Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - August 22, 2009

From: Oakdale, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Growth on underside of squash plant leaves
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a mold in my garden that is oval in shape and has spikes growing out of it, the color is yellow. This mold (yup it's not a bug I checked) is all over the underside of my squash plants. Any help or direction would be great.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants found several good sites describing diseases and pests of the squash plant and its relatives.  Here are a couple of them:  Common Squash Problems and Assorted Foliar Diseases of Cucurbits.  Alternaria leaf spot and Mosaic are the closest matches I could find, but there is nothing I could find that exactly matched your description. It might help us a little to know how large these areas are in diameter and how thick they are. If the Alternaria leaf spot or the Mosaic is not what you are seeing (and I'm doubtful that it is), please send us photos of these yellow spiky growths on your squash leaves and we will do our best to identify them?  Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for instructions on submitting photographs.

 
 

More Diseases and Disorders Questions

Something eating Arizona ash in Gilbert AZ
May 11, 2011 - Something is eating my Arizona ash tree. what should I spray on it?
view the full question and answer

Replacement Yaupon holly doing poorly in Pflugerville, TX
May 09, 2012 - I had to replace quite a few shrubs after the drought last year. I live in Austin, TX. I have planted 3 dwarf yaupon holly bushes in the exact same place where the previous three same type of shrubs...
view the full question and answer

Will damage to live oak root make it more susceptible to oak wilt
December 24, 2012 - Hi. I knicked the root of a live oak when digging. Will this hurt the tree and make it more succeptible to wilt? Is there something I can use to protect the exposed part of the root and make it les...
view the full question and answer

Diseased non-native red tip photinias from Richmond VA
April 08, 2014 - Our red tip trees have a while substance on the bark at the base of each tree..look like some kind of fungus or mold, but we don't know how to get rid of it. Please help.
view the full question and answer

Insects attacking Gregg's Blue Mistflower from Comfort TX
June 20, 2013 - I have a beautiful stand of Gregg's Blue Mist flower that have been attacked by an unknown insect. The new growth is curled and stunted and it is not flowering. I'm not alone..I've seen the Gregg'...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.