Growing Zucchini, also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash

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24 Mar 15 Trinity (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted zucchini once in pots then planted in bed & once direct into the ground. Both times the plant has split & opened up weeping gaps on the stem which then drops off. This has happened after the plant has been established & fruit has already been harvested. Hoping someone might have some idea as to the cause.
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24 Apr 16 Kim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Trinity, I had the same thing happen to my zucc & pumpkin plants where I use to live (sub-tropical area) I found that it was Slater's (aka woodlouse, roly poly, pill bug) eating the stems which start the splitting. I have read that they don't eat living plants just decaying plant/fruit waste BUT that isn't true esp if you keep your garden & pots clear of dropped fruit/veg & old plant leaves etc because they will turn to living plants when there isn't much food source. I don't recommend leaving that sort of food for them. Best option is make traps from hollowed out orange halves or seedling punnets filled with potato peelings, to distract slaters. I used the orange method and it did help a lot & when an orange half is full with slaters I'd bin them because they were everywhere in large, plague like numbers. Also keep mulch away from the stems. Cheers Kim
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17 Jun 15 (USA - Zone 6b climate)
If you zucchini are splitting check for bugs. called zucchini borers. they will eat the stem and root of the plant . When you water them, see the many bugs crawling from the bottom of the stem and climbing on the branch to escape the water. In N.C USA plants will produce for about 5 weeks and die. You will know this by the leaves turning yellow . It is very hot in NC above 97 F or 37 C in the summer. dg
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