Can anyone tell me how to get rid of those nasty little and not so little ugly squah bugs. I've got to be one of the few people in Southeastern Indiana (or maybe even the country) that never gets enough zucchini. I've tried rotenone, trap cropping and picking them off by hand. Somebody told me to try wood ashes. Has anyone tried them. Thanks and Merry Christmas

-- Cindy (cindyathomeonthefarm@hotmail.com), December 21, 1999

Answers

Hi Cindy. I am from southern Indiana also (Petersburg) There are a few different ways. I inter-plant radishes and let them go to seed. The squash bugs don't like the smell of the raddish. You can also sacrifice one plant. that is dammage it in some way, the bugs will go to that plant then you can hand pick them. By the way I am 100% organic. If you have the room rotate your crops and plant your zucchini (and all squash crops ) in a different location next year Grant

-- granteversoll (thegrange@earthlink.net), December 22, 1999.

Dont know about your climate but would floating row covers work?

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), December 23, 1999.