Raging mildew

[Peta]

Help! My Sweet Dumpling squash plants have completely collapsed with raging mildew - no nice green leaves left at all. Most of the fruits are quite heavy and hard but I wouldn't say they are totally ripe. Should I remove all the "leaves" leaving just the stems in the hope that they might ripen further or remove all fruits and ripen on the windowsill? It seems a bit early to be doing this. Should I persevere or harvest? All advice gratefully received.

[nick the grief]

Hi Peta,

Welcome to the vine. I'm sorry to hear your dumplings have mildew sounds nasty to me that does

If it doesn't have any leaves on it I don't think there is any benefit to leaving them on the vines, if it has leave on it I would be inclined to leave them a bit longer. Are you sure it's mildew as thats normaly something you get with hot dry weather, I wpuld have thought it was more likely to be cucumber moasaic still same applies, while it's got leaves leave them on.

[Peta]

I think it's mildew - white powdery stuff all over leaves. I started by cutting off the odd leaf when it appeared a few weeks ago, but this is now a full-time job! Collapse has been total. Should I take the money & run?

[nick the grief]

Hmmm, sounds like mildew. I'd still be inclined to leave them as long as possible.

[Peta]

Thanks for your advice. I'll hold fire. How do you join the Noble Order of (Sweet) Dumplings?

[nick the grief]

It's a long story Peta

Ask LJ