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Post by johno on Mar 24, 2007 3:44:47 GMT -5
Just how far north are squash bugs a serious problem?
They are an incredible nuisance here, and only extremely insect-resistant squashes are feasible to grow. C. moschatas, generally, are about the only ones to survive long enough to bear fruit. I understand that this isn't the case up north...
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Post by Alan on Mar 24, 2007 8:05:27 GMT -5
Here in Southern Indiana I don't have much of a problem with them really. It seems like by the time I ever notice a few that the squash were already heading downhill anyhow because their production was finished. I don't think that I have ever lost any squash to the that I can remember.
-Alan
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 24, 2007 14:33:38 GMT -5
Johno, I dunno who told you that Cucumber beetles?? or Vine borers aren't a problem up north cuz I got 'em both and they can be BAD.
I use a silicon dioxide (food grade DE) or a mix or DE & rotenone that Scott's sells up here (sorry, not in the U.S.??) and dust the vine at ground level and the leaves, every weekend early in the season. It worked well in 2005 & 2006. Let's hope 2007 doesn't see many of them around here.
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Post by johno on Mar 24, 2007 23:52:32 GMT -5
Is DE expensive? I haven't used it in a long time. Seems like it would take alot of it... but if it works...
Blue, that's interesting information about the cucumber beetles and vine borers. I was curious about that, too. I actually meant, though, bugs that are called "squash bugs." They are a long black stinkbug, basically. Are they absent where you live?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 13:03:18 GMT -5
Oh no, very visible. ACtually they cause me more grief than the little striped beetles. But I don't know which is worse? SVB's or SB's??
DE can be expensive to buy at a garden centre. I pay about $8 for less than a quart of the DE/rotenone blend. But some feedstores sell food grade DE much cheaper. The one I deal with will sell it by the pound or in a 25 lb bag. Can't remember offhand what they charge though? I think it works out to about a $1 a lb.
And applying it once a week, in a little cloud of dust should be less than $10 work for the entire season, depending of course on how many squash plants you have to use it on?? Last year I only used one bottle, but I only had a small patch of curcubits. Two giant pumpkin plants, a few melon, one zucchini and one yellow straightneck.
This year I might have to go get me one of those 25lb bags?
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Post by houseodessey on Mar 25, 2007 18:46:31 GMT -5
I use DE on my yard for fleas and ticks. It's good to know that it is handy in the garden, too. Thanks for the tip.
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Post by ohiorganic on Apr 6, 2007 6:19:45 GMT -5
I know around here in SW Ohio squash bugs, cuke beetles, etc are a problem. We use a hand vac to vacuume them up early in the morning when they are moving slowly. Dump them into soapy water (this is important as they can fly out of clean water). This does decrease the population but does not get rid of it because they fly in from all the corn fields.
For zukes the best thing we do is plant early in hoophouses and keep row covers on them until the flower and than do a lot of hand pollanation.
This past fall we applied nemetodes around the farm and squash bug larva was one of the targets of the nemetodes
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Post by jeannine on Apr 12, 2007 1:27:49 GMT -5
Last year was my first experience with the darn buggers and I hate 'em already! I used the recipe found on IDig, I believe that's where I got it from, of 1 cup coffee (it actually called for old grounds being reused but I just used it straight from the pot, a few drops of dish soap and the rest water in a squirt bottle. Works like a charm! Lift leaf, spray well, watch the bugs die! YeeHaw! Unfortunatly, it doesn't work well on adult bugs, but I found if I went out early they weren't too difficult to spot and squish....they smell like bananas!
Jeannine
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 12, 2007 5:46:19 GMT -5
I found if I went out early they weren't too difficult to spot and squish....they smell like bananas! Jeannine
I too found them easier to get in the AM. Probably cooler overnight temps and morning moisture made them slower or something. I got hit pretty hard with squash vine borers last year, as well as the squash bugs. I did notice that the squash bugs were much less interested in the type of birdhouse gourd I grew. (too early in the AM... the Latin name escapes me... these are the ones with the fuzzier leaves and musky smell when brushed - I'm sure someone can put the Latin here for me). The borers still liked 'em, but even they weren't as interested. I had never had this kind of problem in any other garden, so I was ill prepared. Not so this year... I have plenty of theories this time around! I am going to try interplanting these types of gourds with my summer squash. |
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