Here, I mentioned that Keith accidentally purchased 2 acorn squash seedlings. I had never had it before. I guess I never will. Read on.
Here, I braggingly showed you a picture of our little acorn squash doing quite nicely. (The other seedling never really took off.)
I need to let you know that it died. Gone forever. Kaput. Compost. (Com-pissed is more like it. I mean, what the hell?) Some fungus, powdery mildew took over the leaves and stems and so the stem with the squash broke off completely. Look at this picture. Gross.
And so, a lament for our dearly departed Acorn Squash, having perished too early in the twilight of his life (Team Edward!)
Acorn Squash, 4 mos.
Former DaisyPatch Farm resident, Acorn Squash, 4 mos., died September 22, 2011 in his garden bed. No service will be held.Mr. Squash was born May. 10, 2011 to Comstock, Ferre and was moved across the country, living in an Agway for a short period of time before being adopted by the owners of DaisyPatch Farm.
Acorn could accomplish anything he set his mind to do. At a very early age, he grew one leaf, then another, and continued to grow leaves, despite the loss of his infant brother and his cousin, Butternut in a freak dry spell.
Acorn served in the United States Squash Force during operation Zucchini. Mr. Squash spent more than 3 months in New Hampshire. He never married. He is survived by distant cousins, the Giant Pumpkins.
Condolences may posted here under comments.
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September 27, 2011 at 5:39 pm
May want to look at the stem in the picture from Sep. 8th… looks like you may have had a squash bug problem. Although it is hard to see frass, it looks like there may have been a hole in the stem from them.
Butternut hold out better against squash bugs, acorn, zucchini and many other bush type do not fair so well (softer stem, as well the longer vining types typically lay additional roots down, so they try to compensate.)
Powdery mildew is a common issue. Avoid evening waterings.. and a baking soda and water mixture in a spray bottle to spritz the leaves when you see the very first few specks show up. (The baking soda mixture tweaks the pH a bit- making it more alkaline, which messes with the powdery mildew.. which prefers a bit more acidic conditions.) Carefully remove leaves.. and watch water splashing.. those white spots of PM release spores and it can move really fast.
Most acorn strains are hybrids. They are in the species Cucurbita pepo.. same as zucchini and a ton of other typical squash. Just a heads up on that if you get into saving seeds, It gets tricky with C. pepo when you try to avoid outcrossings.
September 27, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Anne, Thanks so much! I will check that out and the baking soda spray will be in our arsenal next year! Thanks for visiting our little Patch!!
September 28, 2011 at 6:57 pm
No problem. Love squash.. especially acorn. Just with the baking soda mixture only do a little bit into a spray bottle (like 1 teaspoon per quart.. better to have it too mild than too strong!) Some use watered down milk.. does the same basic thing, but that seems like a waste of milk .. to me anyways.
Here’s to hoping for a great garden next year too!