Second year growing zucchini and again more problems.

SmittenGarden · May 16, 2014

I have again planted a zucchini in my city pickers for second time in a row... But this year I only put one in the planter as I learnt my lesson about two being too many last year....

Last year I had a problem with powdery mildew.... This year I do not see any mildew but there is something wronging just don't know what or how to fix it.

This year the.ant grew big fast and grew fruit faster than I remember and multiple fruit at the same time...we planted beginning of April. Followed the city pickers instructions with planting... New organic potting mix, layer of dolomite 2 inches from top finished with a layer of potting mix and two one inch deep thin troughs of fertilizer either side of a central plant.

Well right now a load of leaves are going yellow and dying...the fruit that it grew, looks to have been fertilized and grew but is either growing very slowly or being stunted in growth and starting to wilt a little. One had a rotten black spot on its tip (fruit end) and bulbous end near stem. There are some holes in some leaves which happened last year. But I wouldn't say too many...

I've taken photos but I do not know how

I'm lost at what to do....could it be blossom end rot? Would adding calcium nitrate to the watering system like tomato plants work?

b54red · May 16, 2014

It is not unusual for a squash to have some fruits that do not develop correctly or that will rot at the blossom end. Just pick off any that look like they are going bad on the tip. Give them a good dose of the blue stuff and the growth should speed up. They are very heavy feeders and will need some additional fertilizer every week to 10 days when producing or they will slow down and even stop. I feed mine every week and they are in the ground.

Bill

SmittenGarden · May 16, 2014

Thanks bill

by blue stuff do you mean the calcium nitrate? Or should I be using a more complete and specific fertilizer? I was going to add a teaspoon of that weekly to the self watering system of the box they are in.

b54red · May 16, 2014

I usually use Miracle Grow or Urban Farms Apples and Oranges fertilizer on squash.

Bill

Lindalana · June 15, 2014

Am wondering why using Urban Apples and Organges over the All Veggie one for zukes?

b54red · June 15, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindalana

Am wondering why using Urban Apples and Organges over the All Veggie one for zukes?

It is the one I have right now and it worked great on everything I have tried it on so far.

Bill

Sun City Linda · June 15, 2014

I grow in Earthboxes and per EB instructions, mix the dolomite into all the potting mix.

creister · June 17, 2014

Have you checked for squash vine borers? They get inside the stems and destroy the stems and leaves.

May 16, 2014	#1
SmittenGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: So California Posts: 75	Second year growing zucchini and again more problems. I have again planted a zucchini in my city pickers for second time in a row... But this year I only put one in the planter as I learnt my lesson about two being too many last year.... Last year I had a problem with powdery mildew.... This year I do not see any mildew but there is something wronging just don't know what or how to fix it. This year the.ant grew big fast and grew fruit faster than I remember and multiple fruit at the same time...we planted beginning of April. Followed the city pickers instructions with planting... New organic potting mix, layer of dolomite 2 inches from top finished with a layer of potting mix and two one inch deep thin troughs of fertilizer either side of a central plant. Well right now a load of leaves are going yellow and dying...the fruit that it grew, looks to have been fertilized and grew but is either growing very slowly or being stunted in growth and starting to wilt a little. One had a rotten black spot on its tip (fruit end) and bulbous end near stem. There are some holes in some leaves which happened last year. But I wouldn't say too many... I've taken photos but I do not know how I'm lost at what to do....could it be blossom end rot? Would adding calcium nitrate to the watering system like tomato plants work?

May 16, 2014	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	It is not unusual for a squash to have some fruits that do not develop correctly or that will rot at the blossom end. Just pick off any that look like they are going bad on the tip. Give them a good dose of the blue stuff and the growth should speed up. They are very heavy feeders and will need some additional fertilizer every week to 10 days when producing or they will slow down and even stop. I feed mine every week and they are in the ground. Bill

May 16, 2014	#3
SmittenGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: So California Posts: 75	Thanks bill by blue stuff do you mean the calcium nitrate? Or should I be using a more complete and specific fertilizer? I was going to add a teaspoon of that weekly to the self watering system of the box they are in.

June 15, 2014	#5
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	Am wondering why using Urban Apples and Organges over the All Veggie one for zukes?

June 15, 2014	#7
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I grow in Earthboxes and per EB instructions, mix the dolomite into all the potting mix.

June 17, 2014	#8
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Have you checked for squash vine borers? They get inside the stems and destroy the stems and leaves.