I've been struggling with an insane pest problem in my garden this year, particularly with cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and my absolute nightmare—squash vine borers (SVB). I've gone to lengths to try and combat them, including performing surgery on affected vines and spraying neem oil like it's going out of style. I even have tons of herbs planted alongside my veggies in hopes of companion planting helping out. I'm completely at my wits' end! How can I prevent those pests from coming back? Is there a way to treat the soil to deter them? I really want to keep things as natural as possible for my pollinators. Oh, and as a side note, I also have gourds, melons, and cucumbers that seem unaffected by the SVB—should I be worried they'll come for those too?
2 Answers
You could try removing the lower leaves of your squash plants to help spot the pests more easily as they burrow or when they're adult beetles. SVBs tend to hide in the lower foliage by the ground. With fewer leaves around, it’ll be easier to check for eggs on the undersides that you can remove with tape or a small butane torch. Also, consider staking your plants vertically; it’ll help with monitoring them better!
I had some success last year by injecting my squash vines with a strong mix of BT every few days. It kept the SVBs away, which was a relief—though I still faced other issues (hello, groundhog!). I grow my plants in containers with fresh soil every season, but those little pests can still find a way in. Using row covers is another option, but they can sometimes worm their way inside anyway. Good luck!
Ugh, yes! Those SVBs are ruthless. I'm planning to try the BT method too; hoping it saves my plants before they get infected!
Thanks! I definitely need to get more diligent with pruning and will try to stake them up.