and yanked and pulled it through the fence and where ever it was growing to put it on a trellis. I still trimmed it several times that year I could not kill it and it produced gobs of fruit.

They both have the same sort of growing habits. :wink:



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