dying squash

[clairissa]

I have had a go at growing squash from seed, all was well until about the 4 leaf stage then they have started to wilt despite regular watering , i pulled one out and there are lots of tiny white wormy things in the roots. i had a look on the net but the only thing I could find was vine borer and these do not fit the appearance of the culprits. I am very miffed....... I have pulled out all the afflicted ones but now one of my melon plants is going the same way... oddly a seperate plant in the closed greenhouse is also succumbing to the same so is it possible this came in the soil I purchased in Aldi...it was cheap as chips.....

[chris]

How small is tiny? Do you have a picture? I've had possible similar before (smaller than a 5" plant pot drainage hole).. I can't remember what happened to my plants - I potted them on. I'll see if I can find the post I made about it

[Germinater]

Are they White with brownish heads?? If so they might be vine weavels had them in my strwbs last year .the Beatles lay there eggs and the larve feed on the roots if they are then you can buy metanodes on the net water them in to the pots and they infect and kill the little gits..

[chris]

Can't find it sorry. Are they outside, or inside? What size pots are they in too? Is it an infestation, or just a few of the tiny little dudes? Have you had a look at the roots of the infected ones? Can you post a picture?

Wow, 101 questions

I seem to remember now, mine came in pots that had been sitting in water too long (i.e. over a week). I brushed off all the compost from the roots and then repotted (this wasn't sqash though).

[Minamoo]

I had those teensy white worms in my compost and it was sciarid fly larvae. have a look here for the thread.

[clairissa]

its sciarid , little bas%$£ds i can see now iv over watered. il go wash the roots and repot. they were in large containers so watering from bottom isnt an option...il know better next year!!!

[clairissa]

thanks Guysxxxx

[rustylady]

its sciarid , little bas%$£ds i can see now iv over watered. il go wash the roots and repot. they were in large containers so watering from bottom isnt an option...il know better next year!!!

You say your squash were at the 4 leaf stage, in large containers. My courgettes have only just gone into 5 inch pots, and I will wait till the roots fill those before I put them into their final quarters. I know cucurbits are hungry and thirsty plants, but you really do need to pot them on gradually. Their roots can't cope with a huge pot of wet compost.

[buzzingtalk]

Seconded the above post. I had a big problem with scariad flies last year, keep an eye out for the flies that may inevitably appear... wash the roots, and pot in new compost. feed from the bottom (scariad like moist soil on top). i put a layer of horticultural sand on top of all of my larger settled house plants to stop them from breeding there too.

[Two_Sheds]

What they've said ^^

smaller pots, less water

[Minamoo]

What they've said ^^

smaller pots, less water

I have been taught well.