Ohio Valley and Midwestern gardeners: Have you been having problems this year growing summer squash?

Question

I've been nursing a vegetable garden for several years now, and in the last 2 growing seasons (this summer and last), I've have had absolutely terrible luck keeping my squash plants alive. 

Last summer, all four squash plants developed a disease in which the plants' leaves mutated into small, swollen, shriveled stubbles. I'd never seen anything like it. Once the disease set in, the plants halted growth, and for many many weeks remained at beginners-size, looking as if on the brink of survival. Only one of my four plants managed to overcome the disease and begin growing to a somewhat reasonable size. Even so, the squash plants became so infested with a certain type of bug that eventually they simply died - very suddenly. One day they looked just fine. The next, the only one alive was limp and lifeless. Completely gone. I don't believe I got a single produce from any of the four plants last summer.

This year has been no better. I decided to plant seven squash in order to prevent last year's fiasco, but that did no good whatsoever. All but 2 of them never grew one inch. They simply sat in the state in which they'd been transplanted for weeks, until they slowly, subtly perished. Thankfully, though, that mutation disease from last summer has not reared it's ugly head.
The 2 plants that did manage to survive and grow looked excellent at first, but in the past week or so have taken a turn for the worst. Both have halted growth, and both have been losing leaves (that aren't being replenished). As of this evening, one of them is pretty much dead. The other is holding out, but it probably won't be long before it dies too. I only got one produce, a medium sized squash, from all 7 of the original plants. 

Both years, insects have been a major problem. I think they are the fault for the sudden demises. 

Has anyone else in the Ohio region or surrounding areas been affected in a similar way? How has your summer squash turnout been this year? Why might I be having this problem(s), and what steps should I take in the future to fix it? (it's too late to salvage this year's). 

I'm trying to get pictures posted, but Shutterfly is having an argument with me... *ugh*. I'll post the pictures when I can finally get them online.

JT · Accepted Answer

I live in the mid-Missouri region, and have had some problems with my pumpkins this summer - squash bugs have been bad here. A cool, wet summer is hard on squash to begin with. Add my reluctance to use pesticides (I'd rather have the praying mantises, toads and birds eating the bugs, than poisoning them in the attempt to grow the squash) 

Aah - your pictures have uploaded! The bugs that you've seen - large, gray and mostly under the leaves - you have squash bugs. Squash vine borers are orange and black. Both carry diseases that can kill your vines.

Did you plant your squash in the same place this year as last? Some disease organisms/insects overwinter in the soil and debris. A few suggestions for next year:
1. now - clean up all debris, and burn it or send it out in your trash. 
2. fall - mulch heavily with compost and manure where you're going to grow your squash nest year. Work some more compost into the ground in spring. Squash like lots of organic matter in the soil.
3. grow your squash in an area that hasn't had any squash or pumpkins for 3 or more years
4. keep a close eye on your new plants, and if there's signs of problems, look under the leaves for grey bugs (squash bugs) and around the stems for 'sawdust' (squash vine borers). A weak solution of soapy water sprayed directly on the bugs, if used early, can help ameliorate the insect problem. If you're not squeamish, the bugs can simply be picked off and killed by 'squash'ing or dropping them in soapy water, The borer larvae have to be removed from inside the vine. :(
5. if there's no sign of bugs, remove and burn/discard disease-distorted leaves.  
This site (www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef314.asp) has very good pictures and descriptions of the main insect pests, and some suggestions for what to do about them for mechanical control.

shooter1 · Answer

I'm not in your area, I'm in N.W. Florida. But, yes, I have had problems with my summer squash also. They did great for a while then, suddenly, stopped growing. A few days later the squash borers showed up. I managed to control the first onslaught by checking at night with a very powerful flashlight and killing the worms by inserting a wire through them while they were in the vines. The second infestation was even worse and all my summer squash perished. Now they are attacking my winter squash and I seem to be losing the battle with them again. 

I haven't had the leaf problem so I don't know what it may be. I would recommend spraying the ground with a heavy bleach solution and grow the squash in another area next year. Use the treated area for beans or peas next year then try again. The bleach should kill any fungus or nematodes that may be causing the problem. That is only a recommendation; having never had the problem I can't verify that this would work. If you try it and it does work maybe you could post the results.

Good luck and enjoy!

ADD: If you do manage to produce a few squash let a couple fully mature and use the seeds for next year; they may be the answer to the problem. If the parent plant survived the problem enough to produce then the offspring may have a bit of resistance to whatever it is.

Anonymous · Answer

Have you tried relocating your garden to a different area? I do every six years...but forgot one year and the crop was terrible.
Also you may want to till the soil deeper before planting next season.
Another problem may be leaving too much of the 'leftovers' (compost left after harvest), sometimes it causes more harm than good.
Try an almanac for proper times to plant,when you plant can have a big impact on your garden.
Insects? What kind?
I will ask some friends, but it seems a lot of people are having trouble with their crops this year, not just in the areas you mentioned.

♪

EDIT
Just saw the pics, the mutation is likely from the other vegetation in the ground.

goofinoff · Answer

The past two or three years I have had a problem with blossom end rot, where the fruit does not fully develop.  I have a small garden fencing out the critters so can't really rotate the crop.  I miss my yellow squash and tried again late this season, after harvesting potatoes and lettuce in that spot.  So far, so good, but no fruit yet.

Meanwhile, in my compost pile, a huge butternut squash vine has produced many large ones, not yet ripe but very promising.  It's not even in full sun.

Ohio weather has been very wet, so no watering needed, but the fungus diseases can take over.

Anonymous · Answer

Sisyrinchium bellum S. Watson What is unusual is that most gardeners use weed killer on their lawns and kill these, I saw this growing in my lawn 40 years ago. I transplanted it to a safe spot and nurtured it until it produced a profusion the prettiest tiny sky blue flowers. The tallest the leaves get is 6" but sometimes the flower spikes reach 8" each one topped by a small blue spot of sky. I've transplanted these with every move my family has made and they continue to multiply and flourish. They are cheerful and remind me of the persistence of life under the most difficult of circumstances. I grow magnificently fragrant tall bearded Iris in almost a rainbow of colors and some rebloomers, one of which looks like a frog, but this little Iris family grass is special. It is amazing how many friends with lush green lawns stoop down to admire and comment on this little prize never realizing that they too could have a sky blue lawn - and with no mowing, no fertilizer except compost, no weed killers, The value of gardening is sunshine, fresh air, sweet fragrance and the time to see the magnificent display Mother Earth and Father Sky offer us.

Ohio Valley and Midwestern gardeners: Have you been having problems this year growing summer squash?

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