Topic: Dying Butternut Squash

[brian4951]

Hi,I have grown seedlings of butternut squash but now they're getting their secondary leaves, the first set of leaves start to wither and the plant dies. They are not in the cold or overwatered and no signs of dampening off. Any ideas please? Brian

[goodlife]

Have you transplanted them?..are they all together and all affected?
If you pick one off that is dying is there any sign of damage just below soil level?..or to the roots?  Could you water /compost been contaminated with something..is any other plant showing any signs of problems?
I think you got it..we need a bit more info ;)

[brian4951]

hi Goodlife, they are in separate pots having been transplated very carefully from seed trays. There's no sign of damage below soil level or to the roots. Compost is new J Arthur Bowers for cuttings and seedlings. No other plants affected. They are in the conservatory away from the cold especially the nights and it's not hot during the day as it's north facing.

[Jeannine]

Bit unsure here.. how many secondary leaves have they got, XX Jeannine

[manicscousers]

strange, isn't it, Brian..all the first leaves have fallen off my butternuts but the 'proper' leaves are racing away, they're in the unheated poly now in 9" pots..they were the free seeds from dig it (BBC)  :)

[Jeannine]

That was why I asked how many leaves, the first pair usually do fall off and it worries some folks, I was trying to find out if the true leaves were fallin off which might be a problem XX Jeannine

[Alimo]

I sowed mine in unheated greenhouse two weeks ago - only one has come up so far  :(  I'm hoping that it's just too cold for them at the mo.

I may start off some more - and then the first lot would all pop their heads above the soil!!

Alison