Why are the leaves on my zucchini suddenly completely yellow as they come in? I am guessing either a nitrogen or iron deficiency.
What do you experts think? Growing in self watering pot.
Yellowing zucchini squash leaves
Not an expert but mine do that every year. But it's on the older, lower leaves and after it's been producing for awhile. I just cut them off and the plant keeps cranking along.
First things I would do is check for SVBs. They can cause sudden yellowing of leaves. Also spray it with fish emulsion. If it's a Nitrogen or Iron deficiency, that will correct it in a few days. Hope it's the latter. Good luck!
Ray_Der_Phan, sorry I am terrible with acronyms, what are SVBs? You recommend exactly what I was planning to try if what I did today doesn't work.
SVB = Squash Vine Borers. I haven't had a problem with them here *knocks on wood* but I've read a lot about them last year just in case. It doesn't look like the leaves are wilting at all, so that's definitely a good sign.
Here's some reading and what to look for....
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef314.asp
http://ipm.illinois.edu/vegetables/insects/squash_vine_borer/index.html
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/why-squash-leaves-turn-yellow.htm
I agree with Ray about it being about normal for some lower leaves on mature plants to turn yellow and usually is not a problem.
Another possibility is overwatering......that can be watering too often or growing in gummy grow mix that doesn't drain well.
In my area in the limestone central hills of Texas, our water causes a high PH that can cause yellowing leaves. Some plants are more susceptable than others.......right now Im noticing it on Petunia's and Chard. Occasional applications of MiracleGro Miracid (or equivalent) fertilizer can keep your grow mix below a PH of 7. Home Depot usually has some PH and moisture meters for around $6 to $ 8.
Ammonium sulfate is another PH lowering fertilizer.
This message was edited May 7, 2010 5:06 PM
Any update on the squash? Is it getting better?
Ray_Der_Phan, when I wrote "if what I did today doesn't work." I was alluding to a plant "snake oil" treatment I was doing an experiment with.
Several years go ordered a product call "Eleanor's VF-11" for plants. It is one of those products with a "secret ingredient" that will cure anything that ails a plant. (Right?!) Decided to see what would happen; I had never tried it on anything. Sprayed the whole plant to point of drip.
Well, look here! I ain't saying what did it but here is the plant when I got home from a 2 day trip after treating it.
Just to be safe I am going to spray it with chelated iron, and feed fish emulsion tomorrow. Probably kill then.
I am betting the 'secret ingredient' was epsom salt!!
Wow! Look at the difference!!
Like Jay, my initial thought was the "Secret Ingredient" is epsom salt. Did some quick reading about Eleanor's VF-11 and can't find an ingredient listing. But I did find a bunch of people really liking the stuff. My guess is it's similar to SuperThrive, which is Vitamin B1 and a plant hormone.
This thread (7th post down) claims it creates a (VF) verticillium/fusarium resistance for the plant. The "11" are the ingredients it contains. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hoya/msg0401202027642.html
Wow, that is a quick change.
I have messenger and some sea magic and forgot to use either this year, duh. LOL
joy
Just 11 days after the original picture of this plant was made (first entry in discussion) take a look at what it looked like Sunday morning 5-16! Not bad I say, hope some of the promised squash are forth coming.
gessie violet: I asked about VF-11 in Aces' and they don't have it on hand; but they are good at ordering things for their customers, unlike Lowes and Walmart, so will have to get some in for me. I have messenger but didn't use it or the Sea Magic this time round, got too busy planting. It looks beautiful now that you used that stuff, so, that is testimony enough for me. LOL
joy
Last week at the nursery I was picking up some stuff and overheard 2 ladies talking. One was holding a bottle and telling her friend how this stuff(raising the bottle in her hand) saved her plants last year. I took a quick glimpse and saw a big "VF" on the bottle. It was too coincidental to not pick up a bottle. Especially since they had, buy a bottle get a second one for free. Don't know what I'm gonna try it out on yet, but will test it on something soon.
Thought I would give an update on this zucchini squash. It did beautifully til yesterday. In fact I have had several people say it would have made a beautiful patio plant.
I believe part of the problem is probably too much fertilizer for even a squash plant. I have had plenty of leaves, blooms, even baby (female blossom) but they will not set and mature. Have harvested about 4 baby zuchs. that's all.
Do I think the FV-11 did any good? Definitely, but not fruit wise.
This photo taken this morning.
That's a bummer! Good thing about squash is it grows fast from seed. You gonna start over? How much fertilizer and what kind were you using?
I've been hearing a lot of people having problems with their zukes this year. Lots of pollination problems and aborting fruits. I used to have that problem too until I started growing ones that are self-pollinating. Mine are starting to take off.
Ray, the typical application of fertilizer in one of these buckets is a ring of 10-10-10 on top of the mix (2 cups) under the mulch cover. The idea being that it slowly leaches into mix and is used by plant as needed.
I am rethinking this application after this experience; yes, I will replant and experiment.
I am depending on the one plant to pollinate itself, maybe that's one of my problems; always assumed squash self pollinated. What variety do you refer to?
2 cups of Triple 10 in a 5 gallon container seems like a whole heck of a lot imo. Take Earthbox's recommendation for example, 2 cups of synthetic fertilizer per box (holds 12 gallons). To me, it sounds like 2 cups is 3 to 4 times the amount needed. I would think 1/2 - 3/4 cup of synthetic or 3/4 to 1 1/4 cup of organic seems like a better amount to use in a 5 gallon bucket. You could always add another 1/2 cup during flowering, if needed.
I only grow Sure Thing Squash for zucchini now( http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/zucchini/squash+sure+thing+hybrid+-+1+pkt.+%2825+seeds%29.do ). It's very easy to grow. Don't have to rely on pollinators or the appearance of both male and female flowers to produce. It's always dependable and pretty tasty too.
This message was edited May 30, 2010 10:44 PM