Have any of you seasoned gardeners come up with a truly effective method for the conrol of cucumber beetles and squash bugs? Last year I put up 150 squash. This year I planted the same number of plants and got 28. Most of the plants were killed by these pests. Rotenone didn't seem to be helping and I heard it wasn't safe for pregnant women. Anything I would use must be safe for use in pregnancy as my husband is much too busy to bother with the garden. Any suggestions? I've tried interplanting with onions, spraying with soured milk, nothing has worked.

-- Tiffani (cappello@alltel.net), November 02, 2000

Answers

Well, I'll try this again. (stupid computer)

Anyway, look in the archives for a couple of thread ons the subject. None of the ideas worked for me. The radishes helped a little with the yellow squash but not with the zucchini. I put tansy around the cucumbers and that worked a little bit. I really love zucchini casserole, but don't get enough cause I don't get enough zucchini. Hand picking works the best, but who's got the time? Maybe somebody else has discovered something new.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 02, 2000.

I lost all my yellow squash this year, and all my cucumbers eventually too. I read that you must rotate where you plant these every year, and to use a general purpose garden dust, like Sevin, or for the organic user, pyrithrim (sp.?) dust, made from flowers ground up, at the first sign of blooming. The offender, a type of flying pest/moth, lays their eggs on the plant at bloom time. You must treat the plants then, or it is too late, as the larvae will already be there inside the plant. I would say the organic pyrithrim dust would be safe, although wear a dust mask just to be sure. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 02, 2000.

AlRIGHT!!! A gardening question!!!! Make way.Obsessive gardener coming thru.

Row covers on plants, til female flowers appear.Put nasturtiums in among them, looks pretty anyway and you can eat the flowers & leaves.Can't say it helps,can't say it doesn't.Tried radishes and cedar shavings in the past but didn't feel I got any results.Definitely rotate the garden-everything in the garden- to cut back on problems. Check out Elloit Colemans Four Season Harvest book for a simple rotation schedule

Plant more resistant varieties. On winter squash, those in the moshata family fair better,for instance.And, of course make sure your soil is great, with good organic content.Soil test from Extension office is plenty cheap.

Recent posting on Ths Seed Exchange had the recomendation to plant them right in a cover crop of oats and annual clover. He reported few bug problems. I've not tried this, but intend to.Hope this gives you some direction

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 02, 2000.

Our pumpkins and zucchini had a round with squash bugs AND mildew this summer....and the county extension agent said one way to help prevent both next year was to burn THIS year's vines and leaves; don't compost them, unless you have a REALLY hot pile. I need to get the vines pulled and get Hubby to use the propane torch on them.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), November 02, 2000.

I thought the nasturtiums were doing to work for a while, but alas, they did not.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 02, 2000.

Here were a couple more suggestions other people have tried.Peppermint in with your squash,from O.G. Another person used sunflowers as a trap crop.Can't personally vouch for them,but why not try them? The more you mix up you plantings,the more it confuses the bugs.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 03, 2000.

There's a book called 'Gardening With Guineas.' Unlike chickens, the Guineas won't scratch up the dirt, just walk thru and eat all the bugs. They'll also take care of the ticks if you're in Lyme Disease country. And they'll take care of the snakes. The more insects you have, the more you'll appreciate Guineas!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), November 05, 2000.

Hi Tiffani, squash bugs are my sworn enemy!! I've tried everything, almost!! Have lots of chickens, 14 Guineas, and all the usual stuff! I can never keep ahead of these critters!! With my guineas, this year I did not dust, spray or use anything on my entire garden.....had almost no pest damage. But the squash bugs were in full battle gear, making war on my pumpkins!! And Winning!

Now, I have not tried this, but am going to next year. In an Amish Book I have (put out by our local Amish community), it says the following: Preventative for squash bugs: Soak seeds in kerosene before planting. Or sprinkle powdered sulfer on plants, even before they appear. (sprinkle where they have been planted).

I have used some of the other "hints" I have found in this book, and have been really pleased with the results. But again, I have not tried this, so can not say if it causes any harm or actually does any good. But at this point, I am willing to try. Besides, my next option is going to be a flame thrower.....and I'm having a hard time convincing hubby it is necessary!LOL! God Bless! Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), November 05, 2000.