Northeast Gardening: Edibles '11 chapter 2, 1 by ireed110

ireed110 wrote:
re Basil: a woman I work with tells me she just plucks leaves and throws them into a freezer bag...she uses them just like that year round. I'm going to give it a shot - I've been whirring it with garlic and olive oil and freezing tablespoons-full on wax paper.

The sad story is about my yellow squash. A few days ago there were 5 of them growing happily -- I picked two perfect specimens. Yesterday I took a look and there were none left. Closer inspection revealed piles of unrecognizable mush where the fruit used to be. We're talking 2 or 3 days from gorgeous to gone. I'd like to think I would have noticed BER. Pollination's not an issue because I had fruit. Calcium deficiency? Squash vine borer (no sign on casual inspection)? Is it too late to save this plant?

My zucchini, perhaps 10 feet away on the opposite side of the corn bed, is not performing and I wonder if it's a related condition. I had a gang of male blossoms and then nada. My pumpkins, way on the other side of the garden, are sprawling happily and look very healthy..but again I have no female blossoms yet and now I am concerned.

I hang my head while admitting I did not soil test this year. Is it too late? Or, rather, is it too late to do anything about the results?

This photo was taken about 10 days ago when all was right in my garden world. Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Ingrid