Hi! I hope someone can help - my zucchini plants are huge, and seem healthy. Tons of blossoms, and tons of new fruit starting. However, after they get so big, they seem to start to rot. The end gets soft, and yellow. I'm new to gardening, so I'd love some help to figure this out. Thanks!
Bethels ~ squash and melons suffer from Blossom End Rot for the same reasons tomatoes will. There are a number of possible causes.
If you want to read more about the different causes ~ http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htm
For me, the most common is erratic watering. I came back from vacation to find some of the Delicata squash with BER due to watering issues. Kristi
Thank you so much! I have been a little erratic with the watering, so hopefully that will solve the problem. I appreciate your response, and the link!
You can possibly salvage the undamaged portion by trimming that end off.
Might be worth a try. I've not tried it but some folks say the taste is different. Good luck Kristi
I've found that the two most common things that cause this problem in my garden are powdery mildew and pickle worms. Check first for PM, sometimes the symptoms show up first on the fruit before the classic signs are seen on the leaves and stems. Pickle worm moths lay their eggs in the blossoms where they first eat the insides of the flowers then move to the fruit, going in where the blossom is attached to the fruit. Sometimes they damage the flower so badly it cannot be pollinated. To check for pickle worms, rip the flower open. The first instar is very small, creamy white to beige and spotted.
Looks like you got some Powdery Mildew starting in the 2nd pic. I would spray something mild before it gets too bad. It won't get better if you leave it alone.
anyone know of a good calcium rich foliar spray to use to help with the possible deficiency?
a good read for low calcium issues which can also cause blossom end rot
http://www.growinggroceries.com/2008/10/calcium-the-forgotten-plant-nutrient/
I personally use Aggrand products. They are organic and do well for me and my friends. They sell a liquid bonemeal and a liquid lime. I think the liquid lime provides more calcium. Check out the website http://www.aggrand.com or specifically http://www.aggrand.com/Store/Products/lime.aspx
Growco Indoor Garden Supply ( http://www.4hydroponics.com/ ) offers a number of different liquid fertilizers including calcium.
Good luck.
This message was edited Jun 26, 2012 1:02 PM
Is the bonemeal from free range animals that are grass fed with no antibiotics? ;p
