Insect problems
Hi,
This spring will be the beginning of my third year of growing AG
pumpkins in East Tennessee. I have a problem with squash borers
getting into my pumpkins, squash, and zuccini. I have tried dusting
them with Sevin which helps, but by the end of june the vine on my
plants will completely gone from where it originally sprouted.
The plants do not usually die because by then they have secondary
roots that grew from nodes futher along the vine. Although they
continue to be consumed, sort of like a fuse burning. I don't think
I can get large pumkins this way (so far my largest has been ~100lbs)
since the vine where the pumpkin is attached is usually attacked
a few weeks after the fruit is set. If I slice the vine open when
it begins to look "sick" I find lots of big "ugly" green/yellow
worms inside. Also I see "holes" in the vine with something
that looks like sawdust coming out.
In addition to the dusting with sevin, I go out once or twice a
week or so and "squash" all the eggs (usually where the leaf meets
its stem) I can find. Usually every leaf will have some. Its clear I'm
not using the best instecticide.
What do other people use??
--Lee
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