Sunday, June 29, 2008

zucchini leaves

zucchini leaves

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.

12 comments:

Silli said...

Are all zucchini plants prickly? That was a surprise to me this spring (first garden).

kathy said...

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.

Jana said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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?

kathy said...

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!

Anonymous said...

thanks so much for posting the photo's and information on your zucchini plant leaves i was concerned, although i also thought that is was pretty and am glad that i can leave them.

J.braddock said...

Thanks for the tip..I had an old eggplant that got root rot right next to my zucchini this year..thought it spread a fungus..I knew it wasn't mold and your blog nailed the problem..thanks again!

back deck gardener said...

Hello, I got the same silver mottled pattern along the leaf veins but on a couple of young zucchini leaves. It does not appear to be mildew because it cannot be wiped off. It seems to be a part of the leaf. Is that a problem with the plant? It just started yesterday.

Thanks for the help.

Anonymous said...

Have been reading so many sites, but no one ever mentions how to get the pricklies out of the zucchini itself., Yes, the leaves are prickly, but when you cut off your zucchini it has lots of those little pricklies too. I want to make zucchini loaves but cannot grate them because of those little things. I have tried to scrub them off but no luck. What can be done about this, does anyone know?

kathy said...

I don't know what variety of zucchini you have that such obstinate prickles. Mine always come off with a quick wash... confused...

john smith said...

hi
not All courgettes(our american friends call them zucchini) are prickly i grew a variety called Kojak (remember him lollipop n all)
so no 'hairs' get it
hope this helps
john stentwood farm community gardener