Great news and bad news...what now?

[tarheelchick]

I couldn't be more satisfied or happy with my tomato plants and production. It was my number one goal when starting out this year. All is great.

I'm also content with what I got off my squash and cukes earlier but now they are done. The squash went first with what I think may have been a combination of both SVB and pickleworm. (Is that unusual?) Then my cucumbers started having a foliage issue which I don't really know what it was, but it spread fast. Then the pickleworm attacked, and now the leaves are covered with what I describe as flea beetles. Also I have seen a clear jelly type deposit within the vines (eggs?) And then microscopic tiny brown/reddish looking eggs underneath the leaves. Pickleworms are in every 2 out of 3 cukes. Sooooooo.....

Yesterday I pulled the squash out of the garden. I plan to pull the cucumber plants out by this weekend. Now for my questions..

Since there were obviously multiple things happening to my plants, should I till that soil up good now even though my tomato plants are in the rows next to it or wait until everything is finished? Would that help get rid of anything hiding in the soil? I have not yet decided if I want to try a fall crop of anything or just do some kind of cover crop over the winter. Would lettuce, carrots, or broccoli be safe after all that disease and infestation? Or should I let winter kill off stuff before planting again? I know my questions sound stupid but I don't know what I'm doing.

Do you think my tomato plants will remain safe? Right now they look really good.

[shelleybean]

Not stupid questions at all.

Different pests bother different veggies. There are a few bug that will attack anything but usually insects have preferences. SVB will not bother your tomatoes, for example.

My cucumbers and squash are done long before my tomatoes because of mildew problems. I pulled my squash out about a month ago and planted a second round because I have time for that to grow here before it gets cold. My cucumbers are still hanging there and producing a lot. I think it's normal for these things to poop out for you now, considering your location.

Now is a great time to put in cool weather veggies because there's still a good amount of light during the day and they can grow quite a bit before it gets cold. Carrots and broccoli can go in now. I'd wait a bit for the lettuce. And I wouldn't mess with the soil too much right now. Just loosen enough to plant your fall things. The pests you mentioned won't bother these things but cabbage moths will lay eggs on your broccoli, so be ready for cabbage worms.

All insects are different. Some are around all season, some only part of the season. Some have one life cycle per season, some have two. If their food of choice is not available, they'll often just leave and look for it in someone else's garden. If you have no squash or cucumbers, there's no reason for the SVB moth to be there.

Plant and have fun. It sounds like you're having a lot of success.