Zucchini plant question - Ask Extension
Is this blossom end rot or a fungus? This is the second year in a row my zucchini are doing this. Thinking it was BER I asked a man at the nursery and...
Knowledgebase
Zucchini plant question #575600
Asked June 30, 2019, 3:16 PM EDT
Is this blossom end rot or a fungus? This is the second year in a row my zucchini are doing this. Thinking it was BER I asked a man at the nursery and he sold me a bag of lime. Now, I’m wondering if this is really BER. Thanks.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
This looks like choanephora rot, a common fungal disease that is promoted by wet weather during bloom. The fungus first infects flowers and then moves into the young fruits. Aside from spraying preventatively with a fungicide the best thing to do is remove blossoms from the ends of fruit once they begin to enlarge- after pollination and fertilization of ovules (baby seeds) has occurred. There are no resistant cultivars.
Here is more on our website https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/choanephora-rot
Marian
Here is more on our website https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/choanephora-rot
Marian
