Knowledgebase
Is something wrong with my squash plant? #868808
Asked May 16, 2024, 9:09 PM EDT
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Was anything sprayed on or near the plant in recent days/weeks, like a fungicide or insecticide?
For now, monitor the plant for worsening or changing symptoms and feel free to send us more photos if that happens. To reduce the risk of disease overall, make sure the planting continues to receive good air circulation, and that its foliage is kept as dry as possible once regular watering is again needed. (If wetting the leaves is unavoidable when irrigating, water early enough in the day so that the foliage can dry by nightfall. Wet leaf surfaces are easier for pathogen spores to infect.) While a few fungicide products can suppress some of the common vegetable leaf diseases, they aren't always completely effective, usually require multiple repeat applications, and might risk harm to pollinators that need to visit the squash blossoms. Plus, as to the reason we asked about nearby sprays, sometimes a pesticide can cause phytotoxicity (plant tissue damage from chemical exposure) if conditions of weather or plant stress make it vulnerable to injury.
Miri