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Zucchini plants wilting #875126

Asked June 28, 2024, 2:31 PM EDT

I decided to start growing food this year, and filled a raised bed with soil/compost that I purchased. I started with four zucchini plants and two cucumber plants; I started the cucumbers from seed (direct sow) and transplanted the zucchini in late March (early, I know. I am learning a lot of hard lessons). I have been dealing with cucumber beetles, squash bugs, aphids, squash vine borers, and seemingly every pest that likes zucchini. I removed two of the zucchini plants and both of the cucumber plants because I assumed they had bacterial wilt from cucumber beetles (see attached image, which is of my most recently lost zucchini plant but is representative of the symptoms of the other troubled plants. I removed some droopy leaves/stems from the pictured plant yesterday, and woke up this morning to a very sad plant). Does this image seem to confirm my diagnosis? Also curious if I should submit samples of plant material, soil, etc. to confirm and to rule out other diseases? I still have two zucchini plants, but assume they will fall victim to disease shortly. I just put in my raised bed this year and want to make sure that I can use it going forward. Thanks!

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi- sorry to hear about the troubles. 

Bacterial wilt can take down cucumber and squash plants this time of year. It's spread by cucumber beetle (mostly striped cucumber beetles) feeding on plants. The bacterium is in the beetles' gut and enters leaves through fecal pellets left behind during feeding. The bacterium doesn't survive in plant residues so it's safe to compost the infected plants and re-plant the area in squash this year and next year.

Squash vine bores also cause wilting and steady decline. Look closely at the base of the zucchini stems more signs of borer feeding (holes with frass on the outside that resembles wet sawdust).
References:
Squash vine borer
Bacterial wilt disease
Key to Common Problems of Squash

You can plant cucumber and squash through late July. Consider covering seedlings or transplants with insect netting to exclude insect pests. Remove the netting when plants start to flower. Insect netting is preferable to row cover material in mid-summer because the air underneath won't heat up.
Jon
This is wonderful information. Thank you!

On Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 4:48 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 28, 2024, 7:00 PM EDT

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