Questions of the month

I have had two major and common questions coming in this month. What is killing my squash? What is killing my tomatoes? These two questions have come in various forms and from all ends of the county. The major squash problem has been mildew. Downy mildew has culprit in most of the cucurbit cases (squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, etc.) More information on this disease can be found at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/plantpath/extension/fact_sheets/Cucurbits_-_Downy_Mildew.htm In the case of tomatoes it has been much more difficult to correctly diagnose. The trouble in correctly diagnosing these tomato problems is that there are so many diseases that present themselves similarly. But one disease that has been confirmed in western North Carolina is late blight. Information on late blight can be found at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/plantpath/extension/fact_sheets/Tomato_-_Field_Staked_-_Late_Blight.htm I know it has been a difficult year for gardens with such a warm rainy year, but look on the bright side, no drought.