Whiteflies in my Squash

I've given up on trying to save the 4 squash vines. The whiteflies have thoroughly infested the plants and I felt it was best if I simply removed them. They don't cause much trouble in a typical vegetable garden, but whitleflies can be quite a problem in a greenhouse.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• God's
• blessings
• whiteflies
• squash
• insects
• vegetable
• garden
• greenhouse
• hoop house
• high tunnel

[itsjustdeb579]

I had no idea what was going on with my cucumbers vines... till i saw this. Evil horrid whitefly. The underside of 2 plants are just loaded with eggs. I plucked the 2 plants that seem to be affected and put them in a trashbag since we are under a burn ban... i'll smoother their little hides until i can burn it.

[mhpgardener]

@itsjustdeb579 This was my first encounter with them too. I didn't know what the heck was going on. After some searching, I realized I had a fight on my hands. I tried everything, water hose, insecticidal soap, neem, sticky cards.....ughhh, ruthless little critters. I emptied the GH in July, and now I have sticky cards everywhere to try and trap them before they have an opportunity to multiply again. Good luck in your fight ! ;-)

[anyusmoon1]

Surprised you didn't incinerate your pest filled squash.

[mhpgardener]

@anyusmoon1 You are correct. I put smaller leaves in the wood stove, but I really do need a burn barrel outside for the larger plants and tomato vines.

[Organigasmic]

White flies are the devil. Once they start its almost impossible to get rid of them. Best/only course it so burn.

[mhpgardener]

@Organigasmic Yea, from what I have read, they can be a real headache. I'm gonna try a fogger shortly, to get full coverage. Things are looking better right now, with the old mater vines and squash gone, but I want to be certain that I have this problem fully resolved. I'll know in a few weeks, or whatever the life cycle of the WF is.

[itsjustdeb579]

@mhpgardener This is my first attempt at veggies. I grew up on a farm setting.. but i was in the kitchen running the pressure canner usually... or picking beans. Never experienced these devils. A lady from canada told me next time plant french marigolds all amoung the plants. Not only do they hate the scent, but the plants picks something up from the soil that the marigold puts off and it makes the plant taste bad to them. I GOT MARIGOLD SEEDS ON THE WAY. I will be prepared..LOL