I have a yearly battle with a specific pest (well more than one but for this post we will chat about my nemesis). This thing has tortured me since I quit using any form of synthetic pest control about 12 years ago. (back when I became more educated about what I was doing to my food by using Sevin dust and the like). I’m here to say, there are some days I miss that perfect produce. My neighbor has perfect zucchini in abundance, when I asked him how he gets so much and why my pests don’t plague him (I was waiting for a sage answer that I could really dig my teeth into) he said, I just sprinkle Sevin on the plants…UGGGHHH!
Okay, so what is the pest? It took me a few years to identify, I thought it was more an environmental problem I was dealing with when one day my Zucchini would be bountifully producing and vigorously growing and then seemingly overnight it would yellow, droop and fall over dead. Have you ever had that happen? It is quite disheartening because I for one, LOVE my zucchini! After a few years of this happening (I think I must be slow to catch on) I realized it was not some kind of soil borne problem causing the plants to die but rather, a nasty little creature that liked Zucchini and Yellow squash (as well as all gourd plants, pumpkins and squash) even more than I did. THE SQUASH VINE BORER. This is a nasty pest that is the larvae of a flying insect. Some say that you can get rid of the problem by picking off the flying creature at daylight or dusk, I have never had much luck with this.
Okay, so what is the pest? It took me a few years to identify, I thought it was more an environmental problem I was dealing with when one day my Zucchini would be bountifully producing and vigorously growing and then seemingly overnight it would yellow, droop and fall over dead. Have you ever had that happen? It is quite disheartening because I for one, LOVE my zucchini! After a few years of this happening (I think I must be slow to catch on) I realized it was not some kind of soil borne problem causing the plants to die but rather, a nasty little creature that liked Zucchini and Yellow squash (as well as all gourd plants, pumpkins and squash) even more than I did. THE SQUASH VINE BORER. This is a nasty pest that is the larvae of a flying insect. Some say that you can get rid of the problem by picking off the flying creature at daylight or dusk, I have never had much luck with this.
 | If you actually see this bug on your plants beware, she is probably laying her eggs! Kill her as soon as you can, I am not lucky enough to ever see her in action, I just get the full on after effects of her ugly little offspring. Photo Credit Farmers Almanac |
I hate this nasty little creature. I always find him a bit too late.The tell tale signs are when you look at the base of your zucchini or squash plant and it has a yellow sawdusty kind of look to it. Those little granules are actually worm castings…eww, not the good kind. This little worm burrows up inside the base of your plant and hollows it out eating until it is full and very fat. I have on countless occasions slit the stem of a plant with an exacto knife in an effort to remove said nasty worm and decimate him, sometimes the plants live, sometimes they don’t but it is always a gratifying experience to squish that little bugger.
 | See that nasty worm there...he's so gross! Photo Credit Farmers Almanac |
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This year is no different, I only got to enjoy about 2-3 large Zucchini before the nasty worms invaded, I split the stem and killed them but the plants are still struggling. I usually just use some succession planting so I already have my new up and coming Zucchini plants growing but it is still a battle. Many people will tell you to use a "floating row cover" however what you may not know is that this method is pretty effective. The problem is that you cannot use the floating row cover when your plant is flowering or the bees cannot pollinate your plant, that is a whole 'nother problem!
So what do the eggs look like and where can you find them? Ideally I should have been in the garden daily checking the undersides of the leaves, this is where you will find colonies of the little worm eggs. I just rip off the small sections of the leaves where I find the eggs, if you have lots of Squash and Zucchini plants you have A LOT of work on your hands. The sad part is that the little eggs are kinda pretty and look like little gems on the underside of the leaves, but oh the damage they do!
So if you see any of these telltale signs and you, like me are an organically minded gardener, better get busy, that Squash Vine Borer is NOT your friend!
If you have any tried and true methods that have helped you, please do share. I have not had luck with Diatomaceous earth, crop rotation, or even soap shields but if there is something else out there, please do let me know!
If you have any tried and true methods that have helped you, please do share. I have not had luck with Diatomaceous earth, crop rotation, or even soap shields but if there is something else out there, please do let me know!
