Squash vine borer prevention

Protect your squash, melon, pumpkin, and cucumbers with this simple technique. It has worked for us so we hope it works for you. Squash vine borers can kill your crops overnight.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• squash
• vine
• borers
• melon
• pumpkin
• cucumbers
• homestead
• garden
• vegetable

[NaderRaider]

I got so fed up with these borers that I now have been reduced to using Tulle as a shield t- and will have to hand pollenate all of the female blossoms

[austinsimpleliving]

@NaderRaider Row cover is another great protection. Unfortuneately, it keeps out the beneficial insects as well. Good idea and happy pollinating.

[WhatInTheSamHill99]

Thanks for posting this idea! This is my first year gardening and I lost three zucchini plants to the dreaded SVB, before I realilzed what was going on. I've done lots of research on them, & this is the best idea I've seen. I saw the adult bug flying around my garden, but didn't realize the harm it was going to impart on my plants. I even saw one yesterday.

a) how long do the plants need to be protected - even through maturity?

b) do you know where the adult bug lives - so I can kill them now?

[austinsimpleliving]

@WhatInTheSamHill99 I know what you mean. we lost 3 SEASONS worth before we realized. LOL It's a good idea to leave them in place throughout the growing season to be on the safe side. The larvae will hatch from the soil and surface and start to bore. With the tubes in place they will " hit a brick wall" so to speak. The adult lays the eggs in the soil, so you might try sprinkling DE or Sevin around the plants. Good Luck!

[david77318]

I have 124 pumpkin plants, I cut 1-1/2" PVC and put around all of them. Will see what happens, vine borers got all my pumpkins and squash plants from spring.

[austinsimpleliving]

@david77318 that should do the trick! Pvc is perfect to use.

[skinnedkitten]

I think you just saved my life!! I LOVE all squash, melons, and cucumbers! Many suggestions I've found for controlling SVB simply say 'just don't grow squash, grow butternut since it's more resistant to SVB.' That isn't helpful! Butternut's my least favorite squash! lol

I have seen another suggestion to use tinfoil beneath plants, it reflects sunlight and 'confuses' the SVB adults so they don't lay eggs. I think I'll wrap the TP rolls with tin foil for a double whammy approach! THANKS FOR THIS!

[63viet]

what about using diatomaceous earth as an organic way of getting rid of them?

[acerbunsoy]

Great tips. I'm going to try this. Thank you, Bill.

[NewEnglandgardening]

I once found the hole in a vine with what looked like wet saw dust oozing out so I just carefully took a razor blade and sliced the vine length wise and there was the big fat grub chewing away and I just dug it out ,killed it ,and the vine survived.

[jaykosko]

There is alot of misinformation here. The moths do not lay eggs in the soil. They lay them directly on the stems. Once the eggs hatch the larve burrow into stem. There is no crawling across the soil to the stem. I think there is some confusion with cut worms which do what is being described here.

[GettingThereGreen]

@GettingThereGreen I just googled and it said that the squash vine borer doesn't come around until late June so I don't think I'm too late yet.

[GettingThereGreen]

where did you learn this idea? do other people have success with this method? I am going to go do this now... hopefully I'm not too late... I transplanted a zucchini from a pot outside into the raised bed outside and I was worried that maybe I am too late... hopefully not. ~Amanda

[Brikiatis]

Can anyone confirm austinsimplelivings tip that using the paper rolls will prevent the squash vine borer from entering a zucchini plant? It seems too simple to work.

[Laura21701]

GREAT IDEA! Thanks for this! I have now lost 2 seasons worth of squash and zucchini and was seriously thinking about just giving up on all of the squash/cukes this year. I'm definitely going to try this this year!