Cucumber beetles

[b54red]

Saw my first stripped cucumber beetle today. That means in a few days I'll probably have to spray. They are like roaches if you see one there are or are gonna be a lot more. So far other than the thrips that were on my tomatoes a few weeks ago and some minor aphid populations it has been a relatively bug free spring. With that super mild winter we had I'm expecting a hoard of pests this summer.

Bill

[chastom]

What do you spray for cuc beetles?

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by chastom

What do you spray for cuc beetles?

You don't spray. You pray. Cucumber beetles are intolerable. I usually take the few cukes produced, and hope they wont attack next year.

[RebelRidin]

My understanding is that cucumber beatles actually infect the plants when they are small. The first few beetles can doom your crop so controlling them early is critical. I watch for them well before I set out my plants or my seedlings emerge. The moment I see any cucumber beatle anywhere in my yard or garden I begin spraying and dusting seven. I dust around the base of plants and spray the straw mulch around the base of the raised beds I use in the pathways. I usually only have to do this several times over a couple of weeks.

Before I started doing this I might get the first few cukes or I might not. Now my plants live on to face the later challenge of powdery mildew. I prefer fighting that to watchng all the vines wilt at once.

[b54red]

I agree hit em with Sevin and hit em early. I have not found anything else that works that I would dare put on cucumbers.

[Wi-sunflower]

Sevin comes in spray or dust forms. When we've used spray it never seemed to do much good. It semed the beetles would just hide in a crack or somewhere and come back out when it was dry.

Then about 2 years ago Ray found an antique "duster" at a second hand store. Now a quick walk down the rows of just germinated zucchini or winter squash with the duster and the beetles are usually taken care of.

I don't know why there is such a difference between the 2 forms but really makes a big difference with those buggers. What I also like is the fact that the chemical is put on long before there is any fruit on the plant and is most likely long gone before the first flowers. With the spray we would often lose hundreds of feet of rows of zuccs and squash.

At least that's my experiences with cucumber beetles.

Carol

[lakelady]

They are awful. Last year I think I got 4 small cukes before the vines wilted. I'm going to try sewing some sort of covering for them this year to avoid spraying, but my garden is small.

I did catch some on the sticky yellow traps though. they did help.

[carolyn137]

I've sprayed, I've prayed and somewhere I read that it's best to cover the cuke plants with fabric cloth and not take it off until the blossoms start appearing and at that point the plants are much bigger and any fruits that set will still have time to mature before the vines start going down.

And it works.

Carolyn, who hated to go out there and find one vine after another wilting towards death. Cuke beetles, both the striped an spotted ones can carry more than one disease as well, but it's late and I just don't wanna go seaching for a good link now.

[cajunman56]

I have also seen a cucumber beetle for the first time this year. This year I'm trying a weekly application of Neem oil. Hopefully, that will take care of them.

[bboomer]

I have done this for the past few years and it works. The sad part is watching your strong, healthy plants give you one good round of cukes and then whither away.

[chastom]

try the cucumber beetle pheromone sticky traps traps ,I have just put them out and they are cover with cuc. beetles.

[Riceloft]

I'm giving the Ecosmart Organic Garden Insect Killer a try this year. We'll see...

I didn't know they made cucumber beetle pheromone sticky traps. That'll be my next thing to try.

[Durgan]

If dusting try this marvel.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FCWDO 6 January 2012 Garden Dust Sprayer.

Garden dust Sprayer was received today and test operated using diatomaceous earth. It is advertised for powders and liquids. My use is primarily for powders. The unit was tested for operation for about ten minutes and performed to expectations. It is well made and the powder jet worked well in all orientations. It will be used during the growing season on cabbages and brussels sprouts and various garden plants as determined. Coverage appears to be possible for all areas compared to the limited hand method of dispersal. This is the one purchased. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WZUEN Earthway Spritzer Duster Sprayer

The duster works well but the diatomaceous earth was useless. Oh for the return of DDT.

[RebelRidin]

Hmm.... Sweet Success does not require pollination

I suppose a light weight row cover could just be left on ...

[lakelady]

Are all greenhouse cukes like that , don't require pollination? I have one Italian variety I got seeds for, maybe I will make a cover for it and keep it covered?

Carolyn, I recall you mentioning covering them. I just got a nice big piece of row cover made for insects and as soon as I figure out how I am growing them, (what size trellis or fencing) I will be sewing a cover. They will look silly, just like my covered tomato blossoms did, but who cares. Last year was a disaster.