Something ate my zucchini!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

I don't mean something ate holes in my zucchini or munched on the delicate, almost ready to be picked squashes. No, it ate the WHOLE pant down about 1" of stem and the roots. Nothing else was left when I went out to water this morning. No signs of tracks, the mulch wasn't disturbed, no clues what-so-ever. I've never seen anything like this before. Most critters would choose something less prickly to make a meal of than a zucchini.

Any ideas as to what would eat an entire zucchini plant loaded with 7 squash in one sitting?

Freaking vermin! I hope it (whatever it may be) knows this is war. :mad:

[blue neen]

1. Here in western PA, it's the white-tailed deer and the groundhogs that give me the

hardest time...I don't know about your part of the country.

You must be furious!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. White-tailed deer was my first thought.

However, the plant was in a location where it would have had to leave tracks in the soft soil. There weren't any. Also there's plenty of yummy tender plants they'd prefer all around the area garden which weren't touched. I'm stumped as to what ate it.

Yes, I'm pretty angry. I could already taste those yummy squash some of which I was planning on grilling this Sunday.

I'm thinking of sitting up tonight with my flashlight to see if the guilty party returns to the scene of the crime.

[China_cat]

3. If I were you, I'd just be glad SOMEONE ate them.

Zucchini are worse than tribbles.

[KSinTX]

4. Ever find out what it was?

It might have been something that dragged it off - like a possum, maybe? I have more problems with creepy crawlies than varmints but that's because I'm netted and fenced. Had to after the great Shrike strike of 2006! Not that there weren't plenty of Mockingbirds and Grackles around to blame, but didn't have any problems until the Shrike showed up. I know how you feel - nothing worse than all that time and energy down some critters gullet!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. You are brilliant!

Today when I was working behind the bed I found the dead plant with all it's foliage intact. It had been dragged off and the squash had all been removed except for one tiny one that was already half dried up. :(

Beats me as to what it was, but whatever it was it liked zucchini. :shrug:

[KSinTX]

6. Mystery partially solved

although I'm putting money on a possum. Big enough to pull off the dastardly deed!! Hopefully you're putting up a barrier of some sort? Enjoy the other veggies!!

:toast: