Blossom end rot in cukes and yellow squash

Eric Rylander · May 11, 2011

I have some garden plants here in south Georgia. They form flowers, start to form cukes and squash, then the blossoms turn to mush and the little veggies do the same. I have heard un even watering, and too little calcium in the soil. I am growing these in cut off barrels drilled full of drain holes in a mix of my top soil and potting soil.

Last year I had the same problem so I quit trying to grow them in the ground directly and grew them in the barrels. Now I have the same problem.

We have had little rain here, I was soaking them each three days or so, but since they started to blossom and I have this problem, I cut back and just water lightly each two days when I can put my finger in the soil 1" or so and it's dry.

Can I add bone meal or lime to bring the PH up?

Rootsy · May 12, 2011

Sounds like you need some bees....

If un-pollinated the fruit will abort.

jackinok · May 12, 2011

did you fertilize when you mixed your soil up?just happened to hear on one of the gardening shows someone in the house was watching that potting soils are kind of nuetral,nothing in them as far as fertilizer goes so that they could be used for any plant and you could fertilize according to a particular plants needs.If thats the case they could be needing some food.I'm pretty sure the proper time to side dress them is when they are blooming.I dont know other than that, ive never seen or heard of blossom end rot on squash or cukes.There is another disease that looks like end rot that tomatoes get fairly often called anthrocose (sp) or something of that nature that may attack those also.If I recall correctly it can live in the soil.I have a paper on it at home somwhere,i'll try to remember to find it and check.there is a product ive used on tomatoes called "rot stop" that works pretty good,ace hardware carries it here,and probably other places.just mix it up and spray tomatoes,if you have a garden store around you might check the package and see if it would work for you.

Matt from CT · May 12, 2011

When did they start to bloom?

Summer squash form female flowers about 10 days to 2
weeks before the males arrive. Until the males
arrive, and good pollination kicks in a day or two
later, you'll have these abortions going on.

Blossom end rot in cukes and yellow squash

Eric Rylander

Member

Rootsy

Member

jackinok

Well-known Member

Matt from CT

Well-known Member

Similar threads