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Once established, squash require a steady cycle of watering and fertilizing to perform best. Water squash plants every two to three days keeping the soil consistently moist, but not wet. Incorporate compost and manure into the soil at planting and then every three weeks. Mulch the squash plants before the vines begin to spread to preserve water and steady the soil temperature around the roots.
Many of the disease, fungus, and virus problems encountered by squash and other members of the Cucurbitaceae family can be remedied by rotating the planting areas year to year so that vining plants are not grown in the same location every year, watering from the bottom with a soaker hose or other irrigation system, and cleaning up garden debris at the end of each season will go a long way in helping to prevent any problems with squash plants.
Common Squash Problems
Problem: Squash Bug
Affected Area: Entire Plant
Description: Plants show brown blotches or stunted and distorted growth. Bug is dark to grayish-brown above and paler color underneath.
Control: Plants show brown blotches or stunted and distorted growth. Bug is dark to grayish-brown above and paler color underneath.
Control: Pick bugs by hand.
Remove debris so bugs cannot overwinter.
Problem: Aphids
Affected Area: Leaf and Stem
Description: Small Insects found on new stems and the underside of the leaf. Usually green. They suck fluids from the plant leaving a honey dew substance behind. Leaves turn pale yellow.
Control: Insecticide soaps or a strong stream of water. Ladybug beetles are natural predators. Using straw mulch under plants reflects sunlight to underside of leaves and may deter aphids.
Problem: Blossom-end rot
Affected Area: Fruit
Description: Blossom end of squash is dark and leathery. Hot weather increases susceptibility.
Control: Supply even moisture to plant.
Problem: Curly top
Affected Area: Leaf
Description: Leaves curl, plant dies.
Control: Destroy infected plants. Rotate location. Avoid stressing plant by watering evenly and providing adequate fertilizer. Clean up debris in fall.
Problem: Powdery Mildew
Affected Area: Leaf
Description: White powdery substance on leaves.
Control: Use surface or underground watering methods to avoid wetting leaves. Plant
resistant varieties. Rotate planting location from year to year.
Problem: Mosaic virus
Affected Area: Leaf and Fruit
Description: Deformed (bumps) and discolored fruit and leaves.
Control: Plant resistant varieties. Control insects. Rotate location.
Problem: Verticillium Wilt
Affected Area: Entire plant
Description: Part of plant turns brown, wilts, and dies. May recover briefly, but eventually dies. Brown streaking in tissue.
Control: Destroy infected plants. Rotate the planting location. Clean up debris in fall.
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Types of Squash
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Squash Plant Care
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