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Federal Way, WA

Hey guys,
On all three of my plants, the cot leaves have started browning and dying from the outside edge inwards. I wasn't too concerned about it, but I've also noticed that on the second true leaf on one of my plants, a similar browning has occurred on the outside edges. I fertilize with 20-20-20 once every five days and foliar feed kelp probably once every four days...I've noticed the kelp likes to pool on the edges of the leaf, so perhaps it's that?
Here's a picture of it (dark area near end is soluble Kelp)
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9713/99dn.jpg

Thanks for any and all replies!

6/19/2013 4:10:53 PM

Elk County, PA

Most kelp is all Potassium, would be pretty hard to burn leaves with that. So we can rule out Potassium deficiency as well. As an expert in too much plant love, I recognize it when I see it. This year I dedicated most of my time seeing how many ways I could over love my plants, with the ultimate goal of splitting my pumpkin from over feeding. My advice is cut back on the plant food, 20-20-20 could burn it. They look to young to be feeding too much. Also I was honored to receive an email from a world class grower when I had leaf problems, he suggest I stay away from Sevin. I'll copy his email here, I was so grateful for his help.

" I would highly recommend switching from Sevin to any of the pyrethoids such as Triazicide or Bug B Gone. Sevin is highly toxic and kills earthworms and almost everything else in your soil. It also is not effective on squash bugs. The pyrethoids are far less toxic and much much less likely to harm your plants. I never apply any insecticide until we actually start to see cuke beetles. The plants are very sensitive at this stage and will burn very easily. Hope this helps. "

6/19/2013 9:39:24 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Odd. I had just come here to post something similar that I just experienced. I over loved mine this week with calcium nitrate as the first girls are starting to set.....had all kids of dark areas on leaves. Mother nature dumped two inches of rain on the patch the very next day after I noticed this, today they are all looking normal again, phew, maybe I will try not to love them to death....

6/20/2013 8:05:50 AM

Federal Way, WA

Thanks for the replies! Definitely, definitely liable to over-love plants as well. If I hadn't seen so many drowned in water, I'd probably over water the crap out of them as well. Good advice on Sevin...it certainly hasn't done my plants much good, ha. Anyway, I'll back off on the fertz and see how it makes out.

6/20/2013 12:46:47 PM

Connecticut

Hi AperatureScience-

I think you may have some mild leaf scorch. I do not think that it is anything to worry about. The cots typically die off, but typically the true leaves will not die back until later in the season. My suggestion is to monitor the progression (if any) and feel free to post updated pictures.

6/20/2013 12:52:06 PM

South Hero, VT

If you make a batch of 20-20-20 and store it, some settling will occur and you might burn your leaves that way if you don't shake or stir the mixture up.

I found out the hard way. :-(

6/20/2013 5:59:28 PM

Federal Way, WA

Woohoo, thanks for the extra info Matt and Steve! Matt, awesome to hear from the resident leaf ailment expert. I really appreciate the reply and thus far, it hasn't progressed, which certainly appeases most concerns. Steve, ha, I did use some 20-20-20 that'd been stored for a few weeks...probably didn't shake it up enough. Gah. Need to slap a big 'shake well!' sticker on everything before I cook the whole plant.

6/21/2013 12:28:09 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Every Day I miss you. I always want to be with you. Every minute i think of you. I love you. Hope I don't kill you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlVqfC8-UI

6/21/2013 11:54:49 PM