Zucchini and squash help

My Zukes are producing but the "fruit" then turns yellow and dies. I got one great zuke then this started. I am having problems with powdery mildew and spraying with neem oil. Could the powdery mildew be affecting the growth of the veges?

photo was taken April 27th.

Hi. You might want to try a soil test to verify, but it's likely due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil. Try amending the soil around the plants with manure, nitrogen-rich compost or lime. Lightly rake it in to the soil and water so that it gets into the soil and can start doing some good.

Good luck!
Lisa

How big have they grown before dropping off?

It may be a pollination issue because the squash actually starts growing and if not pollinated then they fall off.

Do you have bees?

It sounds like a pollination problem. You can always hand pollinate with a make up brush or q-tip. I just reread your post and noticed that you are using neem oil which I also use and find very effective, however it is an insecticide and it will harm bees. Now I'm pretty sure it is a pollination issue. You may be seeing the female blossoms but if they aren't pollinated they will turn yellow and fall off.
Lisa

I have actually harvested one 6" beautiful zuke, then 3 others have started growing then turned yellow (the last one at about 2") and died. Are they pollinated after the zuke starts growing? I thought once a zuke was started they were already pollinated.

I have tons of blooms on my zuke, but no females yet. *sigh*

Here is a pic of the latest zuke. When I touched it it fell right off the vine.

another pic same zuke

Your plants look pretty healthy in the pic.
However, neem is an also an insecticide.
Using it will prevent what you want to accomplish, which is pollinate the squash.
It's not unusual for some of the new squash to fall off, as it happens a lot in my garden. I always have a few that never make it.
But, if you are spraying stuff that affects insects, it will affect your harvest.
Also, summer squash leaves get a weird white veining that looks weird, but is not anything that effects the plant. Not necessarily bad.
I would take my chances and stop spraying. If not, then you must hand pollinate as the bees that come to your plants will not live long enough to continue pollination.

I agree. Those plants aren't being pollinated.

okay then...it seems unanimous... I will stop using the neem oil. Will the powdery mildew hurt the plants?

Yes, the mildew will hurt the plants, but you need a fungicide that won't hurt the bees.

I put down dry powdered garlic and hortcultural cornmeal under my plants to help with fungal problems. If possible, I also clip off affected leaves.

On a positive note, I saw my first female zuke today!! woot!

Thank you all for your help.

This is my first garden and it's alot more complicated than it seemed when my grandparents were growing vegetables. Keyword: seemed!

I am determined to have great veges so I will continue to learn by trial and error. :-)

I think we're all in the same boat, the USS Trial & Error! LOL

LOL stephanie....

Neem oil is one of the few products that is good for fungus, mites and insects. So while you were trying to treat the mildew you may have inadvertently been getting the bees too. I have been gardening all my life 40+ years, and learn something new everyday. I just happened to reread your post and saw the reference to neem oil. Can you post a picture off the powder mildew, just to make sure?
Lisa

Lisa,

I'll get one tomorrow and post it. I don't have any that close of the leaves. All of the leaves it is on are turning yellow and dying. The new leaves look great...for now.

I sprayed it on in the evening and there were no bees around. Will it hurt them if you don't get it directly on them?

Well, here's what I know about powdery mildew. I saw some on my zucchini plants, but I ignored it because the plant seemed fine. I got some babies that grew to about 3-4" then turned yellow and dropped off. Then I was just about to start hand pollinating and one of the zucchini "broke free" and started to grow. I also started to see lots of bees and such on the sunflowers. So one zucchini grew to great heights, while the mold got more and more prevalent. But the leaves and the plant still looked ok so I still ignored it. I just cut a couple of the more affected leaves off and disposed of them. Now, several weeks later, my zucchini leaves are covered in white/grey mold, it has spread to my pumpkins and the leaves are yellow and "frizzling up" and the mold is now working on the canteloupes - I now find myself running to the store to try and find something to save my garden. My advice, keep an eye on that mold.

Yikes! Good Luck. It does seem to have spread to my summer squash and cukes. I didn't know it could spread 'cause I thought it was a deposit left by bugs. Dang...I have so much to learn.

I spray diluted milk on my zucs for powdery mildew and it seems to help.

I THINK but I'm not sure and definately correct me if I'm wrong that Neem oil kills on contact but isn't a risidual but it does have a smell that may deter the bees. You may want to try a fert. with a higher middle # which is Phosphates. Phosphates are for roots and fruits (that just sounds wrong) but its worth a try.
Lisa

Bodecoa - I lived in South Florida for over 30 years and gave up trying to grow anything in the squash family because of powdery mildew!

It is definitely a pollination issue. You had one grow to a good size so you have pollinators. I wouldn't worry about a few shriveling up....it happens all the time. This year I'm happy to see half my squash yellowed and dead. I'm drowning in squash lol I only have 5 Zukes and 4 scallops. I've been giving them away and still have more than I can deal with. It did take about a month to get them in full swing. Just be patient.

I agree with what cyndiehook said.....

I'm no expert by any means. Only have grow squash for 2 years. Last year was a bust because I had powdery mildew and sprayed them weekly if not more with Neem or Daconil. It discouraged or prevented(killed) the few pollinators I had flying around last year. This year, I'm not spraying and I have tons of bees! Yes, I see mildew this year but I'm being more hands on with it. Cutting off any leaves or stems that have it.... I am checking daily(or every other day). A little mildew(at least in my area) is impossible to prevent. You just have to make sure it doesn't spread all over the plant.

From my limited experience with squash. Bottom yellowing of leaves is normal(just like cukes). I remove at least 2-4 leaves weekly....they seem to like me hacking off their bad leaves. One other thing, whitish spots on leaves isn't a bad thing if it looks like the pic below(not powdery mildew). My Scallop squash doesn't have it but all of my Zucchini do.

Never tried this on squash but I have a rose that my grandmother brought to Louisiana from Mississippi in 1912 and it has powdery mildew on it each year. I tried all the commercial stuff and found that a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and three or four drops of Ivory dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water worked wonders. Don't see why it wouldn't work on squash.

Thanks everyone for all the good advice. I cut off most all of the leaves that were affected on the zucchini, squash and cukes. They actually look like they can breath now. I will keep a good eye on them and continue cutting the affected leaves. I do have bees just not alot. They seem to really like my potted salvia. Hmmmm! I think I'll move it right next to the squash and zucchini. ^_^