Q: My squash fruit are all diseased this year. Is it due to all the earlier rain or a disease I should have sprayed for?
Alan L., Drummoyne, NSW
A: You are partly right, Alan. The excessive rain this year has affected squash, cucumbers, and zucchinis, increasing disease prevalence. Similar to tomatoes, which suffer from blossom end rot, squash can experience a similar problem. While it’s partly a watering issue, the primary cause is a calcium deficiency.
To address this, I've been liming my vegetable plots with a dusting of dolomite before each sowing or planting out. Additionally, I've switched to fertilising with Neutrog’s Rooster Booster, which contains calcium and sulfur, along with other essential nutrients. This approach helps to mitigate the calcium deficiency and improve the health of my plants.
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