Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 24, 2011 at 6:27pm

They must use chemicals. I have tried everything too. Except chemicals, I do organic gardening. They claim you can use mesh cages problem is,  they don't get pollinated. My husband and I pick them off and squish them.  Yuck!

Permalink Reply by kim on April 25, 2011 at 11:44am

That's what I thought too. They must have to spray every day? I'm going to try to use Spinosad and BT alternating. I tried row covers....the plants got huge and busted their way outta them eventually and it worked so-to-say, but like you said they don't get pollenated. Once I removed the covers the war was on.

Permalink Reply by Cindy Pierce on April 25, 2011 at 4:34pm

Last year I wasn't very successful in keeping squash alive due to borers, but my cantaloupe did OK.  I happened to plant it later in the season.

In years' prior I managed to salvage some of my squash plants by actually slicing the infested vine lengthwise (at the dried sawdust area) and digging the ugly worm/s out!  I then buried the vine at the sliced area, watered it generously for a several days and hoped it would re-root.  Some plants survived and some did not.  Not a pleasant task, but it was the only way I was able to actually get rid of the larva.  I read somewhere that the moth responsible for laying the eggs only does so once per year in most areas, and twice per year south of Zone 8.  So maybe if you can get a handle on them now, you will not have a recurrence!

Good luck! 

Permalink Reply by kim on April 25, 2011 at 4:43pm

Hi Cindy! I tried slitting mine too...I found over 50 larvae! So needless to say it killed my plants, but maybe I'll know to do it sooner this year. I was really gross! I paid really close attention last year, and I noticed three life cycles! AND I have two different types. I'm pretty much screwed! I had them from late May to the end of September. GRRRR!

Permalink Reply by Cindy Pierce on April 25, 2011 at 4:49pm

I'm so sorry!  They are just horrible!  Best wishes.  Maybe someone here has a new idea!

 

Permalink Reply by kim on April 25, 2011 at 5:04pm

That's what I'm hoping for! My sister-in-law were talking about how when we were little and we gardened with our grandparents, we had no problems with anything eating the plants! We had so much squash we had to leave "presents" on our neighbor's porches...boxes and boxes of unwanted squash. Now, I'm lucky to get a few before they are comprimised. Where the heck did these things come from, anyway?

Permalink Reply by Lori S Ullman Trent on March 3, 2012 at 9:59am

Kim, Hi I noticed your problem because I am interested in growing squash and pumpkins.  You may try Gardens Alive site for an environmentally safe solution. They have something made with clay that you apply early on before you get a problem. I hope you find a solution.