What kills zuchini, bean, cucumbers, melons? - Ask Extension
For multiple years the above plants start out green and healthy. Then around mid July a grey mold appears on the leaves and progresses to kill the le...
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What kills zuchini, bean, cucumbers, melons? #764551
Asked July 29, 2021, 9:48 AM EDT
For multiple years the above plants start out green and healthy. Then around mid July a grey mold appears on the leaves and progresses to kill the leaves and eventually the entire plant. What is killing these plants and is there something we can put on it? It is a community garden and the dead plants are tossed into the compost. One of the members of the garden claims that the heat of the compost pile will kill the spore, mold, what ever it is. Should we be composting the infected plants?
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Debbie, thanks for the question.
There are many diseases that can kill your plants if not controlled. Learning how to identify and control these diseases can sometimes be a challenge. Prevention is important. The "grey mold" you mention is most likely powdery mildew. There does not seem to be a consensus on composting powdery mildew infected material. It is important to note that there are other diseases for which composting is not an option. If a compost pile is not managed properly it may not be effective in killing off the pathogen. Check out the following links for more more information:
- https://extension.umn.edu/diseases/powdery-mildew-cucurbits
- https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/common/fungi/powdery-mildew-diseases
- https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/02902.pdf
I hope this is helpful.
