Veseys

Gardeners’ Forum: “squashes, pumpkin (wilting)”

• squashes, pumpkin (wilting)

  Posted by Doreen Hill on Sunday, July 22, 2007 5:01 pm ADT

  My squashes and pumpkins are over 5 feet high and were a picture of health 2 days ago. Many fruits are hanging and flowers were everywhere, with many insects aiding with the pollination. My sister-in-law and I were marvelling mother nature while looking at the crop at 5 pm Friday afternoon. Saturday at noon I looked at the plants and they were severely wilted (20 hours later). I thought it to be stange because they had been watered the day before. Saturday aftrernoon I again watered the plants and here it is a day later and they still look the same. The blossoms have closed tight and the leaves have curled. We do not use herbicidal sprays and I don't think many people do along this lake. I have checked the stems and they look untouched by animals and I have checked the leaves and stems and there is no evidence of any insects. HELP!

  • re: squashes, pumpkin (wilting)

    Posted by Jennifer Barton on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:51 pm ADT

    You know, we had a great start for our zuchinni and cucumbers and they were producing excellent sized vegetables. We went away on holidays to return to wilted leaves and slowly they turned brown. Investigating on the intenet, I am pretty sure that we have a case of "Squash Bugs". The beetle-like bugs range from a browny-beige and young ones appear to be a little greener. Look for the eggs on the underside of the leaf (they are a bright rust or brownish colour. These bugs suck the life right out of the leaf and their life cycle continues over the winter if you don't remove the dead plant. One web site suggests burning the plant at the end of the growing season. It suggested some methods to remove them and both involved pesticides...sorry not sure what they are called. Hope you can save your plants...our are gone...oh well I guess even squash bugs have to eat somewhere. Take Care Jen