A way to prevent the Squash Vine Borer

[Rudy]

I have had problems in the past with Squash Vine Borers and found a way on youtube to prevent them.  A lady recommended wrapping the base with athletic tape from the top of the roots to the first set of leaves and add more as the plant grows. I am not sure if it's going to work or not, but I am going to give it a shot this year.  This lady (me) has to be smarter than an insect. 

While on youtube, I found some people growing squash and zucchinini vertically to save space.   Another thing that's worth trying this year.

[tridrama]

Depending upon the variety, I definitely recommend growing them vertically if you can. to save space. All squash plants can grow quite huge. We've grown zucchino rampicante, delicata, baby blue hubbard, cushaw and butternut vertically. Although zucchini and summer squash stretch as they grow, we haven't attempted to grow them vertically. I try to cover the vines with dirt as they get longer to discourage the squash borer.

I'm really interested to see how this turns out for you. I've covered the stem in foil, removed any eggs that I see and used insecticidal soaps, but I've never heard of this method. Growing squash as early as possible or starting some varieties later in the season has allowed us to get a pretty good harvest before the bugs take over. My frustration with squash borer and pickle worm helped me make the decision to not even bother with squash this year. I may plant some buttercup or kabocha later in the season.

I'll be looking for your update!

[Rudy]

Here is the video showing the method used.  I would have posted it with the original post but I wasn't sure if videos from other websites were allowed.

[FigMamaJanet]

Denise, thanks for the information regarding the squash.  I will look at the video to keep on top of any problems with that borer bug, in the event it appears in our garden.  Our garden was just planted last weekend. 

[jtrav]

I tried vertical growing squash and zucchini this year and it was all wiped out this week by squash vine borers. They even got the vines that were surrounded by dill and cilantro.
I've had good luck in the past planting early and covering the vine with dirt as it grows. I like the space saving aspect of vertical growing but I don't think I can pull it off in my area since the borers are so prevalent. 

[Rudy]

jtrav, try growing 1 plant vertically using the athletic tape and see what happens.  I am going to try it for the first time and maybe covering a few with straw as it grows.  C'mon.  We are smarter than a bug with a brain the size of spec of dust. lol  We can beat this.

[LaFigGwr2019]

This is what I know and if I am wrong than please correct me cause I want to also learn how to stop that freaky moth.

The moth lays an egg on a leaf and the egg grows and bores into leaf and goes down the leaf and reaches the main stem and you know what happens there we all know.  By wrapping the main stock will it really do any good cause the creature comes down the leaf cavity.  If I am wrong please correct me cause that is what I thought happened.

Whoever does this let us know the results cause I am curious

[tridrama]

Squash bugs lay clusters of eggs on the backs of leaves. Squash vine borer is a red and black moth that lays one single egg along the stalk/vine of the plant or at the base of the leaves. The larvae hatches and burrows into the vine.  These repulsive creatures (adults) usually fly in the evening. So be watchful!

 I could post a diary on the garden bugs I hate. This one is number 2 on the list.

[jtrav]

I'll try the athletic tape on my fall squash. May also try putting some of those yellow sticky cards that are for fungus gnats around the stem.

[Rudy]

The insects won this year.  I waited too long to try the athletic tape.  That's ok.  I am tired of eating squash on a daily basis. lol

[jtrav]

well I wrapped the bottom 4 inches of my butternut squash and it wasn't enough. It was also growing vertical up a trellis but the borers win again.

[tridrama]

Jake,

I'm sorry your crop didn't do well this year. I had no intentions of planting any squash this year, yet I planted two Kabocha this year, one survived. It performed okay. The water was inadvertently turned off, so it didn't perform as well as it could have, but at least the pests didn't get it.

I trialed a large variety of squash two years ago to see which would perform best for us. If you want a versatile squash that is fairly resistant to SVB- not 100%. They will attack the plant but won't get far enough to do it much damage.  I highly recommend Zucchino Rampicante. One plant is quite prolific and will grow food for you all season long. It does need a trellis- the leaves are huge. The plant will start off kind of slow in spring, but by the time June heat sets in, it will take off. Eat them small, between 8 and 15 inches while green. Use them as you would zucchini. The texture is slightly different, but the taste is very similar. Let them continue to grow through fall and harvest when the skin is hard like other winter squash, and use it as you would butternut. It stores well. I grew a 5 foot squash last year, harvested it around mid September 2021. I gave it to my cousin in August. She was able to cook both a sweet and a savory meal for her family that lasted a week each. She also shared portions of raw the squash with 4 neighbors.

[jtrav]

Thanks , Ill give it try this spring.
Seems like I've also had luck with patty pan squash in the past but I don't remember if the borers didn't attack it or it was so prolific that I was sick of squash by the time it died.

[LaFigGwr2019]

Jake,

I'm sorry your crop didn't do well this year. I had no intentions of planting any squash this year, yet I planted two Kabocha this year, one survived. It performed okay. The water was inadvertently turned off, so it didn't perform as well as it could have, but at least the pests didn't get it.

I trialed a large variety of squash two years ago to see which would perform best for us. If you want a versatile squash that is fairly resistant to SVB- not 100%. They will attack the plant but won't get far enough to do it much damage.  I highly recommend Zucchino Rampicante. One plant is quite prolific and will grow food for you all season long. It does need a trellis- the leaves are huge. The plant will start off kind of slow in spring, but by the time June heat sets in, it will take off. Eat them small, between 8 and 15 inches while green. Use them as you would zucchini. The texture is slightly different, but the taste is very similar. Let them continue to grow through fall and harvest when the skin is hard like other winter squash, and use it as you would butternut. It stores well. I grew a 5 foot squash last year, harvested it around mid September 2021. I gave it to my cousin in August. She was able to cook both a sweet and a savory meal for her family that lasted a week each. She also shared portions of raw the squash with 4 neighbors.

LeConte,

Thank you for sharing your experience.  I will have to look for seeds for that variety.  I don’t think I have ever seen that particular variety.   Again thank you. 

[SCfig]

I too am feed up with squash borer killing all my zucchini squash, I will try the one that you mentioned if it can be found, never heard of it nor have I ever seen one. By the way LeConte I just cut my I 258 today and will see how they root. I have 5 cuttings so if they root you are welcome to one.