I was surprised at how pretty my zucchini leaves are. They have a mottled silver gray pattern that is very bright on the mature leaves.
Someone asked if this is mildew. No. Its a natural pattern on healthy zucchini leaves. Different cultivars have different shaped leaves and different amounts of silver.
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Are all zucchini plants prickly? That was a surprise to me this spring (first garden).
Yes, they are prickly. All summer squashes are. They have stiff little hairs on the stems and the underside of their leaves. They can be pretty rough on your hands it you’re not careful. Cukes and pumpkins too.
Thanks for the helpful info! I’m another first time gardener and was concerned about the coloring. I planted zucchini because I figure if nothing else comes up hopefully at least there will be zucchini to harvest:) When I see those huge leaves I figure I must be doing something right!
Thank you so much for your explanation of the silver mottling on zuccini leaves. I was concerned that my plants had a fungus. Have you had any experience getting rid of striped cucumber beetles without killing them? The little guys are eating most of the yellow flowers on my plants and so far I have no fruit.
Thank you.
Cel
Toronto
I am a new gardener and this year my squash have outdone themselves. We have been enjoying zuchinni for the last month and have two awesome ones in the garden ready for harvest and several still growing. Today we woke up to frost on our car windows. Will the zuchinni die from this and should I havest them all now. Is there a time when they should be picked?
HI Cel, I am very late in responding, but I do not know how to get rid of this bug. Sorry. I hoe it has gone away by now.
Hi alexa, Pick your zucchinis before a frost. Neither the plants nor the squash will not survive a frost. They are very sensitive to the cold weather. Sounds like you’ve had good year!
Hi there,
What is the variety of squash that is shown in this picture? I had planted 5 zucchini’s from seed and one of them had leaves like this. It is the only one that has survived the attack of the squash vine borer but it must have been accidentally put in my seed packet. I don’t know what kind of zucchini it is.
Bluebird51, I’m sorry I don’t remember the variety I planted that year. Probably a common nursery grown variety. It did have beautiful leaves! All zucchinis are susceptible to the squash stem borer. All squashes in the Cucurbita pepo group like zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, and most pumpkins are susceptible. One reason I love to grow butternut squash is that they are a different type of squash, C. moschata and are not a host for the vine borer. It’s such a nasty pest!
I have feeling that the zucchini you have with the pretty leaves is just a very vigorous and strong plant, though the same variety as your other plants. That seems to be the best way to deal with the borer, be very kind to you squashes and give then all the nutrients and growing space their roots need so they grow vigorously and out grow the borer.
I see someone asked earlier on this thread if all zucchinis have spines. The answer is NO!! Try one of the newer spineless varieties like Spineless Beauty and Spineless Perfection. The grow with a compact open shape that saves space and makes picking the fruit easier. They can also be adapted to grow in containers. I have a Spineless Beauty zucchini in a pot on my patio. I’ll post a picture of it when it starts getting fruit.
My zucchini has a white snake looking texture on them. Earlier the tips on them were rotting in new growth . Are they still good to eat?
i’m growing a vegetable garden and where I planted my Zucchini i have round speckled vegetable instead. It almost looks like a pumpkin but i’m not growing pumpkins. what exactly is this. i can send you a picture.