shinyfirefly
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Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:52 pm

Zucchini leaves browning overnight

I came home from work today to an issue I've not seen before. This is only my second year gardening and last year's squash plants did well. This year a new bed was created with new soil. Overnight the leaves on one of my zucchini plants have turned brownish, a little mottled and have curled edges. The other zucchini plant behind it is fine and the Heirlook straightneck squash plant to the left is fine. Cucumbers climbing behind are fine although they are ballooning out at the bottom due to the heavy rains.

I've seen some aphids, but not many. A few squash bugs - not out of the norm. We have had significant rain lately - but today's thunderstorm was about 20 minutes. Does anyone have any ideas? pH is 6.8
Attachments
Squash plant to left of damaged plant
Squash plant to left of damaged plant
Normal zucchini plant behind damaged plant
Normal zucchini plant behind damaged plant
Close up of damaged leaf
Close up of damaged leaf
Damaged zucchini plant
Damaged zucchini plant

Peter1142
Green Thumb
Posts: 312
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:23 am
Location: SE NY ZONE 6B

Did you spray the leaves with anything?

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Lindsaylew82
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 2115
Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 9:26 pm
Location: Upstate, SC

Yeah, same question!

It looks a lot like herbicade damage, to me. I think it's odd though, that this is the only one showing cupping like that, especially since they are so close.

I'm just wondering if maybe they were grown or started in different potting medium, or if maybe this one got sprayed with remnant herbicide from the leftovers in the wand of a sprayer?

imafan26
Mod
Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Do you have sandy soil and do you have enlarging fruit? or low pH?

It could be a magnesium deficiency.
5. Magnesium deficiency is more likely tooccur on sandy soils with a low pH, especially in dry years. Symptoms
first appear as a yellowing between the leaf veins (interveinal chlorosis), beginning on the oldest leaves and slowly spreading to newer growth. Yellowed tissues may turn brown, die, and drop out, giving the leaf a shot-hole pattern.

Magnesium deficiency usually appears during periods of rapid growth, when the fruit is enlarging.
Management—Maintain the soil pH near 6.5.
Soil test results should show at least 200 lb of
magnesium/acre. Potential sources of preplant
magnesium include magnesium oxide and dolomitic
lime. If necessary, fertigate Epsom salts
(magnesium sulfate) and magnesium oxide
through a drip irrigation system. Avoid heavy
applications of fertilizers containing competing
cations (K+, Ca++, NH4++). Foliar sprays
are generally ineffective in correcting significant
deficiencies.

shinyfirefly
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Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:52 pm

I don't spray my plants with anything except a little insecticidal soap for squash bugs and that's typically just on the bug. These plants were grown from seed. pH is 6.8. I created the bed with 2/3 topsoil and 1/3 organic matter, just like last year. Not particularly sandy, no.

The fruit is enlarging a bit now Large on blossom end, narrower on the other. Everything is rather pear shaped. The first fruits were of normal shape and size and I was watering consistently twice a week. We've had decent rain for about ten days. Isolated showers each day. Enough to cause some end rot. From what I read, that is largely due to a calcium imbalance. So perhaps this is a part of that. I just find it strange that it is just on one plant. The plant behind it is about 10 days behind the damaged one. The first seeds didn't germinate so I reseeded.

The only other odd thing is that I have radishes planted all around them to help with pests and they bolted last night too.

Peter1142
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Posts: 312
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:23 am
Location: SE NY ZONE 6B

I would take a guess that long periods of cloudiness followed by insecticidal soap spraying and extremely intense sun has burned the leaves of this particular variety.

senseimitch
Newly Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:01 pm

Did you ever find out what happened? We just had the same thing happen to our plants?!?



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