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Garden Gate:  Zucchini problems  |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 05:19:02 AM
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Every year I try to grow zucchini and I have the same problems!
The plant get's HUGE, I get blooms, tiny zucchini, then the base of the plant starts to split and rot (I see tiny bugs on it now) The zucchini starts to wilt... and the plant dies.
The base of 1 of my plants has just started to split. I covered it with more soil hoping to stop it. (am I just kidding myself?)
I have so many big, beautiful blooms on these plants. I really hate to lose them. I am determined to get some zucchini!
Help! 
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The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
Dorothy Frances Gurney |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 08:03:55 AM
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Deb... I have the same problem... but the bugs that are eating mine are rolly pollies. They drive me nuts. It seems that is the only farm I have right now is raising them in my little back yard. I lost several plants like that one year & was told to put diatomaceuos earth down. I did one summer but didnt notice a difference, but I may not have been using enough. I am going to try one more time & really sprinkle it around the base of the plants. It is just crushed shells basically & it is supposed to place cuts in their hard shells (or other bugs)and dehydrate them. We have been so we with all this rain so I will have to keep on top of it so it doesnt keep washing away. I have read you can even sprinkle it on your dogs coat to get rid of fleas. You have to make sure you get the kind that is not for swimming pools though.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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Persephone
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Katrina
Indiana
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 11:09:53 AM
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| Google squash vine borers. That's what was killing our zukes. I never was able to grow zukes, but I talked to an experienced (heirloom) gardener, and she said to watch the base of the vine carefully- that's where they get in. And to slowly build up soil around the base of the plant, and pick out any grubs you see. As you build the soil up around the plant as it grows, you prevent the borers from getting in. They can't get in from under the dirt, so just keep the stems covered with dirt. |
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2007 : 05:36:50 AM
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i use DE (diatomaceous earth) too... but have always been told that the stuff for pools is the exact same as the other. you can also feed it to your pets and farm animals to kill intestinal parasites... it has been added to livestock feed for years for this same purpose... a great alternative to expensive medications... if you plan on using this product, please do some research and find out suggested amounts for feeding etc...
also, you may want to find out if DE harms earthworms... since they are beneficial to your garden...
we have a HUGE box, but haven't used any of it yet... (oh yeah.. can also be used around the house to kill bugs without pesticides.
ta
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2007 : 1:29:00 PM
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We also use DE and some other baddy too. It goes on the base of the plant and the leaves when the plant is smaller, so it doesn't touch the part we eat.
We also had this same problem on cucumbers a few years ago.
And what I didn't know until just last year....when the squash matures the plant dies. So I more vigilant about picking frequnt small zucks rather than a few whoppers.
this year we have 12 plants and lost only 2 (in the same hill) even before fruiting started. Blossoms on most are huge! I hear you can fry these and pumpkin blossoms. Think I'll just stick to the squashes thamselves. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2007 : 9:57:37 PM
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Yep..sounds like vine borers. I never seem to have the problem with my patty pan squash as much as my zuchinni and pumpkins. This year so far so good.
Anna...fried stuffed squash blossoms are wonderful!! So are fresh ones stuffed with cream cheese mixed with herbs and chopped scallions!
My cukes got eaten by something not long after they came up..I have only three pickling cuke plants left..jeesh!! Seems like I struggle to grow them every year. The lettuce, tomatoes and peppers and the cabbage are doing well though, so I shouldn't complain.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2007 : 06:40:11 AM
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i found the squash bugs in my pattypans and butternut squash yesterday... i'm so upset! i hope they haven't killed the plants already... there are SO many blossoms...
my dad said to try dry ashes from a fire or grill... he said to put them in a paper bag and poke holes in the bottom of the bag... then shake it over the plants... he said he knows it works for cutworms... has anyone tried this?
