- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
how should I treat for squash vine borers?
Posted on 6/8/19 at 9:53 am
Posted on 6/8/19 at 9:53 am
Once again it looks like I am going to lose all my squash and zucchini to vine borers. This is on top of them not producing anyway due to blossom end rot. How can I treat for these little bastards in the future?
bonus question...
if I pull them all up, what can I replant this late that will still produce in the summer heat? I'm leaning towards okra.
bonus question...
if I pull them all up, what can I replant this late that will still produce in the summer heat? I'm leaning towards okra.
6
Posted on 6/8/19 at 12:38 pm to LoneStarTiger
Not much to do when borers strike. Some have tried to remove the borer and cover the affected part of the plant with soil hoping it will root and recover, but I've never had any success. Borers are just part of the deal with squash for me, so I only get a few before they take over and kill my plants. If you pull the plants, DO NOT put them in your compost pile. Put them in garbage bags and toss them.
Okra and hot peppers are good at handling our summer heat. Most other things in my garden will be fading soon as it really heats up.
Okra and hot peppers are good at handling our summer heat. Most other things in my garden will be fading soon as it really heats up.
This post was edited on 6/8/19 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 6/8/19 at 2:51 pm to LoneStarTiger
Only way I know of is a 3 year rotation out of squashes.
If there are squash for this years offspring you'll get a die DOWN.
If there are none for a 2nd year it will probably rid them for a while.
3 years without squash in your garden/yard area should rid of you of them till your neighbors plethora get blown by a storm or such.
If there are squash for this years offspring you'll get a die DOWN.
If there are none for a 2nd year it will probably rid them for a while.
3 years without squash in your garden/yard area should rid of you of them till your neighbors plethora get blown by a storm or such.
Posted on 6/8/19 at 3:53 pm to LoneStarTiger
You can spray BT and then alternate with insect soap every few days.
BT kills the larvae and the soap kills the eggs.
BT kills the larvae and the soap kills the eggs.
Posted on 6/8/19 at 4:42 pm to LoneStarTiger
I had them last year. Most everything I read said that once you see the borers, it’s too late. I see some other ideas being posted here, wish I would’ve been a more consistent reader of this board/ the outdoor board last year. 
Posted on 6/8/19 at 6:01 pm to Dave_O
quote:
I see some other ideas being posted here, wish I would’ve been a more consistent reader of this board/ the outdoor board last year.
The only time I had decent success with squash was the year I grew them in my raised bed and used a row cover to protect them from the moth that brings on the borers. However, if doing a row cover, you have to hand pollinate the flowers or you get no squash, so it was out in the garden with Q-Tips to gather pollen from the male flowers to pollinate the female flowers to make the squash.
Royal PITA that was----but I did have amazing squash that year.
Posted on 6/8/19 at 10:28 pm to LoneStarTiger
As much as I like yellow squash and zucchini, I finally stopped growing them b/c of issues with squash vine borers. Many of the winter squashes, which are grown in spring through summer, have solid stems and squash vine borers don’t seem to bother them.
Certainly not too late to plant okra.
Certainly not too late to plant okra.
Posted on 6/9/19 at 8:14 am to CrawDude
quote:
Certainly not too late to plant okra.
The only issue I have with okra is when it comes time to clean the plants out of the garden to get ready for fall/winter planting.
They grow so tall and thick, with stems near the ground often 3+ inches across and many require some hard digging to remove them. I only have about 40 okra plants this year, but have had as many as 80 in the past and that many take a long day to day and a half to remove. Then hauling off all that mess is another issue since they are basically baby trees at the end of the growing season.
Posted on 6/9/19 at 8:39 am to LoneStarTiger
They will live for a while if you water them daily, you may still get some yield from them.
I, too, gave up on squash a long time ago.
I, too, gave up on squash a long time ago.
Posted on 6/9/19 at 10:08 am to gumbo2176
quote:
basically baby trees at the end of the growing season.
you are right about that. I grow 10 okra plants in a 3 x 5 raised planting bed and produce more than we can eat, freeze a bunch, and give a lot away. Not to bad pulling up 10 from a loose garden soil at seasons end, but it amazing how big an okra plant can get. 
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News