Saturday, July 13, 2013

Losing at Zucchini...Again!

I harvested my first zucchini last week. I should have harvested about ten by now, judging by the little babies I saw, but to date I have harvested...one.
The thing is, last year was the first and only year I ever had success with zucchini, or any summer squash for that matter. And it was not give-a-ton-to-your-kicking-and-begging-for-mercy-neighbors success. It was we-have-plenty-for-our-own-use-for-once success. As in more than one zucchini success. This year I seem to be reverting to the bad old days, although I am still holding out hope.
Here is what I see on my plants one day:
 And here is what I see the next day:
 There is blossom end rot going on here! I have been valiantly fighting every pest known to squashdom too: gray squash bugs, squash beetles, cucumber beetles and Japanese beetles. Then I came down the other morning to find this:
Believe me, it actually looks better in the photo! Leaves turning yellow and sick. I had to pull out two plants that were far enough gone in an effort to isolate the other plants from the disease. Things are looking grim.
I have not entirely given up yet. There are a few small zukes that may make it to harvestable size by tomorrow or the next day. And I do have a second planting in another bed that if I can keep them healthy and bug-free may give me some summer squash in August. There are also two Trombocino squashes coming along too if they don't succumb to blossom end rot. One can only hope!

5 comments:

  1. I hope you do get to harvest some zucchini! I don't usually have an overabundance of zucchini either. Maybe you have a neighbor that is wanting to get rid of some? Good luck! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy! I really do struggle with this one thing they say everyone has too much of! But it may kick in yet!

      Delete
  2. Too bad it costs so much to mail them. I know I can't throw them that far :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry to hear about your zucchini problems. It's hit or miss for me due to the dreaded SVB (squash vine borer) Hopefully your second planting will do better.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Trying to reply to your comments Granny and Robin but either my computer or blogger is acting up and won't give me a reply box. Granny, you are the queen of squash and it's just too bad you can't throw them my way! Thanks for commiserating Robin. I finally conquered the SVBs only to be hit by everything else!

    ReplyDelete