Does anyone know what this is on my plants?

Question

i have some stuff on my summer squash plants.. i have no idea if it is a fungus or something from a bug.. please anyone help me!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/Smexxxyy/Scenery/Gardens/7-09-08111.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/Smexxxyy/Scenery/Gardens/7-09-08105.jpg

Answer 1

It is called "powdery mildew'...which is caused alot by watering your plants overhead and the leaves..water squash or any gourd member from beneath..the solution is to get a copper based fungicide at any garden center ..and this will fix it...

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES...

Answer 2

it is powdery mildew. you do not need synthetic chemicals. Dilute a couple tblsn of baking soda in a quart of water and spray it on the plant a few times and it will go away. Avoid overhead watering.

Answer 3

Rub the white areas with your finger if it rubs off it is from an insect, if it does not rub off it is probably a fungus. Some products contain insecticide and fungicide, make sure they are not systemic you dont want the product inside your edible plants.

Answer 4

Looks like Powdery Mildew to me.  This type of plant  (cucurbits? curcurbits?) are prone to this and Downy Mildew. Downy is more serious and usually spotted on the bottom of the leaf.

You can spray a fungicide for control but you can probably not completely eradicate it.  Weather conditions have a lot to do with how bad it gets and it is very host specific.  The strain of PM that attacks lilacs is not necessarily the same strain that affects bergamot.  So this outbreak may not spread to other species of plants in your garden.

A bad case of Powdery Mildew can do a lot of damage, and other times it is not too bad.  Watch your plants for vigor and you decide if it looks like it is necessary to spray.  Follow labels directions carefully if you decide to use any pesticide.

I have heard that high humidity helps this disease to spread, and also that plants that are allowed to go very dry (wilting or near wilt) can be more susceptible.  Presumably good air circulation to dry leaves after deep watering your plants should reduce severity of the disease.