Zucchini/Squash Pruning Question

14 years ago

I have quite a few yellowing leaves (the older leaves) on both my yellow squash and zucchini plants. I often prune them off when they look like they are not doing well and susceptible to disease. The way I do it is by cutting the leaf stem right near the main ground stem, completely removing the leaf and it's ascending stem. I never thought much about this, but yesterday wondered if this technique is not good in any way.

If anyone out there prunes their squash plants, I'd love to know whether you cut at the top of the leaf stem just removing the leaf, in the middle of the leaf stem or at the base of the leaf stem near the main stem completely removing the leaf and its stem. I've looked this up on-line and there is a lot of different info on what is best, so I'm confused...??

Please do advise:-)

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Comments (3)

flora_uk
14 years ago
Wherever you cut the leaf, if there is any stem or portion of stem left without a leaf at the end it will die anyway, so your method is the tidiest.
digdirt2
14 years ago
I agree with Flora but no one would ever accuse me of being a "tidy" gardener. :) I tend to let nature take its course and old leaves just do that - yellow and die. But when it is necessary for some reason I cut close to the base and whenever possible I mound dirt up over the open wound.

Dave
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Stellabee
Original Author
14 years ago
Hey Flora, that makes sense. When I don't cut near the stem, I always end up doing so later b/c the stem seems to swell with water in a very unhealthful and dead like way. Thanks!

Hi Dave, yeah, I try to only cut when it seems worse not to do so (when it's necessary), and I kind of hate doing it even then. I mean, I don't like to be cut;-). And I will try the dirt over the wound thing next time. That makes sense too...Thanks!