Vine Borers

[pendog66]

Ok now im really in trouble, i got in the garden today for the first time in a couple days because i have been very busy with my Bait business. And there were vine borers every where. I picked a couple up and cut out others, i only have 2 goldrush pumpkins that are growing and i cant seem to get any others produce. My Big Max are the worse off, a couple of the vines are completely split in half, but i couldnt find any larvae. What can i do??? Is it too late

 

[dragonlaurel]

I'll be watching to see answers. We have had some at the community garden already. Still hoping they don't get mine.

 

[vfem]

I have seen the adults flutterings around my squash plants. I have since wrapped the base of the vines in aluminum foil all the way under the soil. At which point I have had no issues. Once they are in, I honestly have no idea for control issues!

I hope someone comes back with a decent response!

 

[obsessed]

I lost 3 planting last year and two this year to the vine borer. I will not grow anymore next year. You can cut them out but that is way gross. I couldn't. You can inject the vines with BT. I did it once but was not able to rid the plants of the borers. In defense of BT I probably did n't do enough of it as often as I should have.

The worst part is they lay eggs in the soil. So next year you may have the same problem..

 

[curly_kate]

I SWORE I wouldn't grow pumpkins again this year because the borers have gotten them the past 3. But then I caved, planted them in a different spot, and kept them covered with garden fabric. No luck there. They also got my spaghetti squash, but I got plenty of the squash off of them before the bugs set in. I have had no luck with less toxic pesticides, physical barriers, or companion planting. I guess I will just not do any squash next year and maybe try again the following year. I just hate having these gorgeous pumpkins starting on the vine, and then seeing the plant just completely wilt & die.

I forgot - I HAVE had luck with 1 thing. When I spot the borer damage, I bury some of the other vines so that they will root. I have managed to save 1 or 2 plants that way.

ETA: I have been squishing all the eggs I find, but the damage has already been done for the most part. :/

 

[pendog66]

im found them on the main vines of the Big Max pumpkins and i have found some in the secondary vines of the Goldrush Pumpkins. I also have little black bugs getting the vines

 

[pendog66]

add tomato catapillars to the list, will the garden pests ever end!!!!!:/

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I love squash, I just replanted after ripping them out of my raised bed because of squash bugs. I have 4 plants in tires and a drum across my back yard I hope I can keep them at bay so I can have squash this summer, we will see. I think I try the aluminum foil thing if I see any. The chickens have access so I may have another pest to worry about.

 

[dragonlaurel]

I better get some tin foil then.
I planted a bunch (5 or 6 kinds ) of squashes. They all came up good and I don't want any plants getting ruined. Getting a little summer squash already, and looking forward to the winter ones.

 

[lesa]

I was out doing surgery on my pumpkins. Darn, I really wanted those white pumpkins. I doubt I saved them, but I had a great time killing those ugly things!!! Next year I am going to try wrapping the stems. Some sites say foil, others pantyhose. I was wondering about those sticky ace bandages. They would kind of grow with the stem?? Maybe I'll try all of the above and see what works.