|
| Hey everyone! This is my first year growing my garden (about 100 sq feet), and it has been quite successful. However a number of my plants have been getting damaged by some less than welcome guests. My squash plants have been plagued by squash bugs (the pumpkins too). I've been taking their eggs when found and putting them into the compost pile well away from the garden. The adults get relocated. I've also started seeing tons of cucmber beetles on my pumpkin plants - strangely not on my cucumbers though. Then yesterday, I found some vine borers, and have noticed damage to the bottom of a ton of my squash plants.
Originally I was going to take a "grow enough for everyone" approach, but with several plants now dying, I don't think that can work - at least not this year. I'm considering getting neem oil to spray, but it's killing me to think I'll have to wash off my produce before I can eat it... that was one of the whole reasons I wanted an organic garden, so I could literally eat something straight from the vine. I'm kind of torn, I feel bad killing things that are just trying to eat, but at the same time this is my food supply for the upcoming year - specifically the pumpkins because I'm very concerned with all of the droughts we're going to have another large shortage like the past few years (this is the first year out of about 4 that we've been able to get pumpkin in the grocery store). I would love to have more things around to eat the bugs, but a bat box can't happen (we have no trees), and the birds only do so much. I'd just love to get some input on handling this. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| First, second, and even third year organic gardens quite often are plagued with an over abundance of insect pests because the soil has not had time to become a good, healthy soil and there are not enough beneficials around to help, yet. Cleaning out any egg masses you find is a good first step, Bacillus thuringiensis - Kustraki injected into the vines any larva may have invaded has been shown to help. Some people report Neem Oil sprays help control the adults as can pyrethrin based dusts and sprays, although both are broad spectrum poisons which can kill off beneficials as well if applied immproperly. Floating row covers could have helped earlier, but might be something to consider for next year. The link below might be of some use for future planning. |
Here is a link that might be useful: ATTRA squash bug control
|
- Posted by kellbell5555 none (My Page) on Tue, Jul 24, 12 at 23:19
| Try making traps for the cucumber beetles. Another person on this site posted a recipe of red dye #28 and clove oil. You mix the two together and place it in metal or glass containers around your garden (pure clove oil will melt plastic). The females are attracted to the clove oil but upon ingesting it the red dye somehow kills them within a few mins. I was skeptical as my garden was seriously infested but after only one day of setting a few traps I could only find a few beetles. The red dye is kinda hard to find and it has to be #28. I was able to find mine online. I ordered those dental disclosing tablets which contain red dye #28. Mix a few of those with a few tablespoons of clove oil and you should see results. Also, a trick with the squash vine borer I read was to slit the vine where the damage is and remove the bug. Then cover the damaged part of the vine with dirt. While I still lost a few plants with this method it did save the vast majority that were infested. And you have the satisfaction of killing the stupid things! I have not yet found a good solution with the squash bugs. I'm going to try DE and see if that works. I tried hand picking but with 200-250 squash, pumpkin, and gourd plants I just can't keep up. Sorry to be long-winded but I'm also a newbie and am currently having these exact same problems in my garden:) |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Organic Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.