Zucchini Squah - Ask Extension
I planted 18 Black Beauty Zucchini hills and 5 have grown to near maturity but died some while young fruit had started. I have taken a picture but I...
Knowledgebase
Zucchini Squah #576361
Asked July 02, 2019, 5:50 PM EDT
I planted 18 Black Beauty Zucchini hills and 5 have grown to near maturity but died some while young fruit had started. I have taken a picture but I don't know how to send it. I will look for an email address. They all seem to be rotting just above ground level. Do you have a solution. Should I replant?
Wicomico County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- the 3 photos came through. It's possible that the affected plants are infested with squash vine borer larvae. ake a sharp knif or razor and cut halfway through the rotted stem area in either direction to see if there are any large, cream colr larvae with brown heads. They may have pupated by now. The larvae produce frass (excement) that looks like wet sawdust. Zucchini is probably the most susceptible member of the squash family to this pest. There are two generations in MD.
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/squash-vine-borer-vegetables
If it does not appear to be squash vine borer, it's possible that your plants were infected with a crown or root rot disease, such as fusarium root and stem rot. You might observe a brown decay at the plant base. Tissue becomes mushy and a white growth will emerge during humid weather.
We see that your plants are growing in containers and assume that the containers do not have bottoms. If they do have bottoms the soil may be excessively wet (even with drainage holes) which may cause root rot issues.
Jon
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/squash-vine-borer-vegetables
If it does not appear to be squash vine borer, it's possible that your plants were infected with a crown or root rot disease, such as fusarium root and stem rot. You might observe a brown decay at the plant base. Tissue becomes mushy and a white growth will emerge during humid weather.
We see that your plants are growing in containers and assume that the containers do not have bottoms. If they do have bottoms the soil may be excessively wet (even with drainage holes) which may cause root rot issues.
Jon
