A Biblical Plague of Squash Vine Borers
GJStPierre
11 years ago
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Is anyone else here big on organic gardening? I am, but these monstrous little vine borers are tempting me to break out the Sevin, if only to get revenge.
The Hubbard squashes have been devastated and the Jarradale pumpkins are under seige. Sometimes I find two or maybe THREE of the little slugs. And not only at the base, but further up the vine. When I find one still alive, not sliced though by the knife, I'll leave them next to an ant hill for a slow death. I do not feel sorry. My friends in other parts of RI and MA tell me how great their pumpkins are doing, not a vine borer in sight! I'm sure, they've all moved away into my backyard.
The basics have been covered: tilling the soil in the spring, spraying BT and nothing has worked. Covering the base won't help as they just lay their eggs higher up the vine. I've started spraying insecticidal soap, but I've seen others try that in vain.
I'm growing squashes. Period. End of story. Next year I'll try Waltham Butternut, I hear they are immune due to their solid vines. But Butternut is not my favorite and it's a compromise. I will be growing pumpkins or Hubbards.
So, save the deadly pesticides, I'm ready to go thermo-nuclear. What should I do? I'm thinking of covering the garden with nets, drenching it in BT, purchasing Trichogramma wasps (predators that eat moth eggs), whatever!
Does anyone out there feel my pain?
Steve Massachusetts
Steve Massachusetts
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Steve Massachusetts