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2007 : 07:42:31 AM
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i dont know if he has a web site, but in dallas, there is an organic guru dr. dirt and he promotes making a spray with manure tea and other things for bugs. i have in the past used garlic and red pepper spray to kill the bugs. we also have a lot of beneficial insects out here, ie, ladybugs and praying mantiss, they actually visit in the house during breeding season, i guess they think its a honeymoon hotel for them. i kind of enjoy watching them and their little babies.
i use as a reference book "the encyclopedia of country living"
it says, they like well manured, well composted soil with wood ash.
i am not finding much more in that reference but i will check in a book i have for natural pest control of insects.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2007 : 6:48:07 PM
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thanks for your ongoing help, fran... when you say "they like well manured, well composted soil with wood ash."... do you mean that the squash bugs like it? or that it is good for squashing the squash buggers?
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2007 : 03:41:47 AM
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Our cukes aren't doing very well either. Well, and we really haven't had much rain either.
A few years ago I trellised 2 cuke vines and had much better picking/finding success.
I made a ton of pickles last year and still have a bunch, so this year's cukes are just for casual salads and munching.
I'll have to try the blossoms |
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BeckyM540
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Becky
Nebo
WV
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 05:12:21 AM
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Not sure what my dad, the brother-in-laws and Gran, use but the only problem that we have ever had with squash, cukes, or Zukes is what in the world to do with all of them. I have came up with a lot of ideas, I am pretty sure that the brother-in-law uses lime--on everything. I'll have to ask my dad and gran. The farm where I live has a lot of clay (I'm really beginning to believe that is how Clay County got its name) We don't have a very big garden, we raise mainly hay. Last year my daughtere had 3 butter stick plants and they where loaded and loaded and loaded every time you looked and we just let nature and the chickens (chickens no bugs) take care of them. This time of the year I can leave the house for a couple of hours and that little alarm that everyone has goes off. So when I come back there are "Bags" of squash, cukes or Zukes sitting in my garage, you know right on the steps inside, where I can't miss them for a few days or none of the animals would just happen to get into them LOL. I ask my dad about what he uses but to be honest I don't think he uses anything on them . (wouldn't want to kill the things out now would we LOL) Good thing that we all love them
From the hills of WV
Becky |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 05:48:39 AM
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I know a fabulous recipe for scratch made zucchihni chicolate cake and cream cheese frosting.
And, We aren't really inot frying our food, but it's been tasty trying out breading combinations. Sautee with the bredding and a little olive oil. It's not crunchy, but good all the same!
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 06:29:17 AM
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i'm not a huge zucchini fan... i think because of the high water content... i LOVE yellow squash, but mostly i can do with out zucchini... however, there is one recipe that i've been making for years... ever since my brother made it many many moons ago when he was a newlywed (his oldest is in college now).
slice the zucchini and some potatoes and onions into rounds of the same thickness (this will determine cooking time, so i usually slice fairly thin... approx 1/8 inch)
seperate the rings of onions
spray a cassarole dish with non stick spray and layer the potatoes, onion & zucchini in that order (salt & pepper layers as desired)
after each succession of layers, spread a layer of sour cream and sprinkle a layer of parmesan cheese
continue with layers until you fill the dish, ending with sour cream & cheese.
bake at 375 until done (this will depend on the thickness of the potato rounds and the size of your dish) an average sized dish won't take less than an hour. the more done the potatoes are, the better.
FYI... this dish is yum yum yummy, but twice as nice the 2nd day!
enjoy
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2007 : 09:43:31 AM
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I like yellow squash well enough too, but for some starnge reason, it really makes my tummy hurt...like w/ in minutes. So hubby plants these all the time and I just watch and am much happier with the zukes.
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BeckyM540
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Becky
Nebo
WV
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2007 : 6:46:46 PM
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| A easy way to use yellow and/or zukes ... cube, place in large zip lock bag. dump in a pack of Ranch dressing mix, about 1/4 cup water...zip..shake well to coat...dump in tinfoil folded like a pouch or pan.... throw on the grill or in the oven(on a cookie sheat) for about 20 min. open slow watch for steam... ENJOY!!! you can do potatoes the same way just add more water and cook alittle longer... |
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Garden Gate: Zucchini problems |
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Zucchini problems
