zuchinni question

[hsmominpa]

Hello,
I am a first time gardener so please forgive this and all further seemingly ignorant questions :0)!
We are in NE PA. the weather has been HOT and DRY! I water every day to every other day.
My zukes are growing nicely, have flowers/buds on them. The leaves however, have these gray kind of splotches on them. Not raised or "through" the leaves. Just parts of the leaves are discolored. Any ideas???
TIA

[jj101180]

Hello, I have had the same problem.*I used a mixture of Sodium Bicabonate and water. Spray this mixture on you plants including roots and leaves every three to four days. A little more often when it is wet. It should cure*the*problem and prevent it from coming back. I hope this helps and you get good crops from here on in. *

[Newt]

Hi JJ,

Hsmominpa's problem could be gray mold or powdery mildew.* For the gray mold I prefer a vinegar solution.* For the powdery mildew the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or milk will work.* Here's a bunch of home made remedies.
http://www.ghorganics.com/page15.html

Here's home made insecticidal soap too.
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/outdoors/194

Newt

[razyrsharpe2001]

i am having a similiar problem.* the spots are silvery/gray and almost cover the leaf.* (see pics)* which spray is best for this?

[razyrsharpe2001]

one more pic...

[razyrsharpe2001]

could this just be a characteristic of the cultivar?* is it normal?

[Newt]

Razyrsharp, it looks like it's part of the leaf pattern.* Do you know which cultivar you have?

Newt

[baddaddy]

the seed packet says it's "Zucchini Elite Hybrid"...have you ever heard of it?* it sounds kind of generic to me.*(i am razyrsharpe2001, had some trouble signing in under that name and re-registered as baddaddy)

[Newt]

Baddaddy, thanks for explaining the name change.* I've not heard specifically of this variety of zucchini, but a search with the term: Zucchini 'Elite' hybrid got me some interesting info.* First of all the pattern in the leaf is not normal.* It appears that your plant has a virus.* I'm not sure which one.* These viruses are caused by insect pests.* Take a look at these sites, specifically at squash silver leaf disorder and watermelon mosaic potyvirus aka WMV which effects more then just watermelons.* If there is any puckering of the leaves, Papaya ringspot potyvirus is another possibility.* It will help to know which one so we know which pest is the problem and what symptoms you will see as this advances.* These first two links are for squash silver leaf only.
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/leaf/silverleaf02.htm
http://www.imok.ufl.edu/LIV/groups/c...ysio/vcfs1.htm

This site mentions that this particular variety of zucchini is susceptable to the silver leaf virus.
http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1603%2F0022-0493(2004)097%5B1096%3AIOBAHA%5D2.0.CO%3B2

"...a commercial silverleaf-susceptible zucchini hybrid (‘Zucchini Elite’) responded similarly to whitefly feeding..."

Look at the other viruses here.
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...rPhotoList.htm
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...bits.htm#Click

Glad you knew the cultivar name.* Lmk what you think it is after a close look at those sites.

Newt