HOT TOPIC! Squash! So you want to grow squash but those darn squash bugs and vine borers get your plants every time! What do you do!? More on that in a moment. ;)
First lets talk about squash varieties/types/families, etc. There are five common species of squash which are C. maxima, C. moschata, C. pep, C. argyrosperma, and C. Ficifolia. Some of these species are summer squash and some are winter squash. Some are bush type and some are vining types. Most bush types are in the C. pepo and C. Maxima families. These are often grown as summer squash. That being said, most winter squash can also be grown as summer squash. Did I confuse you yet?? lol. Hang in there, it will click. ;)
If you live in an area where the squash vine borers are prevalent there are a few things you could do. Lets start by talking variety. Choosing the best variety for your area is super important. Squash vine borers can demolish an entire crop in no time flat as can squash bugs, stink bugs, and leaf-footed bugs. Having the strongest varieties that are resistant is key. Here are a few steps you can take to take to help give you the leg up on growing squash!
First, let's start with the soil. If you have good healthy soil with a nice heavy covering of organic matter, your plants are likely to be much healthier and will have stronger defenses such as good healthy layer of biofilm, more hairs or spines on the stems, thicker skin, etc. This is your first line of defense!
Another line of defense (and in my opinion, one of the most, if not THE most important things to consider) is to plant resistant varieties. The best variety to plant is squash in the C. moschata family. C. moschata varieties are resistant to squash pests. The vines are very thick and they set roots down all over wherever they touch the soil. This helps in that if a vine borer does happen to get through (unlikely), then only a small portion of the plant will die off. You’ll notice that the leaves of a C. moschata squash have white patches on it. This is normal and feature of this variety. That is one way to tell you to have a good, strong, resistant plant. If you use the Back To Eden garden method, be sure to pull your mulch back to expose the soil every few feet (basically creating a little ditch), tuck the vine down in the ditch so the vine touches the soil then cover the vine with a layer of compost topped with mulch in that spot. This will allow the vine to root down into the soil creating, essentially, an entirely new root structure. For your convenience, I'll post a list of squash in the C. moschata family below. There are other varieties that are resistant but from my experience, the C. moschatas are the most resistant types.
Next, you could release beneficial nematodes. These microscopic little guys will destroy the larvae in the soil. They don’t harm earthworms and are not harmful to people or pets. It’s a great organic option for growers!! They will help with another of common pests in addition to common squash pests that overwinter in your soil. For the vine borers, you would need Steinernema feltiae (also known as SF) but I recommend getting a full spectrum.
Check your plants regularly for eggs. They look like little tiny red dots and are typically on the stems or underside of leaves but sometimes on top of the leaves. Remove any eggs you see drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Remove any adult pests by knocking them into your bucket of soapy water as well. Once you are done, dump the bucket down the toilet. Here at Kindred Acres, we do a walk through every 2 to 3 days or so.
You could use sticky traps which are basically like double sided tape that you put up and down the stems. I’ve not found this to be terribly effective by itself but combined with the other steps it will definitely help.
Crop rotation. Plant squash in a different part of the garden and or at a different time of year. If the vine borers are your main issue then plant after they tend to slow down (typically mid to late summer).
Row covers are said to help. I can’t attest to this first hand because we haven’t had to use them. We use the methods above and we have great success growing squash.
Finally, you could use Bacillus Thuringiensis also known as BT. This is rated organic. There is a lot of mixed information on its use and safety so do your research before making your decision. We have not used this method here at Kindred Acres so I cannot attest to its use.
Here is a list of some of the squash in the C. Moschata family to help you get started.....
This is just part of our squash yard. We have quite a few goodies going this year!
This is a Rampacante Zucchini. This is a great alternative for those that love the zucchini types! It's so super creamy, prolific, and it can be eaten young as a summer squash OR cured to harden as a winter squash! Plus it is in the C. moschata family. Totally a win!
It's okay to tuck in some 'sensitive' varieties here and there! Just be sure to check them regularly for pests and eggs and be sure you have a good foundation for them.
Notice the white splashes of color on the leaves. This is a C. moschata squash. Also note how I burried a part of the vine here.
This vine had some damage early on when it was just beginning...not from pests but once from the chickens and another time I accidentally bent the vine and it split. As it grew I burried a part of the vine and it created a whole new root structure and is very strong now. It's easiest to do this as the plant is growing because the tips are the most flexible and easy to work with.
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Kindred Acres
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