RE: Insect problems-ISOTOX = POISON
Don't poison your plants, your soil and your groundwater with ISOTOX or
cygon2e.
There is a great organic remedy for vine borers: insect parasitic
nematodes. These are the good kind of nematodes (there are supposedly
over 500,000 species of nematodes); they feed on crawling insects only.
You can inject your infested stems with a warm water solution that contains
thousands of these nematodes, and the nematodes will migrate up and down the
vine
cavity until they find Mr. Borer. They will live for many days, and perhaps
weeks,
in the vine as they await their feast.
I have used this technique with reasonable success. The problems are 1)
trying to
hone in on the borers with your injections, 2) timing the injections
correctly and
3) having a supply on hand when you need them. You need to get them
reasonably fresh
and keep them in your refrigerator until their release. Getting 100%
results is difficult
but achievable with proper planning.
They also work GREAT with ear worms on sweet corn. A little squirt inside
each ear at the
time the silk is becoming prominent is all it takes. I got 100% eradication
this way.
Most organic grower suppliers will carry nematodes. They aren't
particularly cheap, but, then again, neither is the Indiana seed auction!
Frank Peregrine
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com [o*@mallorn.com]On
Behalf Of John Failor
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 1:54 AM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: Insect problems-ISOTOX
Does anyone have any experience with ISOTOX for borers?
Thanks,
John
> LEE,
>
>
> I had vine borers all last summer i used a prosuct called cygon2e. It's a
> systemic used on birch trees but also on certain vegetable crops. It also
> has a growth hormone in it. Used three applications and even when they
were
> present I knew as soon as they ate part of the plant they would die. I had
> holes in my vine but no damage. Also you can try ISOTOX. Hope this helps .
>
> ANDREW
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lee Robertson <robertson@ispchannel.com>
> To: pumpkins@mallorn.com <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
> Date: January 24, 2000 11:08 PM
> Subject: 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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