Squash Vine Borers

[DollDoctor]

I just figured out that the reason my buttercup squash plants are all wilted is due to squash vine borers. I never had them before, so I thought they just needed watering. Unfortunately, it is too late to save most of the plants, but there are a number of good sized squashes on them. Will they ripen off the plant? What should I do with them? I do hope they are salvageable.

 

[sumi]

It depends how far developed the squashes are. They probably won't ripen further after picking though, but they may be edible (hopefully!).

 

[Denim Deb]

Can't help you w/that but I feel your pain. I lost all of my vine crops to borers last year. This year, I waited until later in the summer to plant anything and am hoping I didn't get them in too late. I have not seen a single borer or stink bug this year.

 

[sumi]

I try my best to avoid pesticides in the garden, but I lost tonnes of pumpkin and squash to pumpkin flies. One year I used a neem solution on my plants to keep the bugs off and it worked VERY well.

 

[Britesea]

what about using those floating row covers?

 

[baymule]

I have found using a shotgun a most effective way of ending the life of squash vine borers. The only drawback to this is that it blows the vines to bits as well.

 

[Smart Red]

what about using those floating row covers?

Floating row covers do a good job, but you must pollinate the flowers by hand if you keep the insects -- good and bad -- out of the plants.