please tell me there is an organic pesticide for squash vine bore

Jonnyhat · July 22, 2015

Please

Cole_Robbie · July 22, 2015

This stuff worked on my whiteflies. I noticed it killed potato bugs, too:
http://www.evergreengrowers.com/met5...w-formula.html

I don't know for sure if it meets the official government standard, but the stuff is basically harmless to people. I have been meaning to test it on stink bugs.

Jonnyhat · April 17, 2016

I read that you can inject BT with a meat injector right into the stalks. will report back on success this year

Bulldog · April 18, 2016

I have read that you can use a syringe, but I am not sure if it works as a preventative. I think they have to be in the stem. I am going to use foil around the stems this year. I'll try to cover with insect netting also.

BigVanVader · April 18, 2016

DE works for me, need to kind of pile it around the stem.

Barbee · April 18, 2016

Mycotrol-O
I dont think svb is listed on the label but i have personally used it directly on a borer i dug out of a pumpkin vine and it killed that rascal dead as a hammer. It is a systemic bacteria. Follow the label closely. Its very pricey and has a short shelf life.

joseph · April 19, 2016

Perhaps grow varieties/species of squash that are not susceptible to borers.

fonseca · April 19, 2016

The only option is to cut them out, and MAYBE the plant will make it. I've tried generous dustings of DE, foil around the base of each vine, kaolin clay and piles of gravel as mulch.

This year I am growing my cukes under floating row covers. I have already seen the SVB moths hovering over them in the garden. If I don't get a decent harvest I am giving up on heirloom cukes. Growing Suyo Long, Lemon and Boston Pickling.

saltmarsh · April 19, 2016

It is just a moth. And a fairly docile one at that.

They are easily identified.

I normally see them in the garden between 9AM and 11AM. Watch where they land (normally on a squash leaf.) and you can walk up to them. I thump them to the ground with my middle finger then squash them with my foot. A simple organic solution.

clkeiper · April 19, 2016

I just read an article from Rodales that someone mentioned growing peppermint in with their squash and had no squash vine borers. It wouldn't hurt to try it.

Mike723 · April 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltmarsh

It is just a moth. And a fairly docile one at that.

They are easily identified.

I normally see them in the garden between 9AM and 11AM. Watch where they land (normally on a squash leaf.) and you can walk up to them. I thump them to the ground with my middle finger then squash them with my foot. A simple organic solution.

"A simple organic solution."

I like that!

seaeagle · April 23, 2016

I have tried for years to stop them and it is impossible.The few things I found that helped are

Don't plant in the same place every year- move from one end of your garden to the other.This will keep the borers that buried in the soil from getting your new squash.

Get some minced garlic and put in a container at the base of each plant and the older and stronger it gets the better.Add water to keep it from drying out and replace when necessary.

Wipe the stems every 2 or 3 days with a rag and some ivory soap.

These steps will buy you time and will make the harvest longer but as the plants get bigger they will eventually get in.

Susan66 · April 24, 2016

Growing bush beans in with your potatoes will discourage potato bugs. They hate the beans, I guess. When I lived in Missouri, the guy across the street was spraying Sevin on his potatoes every week or so. I planted rows of beans between my rows of potatoes and never saw a bug after I started doing that. But lost all my squash, summer and winter to squash bugs every year. I could hand pick and smash egg cases for a while, but I always lost the race in the end. Here in New York, I'm lucky-the moth doesn't seem to live here. I like the peppermint solution, but mints can get pretty aggressive. Maybe try blending it up in the blender with some water and spray it on the plants. Worth a try, maybe.

Susan66 · April 24, 2016

Along with the garlic and soap, hand picking eggs and every other suggestion people here have made. Those bugs are bad!

Tracydr · April 24, 2016

If anybody finds a good cure for stink bugs I need to know. I'm considering doing kaolin clay this year since they just ruined so many tomatoes last year. That and those leaf hoppers,ugh!

July 22, 2015	#1
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	please tell me there is an organic pesticide for squash vine bore Please

April 18, 2016	#6
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Mycotrol-O I dont think svb is listed on the label but i have personally used it directly on a borer i dug out of a pumpkin vine and it killed that rascal dead as a hammer. It is a systemic bacteria. Follow the label closely. Its very pricey and has a short shelf life. __________________ *Barbee*

April 19, 2016	#8
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	The only option is to cut them out, and MAYBE the plant will make it. I've tried generous dustings of DE, foil around the base of each vine, kaolin clay and piles of gravel as mulch. This year I am growing my cukes under floating row covers. I have already seen the SVB moths hovering over them in the garden. If I don't get a decent harvest I am giving up on heirloom cukes. Growing Suyo Long, Lemon and Boston Pickling. Last edited by fonseca; April 19, 2016 at 01:17 AM.

April 19, 2016	#10
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	I just read an article from Rodales that someone mentioned growing peppermint in with their squash and had no squash vine borers. It wouldn't hurt to try it. __________________ carolyn k

July 22, 2015	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	This stuff worked on my whiteflies. I noticed it killed potato bugs, too: http://www.evergreengrowers.com/met5...w-formula.html I don't know for sure if it meets the official government standard, but the stuff is basically harmless to people. I have been meaning to test it on stink bugs.

April 17, 2016	#3
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	I read that you can inject BT with a meat injector right into the stalks. will report back on success this year

April 18, 2016	#4
Bulldog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Georgia Posts: 126	I have read that you can use a syringe, but I am not sure if it works as a preventative. I think they have to be in the stem. I am going to use foil around the stems this year. I'll try to cover with insect netting also.

April 18, 2016	#5
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	DE works for me, need to kind of pile it around the stem.

April 19, 2016	#7
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	Perhaps grow varieties/species of squash that are not susceptible to borers.

April 19, 2016	#9
saltmarsh Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 2 miles south of Yoknapatawpha Zone 7b Posts: 662	It is just a moth. And a fairly docile one at that. They are easily identified. I normally see them in the garden between 9AM and 11AM. Watch where they land (normally on a squash leaf.) and you can walk up to them. I thump them to the ground with my middle finger then squash them with my foot. A simple organic solution.

April 23, 2016	#12
seaeagle Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: virginia Posts: 743	I have tried for years to stop them and it is impossible.The few things I found that helped are Don't plant in the same place every year- move from one end of your garden to the other.This will keep the borers that buried in the soil from getting your new squash. Get some minced garlic and put in a container at the base of each plant and the older and stronger it gets the better.Add water to keep it from drying out and replace when necessary. Wipe the stems every 2 or 3 days with a rag and some ivory soap. These steps will buy you time and will make the harvest longer but as the plants get bigger they will eventually get in.

April 24, 2016	#13
Susan66 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Western NY Posts: 133	Growing bush beans in with your potatoes will discourage potato bugs. They hate the beans, I guess. When I lived in Missouri, the guy across the street was spraying Sevin on his potatoes every week or so. I planted rows of beans between my rows of potatoes and never saw a bug after I started doing that. But lost all my squash, summer and winter to squash bugs every year. I could hand pick and smash egg cases for a while, but I always lost the race in the end. Here in New York, I'm lucky-the moth doesn't seem to live here. I like the peppermint solution, but mints can get pretty aggressive. Maybe try blending it up in the blender with some water and spray it on the plants. Worth a try, maybe.

April 24, 2016	#15
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	If anybody finds a good cure for stink bugs I need to know. I'm considering doing kaolin clay this year since they just ruined so many tomatoes last year. That and those leaf hoppers,ugh!