Squash bug myth busted.

[Kassaundra]

I had read interplanting radish and allowing it to seed would either repel the squash bugs or hide squash plants from them. By observation I have thourghly busted this myth.

 

[lesa]

I am afraid there is nothing to get rid of those evil creatures!

 

[catjac1975]

Try bug juice. Gather a lot of the smelly creatures. Put in water and put in a dedicated blender. Allow to get good and smelly overnight then put through a cloth to sift out the parts. Add a bit of dish soap and spray on the plants. This is not a joke. I have used it in the past for other critters and it seemed to work. It is one of those organic recipes that falls it the realm of "Can't hurt." Of course the results are anecdotal.

 

[bj taylor]

they have wreaked havoc on my garden this year.

 

[meatburner]

Good grief!!!

 

[ducks4you]

I've posted this before, BUT, I am just about ready to plant my cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin and other squash seeds. Several years ago I had scads of all of these, but my DH was laughing bc he said I planted them too late. I don't see any point in planting 2 crops if the first will feed these awful critters and help them to populate a new generation on my property! I'm gonna try and miss their breeding season. I had SO MANY cucumber plants--over 50!!--that I was missing fruit and throwing it to my horses to clean up. I also gave away pumpkins, acorn squash, and hubbard squash. I haven't had any of these in the last 3 years. I planted them "on schedule" and the squash bugs and vine borers both decimated every plant. Just some "food for thought".

 

[hoodat]

I had read interplanting radish and allowing it to seed would either repel the squash bugs or hide squash plants from them. By observation I have thourghly busted this myth.

I doubt there is any way to hide your plants from squash bugs in Oklahoma. I cleared some land there that had never been farmed and had woods all around it but the squash bugs found it as soon as it was up.
I'm sure glad that squash bugs don't like Southern California and borers are also scarce here. Our only real problem with squash here is mildew.

 

[Kassaundra]

I had read interplanting radish and allowing it to seed would either repel the squash bugs or hide squash plants from them. By observation I have thourghly busted this myth.

I doubt there is any way to hide your plants from squash bugs in Oklahoma. I cleared some land there that had never been farmed and had woods all around it but the squash bugs found it as soon as it was up.
I'm sure glad that squash bugs don't like Southern California and borers are also scarce here. Our only real problem with squash here is mildew.

Have you tried spraying w/ LAB for powder mildew. (Korean Natural Farming lactobacillicus made from rice water and milk) I read about using it for powder mildew a couple of years ago but w/ our massive drought haven't been able to test it. It is supose to out compete w/ the powder mildew, but be neutral to the plant.

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

I didn't have as many in the garden last year. I think it had something to do with the HUGE number of giant spiders we had.
And, Alan had to do more harvesting than usual last year ... I do NOT like spiders.

 

[ducks4you]

I should add that radishes do attract other garden pests, PLUS, if you let them stay in the patch you can:
1) take up space that weeds want
2) see pretty white and lavender radish flowers
3) create something for you vining plants to climb
4) attract pollinators for your vegetables
5) harvest radish seeds for your next radish plantings.
I pick them, put them in a spot to dry, then harvest the seeds like you do when you save garden beans for next year.